The format
This is a four-star three-day event consisting of dressage (over the first two days), cross-country (third day) and showjumping (fourth and final day).
Some nations field only individuals, while others field a team. Team riders are also competing for individual medals. Teams consist of three to five riders, with the best three scores counting.
The team result is decided after the dressage (Olympic four-star test), cross-country (42-45 jumping efforts up to 1.20m high – or 1.45m for brush – round a course of about 10min at 570m per minute) and first round of showjumping (1.25m, maximum 16 jumping efforts).
Later on the same day, there is a second round of showjumping (1.30m, maximum 12 jumping efforts) – riders’ scores in this are added to their penalties from the dressage, cross-country and first showjumping round to determine the individual medals. Only the top 25 riders jump the second round, with a maximum of three riders per nation competing.
Riders do dressage and cross-country in a drawn team order – so one team rider from each country, then the second team rider and so on – with individuals interspersed. The showjumping is in reverse order of merit.
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