United States Eventing Association

How Strong is Your Training Game?

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 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.