Sep 21, 2020

How Strong is Your Training Game?

Kendyl Tracy and Bobbie Burns had the second-highest finishing score at Training level in 2019. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

How competitive have your Training results been? What’s a good dressage score? What scores could earn you a top finish? We’ve been taking a look at each USEA level and as we continue this series, EquiRatings offers some stats and graphs to help evaluate your Training game.

How are People Scoring at Training?

These graphs show Training performance across the board, from sub-28 to DNF (Did Not Finish). Take a look to see what scores the Training crowd has been earning. What scores do you usually get? We give you some of our takeaways to get you started.

The Show Jumping Zones and the Cross-Country Zones include time and jumping penalties.

The Big Picture at Training

Finishing Score Zones

  • Sub-32 Zone: Around 3 in 25 Training starters (13%) finish sub-32.
  • 60+ Zone: On the other end of the spectrum, the same number of Training starters (13%) finish with 60 penalties or more.

Per-Phase Zones

  • About half of Training starters (47%) get a dressage score between 31 and 37.
  • Almost half of Training show jumping starters (45%) keep all the poles up and finish within the time.
  • Over half of Training cross-country starters (54%) finish clear and within the optimum time.

The Target Score for a Win at Training

Eventing is about putting all three phases together to finish strong, but what is a strong Training level finish? The graphs and tables below show you what it takes to win.

Top Finishing Scores

  • Two out of every 3 Training winners (66%) finish sub-32.
  • One-third of third-place finishers (33%) score between 32 and 36.

Dressage - What Does a Strong Start Look Like at Training?

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

29.3

48.9%

50.0%

1.1%

Third Place

33.0

6.1%

82.1%

11.8%

Using 2017-2019 Training data.

  • Training winners average a dressage score of 29.3.
  • Almost no Training winners (1.1%) have come back to win after starting more than 10 marks behind the dressage leader.
  • Most Training third-place finishers (over 4 in 5, 82.1%) are not the dressage leader but are within 10 marks after the first phase.

Show Jumping - Can You Afford to Knock a Pole at Training?

Final Position

0 Show Jumping Penalties

1 to 4 Show Jumping Penalties

5 or More Show Jumping Penalties

Winner

81.9%

15.0%

3.1%

Third Place

63.5%

26.1%

10.4%

Using 2017 – 2019 Training data. This table includes show jumping time penalties and jumping penalties.

  • A clean show jumping round is important to a Training win. Over 4 in 5 winners (81.9%) keep all the rails up and finish under time.
  • More than 1 in 3 third-place finishers (36.5%) do have show jumping faults.

Cross-Country - Do You Need to be Clear Inside the Time at Training?

Final Position

Clear Inside the Time

Average Cross-Country Time Penalties

Winner

88%

0.4

Third Place

75%

1.1

Using 2017 – 2019 Training data. Clear Inside the Time includes all runs that were clear jumping with no time penalties (whether for going over the optimum time or for going too far under the time).

  • A clean cross-country jumping round is critical to success, but it’s also important to get the time right. Almost all Training winners (nearly 9 in 10, 88%) finish cross-country clear and without time penalties.
  • About 3 out of every 4 third-place finishers (75%) complete cross-country clear and without time penalties.

What are the 2019 Record Performances?

Lastly, we have pulled the 2019 record dressage scores and record finishing scores from Training level. There are some recognizable names on these lists but also some combinations who may not always make the eventing headlines.

How Can You Use These Numbers?

Now that you know how your Training peers are performing, what are some goals you can set? Do you want to improve toward the middle of the pack or aim for a top finish? Either goal is great. Progress is progress. Of course, long-term goal-setting is not about comparison - you have to stay in your lane or risk being robbed of joy. If your main aim is to enjoy your horse with a few outings a year, these numbers can just be fun! But, if you want to be competitive, now you know what it takes. Either way, enjoy the journey.

Jul 03, 2024 AEC

Two Months Until the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds

The countdown to the 2024 United States Eventing Association (USEA) American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds is getting shorter and the tentative schedule is officially set! For the second year in a row, the AEC returns to the iconic Kentucky Horse Park from August 27 through September 1 and will offer 26 divisions, including brand new Starter divisions and all levels of recognized evening up through the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final.

Jul 02, 2024 Educational Activities

USEA Educational Activity Highlight: Sherwood Forest Hunter Pace | Sherwood Oregon | July 13, 2024

What’s a Hunter Pace? The Sherwood Forest Equestrian Center's Hunter Pace is a cross-country-style course around Sherwood Forest over various natural obstacles/terrain. The course ends with a final treat for riders to take in stunning views of Mt. Hood with a loop through the old Far Hill Farms field. The beginning of the course will first start with a warm-up loop around show jumping obstacles in the outdoor ring at Sherwood Forest and then riders will continue directly onto the course. Sign up as a solo rider, pair, or team.

Jul 02, 2024 Profile

No Longer Dreaming: Claire Allen's Goal of Qualifying for USEF Eventing Young Rider Championship is Now Reality

Claire Allen remembers when she was 11 years old, having just made the switch from the hunter/jumper ring to three-day eventing. She told her new eventing trainer that her goal was to one day compete in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Young Rider Championships.

Jul 01, 2024 Competitions

Alliston’s Busy Weekend, Braitling’s Reuniting with Five-Star Mount, & Kalkman’s Advanced Victory Highlight Twin Rivers Summer H.T.

As he was finishing tacking up his horse in preparation to navigate the cross-country course at the 2024 Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials, James Alliston expressed concern about navigating the 101 Freeway. That’s because as soon as he crossed the finish line aboard Intermediate level winner Addyson (Ampere x Nickerbocker) at 10:38 a.m. on Saturday—his fifth cross-country round of the morning with three at Preliminary and two at Intermediate—the West Coast-based five-star rider had to drive 185 miles on the 101 Freeway from Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, California, to San Francisco International Airport to catch a 4:35 p.m. flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

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