Horse trials are equestrian competitions that test a horse and rider's skills in three main disciplines: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. Each phase evaluates different abilities, with dressage focusing on precision and grace, cross-country emphasizing endurance and bravery over varied terrain, and show jumping assessing agility and accuracy over obstacles. Competitors are scored based on their performance in each discipline, and the overall winner is determined by the lowest cumulative score. Horse trials can vary in level, from beginner to advanced, and are popular events in the equestrian community, attracting both amateur and professional riders.