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Eventing

What is Eventing?

 

Eventing is one of the most exciting and rewarding Pony Club sports, combining three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross-country. It develops all-round riding skills, confidence, horsemanship and teamwork, while offering a clear pathway from local competitions through to Regional and National Championships.

Pony Club Eventing is designed to be supportive, welcoming and enjoyable, helping riders develop their partnership with their pony while making friends and enjoying competition.

Eventing is also an Olympic sport in which Great Britain has a long history of success, with many top international riders beginning their journey in The Pony Club.

Whether you’re trying Eventing for the first time or looking to progress your competitive riding, there are opportunities for all abilities across the Pony Club.

 

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Eventing Rulebook 2026

Getting started is easy:

  1. Join your local Pony Club Branch or Centre
  2. Build your skills in dressage, show jumping and cross-country
  3. Take part in local competitions
  4. Progress to Area competitions
  5. Aim for Regional and National Championships

To find an event near you, go to your Pony Club Area or Branch website, and take a look at the Calendar! 

First phase: Dressage

Dressage is the first phase of an Eventing competition and sets your starting score for the event.

Competitors are divided into sections, with everyone in the same section judged by the same judge. For example, riders in PC90 Section A will usually complete their test in Arena A and all be marked by the same judge, helping to ensure fair competition.

In Eventing, dressage is converted into a penalty score, so the aim is to achieve the lowest score possible. Any penalties from your dressage test are carried forward into the cross-country and show jumping phases, where additional penalties may be added.

You’ll often hear riders say they “finished on their dressage score”. This means they completed both the cross-country and show jumping phases without adding any penalties, so their final score remained unchanged.

A strong dressage score can give you a valuable advantage, providing a cushion if you pick up a few time penalties cross-country or have a pole down in the show jumping.

Second phase: Show Jumping

Show Jumping is the second phase of an Eventing competition. Riders tackle a course of coloured fences, aiming to jump clear and complete the course within the optimum time.

Unlike cross-country fences, show jumps are designed to fall if they are hit. Penalties are awarded for knocking down fences, refusals, exceeding the optimum time or taking the wrong course, and these are added to the penalties already accumulated in the dressage phase.

Show Jumping tests accuracy, balance and control. Riders must find the right pace, as going too fast can lead to fences being knocked down, while going too slowly can result in time penalties or refusals.

A clear round within the optimum time means no additional penalties are added to your score, putting you in the best possible position before heading into the final phase: cross-country.

Third phase: Cross Country

In a one-day-event format, Cross Country is the third and final phase of Eventing and is often the most exciting. After completing the dressage and show jumping phases, competitors tackle a course of fixed fences over varied terrain, aiming to complete the course confidently and as close to the optimum time as possible.

Unlike show jumping fences, cross-country obstacles cannot be knocked down, so riders need to balance accuracy, control and forward riding. Penalties are awarded for refusals, run-outs and time penalties, which are added to the score accumulated from the previous phases. A fall of either horse or rider results in elimination.

Cross Country tests the partnership, fitness and bravery of both horse and rider. It requires trust, good judgement of pace and the ability to adapt to different types of fences and ground conditions.

As the final phase, it can have a significant impact on the overall results. A clear round with no jumping or time penalties can help riders maintain their position on the leaderboard, while penalties picked up on course can quickly change the final placings.

Note: in the Chairman’s Cup competition at the National Pony Club Championships, XC is the second phase, and SJ is the final phase where competitors jump is reverse order of placings.

Eventing Youth Representative

The Pony Club Eventing Committee is inviting applications from enthusiastic and committed youth members who are passionate about Eventing and want to help shape the future of the sport. This is a fantastic opportunity to represent the voice of young members, work with experienced committee members, and contribute to the development of Eventing across the UK.

Please complete the form below in full before Friday 18th September 2026.

Find out more and apply here!
New to Pony Club Eventing or looking to take the next step in your competition journey? Eventing combines dressage, show jumping and cross-country to create one of the most exciting and rewarding equestrian sports. Whether you’re wondering how competitions work, how scoring is calculated, or how to get involved, you’ll find the answers to some of the most common questions below.

How do I get started in Pony Club Eventing?

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Getting started in Pony Club Eventing is easy. Most riders begin by taking part in friendly Branch or Centre competitions, where they can gain experience in dressage, show jumping and cross-country. As riders progress, they can compete at Area competitions and even qualify for Regional or National Championships.

What happens in an eventing competition?

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Eventing consists of three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross-country. Riders first complete a dressage test, followed by a show jumping round over coloured fences, and then a cross-country course featuring fixed obstacles over varied terrain. The sport tests accuracy, courage, horsemanship and all-round riding ability.

How is eventing scored?

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Eventing uses a penalty-based scoring system. Riders start with their dressage score, and any penalties picked up in the show jumping or cross-country phases are added to it. The rider with the lowest overall score wins. In team competitions, the best three scores from four team members count towards the final team result.

What levels of Pony Club Eventing are available?

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Pony Club Eventing offers opportunities for riders of all abilities. Competitions range from local Branch and Centre events through to Area qualifiers, Regional Championships and National Championships. There are also winter Arena Eventing competitions and higher-level championship opportunities such as the PC110 Championships.

Why should I try Pony Club Eventing?

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Eventing is an exciting and rewarding sport that develops riding skills across three disciplines while encouraging sportsmanship, horsemanship and teamwork. It helps riders build confidence, improve their partnership with their pony and make friends through competition in a supportive environment.

How Do I Get Involved?

