Equestrian at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Team eventing
The team eventing in equestrian at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki was held from 30 July to 2 August. Only 33 of the 57 starters were able to finish the competition, with 19 being disqualified in the cross-country, 3 more retiring during that phase, and 2 being disqualified in the jumping. This left only 6 of the 19 teams with all three riders finishing.
Competition format
The team and individual eventing competitions used the same scores. Eventing consisted of a dressage test, a cross-country test, and a jumping test. Team eventing final scores were the sum of the three individual scores for riders from the same nation; a team that did not have all three riders finish did not place.
Dressage: The eventing competition featured a 12-minute dressage test. The maximum score was 400. Points could be lost for performance as well as time. Competitors losing more than 200 points were disqualified.
Cross-country: The cross-country test had five phases.
* Phase A: 7 km roads. Time allowed was 29 minutes, 10 seconds. Time penalties were 5 points per each 5 seconds or fraction thereof over the time limit.
* Phase B: 4 km steeplechase. Time allowed was 6 minutes, 40 seconds. Time penalties were 10 points per each 5 seconds or fraction thereof over the time limit. Time bonuses were 3 points per each 5 seconds or fraction thereof under the time limit. Obstacle faults were 20, 40, 60, or 80 points, or disqualification.
* Phase C: 15 km roads. Time allowed was 62 minutes, 30 seconds. Time penalties were 5 points per each 5 seconds or fraction thereof over the time limit.
* Phase D: 8 km cross-country. Time allowed was 17 minutes, 46 seconds. Time penalties were 10 points per each 5 seconds or fraction thereof over the time limit. Time bonuses were 3 points per each 5 seconds or fraction thereof under the time limit. Obstacle faults were 20, 40, 60, or 80 points, or disqualification. There were 34 obstacles.
* Phase E: 2 km flat. Time allowed was 6 minutes. Time penalties were 5 points per each 5 seconds or fraction thereof over the time limit.
Jumping: The jumping test had 12 obstacles and was set to a speed of 400 m/min. Time penalties were 0.25 pointsper second or fraction of a second over the time limit. Fault penalties were 10, 20, or points, or disqualification.