A Three Day Event is three phrases of Engish saddle competition: Dressage, Cross Country and Show Jumping in that order. A Combined Training Event is either two or three of the above listed. This is a horse and rider combination event and that horse and rider must compete in all of the events offered. Any horse and rider team may be entered as long as they a capable of performing the tasks in each event.
These three classes may be stated on a model horse classlist as individual classes and or then combined into The Three Day Event Class.
Cross - Country Jumping:
This event is scored on time, refusals and falls. Jumps are solid, so knockdowns are not scored. Competitiors aim for an optimum time and you are not allowed to go over that time. Competitors start from a three sided box 16 feet x 16 feet. The box is flagged like all the obstacles on the course. Dimensions for obstacles at each level are set at maximums. Jumps may be smaller but not larger. Some obstacles are flagged for mutli-levels.
Required Tack:
Forward-seat English saddle of any style with or without knee rolls. A cross country obstacle is required. Jumps should be flagged and numbered with white on the left and red on the right. Number color schemes indicate the level of competition. Any bridle of any style is acceptable. Boots and leg protection is seen on all four legs. Running martingales, breast plates or breastcollars and overgirths are useful and used often. (Overgirth is an extra girth that wraps around the outside of the saddle behind the stirrup leathers and goes under those and through any martingale or breast collar loops.) Open front boots, usually used on open jumpers should not be used in cross country as the front of the leg is not covered but they are not prohibited equiptment. Standing martingales are prohibited
Rider Attire:
Rider is dressed casual and functional. AHSA requires helmets with harness and protective vests. NAMSHA thinks model horse rider won't break their necks go they don't require any special protective equipment. So NAN considers them optional assessory like protective boots or bandages. I disagree. Children use model horses as a learning tool and therefore all classes should be judged according to whatever association rules follow.
Extra Credit:
Horse may face either to front or back of box. Many standing horses are faced to the back of the box to display an attempt at avoiding a false start. Horses may trot on course, especially at water hazards and down hills. They then will speed up over other areas to make up time. Use of accurate colors for various levels of competition such as: Advanced: white on blue background, Intermediate: white on red background, Preliminary: white on green background, Training: white on black background and Novice: black on white background. Many riders use Vaseline or Criso on the horse's chest and front of both front and back legs to help avoid bush and other cuts while on the course.
Dressage
This event is done on four levels (five at Grand Prix) and is to display the ability of horse and rider in balance. The horse learns flexion, balance, lightness, ease of movement, freedom and regularity of paces, lightness of forehand, engagement of hind quarters, lively impulsion and acceptance of the bit. The horse moves in a straight line when asked, bends with suppleness when performing curved lines. In all work the horse is on the bit and the carriage of his head and neck is determined by level of training, the relative collection of the gait performed and the horse's conformation of the breed. The head is usually slightly ahead of the vertical with the supple poll the highest point of the neck. Once in a while a horse will for a moment slightly behind the vertical and will still be engaged. At training level, the horse should be performing with the hind legs and the front legs however, having the hind end higher than the front is a severe fault.
Tests:
AHSA, USDF, and FEI tests are acceptable. Tests begin with a Training Level and progress through Fourth level and are designed to show the horse's ability to perform with increasing suppleness, implusion, straightness and balance. Fifth Level tests are done at International FEI.
The dressage arena is usually 60 x 20 meters and marked :
C
H G M
S I R
E X B
V L P
K D F
A
(Entry to Arena)
English saddle with stirrups and saddle pads (either shaped or squared). Style of saddle may vary with level performed. A dressage saddle should be used above Second Level. For AHSA Training up until Fourth Level a plain snaffle bridle with leather noseband may be used (cavesson, dropped, flash or crossed noseband) that can be padded. Fourth and Fifth Levels may use the same equipment or substitute a simple double bridle with bridoon and curb with curb chain. FEI Tests require a double bridle for all tests. Leg bandages are allowed in Pax de Delux and Quadrille only. Breastplate and crupper are permissible. Sidesaddle riding is allowed. Prohibited tack is as follows: Martingales, tie downs, bit guards, side reins, running reins, any kind of boots or bandages except in previous mention tests, tail bandages, blinkers, ear muffs, nose covers, seat covers, hoods. Decorations in the tail such as flowers or ribbons are prohibited. Pelham bits are never allowed. For model horse a pelham is described by NAMSHA as: A bit with two reins but only one headstall, attached to the curb portion.
