The Sport

What eventing is, and what it takes.

The Complete Test

Eventing is often called the complete test — and it earns that name. No other discipline asks as much of a horse across as many different kinds of work.

A single eventing competition spans three separate phases: dressage, cross country, and show jumping. Each phase rewards a different quality. A horse that shines in the dressage arena may struggle on cross country. A bold jumper may not have the precision the dressage requires. The horse that wins an eventing class is the one that does all three well — and that horse is genuinely rare.

In Mane & Tale, eventing horses are registered under the Eventing discipline and compete across a range of levels from Beginner Novice all the way to CCI 5★. The MTEA sanctions competition at every level and tracks points across the full game year.

The Three Phases

Dressage

The first phase. The horse works through a set test in the arena — a series of movements designed to demonstrate suppleness, obedience, and the quality of the paces. It is the quietest phase to watch and one of the hardest to do well. There is nowhere to hide in a dressage arena.

In Mane & Tale, the dressage phase rewards a horse's Dexterity above all else. A horse that moves with lightness and precision will always have the edge here.

Cross Country

The heart of eventing. Horse and rider travel a course of solid fixed fences across open terrain — water complexes, banks, ditches, combinations — designed to test boldness, athleticism, and trust between horse and rider. It is the phase that separates eventers from everyone else.

Cross country in Mane & Tale demands Endurance. A horse that can sustain its effort and its courage across the full course will always finish strong.

Show Jumping

The final phase — and a final test of horse and rider after everything that has come before. The fences are knockable, the course is technical, and a tired horse that loses focus can undo a good cross country round in a matter of seconds. Precision matters here, and so does the horse's freshness coming into the last phase.

In Mane & Tale, show jumping rewards Scope — the natural ability to clear height with ease. A horse with genuine scope makes the last phase look effortless.

The Levels

Eventing in Mane & Tale runs from grassroots to international level. A horse starts at the bottom and works up — you cannot enter a level your horse has not yet reached through training and competition.

Horses

Beginner Novice
The starting point. Simple fences, straightforward questions. Every eventer begins here.
Novice
A step up in boldness and scope. The fences get more interesting.
Training
Courses begin to ask more of the horse across all three phases.
Modified
A bridge level between Training and Preliminary.
Preliminary
The first serious test. Fences with genuine questions and combinations.
Intermediate
Upper level begins here. Requires a horse with serious ability across all phases.
Advanced
The pinnacle of national level competition.
CCI 1★
International level begins. A significant step in both scope and stamina.
CCI 2★
Established international competitors.
CCI 3★
The serious international stage.
CCI 4★
Elite international competition.
CCI 5★
The highest level in the sport. Very few horses reach here.

Ponies

Pony Beginner Novice
The starting point for ponies.
Pony Novice
Building experience and boldness.
Pony Training
More demanding questions across all phases.
Pony Modified
A bridge to the upper pony levels.
Pony Preliminary
The most demanding pony level — requires a genuinely talented pony.
Getting Started in M&T

If you want to compete in eventing in Mane & Tale, here is where to begin.

  1. Create or acquire an eventing horse. Breeds with strong Endurance and Scope stats will serve you well. Irish Sport Horses, Thoroughbreds, and Anglo Arabians are popular choices — but any horse can event if the stats are there.
  2. Assign the Eventing discipline on your horse's profile page and set their starting level to Beginner Novice.
  3. Enter an MTEA show when one is open. Check the Shows page for upcoming MTEA events, or browse the full show schedule in Mane & Tale.
  4. Earn points with each placing. Points accumulate across the game year and count toward MTEA Standings and End of Year awards.

Key Stats at a Glance
Dressage
Key stat: Dexterity
Cross Country
Key stat: Endurance
Show Jumping
Key stat: Scope
Popular Eventing Breeds
Irish Sport Horse
Purpose-built for the complete test.
Thoroughbred
Speed and endurance in abundance.
Anglo Arabian
Bold, athletic, versatile.
Hanoverian
Scope and consistency across phases.
Selle Français
French sport horse with natural athleticism.
Knabstrupper Sport
Striking and capable across all phases.