1.
Jumping (horse)
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Jumping plays a major role in many equestrian sports, such as show jumping, fox hunting, steeplechasing, and eventing. The biomechanics of jumping, the influence of the rider, the airborne phase of the jumping process occurs between stance phases of the fore and hind limbs and is therefore biomechanically equivalent to a highly suspended or elevated canter stride. For this reason, horses typically approach obstacles at the canter, the jumping process can be broken down into five phases, The approach is the final canter stride before the jump, during which the horse places all four legs for the optimal take-off. The horse reaches forward and down with his neck to lower the forehand, the forelegs are propped or strutted out in front of the body. This relatively sudden braking action allows momentum to carry the hindlegs further under the body of the horse than would be otherwise possible, while the action is more fluid, it is mechanically similar to the act of crouching down before jumping. The take-off begins when the forelegs leave the ground and is completed when the hindlegs leave the ground. Once the horse leaves the ground, he is unable to influence the trajectory that his center of mass follows through the air, most of the energy required to clear an obstacle is produced by the hind legs. Power is produced by the compression of the hindleg, which flexes at the hip, stifle, hock, and fetlock, during flight, the horses center of mass follows a parabolic trajectory over which it has no control. The horse can change the position of its legs and body in relation to the center of mass, however, the bascule is the horses arc over the fence. A horse with a good bascule makes a jump and helps the horse jump higher. The forelegs are drawn up towards the body and the hindlegs are retroflexed out away from the body to clear the obstacle, during flight, the rider has little impact on the actual trajectory of the horses body. Foals frequently change leads when jumping, the horse lands first with the trailing foreleg, and then with the lead foreleg. The landing places a great deal of strain on the forelegs, during the first stride after the jump, the horse re-balances itself. Horses sometimes react to discomfort or high emotion during the recovery, jumping is a very strenuous activity that places high physical demands on the horse. Most injuries, chronic or acute, begin with strain, as structures in the body absorb the shock of take-off and landing. Over time, this leads to inflammation of the tendons. The most common injuries in the forelimb occur to the ligaments and the superficial digital flexor tendons and less commonly. Strain on the superficial digital flexors is greater when jumping higher fences, the effects of jumping on the hind legs can include injuries to the proximal, medial, or lateral branches of the suspensory ligaments
2.
International Federation for Equestrian Sports
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The International Federation for Equestrian Sports is the international governing body of equestrian sports. The FEI headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland, an FEI code of conduct protects the welfare of the horses from physical abuse or doping. Jumping, Dressage and Eventing have been a part of the Olympics since 1912, para-Equestrian Dressage has been part of the Paralympic games since 1996. The FEI has organized the FEI World Equestrian Games every four years since 1990, the idea of the World Equestrian Games came into being in the mid-1980s and was strongly supported by HRH Prince Philip, who was then FEI President. The WEG encompasses the World Championship titles in all the FEI global disciplines, the FEI World Cup is an indoor series and takes place throughout the world with qualifying leagues leading to a final in each of the disciplines. The FEI World Cup series began with Show jumping in 1978 and has since extended to the disciplines of Dressage. Today, there are 134 National Equestrian Federations affiliated with the FEI, there have been 13 different presidents of the organization. Major Jhkr Karl F. Quarles van Ufford is the individual to have served twice. Nowadays, a President can serve for a maximum of two terms, since 2014, the President of the FEI is Ingmar De Vos from Belgium. Official website FEI TV, Official Video Website Official Facebook Page
3.
Horse
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The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus. It is an ungulate mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature, Eohippus, into the large, humans began to domesticate horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC. Horses in the subspecies caballus are domesticated, although some domesticated populations live in the wild as feral horses. There is an extensive, specialized vocabulary used to describe equine-related concepts, covering everything from anatomy to life stages, size, colors, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behavior. Horses anatomy enables them to use of speed to escape predators and they have a well-developed sense of balance. Related to this need to flee from predators in the wild is an unusual trait, female horses, called mares, carry their young for approximately 11 months, and a young horse, called a foal, can stand and run shortly following birth. Most domesticated horses begin training under saddle or in harness between the ages of two and four and they reach full adult development by age five, and have an average lifespan of between 25 and 30 years. There are more than 300 breeds of horse in the world today, horses were historically used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control. Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, humans provide domesticated horses with food, water and shelter, as well as attention from specialists such as veterinarians and farriers. Specific terms and specialized language are used to describe equine anatomy, different life stages, colors, depending on breed, management and environment, the modern domestic horse has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years. Uncommonly, a few animals live into their 40s and, occasionally, the oldest verifiable record was Old Billy, a 19th-century horse that lived to the age of 62. In modern times, Sugar Puff, who had listed in Guinness World Records as the worlds oldest living pony. The exception is in endurance riding, where the age to compete is based on the animals actual calendar age. The following terminology is used to describe horses of various ages, Colt, a common terminology error is to call any young horse a colt, when the term actually only refers to young male horses. Filly, A female horse under the age of four, foal, A horse of either sex less than one year old. A nursing foal is sometimes called a suckling and a foal that has been weaned is called a weanling, most domesticated foals are weaned at five to seven months of age, although foals can be weaned at four months with no adverse physical effects. Gelding, A castrated male horse of any age, mare, A female horse four years old and older
4.
Horse tack
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Tack is a piece of equipment or accessory equipped on horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals. Saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses, martingales, equipping a horse is often referred to as tacking up. A room to store equipment, usually near or in a stable, is a tack room. Some western saddles will also have a second strap known as a flank or back cinch that fastens at the rear of the saddle, there are many types of saddle, each specially designed for its given task. Saddles are usually divided into two categories, English saddles and Western saddles according to the riding discipline they are used in. Other types of saddles, such as racing saddles, Australian saddles, sidesaddles and they provide greater stability for the rider but can have safety concerns due to the potential for a riders feet to get stuck in them. If a rider is thrown from a horse but has a foot caught in the stirrup, to minimize this risk, a number of safety precautions are taken. First, most riders wear riding boots with a heel and a smooth sole, next, some saddles, particularly English saddles, have safety bars that allow a stirrup leather to fall off the saddle if pulled backwards by a falling rider. Other precautions are done with stirrup design itself, Western saddles have wide stirrup treads that make it more difficult for the foot to become trapped. A number of saddle styles incorporate a tapedero, which is covering over the front of the stirrup that keeps the foot from sliding all the way through the stirrup. The English stirrup has several variations which are either shaped to allow the riders foot to slip out easily or are closed with a very heavy rubber band. The invention of stirrups was of historic significance in mounted combat. Bridles, hackamores, halters or headcollars, and similar equipment consist of arrangements of straps around the horses head. A halter or headcollar consists of a noseband and headstall that buckles around the horses head and allows the horse to be led or tied. The lead rope is separate, and it may be short for everyday leading and tying, or much longer for tasks such as for leading packhorses or for picketing a horse out to graze. Some horses, particularly stallions, may have an attached to the lead rope. Most of the time, horses are not ridden with a halter, as it offers insufficient precision and control. In Australian and British English, a halter is a rope with a running loop around the nose and another over the poll
5.
Olympic Games
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The Olympic Games are considered the worlds foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating. The Olympic Games are held four years, with the Summer and Winter Games alternating by occurring every four years. Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece, Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894, leading to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896. The IOC is the body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure. The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th and 21st centuries has resulted in changes to the Olympic Games. The IOC has had to adapt to a variety of economic, political, as a result, the Olympics has shifted away from pure amateurism, as envisioned by Coubertin, to allowing participation of professional athletes. The growing importance of mass media created the issue of corporate sponsorship, World wars led to the cancellation of the 1916,1940, and 1944 Games. Large boycotts during the Cold War limited participation in the 1980 and 1984 Games, the Olympic Movement consists of international sports federations, National Olympic Committees, and organising committees for each specific Olympic Games. As the decision-making body, the IOC is responsible for choosing the host city for each Games, the IOC also determines the Olympic programme, consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games. There are several Olympic rituals and symbols, such as the Olympic flag and torch, over 13,000 athletes compete at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games in 33 different sports and nearly 400 events. The first, second, and third-place finishers in each event receive Olympic medals, gold, silver, the Games have grown so much that nearly every nation is now represented. This growth has created numerous challenges and controversies, including boycotts, doping, bribery, every two years the Olympics and its media exposure provide unknown athletes with the chance to attain national and sometimes international fame. The Games also constitute an opportunity for the host city and country to themselves to the world. The Ancient Olympic Games were religious and athletic festivals held every four years at the sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia, competition was among representatives of several city-states and kingdoms of Ancient Greece. These Games featured mainly athletic but also combat such as wrestling. It has been written that during the Games, all conflicts among the participating city-states were postponed until the Games were finished. This cessation of hostilities was known as the Olympic peace or truce and this idea is a modern myth because the Greeks never suspended their wars. The truce did allow those religious pilgrims who were travelling to Olympia to pass through warring territories unmolested because they were protected by Zeus
6.
Equestrian at the Summer Olympics
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Equestrianism made its Summer Olympics debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It disappeared until 1912, but has appeared at every Summer Olympic Games since, the current Olympic equestrian disciplines are Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping. In each discipline, both individual and team medals are awarded, women and men compete together on equal terms. Equestrian disciplines and the component of Modern Pentathlon are also the only Olympic events that involve animals. The horse is considered as much an athlete as the rider, the International Governing Body for equestrian sports is the Fédération Équestre Internationale. The 1924 Olympics were the first at which equestrian competitions were held under the authority of the FEI, equestrian events were first held at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, although it did not include any of the disciplines seen today. There were 4 different equestrian events, the polo competition consisted of 4 teams made up of players from Britain, France, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. Grand Prix Jumping, which was similar to show jumping event, for which 45 competitors entered. The first and second place was taken by riders from Belgium, while a French rider, Louis de Champsavin, on his mount Terpsichore, got the third place. However, Constant van Langendonck and Extra Dry were able to clinch the gold in the Long Jump competition, clearing a distance of 6.10 meters. Trissino and Oreste won the silver, clearing 5.70 meters, equestrian competition was dropped from the 1904 Olympic Games, and owed its return to Count Clarence von Rosen, Master of the Horse to the King of Sweden, for bringing it back. The 1906 IOC Congress agreed to his proposal to add dressage, eventing, however, due to problems with the newly formed International Horse Show Committee, they were not introduced until the 1912 Games in Stockholm and only a polo event was held in 1908. These three disciplines would be held at every Summer Olympic Games through to the present day, in 1952, however, all men were permitted to compete in all equestrian disciplines, and women were permitted to compete in Dressage. Women were later permitted to compete in Jumping in 1956 and in Eventing in 1964, since then, equestrianism has been one of the very few Olympic sports in which men and women compete with and directly against one another. Following the 1900 Olympic Games, polo would be held an additional 4 times, at the 1908 London Games, the 1920 Antwerp Games, the 1924 Paris Games, the 1908 Olympics had just 3 polo teams, all representing Great Britain. The 1920 Games included a team from Belgium, Great Britain, Spain, and it was not until 1924, after Argentina sent a team to Paris, that the gold changed hands. Argentina also won gold at the 1936 Olympic Games, vaulting was only held once, at the 1920 Antwerp Games. Vaulting included both a team and a competition, with the entrants having to perform movements at the canter and at the halt
7.
