Home crowd delighted by rider’s Paris Olympic eventing dressage result (2024)

FAQs

What is a good dressage score in eventing? ›

In dressage, an average score of around 65-70% is considered good, reflecting a strong performance. Scores higher than 70% are excellent and demonstrate a high level of skill and precision.

Riders will complete the 2024 Olympic Games Dressage Test—a test considered to be five-star level but, at 3 minutes, 50 seconds, much shorter than the tests used at CCI5*-L competitions—on Saturday.

The Olympic sport of eventing is best described as an equestrian triathlon. The sport originated as a cavalry test and is comprised of three phases: dressage, cross country and show jumping. The first phase – dressage – shows the graceful partnership of horse and rider through a sequence of movements on the flat.

Germany's Isabell Werth is the most successful Olympic equestrian rider in the sport's history. She has competed at six Olympic Games and won 12 medals, seven of which are gold.

What is a good dressage score? On average overall scores of 70% or over for a dressage test are considered very good, scores of 60-70% are considered good, and if a horse and rider are consistently scoring 65% or over at a level of dressage competition, this indicates they may be ready to move onto the next level.

For each movement, the respective marking scale looks something like this: 0 = not performed. 1 = very bad. 2 = bad.

Introductory is the easiest level where you perform your test in walk and trot. Canter comes in at Prelim and at Novice, lengthened strides come.

Five-star. What it involves: The top level of eventing is five-star. The dressage test includes half-pass, multiple flying changes and much more. The maximum height of the showjumping is 1.30m and the cross-country is up to 1.20m and are both of ultimate technicality.

International classes are identified by the class code CCI followed by the star level from 1* which is at 105cm level up to 5* which is the highest level for the most advanced horses and riders.

Between 1993 and 2019, we know of the circ*mstances in which 62 riders died while eventing. Only 3 of these fatalities did not occur at a jump. We know whether the rider deaths resulted from a rotational horse fall.

What is a dressage rider called? ›

An equestrian is an expert horseback rider. If you only go riding for an hour while on vacation you aren't an equestrian, but the person leading the group and riding the flashy horse probably is.

Speed: “Eventing is a galloping discipline like racing, polo and foxhunting. Speed increases the risk of soft-tissue injuries,” he says, particularly tendon and ligament injuries. Jumps: They're immovable, so traumatic injuries occur from hits and falls.

1. Secretariat. The top spot couldn't be any other horse than “Big Red” really. Secretariat took the 1973 Triple Crown by storm, sending records tumbling as he ended a 25-year wait for a thoroughbred to achieve this feat in the US.

The best nation? Germany! It may come a no surprise that Germany is the most successful equestrian nation ever.

About half of Novice starters (47%) get a dressage score between 31 and 37. Half of Novice show jumping starters keep all the poles up and finish within the time. Nearly two in three Novice cross-country starters (63%) finish clear and within the optimum time. This is the highest percentage of any U.S. national level.

For dressage, a more upright build and a shorter neck are desirable. I look for a strong back end with a forward-sloping femur for impulsion, a more compact back for collection and structural balance with the horse's feet standing squarely under him for ease with repetition and cadence in the movement.

If you're a chair-seated rider, you'll want to try to sit a little taller and almost 'hollow' your back a little. Always try to keep your chest up and keep your upper body behind your knees." With your reins, it looks best to have your hands in front of the saddle and just above the horse's wither.