Shop Donate Join now
Members Portal | Resource Hub

Eventing

What is Eventing?

Eventing gives Pony Club Members a competition which needs courage, determination and all-round riding ability combined with the careful and systematic training of the horse. Riders gain a deeper understanding of the different sports open to them. Its main aim is to encourage a higher standard of riding throughout The Pony Club and to give younger Members a greater interest in riding as both a sport and as a recreational
activity.

 

The sport could be termed an “equestrian triathlon”. It involves working with your pony/horse both on the flat and over jumps. Today, the sport is most known for its cross-country phase where horse and rider gallop over an outside course of solid obstacles which the horse has never seen before.

 

Eventing is an Olympic sport in which Great Britain has a long tradition amongst very competitive fields. The entire Great Britain Eventing team at London 2012 and Rio 2016 were ex-Pony Club Members! Eventing is split into three phases: Dressage, Show Jumping & Cross Country.

Image

Eventing Rulebook 2024

Disciplines and Scoring

 

Dressage

Dressage is a French word meaning training. Precision, smoothness, suppleness and complete obedience show off the horse’s gymnastic development. Ideally it should look as if the horse is performing of its own accord, carrying its rider in complete harmony. The test is scored on each movement, rather like the scoring in figure skating, and the overall harmony and precision of the whole exercise is taken into consideration.

Show Jumping

The second phase takes place in the show jumping arena over coloured knock-down fences.

Cross Country

Finally, the cross country phase is designed to test the horse and rider’s ability over a variety of fixed fences and undulating ground, it should also demonstrate the rider’s knowledge of pace and the use of his horse across country.

 

Scoring

At the end of the competition, scores for all the competitors are totalled. Each test is scored individually and the penalties accrued are added together for the final results. The lowest score is the winning score.

In the case of a team competition, the individual scores of each of the four team members are added together. If all four team members have completed the competition the best three scores count and the team with the lowest team total is pronounced the winner.

How Do I Get Involved?

Pony Club Eventing Competitions are organised at a number of different levels:

  • Branch/Centre Competitions – Friendly competitions organised by Branches or Centres for their own Members and Members of the surrounding Branches & Centres.
  • Area Competitions – Open to all Members within The Pony Club Area, including qualifying competitions for the Championships.
  • Championships – Qualifying Teams and Individuals from every Area compete to decide the National Eventing Champions.
Image

Key Competitions & Events

Regional Eventing Championships

 

National Eventing Championships

The Eventing Championships are the main Pony Club Eventing competition of the year, where the top Pony Club eventers compete across multiple classes in both team and individual competition. The following classes are held: PC90, PC100, Chairman’s Cup and PC110. Qualifiers for this are held at Area Competitions.

The Chairman’s Cup

The Chairman’s Cup Class will bring a new format of Eventing to The Pony Club Championships, featuring a Trot Up prior to The Dressage Phase, followed by the Show Jumping and finally, on the last day, Cross Country in reverse order. The Chairman’s Cup is a team and individual competition. Qualification is automatic for those qualified for the PC110 Championships, through Area Competitions or the MER system (details of this can be found in the link below).

PC110 Eventing Championships – Wellington International

This year’s Pony Club 110 Eventing Championships, kindly sponsored by The Event Horse Owners Association, will again take place at the prestigious Wellington International Event. Running alongside the FEI classes, The 110 Championships will give members the opportunity to experience competing at the very highest level and atmosphere the sport has to offer. This is a Team and Individual Event, more information on eligibility and qualification can be found in the link below.

Contacts

Contact Image

Annabel Stanley

Sports Officer
T: 02476 698300 option 2 E: eventing@pcuk.org

Patrick Campbell

Eventing Chairman (Volunteer)
E: eventingchairman@pcuk.org