1.
Equestrianism
–
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
2.
Equitation
–
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
3.
International Federation for Equestrian Sports
–
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
4.
Equestrian at the Summer Olympics
–
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
5.
Dressage
–
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
6.
Eventing
–
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
7.
Show jumping
–
Show jumping, also known as stadium jumping, open jumping, or simply jumping, is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are seen at horse shows throughout the world. International competitions are governed by the rules of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, Show jumping events have hunter classes, jumper classes and hunt seat equitation classes. Hunters are judged subjectively on the degree to which they meet a standard of manners, style. Jumper courses tend to be more complex and technical than hunter courses because riders. Courses often are colorful and at times, quite creatively designed, hunters have meticulous turnout and tend toward very quiet, conservative horse tack and rider attire. Hunter bits, bridles, crops, spurs, and martingales are tightly regulated, formal turnout always is preferred, a neat rider gives a good impression at shows. In addition to hunters and jumpers, there are classes, sometimes called hunt seat equitation. The equipment, clothing, and fence styles used in more closely resemble hunter classes. Jumper classes are held over a course of show jumping obstacles, including verticals, spreads, the intent is to jump cleanly over a set course within an allotted time. Time faults are assessed for exceeding the time allowance, Jumping faults are incurred for knockdowns and blatant disobedience, such as refusals. Horses are allowed a number of refusals before being disqualified. A refusal may lead to a rider exceeding the time allowed on course, placings are based on the lowest number of points or faults accumulated. A horse and rider who have not accumulated any jumping faults or penalty points are said to have scored a clear round. Tied entries usually have a jump-off over a raised and shortened course, and the course is timed, if entries are tied for faults accumulated in the jump-off, the fastest time wins. In most competitions, riders are allowed to walk the initial course, going off course will cost time if minor errors are made and major departures will result in disqualification. The higher levels of competition, such as A or AA rated shows in the United States, or the international Grand Prix circuit, present more technical and complex courses. Not only is the height and width of an obstacle increased to present a challenge, technical difficulty also increases with tighter turns
8.
Combined driving
–
Combined driving is an equestrian sport involving carriage driving. In this discipline, the driver sits on a vehicle drawn by a single horse, the sport has three phases, dressage, cross-country marathon and obstacle cone driving, and is most similar to the mounted equestrian sport of eventing. It is one of the ten international equestrian sport horse disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the FEI classification system denotes driving competitions as Concours dAttelage, which may be either National or International. A National Event is limited to competitors of that nation, who take part according to the regulations of their National Federation. Foreign athletes may take part by invitation, an International Event must be organised under the FEI Statutes, General Regulations and Sport Rules, and may be open to competitors of all NFs. CAIs are primarily for individual athletes, however, at World Championships, competitions for national teams of three or four members run concurrently with the individual competition. There are two categories of international competitions – CAI-A and CAI-B, the CAI-A category denotes a higher level of organisation and facilities provided. Normally, it is assumed that a CA classified competition is for horses, if pony classes are involved, the letter P is added to the classification. Numbers denote the arrangement of horses in the class, World championships are denoted as Championnat du Monde Attelage. There are three World Championships for horses – Singles, Pairs and Four-in-Hand and these are held every two years, with Single Horse and Four-in-Hand Championships in an even-numbered year and Horse Pairs every odd year. In addition, a World Combined Pony Championships are held every odd-numbered year, FEI World Cup Driving, is a series of competitions for four-in-hand horse teams. Introduced in 2001, it provides a style of competition which takes place in an indoor arena. The course combines marathon and cone driving obstacles, five or six drivers, each with a team of four horses take turns to drive the course against the clock. World Cup Driving events are classified as CAI-W and take place throughout the winter months, competitions for drivers with disabilities are classified as CPEAI and the championships are held in every odd-numbered year. At the National level the sport is governed by each countrys National Federation, sometimes through a body, which will have rules based on the FEI Rulebook. Most countries hold their own National Championships, most people will start driving by joining a local organisation or club, who organise training sessions and one- or two-day competitions. Keen drivers can qualify to take part in events from which they may put themselves forward to be selected to represent their country at international competitions or World Championships. Because a driver needs a groom, its possible to take part as such
9.
