What happens if a rider or horse falls on the cross-country?
A · Advanced · Cross-country · 3 of 5Elimination, for a fall of either. A rider has fallen when separated from the horse so that they would need to remount. A horse has fallen when its shoulder and quarters touch the ground together, or when it is trapped in a fence. An eliminated rider must leave the course at once, at a walk.
How it works
- The penalty: "Fall of Athlete or Horse on Cross Country Course", elimination.
- A rider's fall: being "separated from their Horse in such a way as to necessitate remounting".
- A horse's fall: "both its shoulder and quarters have touched either the ground or the obstacle and the ground" at the same time.
- Trapped: a horse stuck in a fence so that it cannot go on without help, or might hurt itself, also counts as fallen.
- In difficulty: the fence judge tells the rider to dismount, and the pair is eliminated.
- Getting off on purpose: a rider may dismount voluntarily to check the horse or adjust equipment without being eliminated.
- Leaving: an eliminated rider "must walk their Horse off the course, either mounted or dismounted".
- Carrying on anyway: continuing after a fall or any elimination is dangerous riding.
- Afterwards: after any horse fall the rider has an interview with the ground jury or technical delegate.
- With another fault: a refusal or a broken frangible device in the same movement as a fall adds nothing to the score.
- Those behind: riders following are stopped with a red flag while the fence is cleared.
The glossary has the fall, elimination, cross-country, the horse inspection and the judges.
Tricky cases
A rider is unseated, lands on their feet still holding the reins and vaults back on. Is that a fall?
Yes. They were separated from the horse in a way that needed remounting.
A horse pecks on landing and goes down on its knees and nose but gets up. Is that a horse fall?
No, unless shoulder and quarters touched the ground at the same time.
A rider gets off to fix a slipped saddle and gets back on. Are they eliminated?
No. Dismounting voluntarily to adjust saddlery is allowed.
Can an eliminated rider canter back to the stables along the course?
No. They must walk the horse off the course.
Why the rule exists
Riders used to remount after a fall and finish, sometimes concussed and on a shaken horse. Elimination removed the temptation. Walking off, and the interview after a horse fall, are part of the same thinking: the fall is treated as something to understand, not something to ride through.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cross-country | A fall is elimination. Voluntary dismounting is allowed | FEI Eventing 548.1; FEI Eventing 545.4 |
| Eventing dressage and jumping tests | A fall is elimination | FEI Eventing 544.2.1; FEI Eventing 553.1 |
| Show jumping | The definition also covers needing support to get back in the saddle | ../jumping/ set |
From the rule book
Fédération Équestre Internationale, Eventing Rules 2026, articles 524.3, 525.1.1, 545.4, 545.6 to 545.8, 548.1 and 549.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FEI Eventing Rules 2026 (PDF).