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The History of 3-day events.
Towards the end of the 18th century is when the three day event really started. It started out as a military training
test not including jumping or overly fast paces. It would have really been thought of as endurance riding. Such competitions
were over 360 miles long and I believe the record for that was done in 71 hours near 30 minutes. The French decided that all
this really did was tire the horses and it really did nothing for preporation for actual battle. Thus, The two events were
added. I presume Cross-country was the starter event, adding the natural obsticals of course. Then came Dressage, and ShowJumping.
Many people participate in the three days because of variety. Winning all three of the events to me would be the
equivilance of winning the triple crown. Just because you have nearly mastered or beaten out all of your competition in the
most popular equestrian sporting events.What a thrill ya know? It is easy to easy to believe that the horses are physically
and mentally abused durning competition. This is not the case however. Mental abuse from stress from lack of confidence an
unhappy rider whatever the case, would surely show up when its time to perform, or even before. The horse may be showing
signs of illness, an appethetic attitude or just plain doesn't look right. Assumeing, the rider was responsible, horse smart
and actually cared they would pull the horse out of competition or treat the problem. Often people who treat horses as disposible
animals never get anywhere in the competition world just because that is highly looked down upon. Wouldn't you rather leave
the arena earlier with a smile on your face and pats on the back because you did the right thing for the horses welfare. Instead
of pushing your horse too far and possibly injuring him further. Even if you did win, it wouldn't be like you actually won
anything. Maybe you win a ribbon or trophy. Who cares. It's an object. The fact is people would be looking the other way and they
wouldn't even care if you won. They would just be heading down to client services complaining about how it was inhumane
of you to be selfish and put your horse in harms way. With that said, people who care generally DO NOT ever treat horses in
a way thats not considering the welfare of the horse.
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Famous 3-day eventers
| Karen O' Connor |
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| on Grand Slam |
Karen O' Connor is a dedicated horsewoman born on February 14th, 1958 in Concord Massachusetts. Karen has
participated in olympic 3-day eventing 4 times. Named U.S. female equestrian of the year 9 times. In 1993 she was the best
woman rider in the world.
"In 2005, Upstage and Karen finished 7th at the Rolex CCI****, 3rd at the Advanced level at the American Eventing Championships,
and 10th at the Fair Hill CCI***. Karen’s long time partner, Joker’s Wild, in his last international competition
before retirement, turned in a strong third place showing at the 2005 Jersey Fresh CCI***. In 2004, Joker and Karen won the
Stuart CIC**, where Woody was 6th, and then Joker went on to finish 8th at the Fair Hill CCI***. That same year, Karen took
three horses to Rolex, and during that soggy weekend placed them all in the top 20 -- Upstage was 12th, Bally Mar was 15th
and Grand Slam finished 17th."-exerpt from o connor website.
Her Quote
“When you train a horse on a daily basis, you're a part of the horse's movement, you're a
part of his motion. Everything that the horse experiences is coming from you. There's a total connection -- a true friendship
-- and the connection touches the soul completely.”- Karen O' Connor
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The Sequences
The 1912 Olympics
These weren't done in three days, they were done in 5. But this time period also Had more then three events in it. Here
they are in order and description
- .Endurance Test: A 33 mile course to be done within 4 hours and near the end has an 8 mile cross country
course.
- A day of rest: self explanitory
- SteepleChase: 10 obstacles with time penelties
- Showjumping: selfexplanatory
- Dressage: selfexplanatory
1924
- Short Trails: 5 penalties for every 5 seconds overtime.
- Steeplechase: 10 penalties for every 5 seconds overtime 3 bonus points for every 5 seconds undertime.
- Long Trails: 5 penalties for every 5 seconds overtime.
- 10-Minute Halt: This is when the horse and rider were checked out by vets and doctors. If either one
was unfit to perform they were scratched from the competition.
- Cross-country: with 10 penalties added per 5 seconds overtime, 3 bonus points per 10 seconds undertime
- 1 1/4 mile run on the flat: Voted off in 1967.
How It Is
Today:
Day 1: Dressage
Day 2: ShowJumping
Day 3: Cross Country
| David O' Connor |
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David O' Connor (January 18, 1962) yes is married to Karen, they have their own O' Connor team with students
excelling very fast soon to be olympians themselves but anyways. The accomplishment he is best known for is when he brought
home the first Eventing Gold Medal for the United States in more than a 25 years!! He also got the highest eventing score
in the history of olympic history.
"David has competed internationally for the United States Equestrian Team since the late 1980’s, earning 3 Olympic Medals,
one of every color, 2 Pan American Games Medals, and 2 World Championships. He’s won Rolex twice as a three-star and
once as a four-star. He’s won Fair Hill International CCI*** five times, and in 1997, he became only the second American
in history to win the coveted Badminton CCI****."- exerpt from O' Connor Website.
His Quote
"“I really like the communication with the horse -- watching them become confident and discover
the amazing things they can do. There's definitely a personal kind of closeness between you and the horse. There's a connection
between your personalities.” - David O' Connor
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