Endurance riding
–
Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long-distance races. It is one of the international recognized by the FEI. There are two types of long-distance riding, competitive trail riding and endurance rides. In the United States, most endurance rides are either 50 or 100 miles long, shorter rides, called Limited Distance rides, are organized for new riders to the sport or young horses being trained. However, LDs have evolved into a competition of their own, in more experienced riders. There are also longer, usually multi-day, rides as well, as with human marathon running, many riders will participate to improve their horses personal best performance and consider finishing the distance with a proper vet completion record to be a win. In the USA, the American Endurance Ride Conference sanctions endurance rides, in the UK, Endurance GB is the governing body. Winning riders can complete 100-mile rides in 14 to 15 hours, any breed can compete, but the Arabian generally dominates the top levels because of the breeds stamina and natural endurance abilities. Endurance rides and races can be any distance, though they are rarely over 160 km for a one-day competition. Organized endurance riding as a sport began in 1955, when Wendell Robie. They followed the historic Western States Trail and this ride soon became known as the Tevis Cup, and it remains the most difficult of any 100-mile ride in the world because of the severe terrain, high altitude, and 100-degree temperatures. Endurance riding first was brought to Europe in the 1960s, before the ride, horses are inspected by a veterinarian to ensure they are fit to perform in the ride. Riders may be given a map or GPS waypoints for the course, which shows the route, the places for compulsory halts, the trails frequently are marked with colored surveyors tape ribbons at regular intervals with additional ribbons or small arrow markers at turns in the trail. The ride is divided into sections, with different names, depending on sanctioning organization, after each section, horses are stopped for a veterinary inspection, where they are checked for soundness and dehydration, with their pulse and respiration taken. The riders time keeps running until their horses reach the required target, any horse deemed unfit to continue is eliminated from further competition. After the veterinary inspection, the horse must be held for a hold time. If the veterinary inspection is on the rather than at base camp, ride management usually delivers to the inspection location a cache of riders personal gear, food. While riders may compete without additional aid, sometimes referred to as riding cavalry, in upper level competition this is particularly important to efficiently prepare the horse for the vet as well as care of both horse and rider during the mandatory hold times
10.
Horseball
–
Horseball is a game played on horseback where a ball is handled and points are scored by shooting it through a hoop with a diameter of 1m. The sport is like a combination of polo, rugby, and it is one of the ten disciplines officially recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. The sports predecessor, pato, originated in Argentina in the early 1700s and it was outlawed in 1790 due to high mortality among players. In 1941 the Federacion Argentina de Pato was created, in 1953 was declared as Argentinas national game. The name of the game derives from the use of a live duck instead of the six-handled ball which is used in the modern sport. The game as its known today, including the use of a instead of an animal, was defined in the 1930s. It gained success and has spread across Europe and overseas, the International Horseball Federation has eighteen members including eight outside of Europe, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Kyrgyzstan and Mexico. The basic rules involve a team of 4 players making a minimum of 3 passes between 3 different players of their team and then scoring a goal through a vertical hoop goal, the game is played on a soft, non slip surface, usually sand. The pitch is rectangular, approximately 65m x 25m, a match begins with a pick up, the rules for the first pick up are simple, the horse has to be cantering. In this situation, each rider must remain seated in the saddle, if both stay seated and the defender manages to keep hold of the ball for 3 seconds then their team earns a penalty. Simple tactics of the game involve the attacking team going towards goal crossing paths as this helps to manoeuvre the defence. Players can return home if they feel an attack is failing, when the ball is dropped or falls to the ground, anyone can pick it up so long as they are travelling in the same direction as play was when the ball was dropped. This is to avoid any riders coming head on whilst someone is picking up, whilst picking the ball up during the game the player must not come to a stand still. This is a teams tournament. There have been seventeen editions of this tournament with Saint-Lô2013, France is the only national team to have won this tournament, the Portuguese team has the most Silver, and Belgium the most Bronze. Currently the titles are, Gold for France, Silver for Spain, the European Lady Championship is the female only tournament, the first was in 2003 in Abano Terme 2003. There have been eight editions of this tournament with Saint-Lô2013, France is again the only national team to have won this tournament, tied for most silver are Belgium, Germany and Spain, and tied with the most bronze are Belgium, Great Britain and Spain. Currently the titles are, Gold for France, Silver for Spain, the European Under-16 Championship is the youth tournament with mixed-sex teams, the first was in 2004 in Lamotte-Beuvron 2004
11.