Turnout of Horse:
Braided manes and tails are permitted. Tails are left long, they can be banged or pulled too. Unbraided manes are short and pulled. Braids may be of any style, sewn or wrapped with white tape. Braided tails are uncommon in the USA. Military uniforms and tack is acceptable for qualifying rider. Black tack is currently fashionable. Saddle pads are usually square and white, sometimes black trim or piping is seen. Dressage rider tend to show in black and white.
Turnout of Rider:
Training to Fourth Level riders wear short riding coats of conservative color, with tie, choker, or stock tie, fawn or creme colored breeches or jodhpurs, boots or jodhpur boots, hunt cap or hard shell riding hat, derby or top hat, dark or light colored gloves. Tests Fourth or Fifth level require a dark tailcoat (shadbelly) with a top hat (men may also wear a short coat with a bowler hat) white beeches, hunting stock. white gloves and black riding boots. Smooth spurs are mandatory for FEI tests and optional at Fifth Level. I am confused on the status of carrying a whip. In Combine Training Article 1711 Rule 2 says no whips allowed except in sidesaddle and during the warmup. In Dressage Division Article 1920 Rule 4 says a whip no longer than 4' including the lash may be carried in all classes except AHSA/USDF Championships, USET Chapionships, USET qualifying and selection trails and in all international (FEI level) competition.
Required:
A description of either AHSA or FEI states along with the Level, Test and movement should be presented along with the entry. A portion of the dressage fence with a letter marker for the appropriate letter (s) required to recreate the movement.
Extra Credit:
Given for a copy of the entire test with the specific movement lightened. Make sure a horse saluting the judge a X is facing the judge HEAD-ON. A standing horse with a turned head is always at fault. Be sure the horse is performing the movement stated. Look for a number (black number on white background and cut in a circle or oval) is placed on the browband or pinned to the saddle pad. The number may be on either side.
Show Jumping
Speed and skill event to display the prowness of stadium jumping. Courses are eight to fifteen fences
and a specific time frame is given. Horses may comptete at any gait as long as fences are cleaared in the correct order and within the allowed time. The course begins with a horse and rider halted in the ring and saluting the judge. The rider and horse then begin at a canter and perform a courtesy circle.
Required tack:
Any goes and there are no restrictions of any kind for jumpers unless it is cruel or unsafe tack. Obstacles are generally bright in color and very creative. They may be decorated with corporate logos, flowers, themes, etc. Obstacles should have at least one element that can be knocked down or off with the exception of a water element. Fences are numbered in the order they are to be jumped from two directions on the same course. Fences are flagged with red on the right and white on the left. Jumps heights are anywhere from 2' 6" for novice and ponies to 5' 6" for Grand Prix level. Bigger walls may be used for Puissance. Spread fences will have rear element (a single pole usually) even with or higher than the front, unless there is a large disparity in height between front and back elements. Horses wear protective boots on the forelegs and sometimes on the hind. Running martingales are common, Gag snaffles, mechanical hackamores, unique bits are allowed. Flash or figure 8 nosebands are permitted. Belly protectors, breastplates, and colored saddlepads are also used. Horses are generally not braided but there is no rule against it. A jump or water hazard is required for this class.
Extra credit:
Sweat or lather on the chest, behind the ears, and on the side of the neck where reins would rub; additional tack elements such as belly protectors shadow rolls, ear nets, etc. European jumpers often wear their numbers on a tag put on bridle at the brpowband and crownpiece junction. Well-fitted protective boots. Accurate, elaborate jump.
Photo Credit
Joliet Jake owned by Celia Gregory
Sources:
North American Nationals Judge's Handbook
United States Equestrian Association Rule Book
United States Dressage Federation Rule Book