Eventing: the Sport of Heroes
- Thread starter Blue439
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Blue439
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Looking in the same direction... A young female eventer on the show-jumping course. Nikon D3, Nikkor 200-400m, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
A rider (Geoffroy Soulez) in the ford on the cross-country course in Pau. Nikon D700, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
British rider Simon Grieve exiting that same ford. Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm, ƒ/2.8 G lens.
A rider (Geoffroy Soulez) in the ford on the cross-country course in Pau. Nikon D700, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
British rider Simon Grieve exiting that same ford. Nikon D3, Nikkor 24-70mm, ƒ/2.8 G lens.
Blue439
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The scariest and most heroic part of eventing is the cross-country stage, because the fences there are solid and will most definitely not yield like in show jumping if the horse hits them...(*) For this three-photo illustration taken at an international three-day event at Arville in Belgium in 2013, I have chosen a crocodile-shaped fence on the cross-country course. It is a solid tree trunk that will not budge, anchored atop a wall made of an equally solid material I cannot describe, as it is hidden by foliage.
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 24-70mm, ƒ/2.8 G.
You can see how it may look equally scary to horse and rider...
Nikon D3, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
... but when attacked with determination, it can and will be conquered!
Nikon D3, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
(*): at least, this is how it was. I was shocked to hear, during the recent 2024 Olympics in Paris (eventing is an Olympic sport) that it is no longer the case: fences now will apparently yield. I guess the principe de précaution has struck here once again: let us ban any and all risks from our lives, it will certainly make them more exciting... and if a war ever comes to us, we shall so much better prepared...
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 24-70mm, ƒ/2.8 G.
You can see how it may look equally scary to horse and rider...
Nikon D3, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
... but when attacked with determination, it can and will be conquered!
Nikon D3, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
(*): at least, this is how it was. I was shocked to hear, during the recent 2024 Olympics in Paris (eventing is an Olympic sport) that it is no longer the case: fences now will apparently yield. I guess the principe de précaution has struck here once again: let us ban any and all risks from our lives, it will certainly make them more exciting... and if a war ever comes to us, we shall so much better prepared...
Robin W
Senior Member
Wonderful photos!
Blue439
New member
Thanks Robin !
Blue439
New member
In eventing, cross-country courses have at least one body of water, sometimes two, to cross. Most times, it is some artificially created pond, but sometimes riders get to cross entire rivers, which is very spectacular, such as here, in Arville (Belgium):
Horses scare easily, which is why fords are always delicate to negotiate... even more so when there are fences in them to be jumped...! Riders sometimes can’t help but display a restrained instant of relief once they’re done with it.
Nikon D3, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II, handheld.
Horses scare easily, which is why fords are always delicate to negotiate... even more so when there are fences in them to be jumped...! Riders sometimes can’t help but display a restrained instant of relief once they’re done with it.
Nikon D3, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II, handheld.
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Blue439
New member
Typical English eventing: enormous crowds where in other countries, there are only precious few spectators, and countryside furniture on the cross-country course for style...
Some postures look very strange and ungracious, but this horse and its rider actually jumped the previous fence perfectly. I kept the photo because of the nice light (I think).
Some postures look very strange and ungracious, but this horse and its rider actually jumped the previous fence perfectly. I kept the photo because of the nice light (I think).
Blue439
New member
Eventing can be exhilarating after you cross the finish line...
... but until you do, it does require an enormous amount of concentration and focusing!
Both photos taken during an international three-day event at Radolfzell, Germany, around 2010. Nikon D3, Nikkor 70-210mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II or 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lenses.
... but until you do, it does require an enormous amount of concentration and focusing!
Both photos taken during an international three-day event at Radolfzell, Germany, around 2010. Nikon D3, Nikkor 70-210mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II or 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lenses.
Blue439
New member
Dressage is the first phase of a three-day event. Elegant, constrained and utterly indecipherable to the untrained eye (not to mention probably boring, unless you get passionately hooked for life right away!), it looks like the absolute antithesis of what eventing is about... Yet, it is the most important of the three phases, given how the ranking system works. If you come out of dressage in front, you are very likely to win the event... provided of course you make no mistakes in the other two stages: cross-country and jumping. Other riders will never be able to catch up on you, much less get ahead of you, even if they too make no mistakes...
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
“When I grow up, I wanna ride in eventing!”
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 70-200mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II lens.
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
“When I grow up, I wanna ride in eventing!”
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 70-200mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II lens.
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Blue439
New member
Unfortunate for all of them indeed, but as I said, no one was hurt. Riders do die, however, on the cross-country course, and so do horses sometimes... This is why I call eventing The Sport of Heroes...Great action shots but not so for the riders
Blue439
New member
Adversity, part II
Refusal before a fence. The rider was not dismounted, therefore he was allowed to try again, albeit with a penalty of course. And do you see what I mean when I say that, on the cross-country course, the fences are solid and will not yield?
Nikon D3, Nikkor 70-200mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR lens. Handheld.
This one is funny because it looks like the horse is going “Ooops!” while eyeing under himself the mistake he just made.
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II lens. Handheld.
Refusal before a fence. The rider was not dismounted, therefore he was allowed to try again, albeit with a penalty of course. And do you see what I mean when I say that, on the cross-country course, the fences are solid and will not yield?
Nikon D3, Nikkor 70-200mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR lens. Handheld.
This one is funny because it looks like the horse is going “Ooops!” while eyeing under himself the mistake he just made.
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II lens. Handheld.
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Blue439
New member
Adversity III...
This attitude may look precarious and ill-fated, but it is actually perfectly kosher and adequate to help the horse keep its balance after a jump-up.
Nikon D3, Nikkor 70-200mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II lens. Handheld.
This situation, however, is not kosher at all and what happens next will not be nice to see (I will not show it).
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 70-200mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II lens. Handheld.
This attitude may look precarious and ill-fated, but it is actually perfectly kosher and adequate to help the horse keep its balance after a jump-up.
Nikon D3, Nikkor 70-200mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II lens. Handheld.
This situation, however, is not kosher at all and what happens next will not be nice to see (I will not show it).
Nikon D3S, Nikkor 70-200mm, ƒ/2.8 G VR II lens. Handheld.
Blue439
New member
As your horse takes you over a fence, you don’t look at it. You look at the next one and anticipate/calculate the trajectory that will get you to it in the best possible manner. And so, this Spanish rider is doing exactly what she should be doing!
Both photos: Nikon D3S, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
When a horse dances...
Both photos: Nikon D3S, Nikkor 200-400mm, ƒ/4 G VR II lens.
When a horse dances...