Reining
–
Reining is a western riding competition for horses where the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. All work is done at the lope, or the gallop, the horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. Cattle were moved, branded, doctored, sorted, and herded, often on open range without the benefit of fences, a good cowboy needed a quick and nimble horse, one that could change directions quickly, stop on a dime, and sprint after an errant cow. Other nations with traditions of herding livestock on vast areas, such as Australia and Argentina, the reining pattern includes an average of eight to twelve movements which must be executed by the horse. Patterns require the following movements, Circles, the horse must perform large, fast circles at a near-gallop and smaller and they should be perfectly round, with the rider dictating the pace of the horse. There should be an easily seen change of speed as the rider transitions from the large, fast to the small, most circles incorporate changes of direction that require a flying change of lead. Flying lead change, the horse changes its leading front and hind legs at the lope mid-stride, the horse should not break gait nor change speed. Rundown, the horse gallops or runs along the side of the arena. A rundown is a required movement prior to a sliding stop, the back should be raised upward and hindquarters come well underneath. A particularly powerful stop may, depending on conditions, produce flying dirt. The movement should finish in a line, and the horses position should not change. This movement is a favorite, along with spins. Back or Backup, the backs up quickly for at least 10 feet. The horse must back in a straight line, stop when asked. It is judged on how quick, smooth and straight the line is, rollback, the horse immediately, without hesitation, performs a 180-degree turn after halting from a sliding stop, and immediately goes forward again into a lope. The horse must turn on its hindquarters, bringing its hocks well under, spins or Turnarounds, beginning from a standstill, the horse spins 360 degrees or more in place around its stationary inside hind leg. The hind pivot foot remains in essentially the same throughout the spin, though the horse will pick it up. Spins are judged on correctness, smoothness, and cadence, speed adds to the difficulty and will improve the score of a correctly done spin
12.
Tent pegging
–
Tent pegging is a cavalry sport of ancient origin, and is one of only ten equestrian disciplines officially recognised by the International Equestrian Federation. Used narrowly, the term refers to a mounted game with ground targets. More broadly, it refers to the class of mounted cavalry games involving edged weapons on horseback. Cavaliers have practised the specific game of tent pegging since at least the 4th century BC, as a result, the games date and location of origin are ambiguous. In all accounts, the sport evolved out of cavalry training exercises designed to develop cavaliers prowess with the sword. However, whether tent pegging developed cavaliers generic skills or prepared them for combat situations is unclear. However, other sources suggest that the sport originated earlier in Central Asia or the Middle East and was later on popularised in India. However, there are few accounts of a cavalry squadron ever employing such tactics. The specific game of tent pegging has a mounted horseman riding at a gallop and using a sword or a lance to pierce, pick up, the broader class of tent pegging games also includes ring jousting, lemon sticking, quintain tilting, and Parthian archery. Today, tent pegging is practised around the world, but is popular in Australia, India, Israel, Oman, Pakistan, South Africa. The Olympic Council of Asia included tent pegging as a sport in 1982. From the results of the 2008 International Tent Pegging Championships, the three leading national teams are currently Canada, India, and Oman. Members of cavalry regiments and mounted police forces remain dominant in world-class tent pegging, the United States Tent Pegging Federation is working on introducing tent pegging on the sidelines of polo in the United States. In late 1990s, many efforts were mostly solo efforts by individuals like H. E Prince Malik Ata Khan and Maharaja of Dunlod. EFI tent pegging pioneers provided much encouragement to export tent pegging to the USA, also H. E Prince Malik Ata Khan, the icon of modern-day tent pegging supported the idea of formation of a Tent Pegging as an organized sport in the USA. All of their thrust was to establish an organization in the United States so that USA could represent itself on the international front, at present the USTPF, working hard to promote Tent Pegging in the USA. The promotion efforts include two Tent Pegging Training Clinics initiated in October 2014 and June 2015 to compete in the international Arena, the USTPF was recognized by the USEF as Alliance Partner in 2015 and an NGB for Tent Pegging in the USA. The USEF granted the Alliance Partnership to the USTPF with permanent Alliance Partnership number 5347848, New and emerging national tent pegging associations have helped spread the sports popularity
13.
