Overview

The World Equestrian Games are comprised of the world championships for eight equestrian sports - show jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting, endurance and para-equestrian. The Games are held every four years, two years prior to the Olympic Games, and are governed by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The FEI is the international governing body of equestrian sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee. It is the organization which establishes rules and regulations for the conduct of international equestrian events. Today the FEI has over 130 member countries. Visit the official FEI website at http://www.horsesport.org/. For information regarding The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the national governing body for equestrian sport in the USA, visit www.usef.org.

SHOW JUMPING

The challenge of show jumping is straightforward - jump a course of approximately 10-13 obstacles with no penalties and within the allowed window of time. Penalties or 'faults' are incurred if a horse knocks a rail down, refuses to jump or falls at an obstacle or jump. Penalties can also accumulate if riders fail to complete the course in the time allotted.

For more information: www.ushja.org

DRESSAGE

Dressage is a French term meaning 'training', and is often described as 'horse ballet'. Gaits and movements performed at the highest level, Grand Prix, include collected and extended walk, trot, and canter; trot and canter half-pass; passage (a slow-motion trot); piaffe (a trot in place); one and two-tempi changes (a 'skip' as the horse changes leads in the canter); canter 'zigzags'; and pirouettes.

For more information: www.usdf.org

EVENTING

Eventing could be termed an 'equestrian triathlon'. It involves working with a horse both on the flat and over fences. The three phases are: dressage, endurance (or cross-country), and show jumping. Over the centuries it has developed from the test of the ideal military charger to an exciting sport attracting hobby riders to professionals.

For more information: www.useventing.com

DRIVING

Driving competitions are held for teams of four horses. Two days dedicated to dressage, one to marathon, and the last to driving an intricate course marked by cones. The lowest total cumulative faults from all three tests determine the individual and teams championships.

For more information: www.americandrivingsociety.org

ENDURANCE

The endurance test is like a marathon race. Horses must run a 160-kilometer course in the shortest time possible. In addition to the titles of individual and team champion, the Veterinary Commission will elect the horse deemed to be in 'best condition' from the ten fastest in the classification.

For more information: www.aerc.org

VAULTING

Vaulting is most easily described as gymnastics performed on a moving horse. Participants are judged on a set of compulsory moves and in freestyle competition. With a history extending back to Roman sports, vaulting requires the teamwork of the vaulter, horse and longeur, who controls the horse in a circle on a longe line. Vaulters may compete as individuals, in pairs, or as a team.

For more information: www.americanvaulting.org

REINING

Reining is a judged event designed to show the athletic ability of a ranch-type horse. Contestants are required to work one of ten approved patterns which includes small slow circles, flying lead changes, roll backs over the hocks, 360-degree spins done in place, and the exciting sliding stops known of the reining horse.

For more information: www.nrha.com

PARA-EQUESTRIAN

Para-equestrian competition will be held for dressage riders with disabilities as part of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010. This marks the first time that para-equestrian competition will be held during the Games.

For more information: www.ipec-athletes.de