AEC Program

2025 AEC PROGRAM 52 SCORING FOR EVENTING Each of the three phases is scored separately. Each phase's "penalty score" is carried forward to the next phase, for a final total at the end of the competition. As in golf, the competitor with the lowest score wins. DRESSAGE: In dressage, each horse and rider in the division perform the same "test." A dressage test is a prescribed set of movements that merge into each other. The judges will reward a test that looks effortless, where the horse moves rhythmically and in balance, showing strength and suppleness, while responding almost imperceptibly to his rider's requests. Each movement in dressage is scored separately, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. There are also four collective marks, which assess the horse's gaits, impulsion, submission, and the rider's position, on the same 1 to 10 scale. The points for all of the movements and collective marks are called "good marks." If there is an error of course or test (meaning a movement is skipped, done in the wrong order, done at the wrong place, rider turned left instead of right, etc.), penalty points are assessed. After the test is completed, the good marks are added up, and then any error penalties are subtracted from that amount, to give a total of good marks. That total is then divided by the maximum good marks obtainable. (For example, if the test has 16 movements plus the four collective marks, the total good marks obtainable would be 200.) This number is then multiplied by 100, and rounded to two decimal digits. This value is then shown as the individual mark for that judge. If there is more than one judge, all of the judge's individual marks are added together and averaged. Then in order to get a penalty score, which is the score used for purposes of the competition, the judge's individual mark (this averaged amount) is subtracted from 100. This penalty score is then carried forward to the next phase, cross-country. CROSS-COUNTRY: Thankfully, the scoring for the final two phases is somewhat simpler to understand. On cross-country, the objective is to successfully jump all obstacles on course (in the correct order), and cross the finish line under the optimum time. This requires the horse to be fit, agile, and brave and for the rider to decide the proper speed on course and the best route to, and between, the fences. There are two types of penalties: jump and time. Jumping penalties are assessed as either a disobedience or a fall. Disobedience means that the horse approached the fence but did not jump it, either by running out (scooting out to either side of the fence) or refusing (stopping in front of the fence). Two disobediences are allowed at one obstacle. If there is a third disobedience at

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