What is 3-Day-Eventing?

Three-day Eventing is one of the most extreme athletic experiences in existence. Horse, rider, trainer, and spectator all get caught up in a contagious mixing pot of exhilaration, thrill, apprehension, dedication and courage. It is both grueling and invigorating, testing horse and rider in Dressage, endurance, jumping and bravery.

 Dressage is the most elegant of three rides; it is a form of equestrian ballet, requiring discipline, precision and focus from both horse and rider. As I mount my perfectly groomed and braided horse I can feel the excitement underneath me, like a lit fuse on a pack of dynamite. All he is thinking about is running and jumping. I have to overcome my own nerves and the anxious bustling electric atmosphere to create a bubble of serenity in the turmoil around, remaining completely calm so that my horse remains composed. This focus helps to produce a unity that is contagious both horse and rider are truly one. It is the ultimate bond and the horse-rider combination that shows this unity the best, will be in the lead after the first day.

On the endurance day I typically wake up early with little sleep and butterflies in my stomach. The jumps in todays ride are big and intimidating; both horse and rider are expected to tackle them with confidence and bravery, which at times seems impossible. We will jump over ditches, logs, through water and up hills.

The first three fences are designed to be the easiest to ride to allow both horse and rider to build the confidence that is necessary for the difficult fences that follow. In reality they are often the most difficult to face because the butterflies have now turned to a herd of thundering elephants in my stomach. But all it takes is one good fence and a smile appears that spans from ear to ear on my face and that of my horse. For the first time everything on the horse is quiet and the trust begins to show. Suddenly I am not nervous at all.

The view from the ground is much different. You can feel the ground shake as the thundering hooves approach the jump If you are close enough you can hear the horse breathing hard, and see the rider's eyes widen as they approach the fence. Don’t blink now because in a split second it will be over, in a roar of cheers as horse and rider head to the next fence. Talking among spectators resumes as they critique the ride for the two minutes that it takes for the next horse to approach.

On the final day the “game faces” come out and it is time for strategy. Horse and rider are usually tired and sore after the exertion of the Endurance Day. One small mistake here could knock you out of the placings. The horse has to jump precisely because these jumps do fall and one rail on the ground could lose the competition for the horse and rider. The horses know what is expected of them and it is here that the horse will become just as competitive as their rider. To see a horse take this on makes one forget that they are animals, and they become truly athletes.

Three-Day-Eventing in the USA has long been a sport plagued with obscurity, experienced only by a small group of people that have been exposed to it. Eventing is finally coming out of the closet and entering main stream sports as it is beginning to be televised and its popularity grows. This sport has something that everyone can relate to, but the common thread between each discipline is the horse- rider connection. All of the competitors spend nearly every day with their horses and so they quickly become best friends. It is this bond that is the crowning glory of Eventing. I have found this bond to be unique even in the horse world. Perhaps this is what separates us not only from other sports, but from other equestrian sports as well.

The bravery of the competitors, both horse and rider, captures the spectators’ sense of adventure. The elegance and grace of the competition captures the soul. But it is the horses' athleticism and dedication that truly captivates the spectators' hearts. Almost everyone who attends an Event is forever in awe of what they have seen.