The riders in the team competition are also part of the individual event, along with 15 other riders who qualified through international championships. Only two entrants per nation from those qualifiers may enter. The individual event consists of three qualifying rounds and two final rounds. The team event is decided in the second and third qualifying rounds. A draw determines the starting order.
Riders starting later have the benefit of observing how the first riders handle the course.
Warm-up occurs in the schooling area about 20 minutes prior to the rider s turn. During the warm-up, the rider works the horse at a walk, trot and canter, trotting over low fences and then gradually increasing the height of the fences to simulate conditions on the course.