Eventing Cross Country – Rider Dress & Horse Tack Rules Explained
Cross Country Dress Rules for the Rider
When competing under British Eventing rules, there are a number of core dress rules stipulating what a rider must wear for the Cross Country phase of an event.
This handy guide has been compiled to help you get to grips with those rules, ensuring you arrive at your next competition knowing exactly what to wear for eventing cross country.
Once you've brushed up on this blog, why not check out further articles in our British Eventing series, including what to wear for eventing showjumping and what to wear for eventing dressage.
What to wear for cross country in affiliated eventing:
One of the key differences between the cross country phase and the other disciplines within eventing, are the stipulations around what safety wear must be worn. The risk of injury is much higher in cross country, as it involves jumping at high speed over solid cross country obstacles, therefore protective wear is at the forefront of the rules around what a rider can wear.
- Protective Headwear
Cross Country Protective Headwear is a ‘Jockey Skull’ of an elliptical or an even round shape with a slightly abrasive or smooth surface, which must not have a peak or peak type extensions. Cross Country Protective Headwear must be worn when mounted, this includes exercising, warming up or competing, and conform to the following standards;
To compete in British Eventing Competitions your riding hat needs to meet one of the following safety standards.
- PAS015 (2011) plus BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark
- VG01.040 2014-12 plus BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark
- BS EN1384:2023 (*with BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark)
- ASTM F1163: 2004a onwards plus SEI Mark
- SNELL E2001 or E2016
- AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards plus SAI Global Mark
All hats must be ‘hat tagged’ by a British Eventing official for compliance.
A removable hat cover with a light flexible peak may be used.
View our range of riding hats.
- Body Protectors and Air Jackets
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- A Body Protector is a mandatory requirement for Cross Country and must comply with the following requirements:
A British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) approved and appropriate labelled ‘Level 3 Body Protector’, manufactured in the year 2018 or after, or,
An Exo Body Cage which, if worn, must be declared at the Event Secretary prior to the Cross Country phase if worn.
Competitors are recommended to check their body protectors on a regular basis and if damaged they should be replaced.
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- Inflatable/air jackets must have a body protector underneath if worn on the cross country phase.
View our range of current standard body protectors and air jackets
- Rider Wear for Eventing Cross Country:
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- A sweater, shirt or cross country baselayer should be worn. Long sleeves are highly recommended for added protection. Shirts can be any colour.
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- Breeches can be a colour of your choosing. Most riders choose to wear a traditional pale colour, however some riders are now choosing to wear black, navy or even colourful breeches when competing.
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- Long Riding Boots, or jodhpur boots with self coloured gaiters, must be worn for the cross country phase.
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- Numbers must be clearly visible for the Cross Country phase.
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- Spurs are optional at all levels. Spurs must be made of smooth metal, blunt and incapable of wounding a horse. Metal spurs with round plastic, metal or rubber knobs are allowed. Rowel spurs which rotate freely and are round and smooth are permitted but not in the Young Horse Classes. Dummy spurs are permitted with a shank less than 4cm long and point towards the rear and if curved must point downwards.
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One Whip may be carried which must not be any longer than 75cm and not weighted.
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Jewellery if worn can increase the risk of injury. Competitors are strongly advised to remove all jewellery especially before the Showjumping and cross country phases. Long hair should also be appropriately secured.
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Tack Rules for the Horse
There are certain tack requirements for your horse when competing under British Eventing rules for the Showjumping phase. Here we explain a brief overview of what the British Eventing Rules and Members’ Handbook 2025 stipulates. In essence British Dressage and British Showjumping rules govern the dressage and showjumping tack phase except where modified British Eventing rules apply – Rule 7.19.7.
- Saddles
An English or Continental style saddle with a pommel, cantle and flaps. This includes treeless saddles. Side saddles are not allowed. The saddle should be either black or brown, navy and grey in colour.
A gel pad/memory foam or sheepskin seat is permitted as long as it is unobtrusive and matches the colour of the saddle.
Unless a dispensation had been granted, velcro straps from the girth to the stirrup iron or a mechanical means of fixing the rider’s boot to a stirrup iron is not permitted.
