How many points is a fall to the ground penalized in equine judging?

In equine judging, a fall to the ground is treated with the utmost severity due to the potential dangers it poses for both the horse and rider. Therefore, when assessing performance, a fall results in a score of zero. This means that the competitor receives no points for that particular run or ride because a fall indicates a major safety concern and a failure to maintain control. This policy underscores the importance of rider safety and the horse's well-being in competition situations. Other forms of penalties, like points deducted for specific errors or missteps, do not carry the same level of consequence as a fall does, which is why the score is effectively reset to zero in such instances.