English riding
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English riding is a form of horse riding seen throughout the world. There are many variations, but all feature a flat English saddle without the deep seat, saddles within the various English disciplines are all designed to allow the horse the freedom to move in the optimal manner for a given task, ranging from classical dressage to horse racing. Riders generally post or rise to the trot, English riding is promoted in organizations for youth, such as Pony Club, and is the basic style of riding seen in the various events at the Olympics. English saddles also are used by many pleasure riders for everyday riding, the major subdivisions of the English riding genre are, Forms of competition and exhibition seen throughout the world. This is the style most commonly associated with the term English riding, the other major style is Saddle seat, a discipline created in North America to exhibit dramatic, high-stepping breeds of horses. Saddle seat style riding is seldom seen outside North America, though it has a following in South Africa. In North America, dressage sometimes is loosely lumped into the hunt seat category by Saddle Seat and non-English riders, at some shows, a sidesaddle division is offered as well. Equestrianism English saddle Bridle Horse show United States Equestrian Federation International Federation for Equestrian Sports Equestrian helmet
8.
Equestrianism
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Equestrianism, more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding, refers to the skill of riding, driving, steeplechasing or vaulting with horses. This broad description includes the use of horses for practical working purposes, transportation, recreational activities, artistic or cultural exercises, Horses are trained and ridden for practical working purposes such as in police work or for controlling herd animals on a ranch. They are also used in sports including, but not limited to, dressage, endurance riding, eventing, reining, show jumping, tent pegging, vaulting, polo, horse racing, driving. Some popular forms of competition are grouped together at horse shows, Horses are used for non-competitive recreational riding such as fox hunting, trail riding or hacking. There is public access to trails in almost every part of the world, many parks, ranches. Horses are also used for therapeutic purposes, both in specialized paraequestrian competition as well as non-competitive riding to improve health and emotional development. Horses are also driven in harness racing, at shows and in other types of exhibition, historical reenactment or ceremony. In some parts of the world, they are used for practical purposes such as farming. Horses continue to be used in service, in traditional ceremonies, police and volunteer mounted patrols. Riding halls enable the training of horse and rider in all weathers as well as indoor competition riding, though there is controversy over the exact date horses were domesticated and when they were first ridden, the best estimate is that horses first were ridden approximately 3500 BC. Indirect evidence suggests that horses were ridden long before they were driven, however, the most unequivocal early archaeological evidence of equines put to working use was of horses being driven. Chariot burials about 2500 BC present the most direct evidence of horses used as working animals. In ancient times chariot warfare was followed by the use of war horses as light, the horse played an important role throughout human history all over the world, both in warfare and in peaceful pursuits such as transportation, trade and agriculture. Horses lived in North America, but died out at the end of the Ice Age, Horses were brought back to North America by European explorers, beginning with the second voyage of Columbus in 1493. Humans appear to have expressed a desire to know which horse were the fastest. Gambling on horse races appears to go hand-in hand with racing and has a history as well. Thoroughbreds have the pre-eminent reputation as a breed, but other breeds also race. Under saddle, Thoroughbred horse racing is the most popular form worldwide, in the UK, it is known as flat racing and is governed by the Jockey Club in the United Kingdom
9.
Dressage
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Dressage is a highly skilled form of riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an art sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the Olympic Games, at the peak of a dressage horses gymnastic development, the horse responds smoothly to a skilled riders minimal aids. The rider is relaxed and appears effort-free while the horse performs the requested movement. The discipline has a history with ancient roots in the writings of Xenophon. Much about training systems used today reflects practices of classical dressage, in modern dressage competition, successful training at the various levels is demonstrated through the performance of tests, prescribed series of movements ridden within a standard arena. A score of 9 is very good and is a high mark, all riding horses can benefit from use of dressage principles and training techniques. The most popular horse breeds seen at the Olympics and other international FEI competitions are warmblood horses bred for dressage, in classical dressage training and performances that involve the airs above the ground, the baroque breeds of horses are popular and purposely bred for these specialties. There are two sizes of arenas, small and standard, each has letters assigned to positions around the arena for dressage tests to specify where movements are to be performed. Cones with letters on them are positioned on the sidelines of the arena for reference as to where a movement is to be performed. The small arena is 20 by 40 m and is used for the levels of eventing in the dressage phase. Its letters around the edge, starting from the point of entry. Letters also mark locations along the line in the middle of the arena. Moving down the line from A, they are D-X-G. The standard arena is 20 by 60 m, and is used for tests in both dressage and eventing. The standard dressage arena letters are A-K-V-E-S-H-C-M-R-B-P-F, the letters on the long sides of the arena, nearest the corners, are 6 m in from the corners, and are 12 m apart from each other. The letters along the line are D-L-X-I-G, with X again being halfway down the arena. There is speculation as to why these letters were chosen, most commonly it is believed because the German cavalry had a 20 × 60-meter area in-between the barracks which had the letters posted above the doors. At the start of the test, the horse enters the arena at an opening at A, ideally this opening is then closed for the duration of the test, however, this is not always logistically possible, particularly at smaller competitions with few volunteers
10.
Eventing
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Eventing is an equestrian event where a single horse and rider combination compete against other combinations across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding, Eventing was previously known as Combined Training, and the name persists in many smaller organizations. The term Combined Training is sometimes confused with the term Combined Test which refers to a combination of just two of the phases, most commonly dressage and show jumping. Eventing is a triathlon, in that it combines three different disciplines in one competition set out over one, two, or three days, depending on the length of courses and number of entries. This sport follows a format in Australia, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom. The test is judged by one or more judges who are looking for balance, rhythm, suppleness, and most importantly, obedience of the horse and its harmony with the rider. The challenge is to demonstrate that a fit horse, capable of completing the cross country phase on time, also has the training to perform in a graceful, relaxed. The tests may not ask for Grand Prix movements such as piaffe or passage, therefore, if one movement is poorly executed, it is still possible for the rider to get a good overall score if the remaining movements are very well executed. The marks are added together and any errors of course deducted, if all four feet of the horse exit the arena during the test, this results in elimination. If the horse more than 20 seconds during the test. This phase consists of approximately 12–20 fences, or 30–40 at the higher levels, sometimes, particularly at higher levels, fences are designed that would not normally occur in nature. However, these are designed to be as solid as more natural obstacles. Safety regulations mean that some obstacles are now being built with a frangible pin system, speed is also a factor, with the rider required to cross the finish line within a certain time frame. Crossing the finish line after the optimum time results in penalties for each second over, at lower levels, there is also a speed fault time, where penalties are incurred for horse and rider pairs completing the course too quickly. For every disobedience a horse and rider incur on course, penalties will be added to their dressage score, after four disobediences altogether or three disobediences at one fence the pair is eliminated, meaning they can no longer participate in the competition. A horse and rider pair can also be eliminated for going off course, if the horses shoulder and hind-quarter touch the ground, mandatory retirement is taken and they are not allowed to participate further in the competition. If the rider falls off the horse they are eliminated, however, in the US this rule is currently being revised for the Novice level and below. The penalties for disobediences on cross country are weighted relative to the other phases of competition to emphasize the importance of courage, endurance
11.
Show hunter
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The hunter-jumper division is a branch of competitive horseback riding that is judged on the horses performance, soundness and when indicated, conformation, suitability or manners. A show hunter is a horse that competes in this division, Show hunters, ideally, show many qualities that were rewarded in the fox hunting field such as manners, fluid movement, and correct jumping style. They are shown in hunt seat style tack, and are often of Warmblood or Thoroughbred type, in the United States, show hunters are primarily exhibited over fences, with a few additional classes offered for horses shown in-hand or on the flat. In the United Kingdom, competition over fences is called Working Hunter, the show hunter should have a balanced frame, where they are ‘round’ in their top line and ‘on the bit’ softly. They should have a long, sweeping step that covers maximum ground per minimum effort, ideally, the majority of the movement occurs from the horses shoulder and hip, and there is minimal flexion in the horses joints. The frame of the show differs from that of dressage horses, eventers. Its frame is more stretched out than horses competing in dressage, eventing, or show jumping, but the horse should not be on its forehand. The riders of show hunters often ride on a slightly looser rein than seen elsewhere to facilitate this type of movement, Although the horse is in a long and low frame, it should still be able to collect its stride when asked. The horse must also be proficient at lengthening its canter stride while maintaining its tempo. The walk of the hunter is free and ground-covering, the trot should be balanced. The canter should be moderately collected, the horse should have a long galloping stride, but it should still be balanced and rhythmic. A good show hunter must possess an excellent jumping form, the forearm should be parallel or higher with the ground, and the knees and lower legs should be even. The horse should not be lazy with its legs, but should tuck them under its forearm as it clears the fence, clearly bending its fetlocks. The horse should not throw its body or legs to one side, a good show hunter should show a great bascule, or roundness over a jump. This is often described as the taking the shape of a dolphin jumping out of the water, with the horses back up. Show hunters are well groomed for show, clean with a shiny coat, the horse is to be bathed before the competition, with special attention paid to white markings. Depending on the level of show, show hunters may need to be braided, horses are to be braided on the right side of the neck for hunters with yarn that matches the color of the mane. Braids are to be small, neat, and tight, lower level shows do not require braiding, however higher rated shows frown upon unbraided horses and might penalize for their informality
12.
