Mar 11, 2023

Rule Refresher: Breaking Ties

By Meagan DeLisle - USEA Staff
USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo

Picture this: you've had a great competition weekend. You and your horse have put in three wonderful phases, only to find out that you and another horse and rider pair have finished on the same exact score! Now what? The rules on tie breaking are outlined very clearly in the USEF Rules for Eventing to help you better understand what processes will help break a tie should you ever encounter one. You can review the excerpt from the rulebook below.

Text has been taken directly from the USEF Rules for Eventing with emphasis added by the USEA.

EV106 Breaking Ties

1. In the event of a tie between any two (2) or more Athletes for Horse Trials (EV117.5) and Classic Three-Day Events (EV151.2b), the individual classification is decided by:

a. The lowest Cross-Country score including penalties for faults at Obstacles, time penalties, and any other penalty incurred.

b. If there is still a tie, the classification is decided in favor of the Athlete whose Cross-Country time was closest to the Optimum Time.

c. If there is still a tie, the classification is decided in favor of the Athlete with the lowest Show Jumping score including time and Obstacle penalties.

d. If there is still a tie, the classification will be decided in favor of the Athlete with the highest collective marks in the Dressage phase.

e. If there is still a tie, the tie will remain in the final classification.

2. In the event of a tie between any two (2) or more teams, the winning team will be that whose third placed Athlete has the lowest score.

Want to catch up on past rule refreshers? Click here.

Mar 30, 2023 Profile

Historic Results and Determination Propel Smith to 2022 Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year Title

From horse trials in her home state of California where she prepared herself and her horses to take on the best in the nation and around the world to five-star events overseas where she represented the United States on some of eventing’s biggest stages, Tamie Smith had a remarkable season and finished 2022 as the Bates USEA Lady Rider of the Year for the second year in a row.

Mar 29, 2023 Competitions

Fast Facts: The Event at TerraNova

TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, Florida, held its first CCI4*-S competition in the fall of 2021 and is now gearing up for the location’s third-ever FEI event and inaugural spring event this weekend during The Event at TerraNova which takes place March 30-April 2.

Mar 29, 2023 Competitions

Weekend Quick Links: March 30-April 2

Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered! Check out the USEA’s Weekend Quick Links for links to information including the prize list, ride times, live scores, and more for all the events running this weekend.

Mar 29, 2023 Grants

Learning about Young Event Horses: Setting Goals

Many riders across all levels have found that working with young horses has provided them with the most valuable experiences in eventing. The opportunities for young event horses have never been more exciting. The Dutta Corp. USEA Young Event Horse East Coast and West Coast Championships continue to grow in profile as the culmination of a calendar of qualifying events is expanding to more areas of the country. More American riders and their young horses are aiming for the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships at Mondial du Lion in Le Lion D’Angers, France, particularly thanks to programs like the Holekamp/Turner YEH Lion d’Angers Grant. That’s become one of the most attended sporting events in the entire country. It’s given young event horses from the United States a chance to represent the growth of the American eventing community’s dedication to properly developing talent in the sport.

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