How has eventing changed?

[Velvet82]

I recently watched some eventing footage from the 70's and I was wondering if anyone could tell me how the eventing horses have changed over the decades? As in, what breeds were favoured then?
Just thought it would be quite interesting to find out

 

[spacefaer]

Eventers in the 70s were TBs, TB x, ISHs - basically classy hunter types.... there were very few warmbloods eventing at top level as the modern warmblood sport horse hadn't been invented then.

With a massive and sweeping generalisation, the European sport horse was much improved by the addition of TB blood - it was developed from a heavier, carriage driving type and has been significantly lightened in type. Having bred for trainability, rideability, power, scope, carefulness and movement, you now have the modern warmblood, which excels in all disciplines.

The top event horse breeders of the 80s - Sam Barr of the Welton Stud, the Scotts of the Brendon Hill Stud - had quality partbred mares to put to their almost TB stallions - have a look at stallions like Welton Louis or Ben Faerie

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Also the breeds and types changed with dropping the long format. Looking at my 1989 Badminton programme shoes the XC day was so much more than that... Phase A 3 miles at trot, Phase B was the steeplechase, just under two miles to be run at similar speed to a slow P2P. phase C and you were back on roads and tracks, this time for over 6 miles, again a steady trot. By the time you arrived at the ten minute box you'd been riding for one hour ten minutes!

The winner that year was Master Craftsman, placings went to King Boris, The Irishman, Glenburnie, McDuff III, Welton Apollo, Get Smart, Murphy Himselt (blimey, what a stocking Badders that was!). Glenburnie was a pure TB but off the top of my head I don't think any of the others were.

I would conclude that you needed a horse that was capable of more than just the XC. It had to stay steady enough to complete the roads and tracks without blowing up, but had to be able to gallop on for the steeplechase... It needed stamina.

 

[Velvet82]

Eventers in the 70s were TBs, TB x, ISHs - basically classy hunter types.... there were very few warmbloods eventing at top level as the modern warmblood sport horse hadn't been invented then.

With a massive and sweeping generalisation, the European sport horse was much improved by the addition of TB blood - it was developed from a heavier, carriage driving type and has been significantly lightened in type. Having bred for trainability, rideability, power, scope, carefulness and movement, you now have the modern warmblood, which excels in all disciplines.

The top event horse breeders of the 80s - Sam Barr of the Welton Stud, the Scotts of the Brendon Hill Stud - had quality partbred mares to put to their almost TB stallions - have a look at stallions like Welton Louis or Ben Faerie

I'll have a look at those stallions now, thanks!

Also the breeds and types changed with dropping the long format. Looking at my 1989 Badminton programme shoes the XC day was so much more than that... Phase A 3 miles at trot, Phase B was the steeplechase, just under two miles to be run at similar speed to a slow P2P. phase C and you were back on roads and tracks, this time for over 6 miles, again a steady trot. By the time you arrived at the ten minute box you'd been riding for one hour ten minutes!

The winner that year was Master Craftsman, placings went to King Boris, The Irishman, Glenburnie, McDuff III, Welton Apollo, Get Smart, Murphy Himselt (blimey, what a stocking Badders that was!). Glenburnie was a pure TB but off the top of my head I don't think any of the others were.

I would conclude that you needed a horse that was capable of more than just the XC. It had to stay steady enough to complete the roads and tracks without blowing up, but had to be able to gallop on for the steeplechase... It needed stamina.

Also really helpful, thank you!

 

[glamourpuss]

Back then the dressage was a lot simpler & definitely less influential.
Horses capable of only mediocre tests went on to become champions, so there wasn't the need to find anything flashy or big moving.
Nowadays to be in with a shout there has to be a really good dressage test at the start. I know a 4* rider who recently sold an amazing horse, scope & ability to burn.....buy just didn't have the trot to do it justice at the top level.

 

[gunnergundog]

I was eventing in the 70s.....at top level, long format ensured it was mainly TBs or 7/8ths. Lower down the levels, there was room for the 'classy hunter' as Spacefaer labelled them! The lowest level was of course then Novice......no 80, 90 or 100. Courses had fewer jumping efforts due to fewer combinations; fences were not technical as you see today, but they were big and scary and required determined riding. There were few island fences - most were set in hedgerows and natural features (banks, open ditches etc) were more evident. Dressage was a necessary evil and the competitions were won by jumpers; to be honest I was often grateful just to remain in the arena on one particular horse!