Pony Club Eventing Competitions are organised at a number of different levels:

  • Branch/Centre Competitions – Friendly competitions organised by Branches or Centres for their own Members and Members of the surrounding Branches & Centres.
  • Area Competitions – Open to all Members within the Pony Club Area, including qualifying competitions for the Championships and Regional Championships.
  • Championships – Qualifying Teams and Individuals from every Area compete to decide the National Eventing Champions.
  • Arena Eventing – throughout the winter months, Members can take part in Arena Eventing competitions to qualify for the Barrier Animal Health Spring Festival. There are three different finals; England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Each have different qualifying rules, so please consult the rules for your country.

Plus, with our collaboration with British Eventing, combining Pony Club and BE has never been easier! Pony Club Members can enter up to two BE events before joining BE – and the same goes for BE Members. To learn more on how we’re working together to reduce barriers to sport, click the button below!

PCUK x BE Partnership
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Key Competitions & Events

Eventing at the Regional Championships

PC70 and PC80 Eventing Championships are held across five Regional Championships. These are Scotland & Northern Ireland, Northern England & Wales, East Midlands & East Anglia, South Wales & Southern England, and the South West regions. Qualification for these finals are through Area competitions, some of which may be the same Area competitions as for the other Eventing levels. Some Areas may hold additional Area qualifiers for PC70s and PC80s.

Eventing at The National Championships

The Eventing Championships are the main Pony Club Eventing competition of the year, where the top Pony Club eventers compete across multiple classes in both team and individual competition. The following classes are held: PC90, PC100 and the Treehouse Sporting Colours Chairman’s Cup (see below). Qualifiers for these are held at Area Competitions.

The Treehouse Sporting Colours Chairman’s Cup

The Treehouse Sporting Colours Chairman’s Cup Class brings a new format of Eventing to The Pony Club Championships, featuring a Trot Up prior to the Dressage phase, followed by the Cross Country and finally, on the last day, Show Jumping in reverse order. The Treehouse Sporting Colours Chairman’s Cup is a team and individual competition. Qualification is through Area Competitions or the MER system (please see the current year’s rulebook for correct details).

PC110 Eventing Championships – Bishop Burton Festival of Youth
The Blue Riband of Pony Club Eventing, The PC110 Championships, takes place this year within The British Eventing Official Festival of Youth at Bishop Burton. The 110 Championships will run alongside The British Eventing Under 18 2*class. The result of this will be that all current Pony Club Members in the under 18’s will automatically be entered in the PC110 Championships giving us the pinnacle of Pony Club Eventing and preventing members having to choose between the two organisations.
Members just entering the PC110 Championships will get the true 2* experience with trots up, parades and inclusion into all the Festival of Youth activities. Rosettes from 1st to 20th Individually, Area/Regional Teams 1st to 3rd and Branch Teams 1st to 3rd.
The Craddock Award

Kindly sponsored by Angela Craddock, Craddock Rosettes are awarded to Members at PC100 and PC Chairman’s Cup Areas and Championships who achieve a double clear. At The Pony Club Championships, we are delighted that Angela will present the rosettes herself!

BSPS Gold Cup Sports Pony Finals at Burghley Horse Trials

A once in a lifetime opportunity to compete at Burghley Horse Trials! The two highest placed Members in the PC90 Eventing Championships under the age of 17 and on ponies under 153cm, and the two highest placed Members in the PC100 under the age of 20 and on ponies under 153cm, will be invited to compete in the BSPS Open Gold Cup Sports Pony finals. The competition is split into three sections: Dressage, a working hunter style course, and a show jumping round.  The highest placed Pony Club Members in the competition will always receive £100 in training vouchers, kindly donated by Mrs Sheila Clifford.
“Wow! It was such an amazing event to have been part of and we had to keep pinching ourselves all day realising we were there as competitors!” – Imogen, who competed on Ballingowan Chiara in 2024

Eventer Challenge at Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials

The Eventer challenge, is a grassroots competition. Pony Club & Riding Club Teams all over the country are invited from to compete in either the 90cm or 100cm classes. The Eventer Challenge is a ‘Derby’ Style competition with a section of 8-10 show-jumps leading to 6-8 efforts over portable fixed Cross-Country Fences and finishing over a joker fence. This competition is hosted by Blenheim, and more information can be found here.

Click here to view events open to both PC and BE Members Area Eventing Dates 2026 Click here to enter the PC110 Championships (ballot 7th July)

Pony Club Eventing Dressage Tests

For Summer Area Competitions and Championships 2026
(Please note new tests in bold)

Click here for all Dressage Tests
LevelArea TestChampionship Test
PC70Foundation PC70 Dressage Test 2026Foundation PC70 Dressage Test 2026
PC80Grassroots PC80 Dressage Test 2026Grassroots PC80 Dressage Championship Test 2026
PC90PC90 Eventing Test 2026PC90 Eventing Championship Test 2026
PC100PC100 Eventing Test 2026PC100 Eventing Championship Test 2025
Chairman’s CupPC Chairman’s Cup Eventing Test 2026PC Chairman’s Cup Eventing Championship Test 2026
PC110PC110 Eventing Test 2026PC110 Eventing Championship Test 2026

Fence judge briefing videos:

Fence Judges Briefing Part 1 Fence Judges Briefing Part 2 Fence Judges Briefing Part 3

Eventing Sponsors

Treehouse Sporting Colours are the headline sponsor for The Chairmans Cup – with it’s deep roots in equestrian sport and long-standing support of The Pony Club, Treehouse Sporting Colours is the perfect partner for this flagship event, seeing us through to 2029’s centenary year.

Treehouse Sporting Colours

Contacts

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Annabel Stanley

Sports Officer
T: 02476 698300 option 2 E: [email protected]
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Patrick Campbell

Eventing Chairman (Volunteer)
E: [email protected]