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L ONDON 2 0 1 2
Eventing
Eventing takes place over four days and
consists of Dressage (Arena), Jumping (Arena)
and Cross Country. The Cross Country section
takes place on a single day. There are team
and individual events for 75 competitors.
Format:
The team and individual competition
are run simultaneously, with the best three
scores counting as the team result, after
which the top 25 riders jump again for the
individual medals.
History:
The sport developed as a
competitive way of testing the obedience
and fitness of cavalry horses. It has been
an Olympic event since 1912.
Showjumping
Showjumping takes place in the Arena over
four days. There are team and individual
events involving 75 riders. The main
requirements of jumping are speed, agility
and accuracy of both the rider and the horse.
Riders jump between 12 and 15 obstacles in
a specific order and within specific time limits,
with 4 penalties for a knock-down or refusal,
1 per second over time, and elimination for
two refusals or a fall. The maximum height of
the obstacles is 1.60m. Where relevant,
those riders who are joint on the lowest
number of faults will 'jump-off' using a
shortened course, against the clock.
Modern Pentathlon
In Modern Pentathlon 36 athletes compete in
five disciplines - Fencing, Swimming, Riding
and a combined Run/Shoot event - in a single
day. Men compete on one day, women on a
second. The Riding section involves completing
a Jumping course in the Arena. The combined
Run/Shoot event also takes place in the Arena
with the running course extending a short way
into the Park near the Arena.
Paralympic Dressage
Paralympic Dressage takes place over five
days in the Arena. At the Paralympic Games,
athletes compete in three Dressage tests: a
Team test and a Championship Test, made up
of set movements, and a Freestyle Test, for
which athletes choose their own movements
and music. Teams are made up of a maximum
of four combinations per nation, the three
best scores from the competitor's combined
percentages in the Team and Championship
competitions are totalled to give the team score
- the highest score wins. Through the tests,
horse and rider must be in harmony, and the
overall picture must be of lightness and rhythm.
SPRING 2012 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
16
Day 1
First horse inspection
The horses are trotted up in front of the
ground jury (judges) and official vet to
ensure their fitness to start the competition.
Day 2 & 3
Dressage
Each rider executes a predetermined test
of movements within a 20X60m arena,
which is judged subjectively according
to accuracy, obedience, the horse's
impulsion and paces and the overall
picture. The marks of the three judges
are averaged.
Day 4
Cross Country
The speed, endurance, boldness and
partnership of horse and rider are tested
over a timed course of solid obstacles
across natural terrain. Riders incur 20
penalties per refusal, 0.4 penalties per
second over the allotted time, and are
eliminated for a fall of horse or rider.
Day 5
Final horse inspection
and Jumping
The horses are trotted up again in front
of the ground jury and vet to ensure they
are fit to complete the final jumping
phase. The ability of the horse to jump
carefully after the previous day's exertions
is tested over a series of knock-down
fences in the arena. Riders incur 4
penalties for a knockdown, 4 penalties
for a refusal and elimination for a fall.
The first round decides the team medals
and the second round for the top 25
riders the individual medals.
27 July - 12 August:
The London 2012 Olympic Games
28 July - 31 July:
Equestrian Eventing
2 August - 9 August:
Equestrian Dressage
4 August - 8 August:
Equestrian Jumping
11 August - 12 August:
Modern Pentathlon
30 August - 4 September:
Paralympic Dressage
Programme for London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games
29 August - 9 September:
The London 2012 Paralympic Games
Lesley Barwise-Munro
BSc BVM&S CertEP MRCVS
Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group
Veterinary Field Team
Dave Rowlands
BVSc CertEM(Stud Med) MRCVS
Penbode Equine
Veterinary Cross Country Team
Alan Walker
BSc MA PhD VetMB DER MRCVS
Hook Norton Veterinary Group
Veterinary Cross Country Team
Ali Butler
BVetMed MRCVS
Hook Norton Veterinary Group
Equine Ambulance Service and
Veterinary Event Team
Marie Rippingale
BSc (Hons) REVN G-SQP
Scarsdale Veterinary Group
Veterinary Technician
In the Autumn issue
of Equine Matters
we'll be following the activities of our
XLVet Equine members at the Games.
©Kit Houghton
©Kit Houghton
©Kevin Sparrow/BEF
XLVets Equine members
forming part of the
veterinary team at
London 2012