What to Expect

The logistics of the long format can make it feel a little intimidating since it feels so different from the events you and your horse are accustomed to.

Arrival Exams

Because we are a national competition and not FEI, when you get to the show grounds, you can unload and get your horse settled in their stall. At the scheduled time (Thursday from 8-12) you will take part in an veterinarian inspection. This will be done on a first come first serve near the stabling area. You can come with your horse in a halter. Here the veterinarian will do a general exam, taking note of their TPR (temperature, pulse, respiration). And get a baseline of anything that is noteworthy; type of shoeing (if any), scars, legs, etc. It is important that you let the vet know any information that you can about your horse like that they kick during temperature taking, or that their respiration tends to run high during warm weather.

This isn’t a test for you or the veterinarian to guess correct answers – it’s a chance for everyone to evaluate the horse’s fitness to compete and to share any information that could prove useful in the competition ahead.

Educational Opportunities

Throughout the event, there are opportunities designed to help you gain knowledge about the long format. These will be with professionals with loads of experience from which you can gain useful insights. Come ready to learn, plan your schedule out appropriately with time to braid, get ready, and attend the seminars!

First Horse Inspection

The Trot Up is a chance to strut your stuff! You’ll want to show off your best grooming techniques, braids, and fashion statements (with comfortable shoes to run in). The Trot Up will be performed with no boots on your horse and a snaffle bridle.

If you know that your horse is going to be a little hot or tight from a bit of time in the stall, maybe have a little hack around before the trot up with plenty of time to get that saddle mark dry and cleaned up. You can estimate about 1 minute per horse to be inspected, so have a look at the order and you can work backwards from then to plan how you want to get out to the horse inspection area.

Arriving 10-15 minutes early will give you and your horse time to become acclimated, check in with the steward, stretch their legs at the walk, practice, and make any last minute hoof polishing and nose wipes.

When your turn comes, you will present your horse to the ground jury by standing them still at the designated area, stepping in front of your horse so as to let them have an unobstructed view from all angles. Once they nod to you, you can step back to the side, walk a couple of strides, and then smartly off into the trot on a straight line. Before you get to the turn around point (while still traveling on a straight line, you’ll bring them back to the walk, and circle around the turnaround point to the right (pushing the horse away from you). Once the horse traveling straight again back towards the ground jury, you’ll pick up the trot again, and continue right past them, hopefully hearing “accepted” as you pet your horse.

Dressage

The dressage phase will feel very familiar, as not much changes other than the test and possibly the size of the ring. Be sure to check whether the event will be running the test in a small ring (20×40 meters) or a large ring (20×60 meters) so you can become accustomed to the geometry of the test.

Carry over your elbow grease that you busted out for the jogs into this phase and make your horse shine! This is another chance to show off your braiding and boot polishing skills.

Endurance Day

This day is truly where the heart of the long format lies, and there will be many people at the event to help you navigate the techniques it takes to be successful.

Having a plan of how to prep your horse in the morning is ideal. You’ll have a ‘kit’ to be ready to place in your designated area in the 10 minutes box (more about packing that kit in our ‘what to pack’ section), that includes your extra tack, supplies, buckets/scrapers/sponges, halter with extra number, and assistance area bucket). This kit will be placed in the vet box area and then moved to your spot at your assigned time.

You’ll want to be tacked and ready to head out on Phase A a few minutes before your start time.

            Phase A – 10-20 minutes warm-up through a series of compulsory flags. For all levels, this is performed at 220 meters a minute (what averages to a nice trot). Planning your technique is key, as this is your warm up for Phase B (steeplechase), so interspersing some canter with some walks may be important for your horse’s preparation. Ideally you arrive a few minutes early to Phase B to give yourself a little bit of a breather to make sure all equipment and boots are still good to go.

            Phase B – You will be counted down to your start time for Phase B, and off you go! The speed for Phase B is approximately the upper Meters Per Minute for the level above where your competing (so for the Classic Beginner Novice the speed is 400 mpm and the Classic Novice speed is 470 mpm). You’ll cruise around the track over the steeplechase fences, for 2-3 minutes and as soon as you cross the finish, your time for Phase C begins.

            Phase C – This is can be seen as a cool down phase from the steeplechase. There is a designated assistance area where you can meet with a member of your team to give a little sponge with water, check shoes and equipment, and tape a foot up if needed. You’ll then proceed on a slightly longer track then Phase A to make your way back to the vet box. Again, this is at an average trot pace, but should be planned out to give proper cool down time from the steeplechase and also what time you’d like to reach the vet box. Planning to arrive a few minutes early will give you extra time to prepare for Phase D, but you don’t want to come blazing into the box on a hot horse.

            10 Minute Box – here you will dismount and the vet will take an initial assessment of your horse. They may tell you to put extra ice to expedite the cooling process or other instructions. As they are doing the assessment, you can be putting their halter over their bridle, running up your stirrups, loosening your girth, etc… Ideally, the rider gets to have a seat and go over the cross country course, while their team walks the horse, offers sips of water, and sponges and scrapes water over the next 7 ish minutes. The veterinarian team will do another assessment and the saddle gets tightened, reins get dried off and equipment gets one final check before the rider mounts up and heads over to the start box to do a couple warm up transitions before being sent out on Phase D.

            Phase D – This is the traditional cross country phase, and while it may seem like what you’ve been practicing, don’t be surprised if your horse feels a little different than their typical self. Some horses find a new gear after steeplechase, being more bold and strong on cross country. Other horses were pretty sure they were done after being cooled down, and getting them to lock back onto their job takes a minute. Don’t be surprised by this, but instead be ready to adapt your ride as needed.

            Finish vet box – While you are out riding cross country, your team will be moving your vet box kit to another designated area, refilling buckets, and laying a tarp or duffle ready to catch equipment. When you cross the finish line, you’ll head to meet them and another member of the veterinarian team. Your horse will get assessed again, as you strip off the tack, and begin the cooling process. Having a plan of keeping boots on while studs are still in place, who will be leading the horse, etc… should all be part of your preparation process so that everyone is on the same page. You’ll continue the cooling process until the vet releases you to go back to the barns.

After completing the endurance phase, you’ll want to assess what your horse needs to continue successfully. This may include your normal post-cross country care, but also might need to be intensified, including icing legs, wrapping, body work, fluids, etc…

Third Horse Inspection

Yet another chance to strut your stuff! The third hose inspection takes place on Sunday morning, after you’ve spent Saturday testing your horses endurance and your ability to recover them successfully! Having a bit more time to stretch your horse’s legs and help them feel their best before this trot up is very important. It’s the same sort of protocol as the initial one though.

Show Jumping

And finally you’ve come to the final phase which, like dressage, will feel very familiar to what you are used to in the standard horse trials, however this time you will be sitting on a horse that may be a little tired or whose jumping style is a little flatter/different. Having a plan with your trainer about how to help them through warm-up and the course will be important so you can cross the finish line of the Classic Three Day!