Equitation
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Equitation is the art or practice of horse riding or horsemanship. More specifically, equitation may refer to a position while mounted. In horse show competition, the rider, rather than the horse is evaluated, such classes go by different names, depending on region, including equitation classes, rider classes, or horsemanship classes. The performance of the horse is not judged per se, but a poorly performing horse is considered to reflect the ability of the rider, Equitation classes occur in the Hunt seat, Saddle seat, Dressage, and Western disciplines. In the United States, the largest organizer of equestrian competitions is the United States Equestrian Federation, the organization offers equitation classes at its recognized shows, including those in hunt seat, dressage seat, saddle seat, and Western. The hunt seat style of riding is derived from the hunt field and it is correct for the riders to have a light and steady contact with their horses mouth the entire ride. Incorrect leads, break of pace, and wrong diagonals are penalized, loss of a stirrup or dropping the reins are also faults, and may be cause for elimination. In over fences classes, the competitor rides over a course of at least six jumps. Equitation over fence classes rarely have fences higher than 3 feet 6 inches, classes for more accomplished riders may require at least one flying lead change, and one or more combinations. The rider is judged not only on position and effectiveness of riding aids and these championships and their qualifying classes may include bending lines, roll back turns, narrow fences, and fences with a long approach to test the rider. Fences must be at least 36 and may be up to 5 wide, the course may include liverpool or open water elements, depending on the class specifications. Equitation tests may be chosen by the judge to place the top riders. These tests are required in the medal classes, riders may also be asked to switch horses at higher levels of competition, such as at a national final. Switching of horses is no longer common at competitions, usually only championships. Today it is seen most often at horse shows organized for exhibitors of the American Saddlebred, Morgan, Arabian, Tennessee Walking Horse, and it is also sometimes seen in competition for Andalusian horses. There are open and breed-specific national championships as well as a championship held every other year. Gaits shown in Saddle Seat classes include the walk, trot, some competitions may call for extended gaits, particularly the trot. In some cases, breeds who can perform five gaits add equitation classes that require two additional gaits, the gait and rack. All classes require Rail work, where competitors show and are judged as a group going both ways of the arena, Saddle seat equitation may include individual tests or a pattern to be ridden
13.
Horse show
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A horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels, most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer for major, all-breed events or national and international championships in a given discipline or breed. At the other end of the spectrum, Pony Club is an international movement that teaches young people riding skills suitable for eventing. To help develop positive experience and good sportsmanship, Pony Clubs also sponsor horse shows open only to people under the age of 18. Various nations also have their own programs for developing young equestrians, Horse shows in Australia are governed by Equestrian Australia, Show Horse Council of Australia and different breed societies. Much of the development of the show horse discipline was developed over the last 40 years by Fran Cleland through her involvement with the Equestrian Federation of Australias Victorian branch, the governing body for Equestrian activities in Canada is Equine Canada. In the United Kingdom there is a difference between horse competitions such as dressage or eventing and horse shows. Horse shows provide an opportunity for riders and owners to exhibit their animals without taking part in any of the Olympic disciplines, classes are divided into ridden and in-hand sections and there are many different classes for different horses and ponies. For example, there are classes for Mountain and moorland pony breeds, show hunters, show hacks, equitation, and various show pony classes. Many clubs hold riding club classes, where a horse or pony must perform a short show, most shows also include show jumping and working hunter sections. The British Horse Society oversees many shows at national, regional and local level as does the Pony Club, the British Show Pony Society, breed societies, particularly those that look after the Welsh pony and the Arabian horse also organise their own shows. At local, unaffiliated level, riding clubs across Britain organise regular shows, the newly formed Showing Council is working towards officially overseeing all horse shows. The Olympic equestrian disciplines are overseen by the British Equestrian Federation, however, there are several subdivisions within the federation. Dressage competitions are held separately from regular shows, and are overseen by British Dressage. Show jumping competitions are overseen by the British Showjumping Association, while one-day and three-day eventing are overseen by British Eventing, the United States Equestrian Federation is the American national body for equestrian sport and as such is also the recognized entity overseeing the Olympic-level United States Equestrian Team. It also organizes and sponsors horse shows for many horse breeds who wish to utilize the testing, judge certification. In addition, it sanctions events in disciplines and lower-level competitive areas that are not internationally recognized, such as show hunter, however, there are still some multi-day, all-breed events that feature multiple breeds and disciplines. There are a range of equestrian events available and specific offerings range widely by nation
14.
United States Equestrian Federation
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The United States Equestrian Federation is the national governing body for most equestrian sports in the United States. It began on January 20,1917, as the Association of American Horse Shows, in 2001, the organization changed its name to USA Equestrian and, in 2003 it merged with the United States Equestrian Team. In 2017, USEF rebranded as US Equestrian, US Equestrian keeps track of yearly points accumulated at individual horse shows throughout the year and gives awards based on these points at the end of the year. Horse shows governed under the USEF are given an AA, A, B, Shows with an AA rating are the most prestigious and often offer the most prize money, whereas shows with a C rating are more local, usually awarding less prize money. Competitions recognized by the USEF must follow its rules and bylaws and their intention was to unite in order to assure clean competition in the show ring. They formed the Association of American Horse Shows, which by its first annual meeting on January 29,1918, the association incorporated in June 1918. Membership grew to list 35 member shows in 1919, and 67 shows by 1924, by the time of Mr. Vanderbilts death in 1925, the organization had enrolled almost 70 shows as members of the organization. Maclay was the individual elected president. Early in his term, in 1927, the association printed its first set of rules, the rules were revised continually and have been added to throughout the history of the association. When Maclays term ended in 1936, membership included 183 shows, maclay was followed by Pierre Lorillard as president. He served a year before Mr. Adrian Van Sinderen was elected, under Van Sinderen, the office was relocated to 90 Broad Street in Manhattan. By the end of Van Sinderens tenure in 1960, the book had grown to one hundred. The need for show stewards, representatives of the association to be present at and it was not until the 1948 rule book that stewards were written in, however, and not until the 1960 rule book that licensing of stewards was in place and recognized in the rules. In February 1933 the original name, the Association of American Horse Shows, Inc. was changed to the American Horse Shows Association, at the same meeting, individual members were recognized in addition to show members. The transfer of membership took place after the 1936 Summer Olympics, and after that, in the United States, by this time, AHSA membership had grown to include 183 members and shows. By 1937, the new rule book reflected the growth of the association by dividing the United States into five zones, each with a vice president and a five-member regional committee. In 1939, the association began publication of the magazine, Horse Show. By this time there were 187 recognized shows, and 800 individual members, in 1960, the association began sending licensed stewards to each affiliated show to report and verify that the show was following the associations rules
15.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
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British Showjumping Association
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The British Showjumping Association or BSJA is the Great Britain governing body for the equestrian sport of showjumping. It provides the competitors for Team GBR in international competition and sets the rules under which affiliated competitions are held and it is one of the 16 organisations which form part of the British Equestrian Federation. In 2013, former Olympic bronze medallist David Broome was appointed BSJA president
17.
Great Britain
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Great Britain, also known as Britain, is a large island in the north Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of 209,331 km2, Great Britain is the largest European island, in 2011 the island had a population of about 61 million people, making it the worlds third-most populous island after Java in Indonesia and Honshu in Japan. The island of Ireland is situated to the west of it, the island is dominated by a maritime climate with quite narrow temperature differences between seasons. Politically, the island is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, most of England, Scotland, and Wales are on the island. The term Great Britain often extends to surrounding islands that form part of England, Scotland, and Wales. A single Kingdom of Great Britain resulted from the union of the Kingdom of England, the archipelago has been referred to by a single name for over 2000 years, the term British Isles derives from terms used by classical geographers to describe this island group. By 50 BC Greek geographers were using equivalents of Prettanikē as a name for the British Isles. However, with the Roman conquest of Britain the Latin term Britannia was used for the island of Great Britain, the oldest mention of terms related to Great Britain was by Aristotle, or possibly by Pseudo-Aristotle, in his text On the Universe, Vol. III. To quote his works, There are two large islands in it, called the British Isles, Albion and Ierne. The name Britain descends from the Latin name for Britain, Britannia or Brittānia, Old French Bretaigne and Middle English Bretayne, Breteyne. The French form replaced the Old English Breoton, Breoten, Bryten, Breten, Britannia was used by the Romans from the 1st century BC for the British Isles taken together. It is derived from the writings of the Pytheas around 320 BC. Marcian of Heraclea, in his Periplus maris exteri, described the group as αἱ Πρεττανικαὶ νῆσοι. The peoples of these islands of Prettanike were called the Πρεττανοί, Priteni is the source of the Welsh language term Prydain, Britain, which has the same source as the Goidelic term Cruithne used to refer to the early Brythonic-speaking inhabitants of Ireland. The latter were later called Picts or Caledonians by the Romans, the Greco-Egyptian scientist Ptolemy referred to the larger island as great Britain and to Ireland as little Britain in his work Almagest. The name Albion appears to have out of use sometime after the Roman conquest of Britain. After the Anglo-Saxon period, Britain was used as a term only. It was used again in 1604, when King James VI and I styled himself King of Great Brittaine, France, Great Britain refers geographically to the island of Great Britain, politically to England, Scotland and Wales in combination
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Show hunter (British)
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The show hunter is a type of show horse commonly seen at equestrian events across Britain. The British show hunter is primarily on the flat, while the working hunter must also jump a series of rustic fences. The governing body that oversees show hunter horses is Sport Horse Breeding, horses competing in SHB affiliated ridden and in-hand hunter classes must be registered with Sport Horse. Horses competing in unaffiliated classes do not need to be registered, Show hunter ponies are overseen by the British Show Pony Society. Show hunter horses are divided into three weight sections - lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight, the lightweight hunter should be able to carry up to 12 st 7 lb, stand around 16 to 16.2 hands and have about 8 1⁄2 inches of bone under the knee. The middleweight hunter stands around 16.3 hands, can carry between 12 st 7 lb and 14 st and has 8 3⁄4 to 9 inches of bone. The heavyweight stands around 17 hands, has 9 inches of bone under the knee and is capable of carrying over 14 st, in addition to the three weight sections, hunters may compete in small hunter, ladies hunter or working hunter classes. The small hunter must look like a miniature middleweight, the maximum height is 15.2 hands, and small hunters should have relatively short legs with a deep body. The ladies hunter may be small, lightweight, middleweight or heavyweight and it should have an elegant appearance, perfect manners and give a smooth ride. Show hunter horses should be shown with plaited and ears, faces. Between nine and 13 plaits is traditional, although the number may vary depending on the horses conformation, tails may be pulled or plaited, although most professionals prefer to pull. Tack should be workmanlike, with bridles having a flat noseband, handlers should wear tweed jackets, shirt and tie, buff or canary breeches and black leather boots with garter straps. Show hunters should have a straight, ground-covering movement with little knee action and they should be able to show a good gallop, and come back to canter when asked. Working hunters can be of any of the classes, but are expected to jump a course of natural-looking fences in addition to performing the usual short show on the flat. Working hunter tack also varies from traditional rules, martingales, flash nosebands and grackle nosebands are permitted, although in the event of a tie-break, the horse wearing more traditional, simple tack will win. Plain black or brown boots are allowed in the jumping phase only, riders may wear body protectors in the jumping phase only. Show hunter pony classes were first introduced in 1984, ponies are shown in height classes - up to 12 hands 12 to 13 hands,13 to 14 hands, and 14 to 15 hands. Ponies over 148 cm but under 158 cm may enter Intermediate Show Hunter Type classes, which are open to riders under the age of 25
