Just as a heads up, the SJ phase of the CT might be on grass, as might be the dressage. If it’s slick and you’re concerned about footing and your guy, you’ll want to scratch.
I’ve done just one (I usually use it as my horse’s first show experience) but it was very easy and nice!
Good point. If it was on grass, I might not even go to that venue.
Yup! Just something to look out for. You should totally go do one though! 
I beg to disagree.
First of all the usage is regional, and Australian/NZ usage is clearly different from US Usage.
In the US, “Combined Training” refers to the entire discipline, including Combined Tests, Horse Trials, 3 Day Events, etc. (then the IOC and FEI started using the term “Eventing” instead, and lots of people followed suit. But MOST of the local organizations in the US call them selves “… Combined Training Association”, NOT “… Eventing Association”).
In the US, it would be incorrect to refer to a particular competiion as “a Combined Training”
Furthermore, in the US a Combined Test uses any two of the three phases. The most common is Dressage + Show Jumping. But there are also Combined Tests with Dressage + Cross Country (CDCTA runs one), Show Jumping + Cross Country, or even two Cross Country runs.
However, it appears that what the US would call “a Horse Trial” or “an Event”, in Aus/NZ is called “a Combined Training”.
Since the OP is clearly in the US, it would probably be best to stick to US usage to avoid confusion.
Yes as I said over here as in Australia a Combined Training competition is Dressage and Showjumping.
Cross country and Showjumping with sometimes individual steeplechase is called a Hunter Trial.
All three together are a One Day Event that can go over 2 days
You also have 3 day events as well.
I am an eventer who bought a lovely jumper. His first CT was training level. It was my first training level also . This was his very first dressage test and my first training level test . He came down centerline and his head and tail went like why is that judge right there and I’m trotting toward her! We had a great time and will do it again.
Hopefully when you finally do enter a speed-bump cross country, you’ll be cheered through the water by perfect strangers. Even though all you are doing is walk-trotting through one set of flags at the shallow end of the pond. 
My first time, I was totally startled and thought the people making the racket all around us must have mistaken me for someone they knew. My trainer said afterward “No that was for you. Everybody in speed bump gets cheered through the pond.” :winkgrin: (The horse loved it, any attention made him taller, more animated and a brighter chestnut.)
What’s speed bump?
A slng term for a division with VERY LOW fences. We had one this weekend at 18".
Basically, logs. Towards the end of the course they may throw in an actual box, or two, at 18". By then the horse is going and having fun, and will hop over anything. And the rider is grinning.
Plus you get to walk-trot-canter across a few terrain wrinkles. Around here there will be a water to trot through, very shallow, but it’s optional. It’s not scored, so if you do it, whatever happens can’t hurt your score.
And locally there is no optimum time. And very few expectations re attire and tack, other than the very basics.
It’s a great chance to let people get out on a course at a horse trials with the lowest possible fright factor. :winkgrin:
Our delightful little happy spot has had people show up and switch out their western or saddleseat tack for english, and take their ranch horse or saddlebred around. And triumphantly finish saying “I knew we could do it!”
What city are you close to? If you’re within 3 hours of Aiken, you may have some great ones even closer to you!
I’ve gotta admit, y’all eventers have won me over.
I grew up doing predominately H/J even though I was in the heart of eventing country. I had the privilege of working for some of the local upper level eventers in the late 90s and they were not my cup of tea then: reckless adrenaline junkies who wore their horses out for the sake of competition. It left me with a negative impression of the entire sport.
Then I moved away from the eventing mecca where I grew up, into an eventing desert, so to speak. Yet I got hooked up with the most wonderful group of eventers who completely sold me on the sport! Wonderful, supportive, and kind horsemen and horsewomen.
While there is a lot of debate about this, I think the advent of the short format for the upper levels weeded out a lot of the pure adrenaline junkies in favor of a different type of rider. The results have been felt from the top down throughout the levels. I also think the creation of the lower levels has brought about a culture of acceptance for all levels of riders!
So in summary, eventers are pretty awesome in my book!
I have always felt that the LL’s are a different sport than the UL’s, particularly Intermediate & up. A much better sport at the LL’s, in my tiny opinion. As more money comes into UL eventing that is likely to become even more so over the years. Just my personal take.
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