Try Eventing!

Here's what it takes to get started.

- BY HOLLY CACCAMISE

Maybe it was a photo of a horse at the 2024 Paris Olympics or the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event soaring over a big, wide table or leaping down a 6-foot drop into water ... but you got bitten by the bug! Eventing is truly the sport for equine adrenaline junkies. However, there's a lot you need to know before taking the leap into this sport yourself.

If you have a background in dressage or jumping already, the transition to eventing will be a lot easier. Since eventing is a triathlon for horses with three phases (dressage, cross-country and show jumping), you will need to become adept in three sports that are each pretty different.

One final thing to consider before you get started is how far away the nearest eventing shows are. Recognized events can be found at useventing.com, but the best way to get your feet wet is with smaller, non-recognized events. Ask around in your local horse community or have your parents do some Googling to see if these are an option without having to trailer too far.

If everything is a go, now you're ready to dive in!

THE RIGHT TRAINER

The very first step is to find a trainer familiar with teaching aspiring new eventers. With so much to learn, you can't just wing it. Invest in your safety by taking regular lessons from someone with a track record for getting kids successfully around their first events.

One trainer may last you many years as you advance up the levels, or they may not. But it's better not to start with someone whose students only compete at advanced shows, or they could expect you to “catch up” quickly before you are ready.

THE RIGHT HORSE