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Bit (horse)
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It rests on the bars of the mouth in an interdental region where there are no teeth. It is held on a head by means of a bridle and has reins attached for use by a rider. Although there are hundreds of variations, the basic families of bits are defined by the way in which they use or do not use leverage. They include, Direct pressure bits without leverage, Snaffle bit, Uses a bit ring at the bit mouthpiece to apply pressure on the bars, tongue. Leverage bits, Curb bit, A bit that uses a type of lever called a shank that puts pressure not only on the mouth, pelham bit, A single curb bit with two sets of reins attached to rings at the mouthpiece and end of the shank. Partly combines snaffle and curb pressure, kimblewick or Kimberwicke, A hybrid design that uses a slight amount of mild curb leverage on a bit ring by use of set rein placement on the ring. The port or straight piece goes inside the mouth, and the circular part lies under the jaw, the bit is attached to separate head piece or the head collar and the lead is clipped onto the bit and headcollar to limit the severity. Types of headgear for horses that exert control with a rather than a bit are usually called hackamores. The riders of early domesticated horses probably used some type of bitless headgear made of sinew, leather, components of the earliest headgear may be difficult to determine, as the materials would not have held up over time. For this reason, no one can say with certainty which came first, there is evidence of the use of bits, located in two sites of the Botai in ancient Kazakhstan, dated about 3500-3000 BC. Nose rings appear on the equids portrayed on the Standard of Ur, to date, the earliest known artistic evidence of use of some form of bitless bridle comes in illustrations of Synian horseman, dated approximately 1400 BC. The first bits were made of rope, bone, horn, metal bits came into use between 1300 and 1200 BC, originally made of bronze. In modern times, nickel was a favored material until about 1940, copper, aurigan and sweet iron are incorporated into some bits to encourage salivation in the mouth of the horse, which encourages a softer mouth and more relaxed jaw. Bits also can be made of materials such as rubber or plastic. A bit consists of two components, the bit mouthpiece that goes inside the horses mouth, and the bit rings of a snaffle bit or shanks of a curb bit, to which the bridle. Particular mouthpieces do not define the type of bit, the mouthpiece of a horses bit is the first factor most people think of when assessing the severity and action of the bit. Therefore, it is considered when choosing a bit for a horse. Many mouthpieces are not allowed in certain competitions, Bit mouthpieces may be single jointed, double-jointed, mullen, or have an arched port in the center of varying height, with or without joints
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Bridle
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A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse. As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, the bridle includes both the headstall that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit. Headgear without a bit that uses a noseband to control a horse is called a hackamore, or, in some areas, a bitless bridle. The bridle consists of the elements, Crownpiece, The crownpiece, headstall or headpiece goes over the horses head just behind the animals ears. It is the strap that holds the remaining parts of the bridle in place. Cheekpieces, On most bridles, two cheekpieces attach to either side of the crownpiece and run down the side of the face, along the cheekbone. On some designs, the crownpiece is a strap that includes the right cheek and crownpiece as a single unit. Throatlatch, the throatlatch or throatlash is usually part of the piece of leather as the crownpiece. It runs from the right ear, under the horses throatlatch. Browband, The crownpiece runs through the browband, the browband runs from just under one ear of the horse, across the forehead, to just under the other ear. In certain sports, such as dressage and Saddle seat, decorative browbands are sometimes fashionable, noseband, the noseband encircles the nose of the horse. It is often used to keep the mouth closed, or to attach other pieces or equipment. Because it has a separate headstall, a cavesson can be adjusted with greater precision, in Saddle seat riding, the cavesson is often brightly colored and matches the browband. Variations on the standard English-style bridle are often named for their style of noseband, for use in polo, a gag bridle usually has a noseband plus a cavesson. Frentera, a running from the browband to the noseband. Fiador, a form of throatlatch, is used with a hackamore, reins, The reins of a bridle attach to the bit, below the attachment for the cheekpieces. The reins are the link to the horse, and are seen on every bridle. Reins are often laced, braided, have stops, or are made of rubber or some other material to provide extra grip
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Crop (implement)
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A crop, sometimes called a riding crop or hunting crop, is a short type of whip without a lash, used in horse riding, part of the family of tools known as horse whips. A modern crop usually consists of a shaft of fiberglass or cane which is covered in leather, fabric. The rod of a crop thickens at one end to form a handle, the thin end is intended to make contact with the horse, whilst the keeper prevents the horses skin from being marked. The handle may have a loop of leather to help secure the grip or a mushroom on the end to prevent it from slipping through the riders hand. The length of a crop is designed to allow enough leverage for it to be accelerated rapidly with a flick of the wrist without causing the rider balancing problems. Thus, a crop is relatively short. The term whip is a common term that includes both riding crops as well as longer types of horse whips used for both riding and ground work. A whip is a slower than a crop, mostly due to having slightly greater length. However, care must be not to desensitize the animal to the stimulus. Dressage whip is a whip, longer than a crop. Weapon Crops can be carried as a weapon, in the Sherlock Holmes series of novels and short stories, Holmes is occasionally said to carry one as his favourite weapon. Specifically, it is a hunting crop. Such crops were sold at one time, loading refers to the practice of filling the shaft and head with a heavy metal to provide some heft. Fetishism Crops may sometimes be employed by sado-masochistic tops as an implement to tame their sexual partner, art deco sculptor Bruno Zach produced perhaps his best known sculpture—called The Riding Crop —which features a scantily clad dominatrix wielding a crop
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Spur
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A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids and to back up the natural aids, the spur is used in many equestrian disciplines. There are rules in most equestrian organizations about spur design, use and this very old word derives from Anglo-Saxon spura, spora, related to spornan, spurnan, to kick, spurn, cf. Medieval High German Sporn, modern German Sporn, Dutch spoor, Frisian spoar. The generalized sense of anything that urges on, stimulus is recorded in English from circa 1390, the parts of a spur include, The yoke, branch, or heel band, which wraps around the heel of the boot. The shank or neck, which extends from the back of the yoke and is the area that touches the horse, the rowel, seen on some spurs, a revolving wheel or disk with radiating points at the end attached to the shank. Spurs are usually held on by a leather or leather-like strap, called a spur strap, some western designs have a leather strap that goes only over the top, with a heel chain or a rubber tiedown instead of a strap under the boot. There are also styles with no straps where the band is simply very tight. Due to the prong, such spurs can only be worn with appropriately equipped boots and this construction is shown in the illustrations of the swan neck and Waterford spurs below. The shank angle from the yoke can vary from full, to one half, to one quarter to straight. Some cowboys also added small metal Pajados, also known as Jingo Bobs or Jingle Bobs, near the rowel, rowels can vary in size and number of points. In the history of science, the word rowel described a small disk of leather or other material that was used as a seton stitch. The spur was used by the Celts during the La Tène period, the spur also existed in the medieval Arab world. Early spurs had a neck that ended in a point, called a prick, prick spurs had straight necks in the 11th century and bent ones in the 12th. The earliest form of the horsemans spur armed the heel with a single prick, in England, the rowel spur is shown upon the first seal of Henry III and on monuments of the 13th century, but it does not come into general use until the 14th century. The earliest rowels probably did not revolve but were fixed, the spurs of medieval knights were gilt and those of squires were silvered. To win his spurs meant to gain knighthood, as gilded spurs were reckoned the badge of knighthood, in the rare cases of ceremonious degradation, the spurs were hacked from the disgraced knights heels with the cooks chopper. The English named the French rout from Thérouanne as the Battle of the Spurs, prick spurs were the standard form until the 14th century, when the rowel began to become more common. The prick design never died out entirely, but instead became a thicker, shorter neck with a dulled end, such as the modern Prince of Wales design commonly seen in English riding
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Martingale (tack)
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A martingale is any of several designs of tack that are used on horses to control head carriage. Martingales may be seen in a variety of equestrian disciplines. Rules for their use vary widely, in some disciplines they are never used, others allow them for schooling but not in judged performance, and some organizations allow certain designs in competition. When a horses head gets above a height, the martingale places pressure on the head so that it becomes more difficult or impossible to raise it higher. The standing martingale, also known as a tiedown or a check, has a single strap which is attached to the girth. To prevent it catching on other objects, it also has a neck strap. A variation is attached to a breastplate in lieu of a neck strap, when correctly fitted for English riding, it should be possible to push the martingale strap up to touch the horses throatlatch. A variation of the martingale, called a tiedown, is seen almost exclusively in the western riding disciplines. A tiedown is adjusted much shorter than a standing martingale and is intended primarily to prevent the horse from flipping its head up when asked to stop or turn in speed events. Users also claim that it gives the horse something to brace against for balance and it consists of an adjustable strap, one end which attaches to the horses breastplate and the other which attaches to a noseband on the bridle. The noseband can be of leather, but may also be of lariat rope, or even plastic-covered cable, which can make the western tiedown considerably harsher than the English-style standing martingale. It is properly adjusted when it puts no pressure on the nose when held at a normal position. With both pieces of equipment, the slack is taken up out of the strap when the horse raises its head above the desired point, and pressure is placed on the horses nose. It is also seen on military and police horses, partly for style and tradition. It is not legal for flat classes, the tiedown is commonly seen in rodeo and speed events such as gymkhana games, but is not show legal in any other western-style horse show competition. The standing martingale is more restrictive than the running martingale because it cannot be loosened in an emergency, a horse that trips in a standing martingale could potentially fall more easily because its range of motion is restricted. If a horse falls wearing an incorrectly fitted standing martingale, the animal cannot extend its neck fully, due to the risk of injury to the cartilage of the nose, the martingale strap is never attached to a drop noseband. Because of the risk of both nose and jaw injuries, it also should not be attached to any type of figure 8 or grackle noseband, a standing martingale can be attached to the cavesson of a flash noseband, but not to the lower, flash or drop strap
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Hunt seat
