United States Eventing Association

There is no better feeling than galloping through your cross-country course feeling like you are hitting every distance right out of stride and making easy work of the time... and then you see a few jumps in close proximity to one another and think to yourself, "Wait, which jump is mine?" Knowing the different flags you might encounter on cross-country and what they mean is critical to your success in this phase of eventing. Thankfully, these flags are clearly outlined in the USEF Rules for Eventing, and we have included the applicable excerpt to help you better understand.

The cross-country phase is what makes eventing stand out among equestrian sports. There’s an adrenaline rush riders experience when out on cross-country that is unmatched in eventing’s other phases. The cross-country course also gives each show and venue its unique flavor. Nonetheless, while each course may be different, the rule below from the USEF Rules for Eventing governs what riders and horses can expect to see during the cross-country phase of an event.

Show jumping: some eventers love it and others stress out about memorizing their course more than they do their dressage test. Running through courses at home regularly in your lessons can definitely help with perfecting the strides between lines or helping boost your memory on what jump comes next, but assistance during your round at a competition is strictly prohibited. What does that mean truly for you as the athlete? We've outlined the rule below from the USEF Rules for Eventing that addresses unauthorized assistance in show jumping to help you better understand what help you can and cannot receive while in the ring.

The U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Board of Directors met in mid-April and approved proposed extraordinary rule changes which apply to the sport of eventing. These rule changes went into effect on May 1, 2023, and the official USEF Rules for Eventing has also been updated. In order to best help competitors prepare for these new updates, we have provided outlines below, specifically to the most highly-discussed rule change proposal surrounding falls on cross-country outlined in rule EV122.

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.

It’s a new year and a new eventing season—time to go out and meet your eventing goals for the season! For some eventers, that goal is a move up to a new level. As you plan your season out around meeting the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER) to qualify for a move up, it's important that you are up to date on the most recent rules in the USEF Rules for Eventing.

Preparing for your first horse trial and not sure what is expected of you at each level? In the last few editions of Rule Refresher we will be diving into each level and the performance expectations of each phase and in this final edition we outline the Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.

Preparing for your first horse trial and not sure what is expected of you at each level? Over the course of the next few Rule Refreshers, we will be diving into each level and the performance expectations of each phase. Want to better prepare yourself or your students for their first competition or a move-up? The USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels is a free resource to all USEA members that outlines clear and consistent guidelines for riders and trainers to refer to when navigating their way through the competition levels.

Preparing for your first horse trial and not sure what is expected of you at each level? Over the course of the next few Rule Refreshers, we will be diving into each level and the performance expectations of each phase. Want to better prepare yourself or your students for their first competition or a move-up? The USEA Eventing Handbook by the Levels is a free resource to all USEA members that outlines clear and consistent guidelines for riders and trainers to refer to when navigating their way through the competition levels. You can access this guide by logging into your online services account.

Nothing strikes panic in the heart of eventers like trotting through the ring only to hear ding ding. So many thoughts run through your head: "Was that bell for me? Why did they ring the bell?" Check out all of the reasons why you might hear the sound of a bell while you are competing below.