Eventing - Did you know ...
Eventing - a thrilling sport
- The equestrian discipline of eventing has its origins in the French military and during the first fifty years of the sport competitions were only open to male military officers in active service. In 1912 eventing was included in the Olympic Games and, much like modern day eventing, officers presented their horses for tests of obedience, endurance, courage and bravery. The dressage phase demonstrated the horse’s obedience which was necessary when he was on the parade ground, the cross country simulated a horse’s ability to cover long distances of difficult terrain and the show jumping phase was a test to see which horses were still fit and sound after the previous day’s exertions.
- In 1956 male civilians were allowed to partake in eventing and in 1964 women were also allowed to compete at the Olympic Games. Equestrian sports are the only sports held at Olympic level in which men and women compete against each other on an equal level.
- In 1960 Australia won its first Olympic medals in eventing when Laurie Morgan won the individual gold medal and Neale Lavis won the individual silver. In the team event Laurie and Neale, with Bill Roycroft and Brian Crago, rode to victory taking home the gold medal. Since then Australia has won a further three team gold medals, one team silver medal, two team bronze medals, one individual gold medal and one individual silver medal.
- Today, international level eventing is one of the most thrilling sports in the world with the cross country day being the spectators’ favourite. As the competition names suggest e.g. the Melbourne International Three Day Event, the horses and riders complete the competition over several days, each day consisting of a different discipline or phase. In the first phase horses and riders are judged on a dressage test demonstrating obedience, discipline and accuracy. In the next phase they need to be fit and athletic in order to complete a 4 mile cross country ride jumping solid man-made and natural obstacles within a set time. Finally they must complete a course of show-jumps designed to test their agility and accuracy at speed.
- The Melbourne International Three Day Event in Australia is the second oldest eventing competition in the world after the prestigious Badminton Three Day Event which held its first competition in 1949. The Melbourne Three Day Event, held at Werribee Park, started in 1956.
- An Eventful Life will be launched at the Melbourne International Three Day Event on June 11th 2010. Be there!
