Equestrian Sports

Equestrian sports developed out of the various uses of horses in history, including military warhorses, hunting horses, and working cattle horses. Today there are two main categories of equestrian sports: "English" and "Western".

English Riding

English riding is largely descended from the hunting and warhorse traditions of Europe. Classical dressage developed in Greece and in cavalry units, and showjumping, cross country and hunt seat riding developed from the foxhunting traditions of English nobles. Today three different disciplines are competed in the Olympic Games.

Showjumping or Stadium Jumping

Possibly the most famous discipline of riding, showjumping requires speed, fast turns and high jumps. It is held in a standard arena with a "course" or jump sequence specified as well as a maximum time. Going over the time earns you time faults, knocking down poles incurs more and falling off is A Very Bad Thing and gets you disqualified. Riders would usually rather rack up a couple of time faults than knock down a pole because time faults are much less serious than pole faults. A round where no poles come down is called a "clear" round: if more than one rider goes clear there will be a jump-off and whoever goes clear fastest (or has the fewest faults fastest) wins the competition. Horses can earn thousands of dollars in top levels of competition.

Hunter Jumping

Whereas show-jumping focuses on speed and power, hunter jumping focuses on form, discipline, and teamwork. The jumps are no more than three-and-a-half feet high, so there are quite simply no excuses for sloppy riding here. The horse and rider are judged on how well they work together, how well they cleared the jumps, and if they completed the course within the time limit. Falling off is still a Very Bad Thing (and will disqualify you) and points are still deducted for knocking down poles.

Dressage

Developed out of Spanish and Austrian military discipline, dressage is elegant, refined and depends on the rider's ability to control the horse with virtually no visible signals. Riders enter the arena, bow, and ride a pattern of circles, serpentines (S-shaped figures) and straight lines to demonstrate their horse's obedience. Higher levels require lead changes (switching which forefoot leads every canter stride): the inside foot must always be leading and a change of direction requires a lead change. In addition internationally competitive horses do a move known as a "tempi" - the horse swaps leads every or every other stride and appears to be skipping. Another famous move, the piaffe, is the horse trotting in place and takes years to train.

Three-day Eventing

Three-day eventing is a combination of showjumping, dressage and cross-country riding over three separate days. Cross-country is similar to showjumping insofar as there is a time limit and horses go over jumps, but the jumps are usually solid (in a contest between a stadium jump and a horse, the horse wins; in cross-country it's the other way around), involve water and hills, and courses are usually much longer. This is usually the most difficult phase and is generally held on the second day of competition.

Western Riding

Western riding developed out of the working cattle ranches of the American West. Although no Western riders compete in the Olympics, due to the sport largely being confined to the United States and Australia, reining has recently been added to the World Equestrian Games. The National Reining Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association, National Paint Horse Association and National Cutting Horse Association are affiliated governing bodies and between the four of them largely govern Western riders.

In recent years reining has seen an absolute explosion in growth, becoming quite popular in Western Europe - indeed, the woman widely considered to be the world's best dressage rider, Anky van Grunsven, has recently begun competing in reining. Should Western events ever be added to the Olympics, this is likely to be the first to make it in.

Reining

Reining is often referred to as "Western Dressage" and the name is apt, as it serves largely the same purpose: to demonstrate the obedience and ability of the horse. Reiners ride patterns, usually figure eights and circles, and demonstrate their ability to lengthen and shorten a horse's stride, swap leads "on the fly" and change direction. Reiners are known for two other moves: spins, in which the horse sets back on a hind foot and spins very fast many times in a circle; and sliding stops, where the horse will plant its back feet under its hindquarters and literally slide to a stop. World-class horses can slide for thirty feet or more - roughly halfway across the arena. Rollbacks, another famous move, involve the horse sliding to a stop, pivoting 180 degrees on a hind foot and galloping off the other direction.

Cutting

Demonstrates the abilities of the horse to cut (separate) a cow or calf from the herd and prevent it from rejoining for a given length of time. This discipline has obvious roots in stock management and requires a horse with agility, intelligence, and good balance. Ideally the rider will loosen the reins and give no direction once the animal has been cut from the herd. Good horses can not only read the animal's body language (a trait known as "cow sense") and be ready to counter any swerve or plunge, but will work with style, energy, and evident enjoyment.

Roping

Demonstrates the ability of the rider to rope and tie a calf in a maximum time - usually done with two people on a team.

Rodeo

Rodeo covers bucking horse contests and similar disciplines, as well as gymkhana-style events, such as barrel racing and pole weaving, which are largely contested by women and seem to be nothing so much as an agility test for the horse. Rodeo and gymkhana are often the most colorful and exciting of all Western riding disciplines and can draw huge crowds in the American West.

Western Pleasure

Should demonstrate that a horse is "a pleasure" to ride: riders wear colorful and often glittery clothes, unlike reiners and cutters, and make it a point to go as slow as possible at a walk, jog and lope. The rider should not look like he or she is doing any work.

Popular Breeds For Equestrian Sports

Just about any horse can be used for any of these competitions; some breeds, however, are better than others for certain competitions. For show-jumping, where the jumps are often up to six feet high, you're going to need a tall horse, like a Hanoverian or Dutch Warmblood. Three-day eventers need a horse with a strong constitution; Arabians, Barbs, and Thoroughbreds are popular choices here. Western riders tend to favor colorful horses, like paints, Appaloosas, and palominos; gaited breeds, like Tennessee Walkers, Saddlebreds, and Rocky Mountain Horses are specifically bred for Western riding. And then there are breeds who can do any and all of these disciplines. The most popular horse in the world is the American Quarter Horse; thanks to their build (strong hindquarters, deep chests, and long necks) and extremely pleasant personalities, Quarter Horses are suited to almost every discipline imaginable (though, as they tend to be on the small side, they're not often seen in show-jumping arenas). Similarly, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and most warmblood breeds are popular in many disciplines, and for short riders, taller pony breeds like the Connemara are more than capable of clearing hunter-jump obstacles. And then there are breeds who can do any and all of these disciplines. The most popular horse in the world is the American Quarter Horse; thanks to their build (strong hindquarters, deep chests, and long necks) and extremely pleasant personalities, Quarter Horses are suited to almost every discipline imaginable (though, as they tend to be on the small side, they're not often seen in show-jumping arenas). Similarly, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and most warmblood breeds are popular in many disciplines, and for short riders, taller pony breeds like the Connemara are more than capable of clearing hunter-jump obstacles.

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