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Hunt seat is a style of forward seat riding commonly found in North American horse shows. Along with dressage, it is one of the two forms of English riding. The hunt seat is based on the tradition of fox hunting, the term hunt seat may also refer to any form of forward seat riding, including the kind seen in show jumping and eventing. Hunt seat is a form of riding in the United States, recognized by the USHJA and the United States Equestrian Federation. While hunt seat showing per se is not an Olympic discipline, many show jumping competitors began by riding in hunter, the Hunt seat is also sometimes called the forward seat. Ideally, a hunt seat rider has a secure position. This includes proper leg position, weight in heels, soft hands, good posture, balanced seat, eyes up and, riders usually employ a two-point position while jumping fences, depending on the type of course and height of fences. The position is so named because the rider has two points in contact with the saddle. The rider supports his or her body using leg and stirrup, keeping the heels down, closing the hip angle, and lifting the buttocks out of the saddle while keeping the head and shoulders up. On the flat, or when used on course between jumps, the two-point position allows the horse to have a deal of freedom of movement because the riders weight is lifted off its back. Position in two-point varies according to the task, Hunter riders generally have a very upright two-point, as they usually show on very level footing and at slower speed. Eventers may have a more crouched position, usually with the slightly more forward while riding cross-country. Hunt seat competitions are divided into three horse show categories, hunters, equitation, and jumpers. Show hunters as a group are judged on manners, way of going, turnout, the presentation of horse and rider, are often taken into account as well. Jumpers are judged by how quickly a horse can complete a course of jumps with the fewest errors, equitation riders are judged on the confidence and form of the rider, and the smoothness and overall appearance of the horse and rider as a team. Horses used in hunter over fences and hunter under saddle classes are called show hunters, and are judged on their movement, way of going, manners, Conformation is judged to some extent as well. Thus, smooth, quiet-moving, well-built horses with good temperament are desired, although a somewhat different style of horse than the classic hunter may be shown, the goals of good manners, performance, quality and conformation are still emphasized. Horses shown hunt seat may be of any breed, although those of Thoroughbred and Warmblood type are most common, regardless of breed, the horse should have a long stride with very little knee action, good jumping form with correct bascule, and should be well-mannered
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Horse jumping obstacles
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Various obstacles are found in competitive sports involving horse jumping. These include show jumping, hunter, and the phase of the equestrian discipline of eventing. The size and type of obstacles vary depending on the course and the level of the horse and rider, fences used in hunter and eventing are generally made to look relatively rustic and natural. In jumping competition, they are brightly colored and creatively designed. In hunter and jumper competition, obstacles are constructed to fall down if struck by the horse, in eventing, they are built to be solid, though for safety, certain elements may be designed to break away if hit. Also called chevrons, these fences are shaped like triangles, with the point facing towards the ground and they are generally very narrow, usually only a few feet wide. Arrowhead fences require the rider to keep their horse straight between their hands and legs, as it is easy for a run-out to occur due to the narrowness of the fence. These fences are used in combination with other obstacles to increase their difficulty. This tests the ability to regain control of his/her horse following an obstacle. These jumps are steps up or down one level to another. Banks up require large amounts of impulsion, although not speed, the drop fence incorporates a down bank. Both types of banks require the rider to be centered over the horse, down banks require the rider to lean further back, with slipped reins and heels closer to the front of the horse, in order to absorb the shock of the landing. A bounce, also called a no-stride, is a combination sometimes found on the cross-country course of eventing. It is also commonly used in grid-work or gymnastics. It consists of two fences placed close together so the horse take a full stride between them, but not so close that the horse would jump both fences at once. The horse bounces between the two jumps, landing with his legs before immediately taking off with his front legs. The distance between the two usually is 7–8 feet for small ponies,9 ft for large ponies or small horses, a bounce teaches the horse good balance, to push off with his hind end, and to fold his front end well. It can also be used to slow down a speedy horse and these jumps consist of a solid base with brush placed on top, generally low enough for the horse to see over
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Balve
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Balve is a town in the Märkischer Kreis district, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in Hönnetal, a valley created by the river Hönne, which is near the Sorpesee, formerly part of Balve. The town was established in 1975 with several divisions including Balve, Beckum and Eisborn, the first disputed reference to Balve was in around 780, when it was mentioned that a Widukind owned a farm called Ballowa, another name for the town. The first undisputed reference was in 864, in which a girl from Balve was said to be healed at the grave of the Saint Ludger in the crypt of Werden Abbey. Ballowa is also mentioned in the Thidrekssaga, a chivalric saga written in the century in Norway. In the saga, Ballowa is the home of two dwarfs who taught Weyland much about making iron weapons, at the time of writing, Balve belonged to the county of Arnsberg. In 1358 the town became the property of the Duchy of Westphalia, in 1430 it was given the right to be called a city. During the Napoleonic period, it belonged for a time to Hesse. Local organizations include a Red Cross chapter, and the Schützenbruderschaft St. Sebastian Balve, primary schools in the town include Grundschule Balve and Grundschule Beckum. Several international companies have roots in the town, including Balver Zinn, Chemie Wocklum, train stations in Balve include Binolen, Volkringhausen, Sanssouci, Garbeck and Balve, the latter station part of the Hönnetalbahn line. The main religion in Balve is Roman Catholicism, the church Saint Blaise, built in the 12th century and an example of Romanesque architecture, was consecrated to Mary. On February 3 each year a ceremony is held in the church. The altar servers of Saint Blaise visit other cities every year, bones from Benedict of Nursia and Saint Blaise, and a 400-year-old monument for Hermann von Hatzfeld, are located in the church. Additionally, two Roman Catholic parishes have been present in Balve for several years, a Lutheran church is located at Hönnetalstrasse near to the Gemeindezentrum. The Männerchor 1860 Balve is the largest choir in Balve, other choirs include the Männerchor Garbeck and MC Cäcilia Volkringhausen. The towns bands include Musikverein Balve and Musikverein Garbeck, until 2005, the organization Festpiele Balver Höhle and the town of Balve have jointly hosted a jazz festival. Acts at the festival have included performances by Jan Garbarek and by Piirpauke, one of the theatre ensembles in Balve is the Kolpingtheatergruppe, directed by Christoph Rapp. Another form of entertainment, the Balver Märchenwochen, involves performing fairy tales at Christsmas, the Festspiele Balver Höhle is held at the Balver Höhle, a cave in Balve
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England
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England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west, the Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east, the country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain in its centre and south, and includes over 100 smaller islands such as the Isles of Scilly, and the Isle of Wight. England became a state in the 10th century, and since the Age of Discovery. The Industrial Revolution began in 18th-century England, transforming its society into the worlds first industrialised nation, Englands terrain mostly comprises low hills and plains, especially in central and southern England. However, there are uplands in the north and in the southwest, the capital is London, which is the largest metropolitan area in both the United Kingdom and the European Union. In 1801, Great Britain was united with the Kingdom of Ireland through another Act of Union to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1922 the Irish Free State seceded from the United Kingdom, leading to the latter being renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the name England is derived from the Old English name Englaland, which means land of the Angles. The Angles were one of the Germanic tribes that settled in Great Britain during the Early Middle Ages, the Angles came from the Angeln peninsula in the Bay of Kiel area of the Baltic Sea. The earliest recorded use of the term, as Engla londe, is in the ninth century translation into Old English of Bedes Ecclesiastical History of the English People. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, its spelling was first used in 1538. The earliest attested reference to the Angles occurs in the 1st-century work by Tacitus, Germania, the etymology of the tribal name itself is disputed by scholars, it has been suggested that it derives from the shape of the Angeln peninsula, an angular shape. An alternative name for England is Albion, the name Albion originally referred to the entire island of Great Britain. The nominally earliest record of the name appears in the Aristotelian Corpus, specifically the 4th century BC De Mundo, in it are two very large islands called Britannia, these are Albion and Ierne. But modern scholarly consensus ascribes De Mundo not to Aristotle but to Pseudo-Aristotle, the word Albion or insula Albionum has two possible origins. Albion is now applied to England in a poetic capacity. Another romantic name for England is Loegria, related to the Welsh word for England, Lloegr, the earliest known evidence of human presence in the area now known as England was that of Homo antecessor, dating to approximately 780,000 years ago. The oldest proto-human bones discovered in England date from 500,000 years ago, Modern humans are known to have inhabited the area during the Upper Paleolithic period, though permanent settlements were only established within the last 6,000 years
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France
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country with territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The European, or metropolitan, area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, Overseas France include French Guiana on the South American continent and several island territories in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. France spans 643,801 square kilometres and had a population of almost 67 million people as of January 2017. It is a unitary republic with the capital in Paris. Other major urban centres include Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Nice, Toulouse, during the Iron Age, what is now metropolitan France was inhabited by the Gauls, a Celtic people. The area was annexed in 51 BC by Rome, which held Gaul until 486, France emerged as a major European power in the Late Middle Ages, with its victory in the Hundred Years War strengthening state-building and political centralisation. During the Renaissance, French culture flourished and a colonial empire was established. The 16th century was dominated by civil wars between Catholics and Protestants. France became Europes dominant cultural, political, and military power under Louis XIV, in the 19th century Napoleon took power and established the First French Empire, whose subsequent Napoleonic Wars shaped the course of continental Europe. Following the collapse of the Empire, France endured a succession of governments culminating with the establishment of the French Third Republic in 1870. Following liberation in 1944, a Fourth Republic was established and later dissolved in the course of the Algerian War, the Fifth Republic, led by Charles de Gaulle, was formed in 1958 and remains to this day. Algeria and nearly all the colonies became independent in the 1960s with minimal controversy and typically retained close economic. France has long been a centre of art, science. It hosts Europes fourth-largest number of cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites and receives around 83 million foreign tourists annually, France is a developed country with the worlds sixth-largest economy by nominal GDP and ninth-largest by purchasing power parity. In terms of household wealth, it ranks fourth in the world. France performs well in international rankings of education, health care, life expectancy, France remains a great power in the world, being one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with the power to veto and an official nuclear-weapon state. It is a member state of the European Union and the Eurozone. It is also a member of the Group of 7, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Trade Organization, originally applied to the whole Frankish Empire, the name France comes from the Latin Francia, or country of the Franks
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Royal Dublin Society
