The sport of EVENTING is one of the most demanding equestrian sports, and can be described as an equestrian triathlon. The same horse and rider pair competes in 3 phases over 3 days, and tries to incur as few penalties as possible. The 3 phases are Dressage, Cross-Country, and Stadium Jumping. Good horsemanship plays an important role in being competitive as an eventer. Not only do the horse and rider pair need to practice 3 different disciplines, they must also undergo a challenging fitness regimen, to make sure the horse is fit enough to endure the challenges of the cross country phase, and recover quickly enough to perform a challenging stadium jumping test the next day.

Dressage on the first day of the competition tests the gaits, suppleness and obedience of the horse through a series of prescribed movements. While judging the dressage test on the first day is based on specific criteria understood in detail only by experienced judges and riders, it is basically an evaluation of harmony of movement, obedience and communication between horse and rider.

The cross-country test on the second day proves the speed, stamina, courage, boldness and jumping ability of the horse and the rider's knowledge of pace and use of the horse across country. Cross-Country is straightforward - the horse and rider either clear the obstacle or they don't. Horses galloping at speed over massive solid obstacles, virtually flying over ditches, leaping up and down banks, and dropping into water prove examples of athletic prowess, and trust between man and animal, that can be seen in no other sporting event. While the rider walks the course beforehand, the horse doesn't see any of the course until it leaves the starting box.

Jumping in an arena on the third day of competition provides the final test of the horse's athletic ability, conditioning and training. It is simply a matter of jumping the obstacles cleanly. Its significance is that it comes the day following the test of cross-country jumping at speed and clearly illustrates the horse's willingness to listen to its rider. It must now move at a more sedate pace and not touch the obstacles, which are not solid and will fall down. A single rail knocked down can make the difference between winning and finishing farther down in the placings.