Eventing is a three-phase competition that’s often likened to a triathlon. It’s run over a period of four days and tests a horse and riders’ athleticism, bravery and harmony.
In Aachen, the dressage test will be in a 60m x 20m grass arena in Stadium 2, the cross-country in a dedicated series of grass fields known as the Cross-Country Course Soers and the showjumping in the Main Stadium on grass.
There are two sets of medals available at an FEI World Championship:
Nations may enter a maximum of five horse and rider combinations. Of these, teams are made up of three or four combinations, with the three highest scores counting towards the team medals. Any remaining combinations may compete as individuals. If a nation can’t field a team, they may send up to two individual competitiors.
Horse inspection: All horses are presented to the ground jury to ensure that they're fit and well prior to the start of competition. The ground jury will view the horses from a standstill, then watch them trot away, turn a small circle, then trot back again. If they have any concerns over a horse's ability to compete, that horse is sent to the hold box to be examined by the on-site vet. The findings are reported to the ground jury, then the athlete may choose to either represent their horse or withdraw from the hold box. If the horse is represented and the ground jury is still not willing to accept it, then the horse may not start the competition.
Dressage (day one and two): All combinations complete a predetermined test of movements in front of three judges. The judges award marks out of ten for each movement and, after combining the scores to give an overall percentage score, the score is then converted into penalty points (the higher the percentage, the lower the penalty score). For example, a percentage score of 70.00% becomes a penalty score of 30.00
Cross-country (day three): Competitors tackle a course of around 40 solid obstacles, which can include logs, ditches, water, drops and corners. Penalties are incurred during this phase for a refusal, a run-out (at a fence) or for exceeding the time allowed, and these are added to the combination’s dressage score. Falls of horse or rider results in elimination.
Showjumping (Day four): Following a second horse inspection to ensure that all horses are still fit to compete after the vigours of cross-country, combinations take on a short course of colourful fences in reverse order of merit. Penalties are added to their score for knocking down an obstacle, refusal at a fence or exceeding the optimum time. Riders can be eliminated for a second refusal or a fall.
The individual winner is the combination with the lowest number of penalty points accrued across the competition. In the team event, the scores of the three best-placed riders are added together to calculate the overall result.
Wednesday 12 August
Thursday 13 August
Friday 14 August
Saturday 15 August
Sunday 16 August