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The Royal Dublin Society is the name given in 1820 to a philanthropic organisation which was founded as the Dublin Society on 25 June 1731 to see Ireland thrive culturally and economically. The RDS is synonymous with its campus in Ballsbridge in Dublin, the society was founded by members of the Dublin Philosophical Society, chiefly Thomas Prior and Samuel Madden, as the Dublin Society for improving Husbandry, Manufactures and other Useful Arts. On 8 July 1731 – a couple of weeks after initial foundation – the designation, the Royal prefix was adopted in 1820 when George IV became Society patron. The society purchased Leinster House, home of the Duke of Leinster, in 1815, the society acquired its current premises at Ballsbridge in 1879, and has since increased from the original fifteen to forty acres. The premises consist of a number of halls, a stadium, meeting rooms, bars, restaurants. The RDS Main Hall is a centre for exhibitions, concerts. It hosts, for example, the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition each January, Simmonscourt is where the show jumping horses are stabled during Dublin Horse Show week. The RDS Arena was developed to host equestrian events, including the annual Dublin Horse Show and it is often used for other sporting events however – primarily football and rugby. In 2007 and 2008 the arenas capacity was expanded to 18,250, the club also moved their Leinster Rugby Store to the RDS, and it is open on match days. The covered Anglesea Stand is the oldest stand in the ground below which there is an amount of terracing. Opposite the Anglesea Stand is the Grandstand which contains the TV gantry and was covered with a roof in 2008, behind the goals are the uncovered North and South stands which are removed for showjumping events to allow for extra space. The DART runs close to the RDS premises with Lansdowne and Sandymount being the closest stops, the RDS is served by bus route numbers 4,7,18 and 27x, which stop outside the Main Hall Entrance to the RDS on Merrion Road. The first solely Society-run Horse Show was held in 1868 and was one of the earliest leaping competitions ever held, over time it has become a high profile International show jumping competition, national showing competition and major entertainment event in Ireland. As an exhibitor, walking through those gates in Dublin 4, is the highlight of the year, to be able to compete in one of the four Royal Dublin Society arenas, in which you will showcase your hard work and partnership you have with your horse. If you are enough to come and watch the action at the Dublin horse show. Form equestrian stores to antiques, there is something for everybody at the Dublin Horse Show, a Great, fun-filled family day out. In recent years, the venue has used as a music venue, for many rock, heavy metal. He played for 40,000 people during The Rising Tour in May 2003,115,500 people at the arena during his Magic Tour in May 2008, in June 2008, American band Paramore played their debut Irish concert in the RDS Arena
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was established as a sovereign state on 1 January 1801 by the Acts of Union 1800, which merged the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland. The growing desire for an Irish Republic led to the Irish War of Independence, Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom, and the state was consequently renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Britain financed the European coalition that defeated France in 1815 in the Napoleonic Wars, the British Empire thereby became the foremost world power for the next century. The Crimean War with Russia and the Boer wars were relatively small operations in a largely peaceful century, rapid industrialisation that began in the decades prior to the states formation continued up until the mid-19th century. A devastating famine, exacerbated by government inaction in the century, led to demographic collapse in much of Ireland. It was an era of economic modernization and growth of industry, trade and finance. Outward migration was heavy to the colonies and to the United States. Britain also built up a large British Empire in Africa and Asia, India, by far the most important possession, saw a short-lived revolt in 1857. In foreign policy Britain favoured free trade, which enabled its financiers and merchants to operate successfully in many otherwise independent countries, as in South America. Britain formed no permanent military alliances until the early 20th century, when it began to cooperate with Japan, France and Russia, and moved closer to the United States. A brief period of limited independence for Ireland came to an end following the Irish Rebellion of 1798, the British governments fear of an independent Ireland siding against them with the French resulted in the decision to unite the two countries. This was brought about by legislation in the parliaments of both kingdoms and came into effect on 1 January 1801, however, King George III was bitterly opposed to any such Emancipation and succeeded in defeating his governments attempts to introduce it. When the Treaty of Amiens ended the war, Britain agreed to return most of the territories it had seized, in May 1803, war was declared again. In 1806, Napoleon issued the series of Berlin Decrees, which brought into effect the Continental System and this policy aimed to eliminate the threat from the British by closing French-controlled territory to foreign trade. Frances population and agricultural capacity far outstripped that of the British Isles, Napoleon expected that cutting Britain off from the European mainland would end its economic hegemony. The Spanish uprising in 1808 at last permitted Britain to gain a foothold on the Continent, after Napoleons surrender and exile to the island of Elba, peace appeared to have returned. The Allies united and the armies of Wellington and Blucher defeated Napoleon once, simultaneous with the Napoleonic Wars, trade disputes, arming hostile Indians and British impressment of American sailors led to the War of 1812 with the United States. The war was little noticed in Britain, which could devote few resources to the conflict until the fall of Napoleon in 1814, American frigates inflicted a series of defeats on the Royal Navy, which was short on manpower due to the conflict in Europe
31.
Sidesaddle
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Sidesaddle riding is a form of equestrianism that uses a type of saddle which allows a rider to sit aside rather than astride an equine. Sitting aside dates back to antiquity and developed in European countries in the Middle Ages as a way for women in skirts to ride a horse in a modest fashion while also wearing fine clothing and it has retained a specialty niche even in the modern world. The earliest depictions of women riding with both legs on the side of the horse can be seen in Greek vases, sculptures. Medieval depictions show women seated aside with the horse being led by a man, ninth century depictions show a small footrest, or planchette added to the pillion. These designs did not allow a woman to control a horse, in Europe, the sidesaddle developed in part because of cultural norms which considered it unbecoming for a woman to straddle a horse while riding. Further, long skirts were the fashion and riding astride in such attire was often impractical, awkward. However, women did ride horses and needed to be able to control their own animals, the earliest functional sidesaddle was credited to Anne of Bohemia. It was a chair-like affair where the woman sat sideways on the horse with her feet on a small footrest. The design made it difficult for a woman to stay on and use the reins to control the horse, so the animal was usually led by another rider. The insecure design of the early sidesaddle also contributed to the popularity of the Palfrey, a more practical design, developed in the 16th century, has been attributed to Catherine de Medici. In her design, the rider sat facing forward, hooking her right leg around the pommel of the saddle with a horn added to the side of the saddle to secure the riders right knee. The footrest was replaced with a stirrup, a leather-covered Stirrup iron into which the riders left foot was placed. This saddle allowed the both to stay on and to control her own horse, at least at slower speeds. However, not all women adopted the sidesaddle at all times, women such as Diane de Poitiers and Marie Antoinette were known to ride astride. Catherine the Great of Russia went so far as to commission a portrait showing her riding astride wearing an officers uniform. In the 1830s, Jules Pellier invented a design with a second. In this design, still in use today, one pommel is nearly vertical, mounted approximately 10 degrees left of top dead center and curved gently to the right and up. The rider’s right leg goes around the upright, or fixed pommel, the lower right leg rests along the shoulder of the left side of the horse and up against the second pommel which lies below the first on the left of the saddle
32.
Federico Caprilli
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Captain Federico Caprilli was an Italian cavalry officer and equestrian who revolutionized the jumping seat. His position, now called the seat, formed the modern-day technique used by all jumping riders today. Caprilli was born in Livorno, Italy, the old jumping seat involved the rider using long stirrups, keeping his legs pushed out in front of him, and his body leaning back, pulling the reins, as the horse took the fence. This position was adopted because it used to be believed that the hindquarters and hocks were more flexible, by leaning back and pulling the horses head up, the riders tried to encourage the horse to land hind legs first, to decrease the impact on the front legs. This position had serious problems, first and foremost because the horse was uncomfortable being hit in the mouth over every obstacle. The position also kept the riders weight directly on the back of the horse, the weight on the horses back, in addition to the upward pull on the head, made it impossible for the horse to round up in a natural bascule over the fence. The rider therefore interfered with the horses jumping movement, making it difficult for the animal to clear the obstacle. Caprilli examined horses free jumping, using photographs to document their shape over fences, the horse was allowed to lengthen its stride, instead of approaching the fence in a very collect, stiff manner. Over the fence, the rider kept his seat out of the saddle, leaned slightly forward and his center of gravity was placed directly over the horses, making the job of jumping as easy as possible. On landing, the rider remained slightly forward, instead of inclining backward as in the old seat and this position was held not only over fixed, upright obstacles, but up and down banks and over ditches. Caprillis position made horses much more willing to jump obstacles, now that they were free of interference, as a consequence, the Genearal Inspector of the Cavalry, H. R. H. After a year of training, members of the schools had made great progress, the horses became so willing that riders completed the training course without reins. Due to such developments, the Italian cavalry began to dominate international competition, the style spread worldwide, helped by the fact that Caprilli demonstrated at the 1906 Olympic Games. Caprilli died in Turin, Italy in 1907, after losing consciousness while riding at pass a horse he was testing. Translated and edited by Major Piero Santini, vita e scritti, Carlo Giubbilei, Bramante Edizioni Equestri, Milano,1976. Le passioni del dragone, Lucio Lami, Mursia, Milano,2009
33.
BSJA
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The British Showjumping Association or BSJA is the Great Britain governing body for the equestrian sport of showjumping. It provides the competitors for Team GBR in international competition and sets the rules under which affiliated competitions are held and it is one of the 16 organisations which form part of the British Equestrian Federation. In 2013, former Olympic bronze medallist David Broome was appointed BSJA president
34.
American Horse Shows Association
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The United States Equestrian Federation is the national governing body for most equestrian sports in the United States. It began on January 20,1917, as the Association of American Horse Shows, in 2001, the organization changed its name to USA Equestrian and, in 2003 it merged with the United States Equestrian Team. In 2017, USEF rebranded as US Equestrian, US Equestrian keeps track of yearly points accumulated at individual horse shows throughout the year and gives awards based on these points at the end of the year. Horse shows governed under the USEF are given an AA, A, B, Shows with an AA rating are the most prestigious and often offer the most prize money, whereas shows with a C rating are more local, usually awarding less prize money. Competitions recognized by the USEF must follow its rules and bylaws and their intention was to unite in order to assure clean competition in the show ring. They formed the Association of American Horse Shows, which by its first annual meeting on January 29,1918, the association incorporated in June 1918. Membership grew to list 35 member shows in 1919, and 67 shows by 1924, by the time of Mr. Vanderbilts death in 1925, the organization had enrolled almost 70 shows as members of the organization. Maclay was the individual elected president. Early in his term, in 1927, the association printed its first set of rules, the rules were revised continually and have been added to throughout the history of the association. When Maclays term ended in 1936, membership included 183 shows, maclay was followed by Pierre Lorillard as president. He served a year before Mr. Adrian Van Sinderen was elected, under Van Sinderen, the office was relocated to 90 Broad Street in Manhattan. By the end of Van Sinderens tenure in 1960, the book had grown to one hundred. The need for show stewards, representatives of the association to be present at and it was not until the 1948 rule book that stewards were written in, however, and not until the 1960 rule book that licensing of stewards was in place and recognized in the rules. In February 1933 the original name, the Association of American Horse Shows, Inc. was changed to the American Horse Shows Association, at the same meeting, individual members were recognized in addition to show members. The transfer of membership took place after the 1936 Summer Olympics, and after that, in the United States, by this time, AHSA membership had grown to include 183 members and shows. By 1937, the new rule book reflected the growth of the association by dividing the United States into five zones, each with a vice president and a five-member regional committee. In 1939, the association began publication of the magazine, Horse Show. By this time there were 187 recognized shows, and 800 individual members, in 1960, the association began sending licensed stewards to each affiliated show to report and verify that the show was following the associations rules
35.
