Day Eventing Tips for Horses

While the equestrian sport of eventing typically takes place over a period of three days, one-day events offer a less expensive way to school your horse at a show in all three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross country. Entry often costs less than a formal show, and riders don't pay for stabling their horses for three nights or more. Day events are grueling, however, and demand great stamina from the horse and rider -- and a missed class can lead to disqualification.

  1. Proper Conditioning

    • Riders must condition their horses for the grueling task of competing in three different classes in one day. Including warm-up time, each ride will take approximately one hour, for a total of three hours or more of competition time. Riders exercise their horses six days per week during the month leading up to the show. They alternate between dressage, show jumping and cross-country work, but also include trail rides and lunging days to give the horse a break. Many feed their horses an electrolyte supplement to help it stay hydrated during the competition.

    Rules May Differ

    • Many of the rules established by the U.S. Eventing Association remain the same for long and short events, but checking with the organizer helps avoid misunderstandings. For example, in three-day events, riders must wear appropriate show attire, such as show coats and tall boots, while one-day riders can often wear polo shirts and chaps. Safety rules -- such as immediate elimination after a fall in show jumping -- almost always remain the same, as do rules about using only properly fitting and approved tack, like the required snaffle bit for dressage.

    Schedules

    • Arriving the day before the show gives you and your horse the opportunity to settle in and establish a schedule. Many riders write down ride times for all three phases on a dry-erase board and include tack-up and warm-up times as well. Walking the show-jumping and cross-country course in the morning -- or even the night before the show -- gives your horse plenty of time to learn them. Setting out clean tack in advance ensures you won't forget something.

    Care

    • Horses must have ample time to eat breakfast in the morning before the show begins. They also require proper warm-up time before each phase, but should avoid overwork, especially on hot days. Whenever possible, your horse should stand in the shade or in its stall, with water readily available. Many riders use day events as schooling opportunities, and praise their horses often to make it a positive experience.