How does team show jumping work?

• What it is: "the official international team Competition", held at the events designated for it, with at least three nations.
• The team: "four Athletes each riding the same Horse throughout the Competition". A nation that cannot find four may enter three.
• Two rounds: "over the same course on the same day", under Table A and against the clock.
• The score: "the total Penalties of the three best Athletes of each team".
• Order of going: all the first riders in turn, then all the second riders and so on down the teams.
• The second round: the best six to ten teams come back, in reverse order of their first-round scores.
• Saving the last horse: if a team of four cannot improve its place once three have jumped, the fourth may be withdrawn.
• Two eliminations: if two or more of a team of four are eliminated or retire in a round, the whole team is eliminated in that round.
• A team of three: every score counts, and one elimination puts the team out of the round.
• A tie for first: a jump-off against the clock over at least six obstacles, with one rider from each team chosen by the team manager.
• Other ties: split by the combined times of the best three riders in the second round.
• No individual result: "there must be no individual placing".

The glossary has show jumping, the jump-off, the penalty points entry, the clear round and elimination.

Dropping one score means a team is not sunk by one horse having a bad day, which matters when the horses are animals and not machines. Jumping the same course twice rewards consistency, and sending the teams out in reverse order in the second round keeps the leaders until last.