Hello my fun eventing friends! Visiting from h/j land.
I just love your sport, but my 15 year old gelding is not suited for cross country. He’s now sound after a loooong rehab from suspensory injury, so I’m extremely particular about workload and footing…so no cross country right now.
Isn’t there a version of the sport that is just showjumping/dressage without cross country? What is this called? Is there a governing body I can look up to find competitions in my area?
It’s generally called a Combined Test or CT. Occasionally recognized events have them, but most are unrecognized. I’m not sure where you are located but I would try looking on Facebook for your local horse related groups and asking there. You could also try your local GMO or eventing association if there is one, or your USEA area-- often these groups will have calendars listing all the local competitions.
If you are close to Aiken, we have lots of CTs happening all year round here!
Quite a good schedule in New England, too. The ground isn’t always suitable to run cross-country, but one can run the other two phases year-round. Another thing to search on is “Two-Phase”.
Ooh, I actually am not far…about 3 hours away!
Having always been a h/j, I have zero knowledge of this world. Do most riders board their horses in a trainer’s barn and travel to shows with the trainer? Or do most haul their own horses and meet the trainer there? Does the trainer even go?
I feel so stupid asking these questions, but I really don’t know how it works outside of my own little bubble.
You might be able to find some “Arena Eventing” classes? I don’t know a lot about those and it’s a relatively new concept from what I’ve seen.
It really depends. My horses live at my parents’ and I haul out for lessons and generally show by myself or haul with a friend. When I’m doing bigger stuff I’d love to have a trainer to help me warm up (or even just have a ground person to set fences) but I’m poor so it doesn’t happen much.
But there are certainly barns where the trainer hauls everyone and majorly coaches in the warm-up like at a h/j show. At most of the CTs and events I’ve been to there’s been a mix, with a lot of people falling in between and maybe hauling themselves and meeting a trainer in the warm-up at least the first time or two at each level, but in general people are a bit more independent than you’ll see at h/j shows. And I think trainers tend to encourage more independence.
Welcome to Eventing Nation! (Motto: “It seemed like a really good idea at the time”) I think there is definitely a loosey-goosey, DIY aspect to it, especially at the lower levels. You can always throw more money at it and bring a trainer, but it’s just as common to come solo or with a friend to help groom and gofer. You won’t stand out as “that poor, poor woman who doesn’t have a trainer.”
I am doing the opposite and venturing into Huntlandia as I get back in the saddle. (Right now I don’t need multiple x-country courses. I need a friendly, convenient place to re-establish my sitting trot.) It’s been interesting to see the similarities and differences between what should be two closely related disciplines. I hear you on the bubble thing!
Sometimes Combined Tests are listed on the USEA Educational Activities page (along with clinics and unrecognized horse trials) https://useventing.com/safety-education/educational-activities
They may also be listed on the USEA Area web site. You do not say where you are, but if you are “within 3 hours” of Aiken, you are probably Area II or Area III.
You will find that CT people are quite different from H/J. Many, many riders haul into their instructors for lessons, and the meet them at the site of either a schooling event or competition
Since there are many levels of competition, You will find the instructor frequently dealing with many different riders at the same time, and occasionally a rider will be at a competition alone, as their instructor is elsewhere.
So come along we’re really easy to live with.:yes:
There are definitely a few things that different if you are coming over to eventing (or combined tests) from H/J:
I didn’t see this mentioned, maybe it’s just a regional thing, but a lot of the unrecognized events around here will allowing you to run just the two CT phases even if the event is advertised as three phases. Sometimes they’ll even give you a discount and/or a ribbon (although usually you aren’t competing if you do that). Eventers tend to be very supportive of schooling/learning and will find ways to accommodate everyone. It can’t hurt to ask the organizers if there is an event nearby.
It varies a lot.
I have always trailered my own horse, and rarely meet up with my trainer, unless she happens to be competing at the same event.
But others board with their trainer, travel as a group to the event, and are coached for each phase.
And everything in between.
But as someone new to the sport, it woud be helpful to go with someone who is at least experienced in eventing, if nohing else to avoid the 101"stupid" ways to get eliminated.
In your area surely you can find a few people to go with on social media. It helps a lot just to have support at events.
Over here the competition is called Combined Training.
A combined training is usually not complicated. But it is a great idea on your first time or two to have someone on hand to check you out for proper gear before you ride. It could be a friend you meet up with at the CT. Unrecognized competitions may or may not require the same gear/attire standards as recognized. Things like no horse boots in dressage, and having your medical card (or allowed alternative) in show jumping. My first time I got all that stuff wrong. Fortunately I was checked over by an experienced friend before riding away from the trailer. 
Some schooling venues are more forgiving than others. It’s a good thing to ask around about what the venues will be like, and which ones are good places for a first-timer who is showing on their own.
Check out the dressage whip length ahead of time, if you carry one.
Have fun!
Over the years I have borrowed a coat in the warm up area because the person holding my coat had disappeared, borrowed a jump vest because my zipper broke half an hour before XC, approached a coach I knew but hadnt ridden with, told her my xc (at a level i was very comfortable with had been terrible) and would she warm me up for sj, and asked if I could tag along on various course walks. Oh, and asked numerous strangers if they would hold my horse 4 minutes while I walked SJ.
I promise, I haven’t been an unprepared pest, just someone alone at an event who could use a hand. And I promise, asked nicely, Team riders, moms, random bystanders have been very willing to lend a hand for a minute or 5.
I do the same for others, and it’s a thing i love about our sport, and hope it endures!
Wow. This sport sounds like SO much of a better fit for me than h/j! Thank you all for weighing in!
Point of clarification.
“Combined Training” is the name for a 3 phase event. (D, XC, ST)
A “Combined Test” is the name for a 2 phase event consisting of Dressage (first) and Stadium/Show Jumping (Second)
Em
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