How is the overall result worked out in eventing, and how are ties broken?
B · Beginner · The three tests · 4 of 6The three penalty scores are added, and the lowest total wins. If two riders are level, the one with the better cross-country score is placed higher. A team is three or four riders, and its score is the total of its best three. A team member who does not finish counts as 200 penalties.
How it works
- Individual result: "the lowest total of penalty points from the three tests".
- First tie-break: the best cross-country score, counting obstacle, time and any other penalties.
- Second: the better dressage score.
- Third: the cross-country time closest to the optimum time.
- Fourth and fifth: the better jumping score, then the faster jumping time.
- Sixth: the better harmony mark in the dressage. After that the tie stands.
- Teams: "Teams will consist of either three or four Athletes."
- Team result: the lowest total "after adding together the individual final scores of the three highest placed Athletes in the team".
- A non-finisher: for the team result only, a member who fails to complete "will be awarded 200 penalty points".
- Team ties: decided by the best combined placings of the three counting riders.
- Disqualification: removes a rider and horse from the whole event, and can be applied afterwards.
The glossary has the final classification, the eventing team entry, the penalty points entry, cross-country and the optimum time.
Tricky cases
Two riders finish on the same total. One was better in dressage and the other across country. Who wins?
The one with the better cross-country score. Dressage is the second tie-break.
A team of four has one rider eliminated. Does the team still have a score?
Yes. The scores of the other three are added. The eliminated rider's 200 penalties would count only if they were needed as the third score.
A team of three has one rider eliminated. What is its score?
The two finishers' totals plus 200 penalties.
Can a tie remain unbroken?
Yes. If all six steps leave the riders level, the tie stays in the final classification.
Why the rule exists
Making the cross-country the first tie-break says which test the sport values most. The 200-penalty figure lets a team with only two finishers still get a result while making sure it finishes behind any team that brought three home.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eventing | Ties broken by cross-country first, no jump-off | FEI Eventing 528.1.6 |
| Pure jumping | A jump-off | ../jumping/ set |
| Teams | Best three of three or four | FEI Eventing 528.2.1 |
| Olympic Games | Team size and substitutions are in separate regulations, not read | FEI Eventing 501 |
From the rule book
Fédération Équestre Internationale, Eventing Rules 2026, articles 528.1, 528.2 and 528.3. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FEI Eventing Rules 2026 (PDF).