Equestrian vaulting
–
Equestrian vaulting, or simply Vaulting, is most often described as gymnastics and dance on horseback, which can be practiced both competitively or non-competitively. Vaulting has a history as an act at circuses. It is open to men and women, and is one of ten equestrian disciplines recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. Therapeutic or interactive vaulting is also used as an activity for children and adults who may have balance, attention, gross motor skill, vaultings enthusiasts are concentrated in Europe and other parts of the Western world. It is well established in Germany and Switzerland and is growing in other western countries, Vaulting was first introduced in the United States in the 1950s and 60s but was limited only to California and other areas of the west coast. More recently, it is beginning to gain popularity in the United States northeast and it is believed by some that the origins of vaulting could be traced to the ancient Roman games, where acrobats usually displayed their skills on cantering horses. Others, however, believe that vaulting originated in ancient Crete, in either case, people have been performing acrobatic and dance-like movements on the backs of moving horses/animals for more than 2,000 years. Renaissance and Middle Ages history include numerous references to vaulting or similar activities, the present name of the sport/art comes from the French la voltige, which it acquired during the Renaissance, when it was a form of riding drill and agility exercise for cavalry riders. Modern vaulting developed in post-war Germany as an initiative to introduce children to equestrian sports, in 1983, vaulting became one of the disciplines recognized by the FEI. European championships were first held in Ebreichsdorf, Austria in 1984, Vaulting was included in the World Equestrian Games in Stockholm in 1990 and in all subsequent editions of the games. It was demonstrated as an art during the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games events and it has been included in the Inter-Africa Cup since 2006. The first World Cup Vaulting competition was held in Leipzig on 29–30 April 2011, in competitive vaulting, vaulters compete as individuals, pairs, and teams. Beginning vaulters compete at the walk or trot while experienced vaulters compete at the canter, the vaulting horse moves in a 15-metre circle and is directed by a lunger who stands in the center. In competitive vaulting, the rider will first be judged on a score from 1 to 10, if two competitors tie, then the horse is judged. Vaulting competitions consist of compulsory exercises and choreographed freestyle exercises done to music, there are seven compulsory exercises, mount, basic seat, flag, mill, scissors, stand and flank. Each exercise is scored on a scale from 0 to 10, horses also receive a score and are judged on the quality of their movement as well as their behavior. Vaulters compete in team and individual freestyles, an individual Kur is a 1-minute freestyle and team is 4 minutes. They are both choreographed to music, the components of a freestyle vaulting routine may include mounts and dismounts, handstands, kneeling and standing and aerial moves such jumps, leaps and tumbling skills
14.
Para-equestrian
–
The other is para-equestrian driving, which operates under the same basic rules as combined driving but places competitors in various grades based on their functional abilities. The first official Paralympic Games was held in Rome in 1960, the Games were initially open only to athletes in wheelchairs, at the 1976 Summer Games, athletes with different disabilities were included for the first time at a Summer Paralympics. Competitors with cerebral palsy classifications were allowed to compete at the Paralympic games for the first time at the 1984 Summer Paralympics, para-equestrian dressage was added to the Paralympic Games program at the 1996 Summer Paralympics. The FEI brought para-equestrian sport under its umbrella in 2006, riders with physical disabilities may compete on the same team as people with vision impairment. There are two separate para-equestrian events sanctioned by FEI, the governing body. Dressage events include Walk Only Tests for Grade 1 and Walk, the dressage events open to Grade 3 classification included Walk and Trot but Canter allowed in Freestyle. The dressage events open to Grade 4 classification included Walk, Trot and Canter, in these three grades, participants use a 40 x 20 metre arena. The dressage events open to Grade 5 classification included Walk, Trot, Canter, Canter Half-Pirouettes,3 and 4 sequence changes, at Grade 5 participants move up to the 60 x 20 metre arena. All class events are mixed gendered, for national team competitions such as the Paralympics, each team consists of three riders, one of whom must be a Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 rider. As of 2012, people with physical and visual disabilities are eligible to compete, the other para-equestrian event is para-driving. It was previously called Carriage Driving, all class events are mixed gendered. The sport is the one with one of the highest rates of injury, for this reason, much of the equipment for the sport is developed with this in mind. Much of the equipment uses Velcro and rubber bands so that things can easily breakaway, there is also a constant balance in developing equipment for para-equestrian to assure that the rider remains in control, and that they are not dragged along by the horse. One of the made to saddles for para-equestrian is extra padding. One of the companies that specializes in making saddles for people with disabilities is Superacor, in addition to saddles, para-equestrian riders may use some other form of padding such as a fleece covering for the saddle. Para-equestrian competitors have both a class and a disability profile number, the profile number impacts which equipment a rider can use, with equipment differences existing in the same class. The Paralympic games host a para-equestrian dressage competition, and have done so since 1996, the Paralympic Games are the second largest equestrian event in the world, only behind the Olympic Games. It is the sport on the Paralympic program that includes a live animal
15.
