Eventing, or three-day eventing, is an Olympic equestrian discipline that combines dressage, jumping and cross-country competition.

There will be individual and team competitions for eventing at the Olympics.

The first test is dressage, which tests the training of the horse's physique and agility as well as the coordination between the rider and the horse. It is followed by a cross-country test and, finally, the jumping competitions.

Often considered the thrilling part of the competition, cross-country requires the horse and rider to complete a set course of 5.7 kilometers within the optimal time and clear natural obstacles like ditches, water, stone walls, benches and fallen trees.

If the horse refuses to jump, the horse and rider combination will incur a penalty of certain points, in addition to having to try again. The penalty will double for a second refusal for the same effort. A third refusal would eliminate the team.

Falls, time in excess of the limit, or time in excess of the overall limit, could also lead to penalties ranging from less than one point to wipe-out.

The winner of an eventing competition is the combination with the least penalties over the three tests, with scores for dressage converted into penalty points. The winning team is the one with the lowest penalty points for the top three riders.

The rider can usually choose from two set courses, which would allow them to opt between "lesser difficulties over longer distance" and "shorter but more difficult."

Eventing tests the strategy of the rider, the confidence of the horse and the rider in each other, as well as their will to win. Horses for eventing are typically smaller than dressage horses but closer to thorough-breds and more balanced.

The Beijing Olympic equestrian eventing competition will be held in Hong Kong according to a special format of four-star level difficulty, with cross-country held in a course converted for Olympic use from a golf court.

France was the winner of team gold medal for eventing at the 2004 Athens Olympics and British rider Leslie Law took the individual eventing gold.

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)