Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Dressage
The rider performs a prescribed test of movements in the 60 m × 20 m arena. At the Olympic level, the tests performed are:
- Grand Prix test: The standard test used for team and individual qualification. Approximately 6 minutes long. Includes all FEI movements: collected/extended walk, trot, and canter; half-passes; pirouettes at canter; piaffe (trot in place); passage (elevated, cadenced trot); one-tempi flying changes (change of lead at every stride); and transitions between gaits.
- Grand Prix Special: A more demanding test used for the individual medal round. Same movements as Grand Prix but with higher difficulty in the sequence and transitions.
- Grand Prix Freestyle: Athletes perform movements of their choice choreographed to music within a prescribed time (5:30–6:00 minutes). Scored on both technical execution and artistic impression (interpretation of music, choreography, degree of difficulty).
Each movement in the test is scored from 0 to 10 by each judge:
- 10 = Excellent, 9 = Very Good, 8 = Good, 7 = Fairly Good, 6 = Satisfactory, 5 = Sufficient, 4 = Insufficient, 3 = Fairly Bad, 2 = Bad, 1 = Very Bad, 0 = Not Performed
- Half marks (e.g., 7.5) are permitted
- Coefficient system: Certain movements carry a coefficient of 2, meaning the mark is doubled to reflect the movement's importance in the test
- Collective marks: At the end of the test, judges award collective marks for the horse's gaits, impulsion, submission, and the rider's position and use of aids
5.2 Show Jumping
- Horse and rider navigate a course of 10–16 colored, knockable fences within a time allowed
- Faults: 4 penalty points per knocked rail (any part of the fence falls). 4 penalty points per refusal (horse stops or runs out at a fence). 1 penalty point per second over the time allowed.
- Elimination: Second refusal at any fence (cumulative, not per fence) = elimination. Fall of rider = elimination. Taking fences in the wrong order = elimination.
- Jump-off: When competitors are tied on faults after the main round, they compete in a jump-off — a shortened course (6–8 fences) over higher or different fences. Fastest clear round wins. If both have faults in the jump-off, fewest faults then fastest time determines ranking.
- Course walk: Before competition, riders walk the course on foot (without the horse) to assess distances, plan approach angles, and determine the pace. Typically 20–30 minutes allowed.
5.3 Eventing
A three-phase competition scored cumulatively across all phases. Lowest total penalty score wins:
- Phase 1 — Dressage: Performed on a standard 60 m × 20 m arena. The percentage score is converted to penalty points (lower is better): penalty points = (100 − percentage score). A dressage score of 75% = 25.0 penalty points.
- Phase 2 — Cross-Country: Speed endurance test over a course of fixed, solid obstacles. Time faults: 0.4 penalty points per second over the optimum time. Refusal: 20 penalties (first), 40 penalties (second at same fence). Third refusal at any fence = elimination. Fall of rider = elimination. Exceeding time limit (2× optimum time) = elimination.
- Phase 3 — Show Jumping: Tests horse's suppleness, obedience, and remaining fitness after cross-country. Same penalty system as standalone show jumping (4 faults per knockdown, 4 per refusal, 1 per second over time). Often decides medal positions when dressage and cross-country scores are close.
5.4 Horse Welfare Rules
The FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse underpins all competition rules:
- Blood rule: If blood is observed on a horse's flank (from spur use), mouth, or body, the horse must be inspected by the veterinarian. The Ground Jury may issue a warning, require the athlete to halt until cleared, or eliminate the combination.
- Limb sensitivity testing (hypersensitivity): Horses may be tested for illegal application of substances that sensitize the legs (making the horse more careful over fences). Positive tests result in disqualification.
- Tongue ties: Prohibited in all FEI disciplines
- Rollkur (excessive hyperflexion): Actively discouraged. Stewards monitor warm-up arenas and may sanction riders using excessive force to lower the horse's head behind the vertical.