AS with all three equestrian sports at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, there will be just three riders per team in eventing. However, the ‘alternate’ will perhaps be even more important in this attritional sport.

The dressage test is shorter than usual and written especially for the Olympic Games.

The cross-country phase takes place on Sea Forest Island next Sunday. The cross-country course, designed by Derek di Grazia, will be approximately eight minutes long due to the intense heat in Tokyo and will be held very early in the morning.

There will be two rounds of show jumping on the final day; everyone jumps the first round at a height of 1.25m to decide the team medals, before the top 25 combinations go forward to a second 1.30m round for the individual medals.

Substitutions – when can they be made and why?

Combinations can be substituted if eliminated, withdrawn or retired and the team incur a 20-point penalty. Changes are made for medical/veterinarian reasons only and cannot be tactical.

Substitutions are not allowed if the starting combination is eliminated for abuse of the horse or otherwise disqualified.

A pre-competition change up to two hours before the start of the first dressage competition does not incur any penalties. All reserve horses must also pass the horse inspection.

What are the penalties for not completing a phase?

A horse/rider combination will receive 100 penalties for failing to complete the dressage phase. Similarly, failure to complete the final show jumping phase will also earn them an extra 100 penalties. For a cross-country non-completion, combinations will be handed a hefty 200 penalties.

Those who fail to complete any one phase can continue in the team competition but will not go forward to the individual final; their score will count towards the team competition only. In addition, a substitution who comes into the team after the competition has started cannot compete for individual honours.

Friday, July 30th, 8.30am (12.30am Friday morning Irish time)

Dressage session 1

Friday, July 30th, 5.30pm (9.30am Irish time)

Dressage session 2

Saturday, July 31st, 8.30am (12.30am Friday morning Irish time)

Dressage session 3

Sunday, August 1st, 7.45am (11.45pm Saturday night, Irish time)

Cross-country

Monday, August 2nd, 5pm (9am Irish time)

Show jumping

Numbers

200 penalties for cross-country non-completion

100 penalties for dressage or SJ non-completion

20 penalties for a substitution

15 teams

3 riders per team