Cross-country Equestrian Jumping

When it comes to Horse Riding and competitions, there is a lot to take in, and  lots of different ways to get involved and demonstrate your skills behind the reins. So we thought we'd give you a quick run-down of the basics of Eventing.

In the Equestrian Sport of Eventing, there are various different practical components involved, each one tailored to test a different skill set. Cross country equestrian jumping is an endurance test, and is one of the three phases of eventing.

The object is to prove the speed, endurance and jumping ability of a cross-country horse when he is well trained and brought to the peak of condition. At the same time, it demonstrates the rider's knowledge of pace and the use of this horse across country.


A cross-country course is usually between 2.75 to 4 miles long; comprising between twenty-four and thirty-six fixed and solid obstacles. Most X-country courses are made to look 'natural', so featured obstacles can include all those that might be found if riding across the countryside, including water, trees, logs, ditches, and banks; and obstacles or compulsory pathways are flagged (a red flag on the right and a white on the left, with a black mark on the red flag if an obstacle is optional).

Cross-country courses for eventing are held outdoors through fields and wooded areas and the terrain is unique for each course, depending on the location, meaning that some courses, depending on the country and natural terrain can range from predominantly flat land to steep, and often strenuous hills.

Good course designers might use the natural terrain of a cross country course to either help an inexperienced horse or rider at a lower level easily prepare for an obstacle, or create a more difficult challenge for more experienced competitors.