Cross Country
Cross country is a popular equestrian event owing to the perceived activity of taking a horse back to its natural environment. Some avid fans of the sport claim that cross country is the true essence of horse riding, with the great outdoors, natural fences and lots of keen spectators.

Cross country is an endurance test that is typically one third of eventing. The most complex and interesting course designs are seen at these events, but cross country has also evolved as a competitive activity in its own right, developing as hunter-trials, training exercises and local competitions. The object of such activity is not only a high for the adrenaline junkies, but a test of speed, endurance and jumping ability of both the horse and rider.

Initially, endurance riding took place in four sub-sections:
Phase A was used as a warming up period that took place at a brisk trot on roads and tracks sectioned off for such activity. This served the purpose of loosening up both horse and rider before leading straight on to Phase B known as the ‘steeplechase’ whereby horses were openly galloped around a track with 6 to 8 fences to achieve an average speed of about 24 mph. Phase C returned the horse and rider to the roads and tracks again where they were allowed to relax and recover, usually at a quiet trot but occasional intervals of walk and a loose canter were not discouraged. During this phase, riders were often seen to get off and run next to their mount.
Phase D was and still is the most exciting section. Prior to this, abruptly following the end of phase C, each horse and rider had an obligatory 10 minute rest and vetting before embarking on the cross country course. During this 10 minute period, a panel of judges and veterinarians checked the horse's temperature, pulse, respiration and soundness before deciding if it was fit enough to continue. If this was the case, then horses were sponged down, greased up and had their tack re-adjusted before entering the starting box for the main part of the endurance ride.
As it stands now, phases A, B and C have been exterminated and now the endurance test is solely the cross country course. Riders are therefore responsible for warming up their own horses in the warm up rings provided. There are a few remaining events in the USA that still use the ‘long-format’ system of endurance riding, but these are generally one-star events.

As an additional attraction, cross country is the only high risk, Olympic sport that permits men and women to compete as equals. There are no separate divisions for rider or horse!

The Course

• The course usually ranges between 2 – 4 miles long (around 6km) and comprises of anywhere between 24 and 36 fences.
• Fences are built to look natural and a large proportion of them are actually made of the surrounding woodland. For example, some fences are made up purely of tree trunks and those that are carved from wood are often sourced from local woodland. Odd materials are sometimes added, such as a arrangement of flowers or large decorations (see ‘The Giant’s Table’ at Badminton) to test the bravery and skill of both horse and rider.
• The kind of obstacle you might find if you were genuinely, innocently riding across the countryside can also be found, but with a bit more precision and planning than if they had just been stumbled across. These include ditches, water, hedges and banks.
• All obstacles are flagged on a course, indicating which way the fence is supposed to be jumped. Red flags are always to the right of the horse and white to the left.
• The terrain of the area always suits the course. Most of the time it will be on flat land, but sometimes it will be on very strenuous hills. In cases such as these, the course is very cleverly and innovatively designed, incorporating the fences into the natural shape of the terrain.
• Whoever designs the course can do so in such a way as to make it very easy or very difficult for the horse and rider. For example, placing a fence at the opening to a wooded area affects the lighting and alters a horse’s point of take off, resulting in a need for careful thought and consideration from the rider and skill and bravery from the horse.
• The technicality of the obstacles and fences increases as you move throughout the course so that the competitors can start with the easier, more inviting fences to build their confidence. The last 3 or 4 fences are often slightly easier again, to bring the competitors back down to a rhythmic finish.

Walking the Course
When walking the course, riders look for a number of things:

• Footing – this is incredibly important to all riders and course designers as good footing helps decrease the wear-and-tear the sport has on the horses and avoid injury that may occur due to deep or slippery ground. Depending on the preceding weather conditions or place in the order of riding, the rider may benefit from changing the studs they choose to use. Other things that alter a horses footing may be bluestone patches on the take off or landing of a fence, requiring a need for altering the stride or pathways built or people to cross with when a horse is not on the particular section of the course.
• Lighting – this must be judged carefully because as stated previously, it can alter a horse’s confidence and takeoff/landing position. A rider needs to identify where this might be a problem and be prepared to aid the horse in its jump.
• Type of fence – alters the approach to it. If coming at a ‘coffin’ (a shallow valley with a water tray in the centre) a horse will need to be considerably more collected to keep maximum control and avoid injury.
• Bogey fences – one or more fences that may cause a potential problem to a rider and/or horse, eg: a tree trunk that’s decorated with various carvings and foliage. These need to be ridden with extra confidence to ensure a safe passage.
• Line and Striding – particularly important for control. If a horse and rider are presented with a ‘skinny’ or ‘corner’ fence, the line to, and the striding must be perfect because the decreased volume leaves a lot of room for running out and refusals if the pattern is wrong.
• Course layout – here, a rider is looking for areas of open space where they are able to open out a less brave horse and make up time. It is also important to observe where combinations of fences come after this so the rider is aware of the time period in which they have to regain control of the horse.
• Distractions – elements both inside and outside of the course that have the potential to divert a horse’s attention away from the competition. These include cameras, dogs, livestock, litter etc.

When a horse and rider are in training for cross country, it is important that both have a high level of cardiovascular fitness. A horse achieves this through training from the rider known as ‘conditioning’. It will be easier to condition a horse if it has been brought to peak fitness before, although how best to bring a horse to this level depends entirely on the individual. Some benefit more from speed work, other from distance or relief work. Most riders tend to vary the speed of work using a method called ‘interval training' that helps develop fitness.

The Horse
At the lowest levels, any horse can be trained to negotiate a simplistic cross country course. However, as you progress upwards, horses are required to be more agile, competitive, well trained and quick thinking as the course rapidly becomes more and more difficult to negotiate. With the correct training a horse may develop what is known in the trade as a ‘fifth leg’, ie: the ability to get themselves out of a potentially difficult situation such as after an unsuccessful jump or uncomfortable landing. Such a skill requires balance, knowledge and athletic ability.
The higher the level, the more complicated the fences become. At events such as badminton, one of the most popular fences is the ‘Mitsubishi motors’ fence, where two pick up trucks are back to back, with the aim being to jump through the middle.  It is therefore imperative that the horse is brave and willing with the ability to think for itself.
Furthermore, horses need to have a great scope when jumping fences. Although they never reach particularly towering heights (around 3”11), they are often very wide (wide spread oxers and ditches) and require control and commitment. Upper level horses also need to be able to achieve a high level of stamina and speed, hence the commonest breeds being warmbloods and thoroughbreds of a fairly substantial size (at top level, 16hh is considered small!), breed is considered secondary to athletic ability however.

Rules of the Cross Country Course
Elimination

• multiple refusals
• 3rd refusal or crossed tracks at one obstacle (this includes all the elements, eg: 5a, 5b and 5c)
• 4th cumulative refusal or crossed tracks on the entire course.
• Jumping obstacles in the wrong order
• Jumping a fence in the wrong direction
• Omission of an obstacle or combination
• Second fall of rider
• Fall of horse (mandatory retirement)
• Doubling the allowed time
• Overtaking another rider on the course dangerously
• Failure to come to a stop on the course when signalled to do so
• Deliberate obstruction of an overtaking rider
• Improper saddlery

Penalties

• first refusal or crossing tracks = 20 penalties
• second refusal or crossed tracks at the same obstacle = 40 penalties
• Speed faults (through wilful delay or travelling dangerously fast) = 20 penalties (in the USA, this can be grounds for elimination)
• Every second/fraction of a second above the optimum time = 0.4 penalties.

• Riders may dismount at any time on the course without penalty, but the dismount must not be related to an obstacle
• The only time a competitor may jump something twice in a row is if it is part of a combination and the second/third fence is impossible to jump without going over the first element again, eg: in a bounce jump.
• A horse is able to jump from a standstill if the fence does not exceed 30cm; otherwise it counts as a refusal under ‘prolonged halt’.
• A horse is allowed to step sideways or forwards, but any step back is considered a refusal.

Levels of Cross Country
Introductory and Pre-novice - prizes are awarded but no success points are received.
Novice
Intermediate
Advanced - points are awarded for the top finishers (the number of finishers receiving points depends on the number of competitors in the event).

A horse will accumulate points throughout its career (regardless of rider) and when a certain amount of points have been reached the horse is eligible to compete at the next level.
Exceptions to this are the 'open' classes, in which any horse can compete regardless of career success. A horse may also be allowed to compete in an event as hors concours, ie: not eligible to be placed or awarded prizes/points.