Cross Country Equestrian Association at the Grassroots

A thoroughbred has always been my favorite. They are the complete package - speed, stamina, athleticism, generosity and a fast mind that doesn’t tire. Those attributes made thoroughbreds well suited for the sport of Eventing, which was at the center of my life a quarter century ago. But there was change afoot in Eventing and the sport was about to transform itself.

Change was needed and I had many ideas. I envisioned a sport that cast off superfluous traditions and was rebuilt into an unambiguous competition that pushed participants to constantly improve their skills and athletic performance. There was plenty of room to increase the entertainment value of the sport which had it’s most exciting chapters bookended by a dull preface and a tedious afterword. There is a strong reciprocal correlation between appealing to a wider audience and increased accessibility, and I wanted the sport to go mainstream not boutique. Eventing chose the latter and I no longer saw a competitive future in it for me. However, those ideas had taken root.

In the following years I dabbled in racing and steeplechasing, but kept up with the changes in Eventing through teaching and coaching. Along the way I would ask questions and listen to what others had to say about the changing landscape of equestrian sports. Concurrently, those expansive ideas were growing into something even bigger - a brand new sport. It wasn’t until about four years ago that a few critical concepts appeared and this hypothetical exercise suddenly became real. Unsure of exactly what it was, I referred to it as “the new sport” and it mirrored the awkward development of our latest thoroughbred weanlings until it had evolved into something that could run.

The Cross Country Equestrian Association was launched in September 2023, and the first proof of concept competitions were held in Kentucky a month later. It was a modest launch but the enthusiasm and demand for this new sport of Cross Country Equestrian (CCE) competition is unequivocal.

CCE is a cross country based competition which has numerous formats that maximize the opportunity to participate for riders, horses and organizers. While the primary components involve jumping obstacles, others do not. This allows organizers and venues of all types to conduct CCE competitions which creates the selection for competitors to participate in the manner that best suits them. One of my key goals is for this sport to be accessible and inclusive. 

But CCE isn’t only about maximum participation, it has a sharp edge of competition. In this regard, access ensures that the contest is centered on the sport itself and the most skilled and capable rise to the top regardless of other resources.

CCE is an objectively scored sport - there are no opinions or bias from a judge, or trends or fashions influencing the contest. As a competitor, you score points by successfully jumping obstacles, and incur penalties for errors and exceeding the time allowed. The simple competitive goal is to finish with the highest score. 

There are three main components in CCE, and a competition may include one, two or three of these Stages. The EXR* stage resembles an endurance ride and may have some obstacles or athletic sections along the course. It should appeal to fox-hunters, endurance and trail riders, but is also perfect for conditioning. The CCR* stage is the primary component of CCE and resembles a cross-country course, but has some additional features and challenges. The JOR* stage is a hybrid of cross-country and show jumping with jump-off like portions, and may also include gallop section. 

CCE competitions range from a low-key schooling-type affair to a serious and extensive contest. A small competition may take similar time and effort to shipping in for a single class at a jumper show. The biggest competition is a three day, three stage, comprehensive test with an expanded CCR Stage, and is intended to be the focal point of the competition season.

The most unique feature of CCE is that every single obstacle on any course is optional. You can complete a CCE course without jumping a fence, but of course your score will reflect this. Optionality makes it possible for virtually anyone to participate and is the key that makes it allows every competitor to chose what is in their best interest. For many, that will involve passing the obstacles they would prefer not to attempt. For those ambitiously competing, optionality entails tactical choices on the course and strategic decisions for the competition.

While CCE is open to every breed, it requires speed, stamina, athletic ability, versatility and adaptability - so it is absolutely ideal for the thoroughbred. You will want to make sure your horse is well trained in dressage as this is the basis for adjustability and responsiveness, but you do not need impressive movement or a certain look. Likewise, jumping scope is advantageous but not critical. Instead it is more important to be able to quickly and efficiently negotiate the obstacles on the course. CCE also asks for considerably more horsemanship and rewards the well developed partnership, constantly improving the horse and rider and challenging them to execute better performances.

All-round athleticism gives the thoroughbred their impressive versatility, but traditional equestrian sports significantly favor only one or two specialist attributes, neither of which is speed or stamina. 

Now there is a sport that is designed for the thoroughbred because it tests the all-round athlete. A sport for my favorite horse and probably your favorite horse too.

As Winter arrives, we are working on setting up competitions in the south, but will soon announce dates for our local region, beginning as early as March. So be ready to mark your calendar and make plans to join a sport that is centered on the horse, gives you the choice and lets you really enjoy your horse.

* For more information including an explanation of the acronyms, visit the CrossCountryEquestrianAssociation.com website. Follow, join, get in touch and be part of making CCE the best equestrian sport ever.

By Nick Larkin -Nick Larkin won the inaugural Rolex Kentucky 3DE in 1998 with Red, a NZ thoroughbred. More recently he brought along another, a homebred thoroughbred Alex, to the Advanced level in Eventing. Nick also competes other thoroughbreds in dressage and jumpers. Nick and Jeannie Larkin live in Lexington, KY with their horses on Wainui Farm.