Refusal (horse)
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In horse riding, a refusal is the failure of a horse to jump a fence to which he/she is presented. This includes any stop in forward motion, a runout occurs when the horse quickly slides past or ducks out of a fence instead of jumping it, without stopping forward motion. Refusals and runouts are counted against riders in jumping competitions, in show jumping and the stadium phase of eventing, a refusal is worth four penalty points. In the cross-country phase of eventing, a refusal counts as 20 penalty points, refusals also have the potential to unseat the rider, which may result in rider injury, such as that of Christopher Reeve. Refusals also present the possibility that the horse may crash into the obstacle. In extreme cases, however, it may be best for a horse to refuse rather than jump a fence which he cannot clear, as he might land on the fence, fall on landing, or flip over. There are several reasons for refusals, therefore a rider must try to identify the problem before reprimanding the horse for his disobedience, if a horse has begun to refuse frequently when before it was willing, a veterinary exam can be performed to rule out pain. Additionally, riders who do not release over the fence, preventing the horse from stretching down, will hit the horse in the mouth with the bit, if this happens frequently, the horse will associate the pain with the jumping effort itself, and may begin to refuse. Horses that have begun to refuse due to rider error often require retraining
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English saddle
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English saddles are used to ride horses in English riding disciplines throughout the world. The discipline is not limited to England, the United Kingdom in general or other English-speaking countries, most designs were specifically developed to allow the horse freedom of movement, whether jumping, running, or moving quickly across rugged, broken country with fences. Unlike the western saddle or Australian Stock Saddle, there is no horn or other elements that stick out above the main tree of the saddle. The English saddle is based on a tree, over which webbing, leather. The sides of the tree that run horizontally along the back are known as bars. Many modern trees are made with spring steel running from front to rear between the bars and these trees are somewhat flexible and are known as spring trees, with the degree of flexibility varying from saddle to saddle. More recently, saddle manufacturers are using materials to replace wood. Synthetic materials vary widely in quality, polyurethane trees are often very well-made, but some very cheap saddles are made with fiberglass trees that are not so durable. Leather is added on all sides of the tree to create the seat, flaps, cowhide is usually used, though pigskin and other leathers are also seen. The panels on the underside of the saddle traditionally are stuffed with wool flock, which is still preferred and used on the highest quality saddles. Tree, the base on which the rest of the saddle is built, usually based on wood or a synthetic material, with metal elements added, such as the stirrup bar and, in some cases. It is eventually covered in leather or synthetic material as the saddle is built, panels, the part of an English saddle which provides cushioning between the horses back and the saddle, and allows adjustment in fitting the saddle to the horse. Also important in keeping the saddle balanced for the rider, often stuffed with wool or foam flocking, or maintained by sealed air pockets. The panels under the cantle are called the rear panels and those at the front of the saddle are called the front panels. However, the rear and front panels are one continuous unit, the saddle has two panels total, one on each side of the horses spine. Gullet, The space between the bars of the saddle which provides clearance for the spine so the saddle does not place pressure on it. The gullet width of the saddle is dictated by the front arch of the tree, in some models, the angle of the front arch can be adjusted on an individual saddle by use of interchangeable elements. Though imprecise terminology, the gap between the panels is colloquially referred to as the gullet
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Jumping position
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The jumping position is a position used by equestrians when jumping over an obstacle. It usually involves what is known as the seat or 2 point because the riders legs provide two points over which the riders weight is balanced on the horse. It was first developed by Captain Federico Caprilli and this involves the rider centered over his or her feet, with the stirrup leathers perpendicular to the ground. Continuing a line upwards from the stirrup leathers, the head and shoulders fall in front of the line, as do the knees and it also encourages the horse to bascule over the fence, which improves jumping form and ability to jump higher obstacles. It provides the rider the support needed to out of the horses way while still maintaining a secure seat so that the horse is less likely to fall on landing. The jumping seat is not meant to be held by the rider and it keeps the rider in a position over the horses center of gravity. It is important to note that the horse, not the rider, is responsible for opening and closing the riders angles, as the horse takes off, it raises its upper body off the ground and comes closer to the rider. This makes the riders hip angle close, over the fence, the rider keeps the angles closed. As the horse lands, it moves away from the body, which allows the hip angle to open. This can also throw the horse off balance and lead to problems such as knocking down a rail. The lower leg is the anchor of the position. Poor lower leg position makes a more likely to lose balance over fences. It also tends to decrease the ability of the rider to communicate clearly with his or her horse, the leg should hang down the horses side, making even contact along its whole length, and should not change position when the upper body moves. The riders weight is dropped along the back of the leg and into the heel through a flexible ankle, the toes are generally turned out slightly, to a degree greater than in the flatwork-only English riding disciplines such as dressage or saddle seat. Toes should turn no more than 45 degrees out, the stirrups are shortened from the length used for flatwork, adjusted according to the height of the fence. Grand Prix jumpers and eventers on cross-country generally need to shorten the stirrups the most, to them to gallop. The short stirrup provides more leverage and flexibility, and therefore security, better balance, more importantly, a shorter stirrup allows the rider to get off the horses back between and over the fence, freeing up the back and allowing the horse to bascule. The stirrup leather should remain perpendicular to the ground, the stirrup iron is usually placed on the ball of the foot, allowing the rider to have a flexible, shock-absorbing ankle
38.
Girth (tack)
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A girth, sometimes called a cinch, is a piece of equipment used to keep the saddle in place on a horse or other animal. It passes under the barrel of the equine, usually attached to the saddle on both sides by two or three leather straps called billets and these include breastplates, overgirths, cruppers, and, on pack saddles, breeching. Studies have shown that, although girths may restrict the movement of the ribcage in the horse, several types of girth are shaped to allow ample room for the elbows. A variation on this is the girth, in which the piece of leather in the center is the same curved shape as the girth. This overlay is often stitched in a decorative design, fleece girth covers are often used on sensitive horses to protect the barrel of the horse, and some styles of girth come with attached or removable sheepskin liners that perform the same function. A dressage girth, or Lonsdale girth, is shorter than the usual girths used on other saddles and this is because the dressage saddle has longer billets, to keep the buckles out from under the riders leg, and so a shorter girth may be used. Dressage girths can be made of all the materials, and in all the styles, mentioned before, an overgirth or surcingle is often used in addition to a regular leather girth. Made of leather or nylon with an insert, the overgirth completely encircles the horse around belly. It is used by stockmen, eventers, polo players, in flat racing, some girths have a belly guard, to protect the belly from being stabbed by horseshoe studs as the animal tucks his legs up underneath him over a tall obstacle. The traditional western cinch was made of strands of heavy cords, usually made of mohair, or, in cheaper designs. Modern designs are made of synthetic fiber or a synthetic-mohair blend. This design is known as a string, strand, cord or rope cinch. Each cord is knotted around a ring, called a cinch ring. In the center, additional cording or very heavy thread is used to all the cords into a set width. Wider cinches are narrowed to fit the cinch ring by allowing two layers of cord to form at the ring, sometimes aided by decorative weaving that stabilizes the cords, cinches are also made of more solid materials. One of the first non-traditional designs incorporated 1/2 thick felt backed by nylon webbing on the side away from the horse, other materials, such as neoprene, also supported internally or on one side by heavy web or nylon or a similar synthetic material, are also used. Cinches are sometimes covered with a sleeve or covering made of fleece, fleece is also sometimes used to line the inside of a cinch. The cinch attaches to the saddle by means of a latigo on either side, the latigo is a wide, flexible strap, usually of leather, though nylon webbing is also seen
39.
Caulkin
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A caulkin from the Latin calx is a blunt projection on a horseshoe that is often forged, welded or brazed onto the shoe. The term may refer to traction devices screwed into the bottom of a horseshoe. These are usually a blunt spiked cleat, usually placed at the sides of the shoe, caulkins or studs improve a horses balance and grip over uneven or slippery terrain, allowing the animal to move better and jump more confidently in poor footing. Screw in calks are most often seen in speed sports, such as eventing, polo, traditionally, the prongs of an elongated horseshoe have tips bent at an acute angle opposite to the surface attached to the horses hoof. Traditionally, a farrier employs a forge in hot-shoeing to heat the two heel prongs to red hot and bends them by hammering prongs over a right-angle to bend into an acute angle. That caulk/wedge horseshoe is a traditional British hunting shoe, and it has used to provide the horse with a sure-footed grip when working at a fast pace over uneven ground. The shapes of the caulkin and the wedge have been designed to provide hoof traction, the caulk/wedge horseshoe design has been recognised by the Worshipful Company of Farriers as being an appropriate specimen horseshoe to be used for the diploma exam. Another way caulkins are applied is for borium to be brazed onto the surface of the shoe, usually borium is placed at the heels and toe, either in small knobs for maximum grip, or in small rough patches for extra traction and to prevent wear on the shoe. Therefore, a horse may have a maximum of 8 studs, studs come in several sizes and types. Screw-in calks or studs are popular in sport competition because they can be changed to adapt to different terrain, however, the size and design of stud must be carefully selected, as the wrong stud will be useless and can damage the horses legs. Too little traction, and the horse may slip and possibly fall, too much, and the horse is jarred, as his feet cannot naturally slip. Additionally, the more used, the greater chance the shoe may be pulled off. Usually, if there is doubt, it is considered best to slightly understud, in general, the faster the pace, the larger the stud will be used. Therefore, small studs are used for dressage and lower-level jumping or eventing, studs with more of a point are used for hard ground, and those that have more circumference are used in heavier footing, such as thick mud. A hoof pick or horseshoe nail can help remove the plug prior to insertion of a screw-in stud. A special instrument called a T-tap is used to out the stud holes before the stud is screwed in. Additionally, a small metal brush can be used to clean threads which are especially dirty. A wrench is used to tighten or loosen the studs, frost nails can be used in the place of studs for a few different reasons
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Noseband
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A noseband is the part of a horses bridle that encircles the nose and jaw of the horse. In English riding, where the noseband is separately attached to its own headstall or crownpiece, in other styles of riding, a simple noseband is sometimes attached directly to the same headstall as the bit. A noseband may have one of the first tools used by humans to domesticate. The noseband was originally made of leather or rope, today, the noseband has several uses, First, to give a balanced and traditionally correct appearance to the horses turnout at shows. When raised high, it can make a long-nosed horses face look shorter, various positions up and down the nose may help the face look more handsome, and a wide noseband can make a heavy head appear more delicate. Second, to keep the mouth closed or at least prevent a horse from evading the bit by opening the mouth too far. It can sometimes prevent the horse from putting its tongue over the bit, third, the noseband is also used to help stop a horse from pulling. Fourth, it can be an attachment for other equipment, such as a standing martingale or shadow roll. It is also valuable for young horses just learning to go on the bit, as it supports the jaw and helps the horse to relax its masseter muscle, and flex softly at the poll. In some riding styles, a noseband is added simply for decoration and is not attached to the bridle or adjusted to any useful purpose. There is a correlation between the sensitivity of a noseband and the amount of tension needed in the reins to obtain a response from the horse, however, the study did not go on to examine the effects of no noseband at all or a very tight adjustment. Thus, nosebands may add some pressure to the nose when the reins are applied, depending on adjustment, style, with a soft leather noseband on a well-trained horse, the effect is minimal. A bridle does not necessarily need a noseband, and many bridles, such as used in Western riding, flat racing, or endurance riding. Some horses shown in-hand do not use a noseband in order to show off the animals head. Many old paintings also depict a horse without a noseband. In the English riding disciplines, the most common design of cavesson noseband is the Plain or French cavesson, a noseband that encircles the nose 1-2 inches below the cheekbone. This type of noseband is seen in most English disciplines, especially in dressage, show hunters, Saddle seat, equitation and field hunters, but is the basic noseband for all disciplines. This noseband comes in various styles from a flat leather suitable for hunting, to raised, double raised
41.