Horse racing
–
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys or driven over a set distance for competition. Horse races vary widely in format, often, countries have developed their own particular horse racing traditions. Variations include restricting races to particular breeds, running over obstacles, running over different distances, running on different track surfaces, Horse racing has a long and distinguished history and has been practised in civilisations across the world since ancient times. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in Ancient Greece, Babylon, Syria and it also plays an important part of myth and legend, such as the contest between the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman, both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC and were important in the other Panhellenic Games. This was despite the fact that racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death. In the Roman Empire, chariot and mounted horse racing were major industries, fifteen to 20 riderless horses, originally imported from the Barbary Coast of North Africa, ran the length of the Via del Corso, a long, straight city street, in about 2½ minutes. In later times, Thoroughbred racing became, and remains, popular with the aristocrats and royalty of British society, historically, equestrians honed their skills through games and races. Equestrian sports provided entertainment for crowds and honed the excellent horsemanship that was needed in battle, Horse racing of all types evolved from impromptu competitions between riders or drivers. The various forms of competition, requiring demanding and specialized skills from both horse and rider, resulted in the development of specialized breeds and equipment for each sport. The popularity of sports through the centuries has resulted in the preservation of skills that would otherwise have disappeared after horses stopped being used in combat. There are many different types of racing, including, Flat racing. Jump racing, or Jumps racing, also known as Steeplechasing or, in the UK and Ireland, National Hunt racing, Harness racing, where horses trot or pace while pulling a driver in a sulky. Breeds that are used for flat racing include the Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Arabian, Paint, Jump racing breeds include the Thoroughbred and AQPS. In harness racing, Standardbreds are used in Australia, New Zealand and North America, light cold blood horses, such as Finnhorses and Scandinavian coldblood trotter are also used in harness racing within their respective geographical areas. There also are races for ponies, both flat and jump and harness racing, Flat racing is the most common form of racing seen worldwide. Track surfaces vary, with turf most common in Europe, dirt more common in North America and Asia, individual flat races are run over distances ranging from 440 yards up to two and a half miles, with distances between five and twelve furlongs being most common. Short races are referred to as sprints, while longer races are known as routes in the United States or staying races in Europe
16.
Harness racing
–
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait. They usually pull a cart called a sulky, although in Europe racing under saddle is also conducted. Orlov trotters race separately in Russia, the light cold-blooded Coldblood trotters and Finnhorses race separately in Finland, Norway and Sweden. Today, most harness races are won by Standardbreds who post times of 2 minutes or less, the horses have proportionally shorter legs than Thoroughbreds, and longer bodies. Standardbreds generally have a placid disposition, due to the admixture of non-Thoroughbred blood in the breed. The founding sire of todays Standardbred horse was Messenger, a gray Thoroughbred brought to America in 1788 and purchased by Henry Astor, from Messenger came a great-grandson, Hambletonian 10, who gained a wide following for his racing prowess. However, it is his line for which he is most remembered. The lineage of virtually all North American Standardbred race horses can be traced from four of Hambletonian 10 sons, races can be conducted in two differing gaits – trotting and pacing. The difference is that a trotter moves its legs forward in diagonal pairs, in continental Europe, races are conducted exclusively among trotters, whereas in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States races are also held for pacers. Pacing races constitute 80% to 90% of the harness races conducted in North America, Pacing horses are faster and less likely to break stride. One of the reasons pacers are less likely to break stride is that they often wear hobbles, the belief that hobbles are used to create this gait is a common misunderstanding. The pace is a natural gait for many horses, and hobbles are an aid in supporting the gait at top speed, most harness races start from behind a motorized starting gate. The horses line up behind a slow-moving, hinged gate mounted on a motor vehicle, at the line, the wings of the gate are folded up and the vehicle accelerates away from the horses. This enables handicaps to be placed on horses with several tapes, many European – and some Australian and New Zealand – races use a standing start. The sulky is a light, two-wheeled cart equipped with bicycle wheels, the driver carries a light whip chiefly used to signal the horse by tapping and to make noise by striking the sulky shaft. There are strict rules as to how and how much the whip may be used, in some jurisdictions, for exercising or training, the drivers use what is known as a jog cart, which is a sulky that is heavier and bulkier than a racing unit. The Prix dAmérique is considered to be the number-one trotting race in the world and it is held annually at the gigantic Vincennes hippodrome in eastern Paris late in January. The purse for the race in 2016 is 1 million euros, the horses are entered in the race based on life-time earnings, unless they have qualified by performing well in the preceding six qualifying races
17.
