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Oct 19, 2020
How Strong Is Your Intermediate Game?
How competitive have your Intermediate results been? What is a good final score? What is a good dressage score? How are the top placers scoring? As we continue this series on the USEA levels, EquiRatings offers some stats and graphs to help evaluate your Intermediate game.
How are People Scoring at Intermediate?
These graphs show Intermediate performance across the board, from sub-28 to DNF (Did Not Finish). Take a look to see what scores the Intermediate population has been earning. What scores do you usually get? We offer some of our takeaways to get you started.
The Big Picture at Intermediate
Finishing Score Zones
- Sub-36 Zones: Only 1 in 10 Intermediate starters (10%) finish sub-36.
- 60+ Zone: On the other end of the spectrum, over 1 in 4 Intermediate starters (26%) finish with 60 penalties or more.
Per-Phase Zones
- Only around 1 in 20 Intermediate starters (6%) get a sub-28 dressage score.
- Nearly two-thirds of Intermediate show jumping starters (63%) earn 4 or fewer show jumping penalties.
- 1 in 10 Intermediate cross-country starters (10%) finish the phase clear and within the time.
- Over 1 in 10 Intermediate cross-country starters (12%) do not finish the phase.
The Target Score for a Win at Intermediate
Eventing is about putting all three phases together to finish strong, but what is a strong finish at the Intermediate level? What are the top finishers scoring? The graphs and tables below show you what it takes to win.
Top Finishing Scores
- Less than 1 in 10 Intermediate winners (9%) finish sub-28.
- Over 2 in 5 Intermediate winners (41%) finish between 28 and 36.
- Over 2 in 5 third-place finishers (42%) finish in the next two zones, between 36 and 45.
Dressage - What Does a Strong Start Look Like at Intermediate?
|
Final Position |
Average Dressage Score |
Started as Dressage Leader |
Started 10 Marks or Less from Dressage Leader |
Started more than 10 Marks from Dressage Leader |
|
Winner |
31.7 |
38.6% |
58.6% |
2.8% |
|
Third Place |
34.4 |
9.5% |
73.4% |
17.1% |
Using 2017-2019 Intermediate data.
- Intermediate winners average a dressage score of 31.7. This is the highest average of any U.S. national level.
- Nearly 2 in 5 of Intermediate winners (38.6%) are leaders after the first phase.
- Most Intermediate third-place finishers (nearly 3 in 4, 73.4%) are not the dressage leader but are within 10 marks after the first phase.
Show Jumping - Can You Afford to Knock a Pole at Intermediate?
|
Final Position |
0 Show Jumping Penalties |
1 to 4 Show Jumping Penalties |
5 or More Show Jumping Penalties |
|
Winner |
66.6% |
24.9% |
8.5% |
|
Third Place |
48.7% |
31.8% |
19.5% |
Using 2017-2019 Intermediate data. This table includes show jumping time penalties and jumping penalties.
- A clean show jumping round is helpful for a win at Intermediate. Two-thirds of Intermediate winners (66.6%) keep all the rails up and finish under time.
- Half of third-place finishers (51.3%) do have show jumping faults.
Cross-Country - Do You Need to be Clear Inside the Time at Intermediate?
|
Final Position |
Clear Inside the Time |
Average Cross-Country Time Penalties |
|
Winner |
29% |
4.5 |
|
Third Place |
18% |
7.0 |
Using 2017-2019 Intermediate data.
- A clean jumping cross-country round is critical to success, but a few time penalties won’t take you out the running. Only one-third of Intermediate winners (29%) finish clear and within the optimum time.
- Only 1 out of every 5 third-place finishers (18%) complete cross-country clear and within the optimum time.
What are the 2019 Record Performances?
Lastly, we have pulled the 2019 record dressage scores and record finishing scores from the Intermediate level. All the top finishing scores are sub-28!
How Can You Use These Numbers?
Seeing these types of overall stats can help you gain clarity and set realistic targets. Of course, long-term goal-setting is not about comparison; you have to stay in your lane or risk being robbed of fulfilment. But these numbers can help you figure out where you stand. If you do want to be a bit more competitive, now you know what it takes. Be encouraged by hitting small, measurable targets every step of the way.
Aug 01, 2021
Competitions
Major Contenders Pass Final Horse Inspection at the Tokyo Olympics
All the major contenders passed the eventing final horse inspection at the Tokyo Olympics and will carry on to contest the show jumping phase in a few hours’ time.
The ground jury (Nick Burton, GBR, Christina Klingspor, SWE, and the U.S.A.’s Jane Hamlin) and vets only failed to accept one horse - Fantastic Frieda, ridden by Poland’s Joanna Pawlak, who had completed the cross-country in 41st place with a refusal and 25.2 time-faults.
Aug 01, 2021
FEI Statement on Equine Fatality at Sea Forest Cross-Country Course
The FEI has announced that the Swiss horse Jet Set, ridden by Robin Godel has had to be euthanized after pulling up extremely lame on the Sea Forest Cross Country Course during Equestrian Eventing at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 on August 1, 2021.
Aug 01, 2021
News
From the Magazine - Travers Schick: A Day In The Life
In 2002, at the age of 15, I was at my Aunt and Uncle’s farm in Maine while Tremaine Cooper was there building some cross-country jumps. I helped him build a trakehner, not realizing that this day would set the course for my future. A few weeks later he called asking if I could help him at Millbrook Horse Trials. From there I helped Tremaine during most of my school vacations and throughout the summers. After graduating high school I kept at it never looking back. I lived the gypsy lifestyle for about six years going from coast to coast and event to event. In 2013 my wife Kathryn and I settled down in Lexington, Kentucky. These days I spend roughly 60-75 percent of my time on the road preparing events or building private schooling areas. I’ve had the privilege of being involved with some really great events around the states and have cultivated many friendships all over the country. In 2019 I was asked to be a part of Team Evans Olympic cross-country building crew. As I write this I am on my third trip to Tokyo. Here’s a day in Tokyo . . .
Jul 31, 2021
Competitions
Tokyo Cross-Country Catapults Great Britain to Top Heading into Final Show Jumping Phase
The British team cemented their gold medal position at the Tokyo Olympics with three magnificent cross-country performances, all clear inside the time. Added to that, their first rider, Oliver Townend, holds pole position individually after the dressage leader, Germany’s Michael Jung, picked up 11 penalties for triggering a frangible device.