Bitless bridle
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A bitless bridle is a general term describing a wide range of headgear for horses or other animals that controls the animal without using a bit. Direction control may also be via a noseband or cavesson, if one is used, the term hackamore is the most historically accurate word for most common forms of bitless headgear. However, some modern designs of horse headgear lack the heavy noseband of a true hackamore. It is likely that the first domesticated horses were ridden with some type of noseband, made of materials such as sinew, leather. However, because the used to make gear other than metal bits disintegrates quickly. The earliest artistic evidence of use of form of bitless bridle was found in illustrations of Synian horsemen. However, domestication of the horse occurred between 4500 and 3500 BC, while earliest evidence of the use of bits, located in two sites of the Botai culture, dates to about 3500-3000 BC. Thus there is a high probability that some sort of headgear was used to control horses prior to the development of the bit. Ancient Mesopotamian forms of headgear were refined into the hakma. It is the predecessor to the modern bosal-style hackamore as well as the French cavesson, some modern styles of bitless bridle date to a bitless safety bridle patented in 1893, with refinements patented in 1912 and 1915. Bitless bridles apply pressure to parts of the face and head, such as the nose, jaw and poll. Bitless designs are most often seen in endurance riding, trail riding and they are allowed in endurance riding, competitive trail riding, rodeos, and Gymkhana or O-Mok-See events. There are many different styles of bitless headgear originating from bitted bridle, the bosal-type hackamore, is a type of bitless headgear with the most ancient roots. The hackamore and its modern variants use a noseband of a set diameter, using pressure and it is most closely affiliated with the vaquero tradition of horse training, most commonly seen today in western riding for starting young horses. And the English language term hackamore itself dates back at least 150 years, a variant on the bosal design that is sometimes called a bitless bridle, but more often placed within the hackamore family, is called a sidepull. It has a noseband, usually of rope, rawhide or heavy leather and it offers significant lateral control but limited stopping control. The jumping cavesson, or jumping hackamore, seen in English riding, is a heavy noseband made of a covered with leather. It differs slightly from a sidepull in that the reins attach farther back, on side of the jaw
42.
Mechanical hackamore
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A mechanical hackamore is a piece of horse tack that is a type of bitless headgear for horses where the reins connect to shanks placed between a noseband and a curb chain. Other names include hackamore bit, brockamore, English hackamore, nose bridle, certain designs have been called Blairs Pattern and the W. S. Bitless Pelham. A mechanical hackamore has a noseband, usually of leather. However, the noseband can also be harsh, some are made of rubber-covered cable, stiff metal. The curb chain is usually a chain, though it may be made of anything from a relatively mild flat leather strap to very severe designs with heavy chain or even solid metal bars. The noseband and curb chain are connected by a link that also includes the long shank that applies pressure to the nose, chin groove. Although sometimes called a bridle, technically, a mechanical hackamore is not a bridle. Because the mechanical hackamore uses shanks and leverage, it is not a true hackamore, the shanks and curb chain serve to increase pressure on the nose, jaw, and poll The mechanical hackamore may be a relatively modern invention. In the United States, a device with shanks and a noseband, early patent applications were filed in 1940 for a Hackamore bit and a leverage hackamore bridle. Additional patent applications were filed during the 1940s, and a significant increase in patent applications for various mechanical hackamore designs occurred from the 1950s forward, descriptions of the mechanical hackamore appeared in general interest books on horses during that decade. Mechanical hackamores often used in competitions where there are no specific bitting rules, such as rodeo and O-Mok-See events and they are seen in endurance riding and competitive trail riding because they allow a horse to easily eat and drink without removing headgear. They are not permitted in most other horse show disciplines and they are also used by casual riders, especially for trail riding, and are particularly popular with hunters who must ride and camp in freezing weather where a frozen bit can injure the horses tongue. Mechanical hackamores lack the sophistication of bits or a bosal, cannot turn a horse easily with direct reining, horses ridden in these devices quite often develop a bad habit of head-tossing. The longer the shanks, the severe the action. Similarly, a noseband is also more severe. Occasionally it is used for a horse that has learned to ignore bit pressure on the mouth and it is incorrect to assume that a mechanical hackamore is milder than a bitted bridle, it is not. The device has potential for abuse at the hands of a rough rider, if adjusted too low, it can also put excessive pressure on the horses nose cartilage, possibly even breaking it, and low placement may also obstruct the horses breathing. In cases of a mechanical hackamore with long shanks, abusive use has been claimed to risk breaking the horses jaw
43.
Breastplate (tack)
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A breastplate is a piece of riding equipment used on horses. Its purpose is to keep the saddle or harness from sliding back, on riding horses, it is most helpful on horses with large shoulders and a flat ribcage. The breastplate is used on both English and Western saddles, when used in English riding, the hunting breastplate is made of thinner straps of leather, as is the western style used for horse shows. Working western horses in disciplines that work with cattle use a thicker, sturdier style. The breastcollar harness is one of two standard designs, the other being the collar and hames design. The breastcollar harness is used to pull loads, such as at horse shows. Being the classic breastplate for English riding, campdrafting or stockwork, there are usually buckles for adjusting the size of the yoke as well as the length of the straps which attach to the saddle and girth. The hunting breastplate is most commonly made of leather, and some have elastic inserts on the yoke to help prevent it from restricting the horses shoulders and those used in endurance riding are commonly made of lightweight nylon or another synthetic material. The hunting breastplate is worn by horses, show hunters, fox hunters, equitation horses, eventers. It is also occasionally see in flat racing, as well as steeplechase, because the hunting breastplate is attached to the D-rings of the saddle, it is not as reliable as equipment attached to the saddle by means of the billets. Therefore, the breastcollar is sometimes preferred on cross-country, the hunting breastplate also tends to have a restrictive effect on the shoulder, even when correctly fitted. Additionally, a hunting breastplate may cause the points of a poorly fitting saddle to dig into the sides of the horses withers, creating rubs. In this case, it is best to get the saddle properly fitted before using a hunting breastplate, the variation of a breastplate used for western riding is referred to as a breast collar. The term breastplate is used, though western riders generally use breast collar to refer to both designs. A working western breast collar may be of either a breastplate or breastcollar design. Attach to the dee rings that hold the latigo of the cinch, while one suitable for a show may attach to decorative dees located above the cinch rings. In either case, a strap usually runs between the front legs and attaches to the cinch. Some, though not all breastcollars for western riding also have a wither strap, the breastplate should not be fitted in any way that will restrict the horses movement
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Equestrian helmet
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An equestrian helmet is a form of protective headgear worn when riding horses. Certified helmets are required headgear for many competitive riding events, particularly where horse, helmets are worn more often by English-style riders and are gaining acceptance as required headgear for children. They are also accepted in fields such as horse racing, eventing or show jumping. They are required in eventing, in riding and other types of competitions. People who take their horses hacking or trail riding sometimes wear helmets, though there are variations in helmet use in different regions. In the United States, use is by fewer than one in eight riders, some states, such as Florida and New York, are starting to require by law that riders under the age of 14 wear helmets at equestrian establishments, on public highways and publicly owned land. An equestrian helmet has a shell on the outside of an impact-resistant resin or plastic. The brim is particularly flexible and will give way immediately in the event a rider lands on it, beneath the shell are materials designed to absorb the impact of a fall or blow. The inside is lined and often padded in order to be comfortable for the rider, ventilation is usually worked into the design, and a harness is attached to keep the helmet on the head at all times. Equestrian helmets have sport-specific differences from those used in other sports, for this reason, a helmet designed for another sport, such as bicycle or motorcycle helmet, is not deemed suitable for riding horses. Aside from safety features, aerodynamics are less important in a riding helmet than in a bicycle or even a motorcycle helmet, the appearance of riding helmets is frequently based on that of an English hunt cap. In addition good ventilation and comfort are considered important features of a riding helmet, some riders feel that riding helmets are hot, uncomfortable or unattractive and do not want to wear them. However, the hunt cap, which modern helmets attempt to resemble. Neither do other types of popular with riders, including the derby, cowboy hat. Use of helmets by beginning riders is becoming a common requirement, typically, helmets must meet one or more specific safety standards to be permitted for use in competition. The United States Equestrian Federation requires that, in classes that mandate a helmet to be worn, while other horse show events do not mandate helmets, the rules have changed in recent years to permit helmets as optional headgear in any class. All riders are required to wear certified helmets while competing in Hunter, Jumpers, and Hunt Seat Equitation classes, and in any class, including Hunter Hack. They must fasten their helmet harness and must verify that the helmet meets or exceeds the current standard, riding helmets traditionally reflect the conservative style of dress that characterized earlier non-protective English riding headwear
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Stock tie
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A stock tie, or stock, is a tie worn around the neck of equestrians dressed formally for a hunt or certain competitive events. Most competition rules require it to be white, and mandate its use in dressage, the tie also is seen in show jumping and fox hunting. Today it is worn with a pin, stuck through the knot or just below the knot, that derives its name from the tie, being called a stock pin. Traditionally, the tie is used in the hunt field as a safety measure, in case of injury. It is also useful in keeping rain or wind out of the riders collar and they often are worn by riders along with a shadbelly. The stock tie was worn by gentlemen as everyday apparel in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and it became more of a formal tie in the later nineteenth century. These old stock ties were often black or white, and they were made of gauze, fine cotton and it never has gone out of fashion for equestrians. Sometimes the stock tie was starched or otherwise reinforced to be stiff around the neck, with the chin forced up, some stock ties buckled or hooked up the back and sometimes had bows or ruffles attached to the front
