Bluffers’ guide to showjumping at WEG
As we countdown to the FEI World Equestrian Games, we bring you all you need to know about each of the equestrian sports.
What’s the format?
Run over a five days (with one rest day), the team champion is decided after three rounds of jumping (19, 20 and 21 September). The top individual riders then go forward to decide the medals on Sunday, 23 September.
How does the scoring work?
Now that the four-way horse-swap final has been shelved, the World Championships follow a traditional format — in short, the total penalties incurred by the best three athletes of each team count towards the team placing and the individual title is decided by the cumulative total of three separate competitions.
First competition
This first Competition is conducted over a big Table A course judged under Table C without a jump-off and every horse and rider combination — team and individual — takes part. Each rider’s time is converted into penalties — whoever records the fastest round of the day will be given zero penalties and so on down the order to represent the difference between them and the leader.
Second competition (Team final and second individual)
Run over two rounds over two days with a jump-off in the case of teams tied on penalties for first place. All riders take place in round one and only the top 10 teams and 60 best individuals go through to the second round. The team with the least number of penalties is crowned World Champion. In the event of a jump-off, all riders take part and penalties, then accumulative time will decide the winner.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Third competition (individual final)
Conducted under Table A not against the clock over two different successive rounds standing at a maximum of 1.65m. In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a jump-off. Round A is compulsory for the 25 best placed combinations’ cumulative points from the previous three rounds of jumping. The top 12 then progress to Round B and jump in reverse order and the world champion will be the rider with the lowest cumulative score from all three competitions.
How many medals are there and when are they awarded?
The team medals are decided on Friday 21 September. The showjumping individual medals are the final set to be awarded at WEG on Sunday 23 September.
Who is representing Great Britain?
Details of the British squad will be added once it has been released.
When will H&H report it?
The magazine report will be in the issue out on Thursday, 27 September.
We will also carry reports, pictures and video online throughout the competition. Find all our online WEG coverage here >>
For an early look at the WEG venue, turn to p34 of 18 January issue of Horse & Hound magazine. The full WEG preview will be on sale on Thursday 6 September.
Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.