Eventing — Glossary

Every Eventing term explained in plain language: technique, equipment, rules and slang – with tips on avoiding the classic mistakes.

Bascule (Movement)

The rounded arc a horse makes over a fence, lifting back and neck instead of going across flat and stiff. It only happens with a free poll.

Cow Sense (Slang)

Barn shorthand for a horse's ability to anticipate a cow's next move: it reads ears, head carriage and weight shifts, and reacts before you do.

Distance (Strides Between Fences) (Rule)

The gap between two fences, measured in canter strides: three strides is roughly 14–15 m, four 17.5–18.5 m, five 21–22 m, six 24.5–25.5 m.

Eye Line (Cheat code)

Look where you want to ride, not at the neck: shoulders, pelvis and weight follow your eyes automatically — your seat corrects itself without you doing a thing.

Half-Halt (Movement)

A brief, coordinated impulse from seat, leg and rein that rebalances the horse before a new demand — and is ended immediately by yielding.

Training Scale (Rule)

The six-step map of horse training: rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness, collection. The whole sequence aims at one thing — throughness.

General

Terms from training theory that apply in every sport.

1RM (One-Repetition Maximum) (Rule)

The maximum weight you can move for exactly one clean repetition. The reference value behind almost every training plan.

BMR & TDEE (Rule)

BMR is your basal metabolic rate at complete rest; TDEE is total daily expenditure including everyday movement and training. Nutrition targets always work off TDEE.

Cadence (Movement)

Steps per minute when running, or pedal revolutions when cycling. For most runners, 170–180 steps per minute sits in the sweet spot.

Core Tension (Movement)

Active stabilisation of abdomen, back and pelvis — the bridge that lets force travel between legs and arms at all.

Deload (Cheat code)

A deliberately lighter week with volume or intensity clearly reduced, so adaptation can catch up.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) (Cheat code)

Delayed muscle soreness 12–72 hours after unfamiliar load. Not a measure of training quality.

Knee Valgus (Movement)

The knees collapsing inward during squats, jumps and landings. One of the key risk markers in technique analysis.

Progressive Overload (Cheat code)

The one principle no training works without long-term: the stimulus has to grow over time, otherwise adaptation stops.

RIR (Reps in Reserve) (Rule)

How many clean reps you had left at the end of a set. RIR 2 means two more were available.

RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) (Rule)

A scale for perceived effort. In strength training it usually runs 1–10, where RPE 8 means you had two more reps in the tank.

Zone 2 (Aerobic Base) (Cheat code)

The easy endurance zone where you can still hold a conversation in full sentences. The base of almost every endurance plan.