Cross Country Rules

Cross Country is considered the most dangerous of the equestrian sports, due to the size of the solid jumps the horses have to clear, the drops and turns they have to make and the speed at which they take them. The jumps include verticals and spreads with ditches, hills, streams and banks for the horse to manoeuvre at speed.

The Rules:

• There is an optimum time set by the judges, for which the competitor will be penalised if they exceed but will not benefit from finishing quicker
• If a rider falls, they are permitted to remount and continue
• Horses are inspected throughout the event to ensure they are healthy

20 Penalties	First Disobedience for Run out, refusal or circling to re-aim at the jump
40 Penalties	Second Disobedience
Elimination	Third Disobedience
65 Penalties	Rider falls at an obstacle
Elimination	Rider falls a second time
Elimination	Horse falls
Elimination	Jumping or incurring a fault on the wrong course
Elimination	If the horse is lame or exhausted at the 2nd inspection
Elimination	Competitor rides with unapproved tack / equipment
Elimination	If the rider takes the wrong course and doesn't correct it
Elimination	Competitor misses a jump or goes the wrong way
Elimination	Competitor jumps an obstacle they have already jumped
Elimination	Competitor jumps and obstacle in the wrong direction
Elimination	Rider excessively whips, uses spurs or abuses horse

The Beijing Olympics 2008 Cross Country Course is 5.7km long with 45 jumps / obstacles which must be completed within the optimum time set at 11 minutes.

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