- Bridles
The horse must wear a conventionally fitted bridle with a bit, noseband and browband. The reins are to be attached to the bridle via the bit. The bridle colour is predominately black or brown (again navy and grey are also permitted). Discreet padding on the noseband and headpiece/poll area is permitted. Padding is not permitted on the cheek piece area or the front of the noseband.
- Bits:
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- A snaffle bridle can be worn in the cross country phase for all levels. Permitted snaffle bits include:
- An ordinary plain straight bar or jointed centre snaffle
- Ordinary snaffle with double-jointed mouthpiece including French link and with a lozenge
- D Ring Racing snaffle
- Egg-butt snaffles with or without cheeks
- Snaffle with upper cheeks only
- Rubber, leather, plastic or steel unjointed or jointed snaffles
- Hanging cheek snaffle
British Eventing Rule 7.19.7 allows competitors to use any normal jumping bit, Pelham, American or continental gag, hackamore and any form of bitless bridle. Reins may be attached to leather ‘D’ rings. Competitors may not use a Market Harborough or a curb rein which passes through the rings of a running martingale. Stirrup leathers must hang outside the flap of the saddle.
British Eventing has produced a table which defines the saddlery that is permitted, not permitted or compulsory at each phase.
| Riding In Exercise Areas | Lungeing | Dressage Tests | Show Jumping & Cross Country | |
| Bit guard & tongue guard | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Nose net | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Ear covers *1 | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Ear plugs | N | Y | N | N |
| Fly fringe | Y | Y | N *3 | N *3 |
| Face masks *6 | NOT PERMITTED IN JUMPING PHASES | |||
| Snaffle bridle/ Micklem multi-bridle/ST-Zaum/Freeflex/Stubben Freedom/PS of Sweden High Jump/ PS of Sweden Jump off/ Collegiate Comfitec/ Jeffries Gentle Bridle/Grackle. Bridles must be used with a permitted bit, without bit clips and with a throatlash | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Double bridle | Y | Y | N *4 | Y |
| Running and Irish martingale | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Bib martingale | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Side, running reins and chambons | N | Y | N | N |
| Neck strap | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Soft Hand Hold/Balancing Strap *8 | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Boots, Bandages *7 | Y | Y | N | N |
| Equiboots/Hoofboots | Y | Y | N | N |
| English style saddle | COMPULSORY | |||
| Flash, crossed (incl. grackle/Mexican) or dropped noseband only with snaffle bridle | PERMITTED | |||
| Cavesson noseband | PERMITTED *2 | |||
| Breast plate | PERMITTED | |||
| Blinkers | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Tongue Strap and/or tying down the horse’s tongue | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Draw reins | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Standing martingale | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Any other form or martingale or gadget | NOT PERMITTED | |||
| Leather/sheepskin or similar material may be used on cheek pieces of the bridle providing the material does not exceed 3cm in diameter measured from the horse's cheek | NOT PERMITTED IN DRESSAGE | |||
| Sheepskin noseband *5 | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Coloured stirrups | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Body bandage/spur pad | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Stirrups which can be attached by magnets or other means to riders’ boots | NOT PERMITTED | |||
Source: British Eventing Members Handbook 2025
*1 Ear Covers / Protective Fly Hoods are permitted and may provide noise reductions. The ear covers should be discreet in colour and design. Ear covers may not be attached to the noseband.
*2 Compulsory with a double bridle
*3 Only permitted if specially authorised for all competitors in exceptional climatic conditions by a BE Steward
*4 Double bridles are only permitted at Intermediate Novice and above for dressage
*5 Sheepskin shall not be used on a Grackle/X noseband other than on the crossover section.
*6 Equivizor is permitted for riding on the flat only. Lenses must be clear.
*7 All boots must be smooth inside without lumps, protrusions, or a rough surface.
*8 Soft Hand Hold/Balancing Strap - can only be attached by buckles (no clips).
*9 Nosebands - Only one (1) noseband at any one time, of permitted design and in unmodified manufactured condition, can be worn during any phase of the competition.
At Eland Lodge, we host British Eventing dates throughout the year - why not check out our events calendar and get signed up, whether it is your first BE event or you are a seasoned pro!