Success in the demanding sport of eventing requires a horse that is capable of performing well in three activities, often during competitions which last for several days. During this time, the Eventing Horse will need to demonstrate stamina, jumping ability both across country and in the arena, and lightness and suppleness at dressage. This is a rare combination, so when riders buy an eventing horse, achieving success at the highest level depends on making the right choice. Instructors can often find the best match as they know trainers who will sell an eventing horse with the right characteristics and outlook. With a well-matched equine partner, eventing is one of the most exciting and rewarding equestrian sports.
Eventing can take place over either a single day or three days. There are plenty of events for amateur riders, who don’t need to buy an eventing horse to enjoy the sport. At riding club and novice level, many types of horses compete, from native Ponies to draught horse crosses. In fact, when people sell an eventing horse for competing at top level, it will often have draught horse blood as it gives additional power and height. Thoroughbred Horses and part-bred Thoroughbreds excel at eventing, as do Irish Sport Horses. For the dressage phase, horse and rider work to a set test to display the discipline and grace of the partnership. Boldness, stamina and length of stride are what count in the cross-country phase, and the horse’s willingness to listen to the rider. The eventing horse needs to show agility and focus in the show jumping arena, which usually concludes the three days.
Eventing has its origins in the gruelling training demanded of cavalry officers and their horses. Both soldiers and horses were expected to display courage in tackling a number of obstacles while riding at speed across country. Many army officers viewed fox hunting and steeplechasing as a kind of army training and tried to outdo one another in boldness. Photographic and film archives reveal some stunning images of cavalry officers on horsebacks sliding down near-vertical cliffs or riding over the roofs of cottages during training. By the late nineteenth century, the majority of cavalry horses and hunters were warmbloods and half-breeds that were entirely suitable for eventing as a sport. The prototype of modern eventing is the Championnat du Cheval d'Armes held in France in 1902. Ten years later, eventing became an Olympic sport in Stockholm. After the discipline of the dressage phase, followed by the stamina required for the cross-country course, the show jumping phase was intended to show that the horse was still sound and strong enough to carry on. These three phases built the term "Three-Day Event", first used in Britain. In the early days of the sport, only army officers could compete. Later, male civilians could participate, with the competition only opening to women riders in 1964. The other great change in the sport in the past half-century is probably the rise of internationally-recognised warmblooded breeds with their roots in the old European breeds of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Warmblooded breeds make excellent eventing horses. Belgian Warmbloods and Czech Warmbloods are particularly good at jumping. Irish Sport Horses, which were popular for decades, are often outstanding in the sport, with top event rider David O’Connor’s gelding Custom Made being a good example. In 2007, a pony-sized gelding with Shetland blood was third in the Rolex Kentucky Three Day CCI competition!