Watching Dressage

• Dressage is often described as "horse ballet" in which the horse is required to perform a series of prescribed movements in response to its rider's instructions.
• In order to have a better understanding of the horses' movements, you are encouraged to watch several rides in the same competition in order to make a basic comparison.
• You will see the horse moving rhythmically and smoothly, without any impression of stiffness, discomfort or disobedience.
• Many riders have spent years training and refining their talents, as well as developing their partnership with the horse.

Watching Cross-Country

• On the Cross-Country course, horses gallop over fixed obstacles, across ditches, up and down steep banks, and through water. It requires speed, stamina, courage and boldness from both horse and rider.
• While the rider can walk the course beforehand, the horse does not see anything of the course until it leaves the start box.
• Cross-Country is not a typical spectator sport because you cannot see the entire course from one location. To best enjoy the event, you are encouraged to move along the course rather than stay in one place.

Watching Jumping

• Horse and rider must negotiate a series of coloured obstacles including verticals, spreads, double and triple combinations, and water jumps.
• The competition requires power, speed, accuracy, control and bravery.
• The rider will aim to complete all the jumps in required order without knocking over any obstacles within the shortest time.
• While the rider walks the course before the competition, the horse sees nothing of the course until it enters the arena.