8 disciplines of which three are Olympic ones
The World Equestrian Games simultaneously bring together 8 disciplines on the same site.

Please note: horse-riding is the only Olympic and Paralympic sport where men and women take part in a unique competition and the male and female riders receive medals as well as the horses.  

Show jumping
This is an Olympic discipline and it is the leading one in France. The rider/horse couple must jump over between 12 and 13 obstacles in a given time, without touching any of them. Faults at obstacles are penalised by penalty points or in seconds in the event of a refusal, a fall or when several poles are knocked down.
This discipline requires the rider and his horse to be in perfect harmony as many factors such as the impulsion, the speed, the course and the number and the length of strides taken must be combined in order to achieve a clear round. The time taken by the riders to complete the course during a jump off will determine the winner among all of those who have clear rounds.

Eventing
Eventing is an Olympic discipline and it is compared to « an equestrian triathlon » as it includes three different tests which are spread over three days:
- A dressage test
- A « cross country » test, a magnificent event and the most selective by far. The competitors must jump over thirty or so natural, fixed obstacles spread out on an « all terrain » course, over a distance of more than 6,500m at an average speed of 570m/minutes.
- A show jumping tests
Eventing has military origins and was developed to test the endurance, the speed, the courage and the obedience of the armies’ horses. It is one of the most gruelling and most spectacular disciplines which demonstrates the horse’s speed, endurance, naturalness and its jumping ability.

Dressage
This is an Olympic discipline which is “judged” in a 60 x 20m arena. The rider performs a sequence of compulsory or freestyle movements and movements set to music. This is a harmonious discipline, which involves the horse’s elegance and natural balance and requires it to have a perfect understanding with its rider. Judging is essentially based on the horse’s attitude, its locomotion and the ease with which it performs the movements.

Endurance
Endurance competitions take place against the clock on a 160-km waymarked route with veterinary checks before, during and after the competition. The rider must know how to condition his horse to cover the distance as quickly as possible, by keeping it in perfect physical condition. The average speed of an endurance competition at the level of the WEG is about 19km/h! France is one of the best nations in the world in this discipline.

Driving
At the WEG only four-in-hand driving takes places and includes three competitions which are spread over three days:
- The dressage test: The driver and his team carry out a test during which the jury will evaluate the impulsion, the regularity of the gaits but also the cleanness and the general condition of the turnout.
- The marathon course: The competition consists of a sequence of several timed sections on a cross country marathon course. The last section is made up of natural and man-made obstacles: a water crossing, steep hills, chicanes, slopes and sharp turns… to be tackled in a precise order. Time is of the essence and the drivers must demonstrate their rapidity and precision.
- The obstacle or « cone-driving » course: It is carried out on a narrow, winding track which is outlined by cones which are topped with balls. Penalties points are given for every ball that is knocked over and for exceeding the time allowed.
The final ranking is determined by adding together the penalties points which have been given during the three competitions

Vaulting
Vaulting is practised individually and as a team. Vaulters must perform a programme of compulsory exercises and then a freestyle programme to music. The horse which is guided by the longeur, canters in a circle with a maximum diameter of 15 metres.  The horse is equipped with a surcingle, which has handles that provide the vaulter who is performing these exercises with a support.

Reining
This discipline, which comes from the United States, is the « queen » discipline of western-style riding. It is always carried out according to a reining « pattern » (a number of predetermined movements to be performed) with a sequence of compulsory movements : big circles (fast cantering), small circles (slow cantering), changing  of leg, roll-backs (a 180° turn) , spins (a 360° turn carried out over a stationary hind leg) and sliding stops (on the hind legs). The horse is judged on its precision, its docility, and the control and calm with which it performs the different compulsory manoeuvres one after another.

Para-equestrian dressage
Although Paralympic riders can practise show jumping, driving and dressage, the latter is the only discipline which is represented at the World Equestrian Games’ para-equestrian competitions.

The riders concerned are:
- Those who have spinal cord injuries and similar disabilities,
- Those who are amputees and have similar disabilities,
- Those who are visually impaired and partially sighted,
- Those who have cerebral palsy and similar conditions,
- Those who have a severe physical disability (using an specially equipped carriage called an « Equimobile », they can remain in their wheelchair while competing).