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In the olympics, why2007-11-24 21:17:44

The Three-Day event was conceived as the ultimate test of a cavalry horse and its rider, including the three disciplines that were supposed to test all the activities that a cavalry officer and his mount might have to engage in during their military careers: Dressage to simulate mounted parade drill; the jumping to simulate the kind of schooling a horse might undergo in training; and the cross-country part to simulate the kind of riding that a cavalry officer might have to do in a wartime situation as a courier or to get to place where cavalry was needed. (Remember that the cross-country phase of Three-day event includes a roads and tracks phase and a steeplechase, as well as the cross-country jump course.)

The idea was that the three different equestrian contests would serve as venues for cavalry officers to compete in during different phases of their careers: the Three-day event for young officers who were hardy enough to be in active service and likely to see action on horseback during a war; the jumping, for officers who had been promoted beyond active front-line service to a strategic or training position; and dressage for older officers who were no longer expected to face the daily risks of jumping but who had the years of experience necessary to train a dressage horse.

Nowadays we forget what the Olympics-- and to some extent, the world-- was like when the modern Olympics were first staged in the 1890's. Back then, equestrian competitions were largely the province of the military; people with money and the desire to spend it on horses engaged in activities like foxhunting and racing, not in showing or competing in horse shows. The horse show as such is a relatively modern invention, and competition among civilians on an international level didn't really begin until after World War II.

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Having a cross country alone wouldn't make much sense, and this is why it isn't done. It doesn't provide enough of a test by itself. Read the answer above mine for more information about the real purpose of the 3 day event at the Olympics, and you will understand better.