Point-to-point (steeplechase)
–
A point-to-point is a form of horseracing over fences for hunting horses and amateur riders. In Ireland, where the sport is open to licensed - i. e. professional - trainers, many of the horses will appear in these races before they compete in National Hunt races. Consequently, the Irish point-to-point is more used as a nursery for young stars. Whilst professional trainers are specifically excluded from running horses in point-to-points in Great Britain, increasingly, horses are run from livery yards - unlicensed but otherwise professional training establishments, sometimes closely allied with a licensed yard. Horses running in Point-to-Points must be Thoroughbreds, save in the case of Hunt Members races, the owner must be a member, subscriber or farmer of a recognized pack of Hounds and obtain a Hunter Certificate from the Master to that effect. Similarly, potential riders must also obtain a Riders Qualification Certificate from a Hunt Secretary, Point-to-Point racing is also sometimes referred to as racing between the flags. The first Steeplechase ever was run locally between Buttevant and Doneraile, County Cork, over 250 years ago, by keeping the steeple of the church in sight both riders could see their finishing point. The first traceable use of the phrase point-to-point in connection with a race is in Bells Life on 10 January 1874. A race is described that took place on the 2 January from Sutton-on-the-Forest to Brandsby and it was won by Langar, ridden by his owner the Hon. E. Willoughby. In Great Britain, local hunts combined in 1913 to form the Master of Hounds Point‐to‐Point Association, control passed to the National Hunt Committee in the mid 1930s and The Jockey Club in the late 1960s. In recent years, pony racing has been staged at British meetings in an attempt to more young riders into point to pointing. It includes races for children and veteran riders, the majority of the races are for riders on purebred New Forest ponies, but some races are open to horses and ponies of other breeds. Point-to-Point races are run over a minimum of three miles, but certain races, including some blue riband events are longer, and Maiden races for young horses can be run over 2½ miles. Most Point-to-Point courses are laid out on ordinary farm land, although a few are placed on the inside of professional courses such as Bangor-on-Dee racecourse or Hexham, there are 110 point-to-point courses throughout the United Kingdom divided into nine regions. East,8 - Ampton, Cottenham, Fakenham, High Easter, Higham, Horseheath, Marks Tey, scotland,4 - Balcormo Mains, Friars Haugh, Mosshouses, Overton. South & Central,4 - Hackwood Park, Kimble, Kingston Blount, south,7 - Aldington, Catsfield, Charing, Godstone, Parham, Penshurst, Peper Harow. Wales,11 - Bangor-on-Dee, Cilwendeg, Howick, Llanfrynach, Llanvapley, Lower Machen, Lydstep, Pentreclwydau, Pyle, Trecoed, a three-mile race is almost invariably two circuits of a typical point to point course although there are one or two exceptions. Every course must have a number of 18 fences and at least two fences must have ditches
18.
Steeplechase
–
A steeplechase is a distance horse race in which competitors are required to jump diverse fence and ditch obstacles. Steeplechasing is primarily conducted in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia, modern usage of the term steeplechase differs between countries. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, it only to races run over large, fixed obstacles. The collective term jump racing or National Hunt racing is used referring to steeplechases. Elsewhere in the world, steeplechase is used to refer to any race that involves jumping obstacles. The most famous steeplechase in the world is the Grand National run annually at Aintree Racecourse, in Liverpool, since its inception in 1836, which in 2014 offered a prize fund of £1 million. The steeplechase originated in Ireland in the 18th century as an analogue to cross-country thoroughbred horse races which went from church steeple to church steeple, an account of the race was believed to have been in the library of the OBriens of Dromoland Castle. Most of the earlier steeplechases were contested cross-country rather than on a track, the first recorded steeplechase over a prepared track with fences was run at Bedford in 1810, although a race had been run at Newmarket in 1794 over a mile with five-foot bars every quarter mile. The first recognised English National Steeplechase took place on Monday 8 March 1830, the 4-mile race, organised by Thomas Coleman of St Albans, was run from Bury Orchard, Harlington in Bedfordshire to the Obelisk in Wrest Park, Bedfordshire. The winner was Captain Macdowall on The Wonder, owned by Lord Ranelagh, report of the event appeared in the May and July editions of Sporting Magazine in 1830. In Great Britain and Ireland, steeplechase only refers to one branch of jump racing, collectively, Great Britain and Ireland account for over 50% of all jump races worldwide, carding 4,800 races over fences in 2008. Jump racing in Great Britain and Ireland is officially known as National Hunt racing, French jump racing is similar to British and Irish National Hunt races, with a few notable differences. Hurdles are not collapsible, being akin to small brush fences. Chases often have large fences called bullfinches, a large hedge up to 8 ft tall that horses have to jump rather than over. There are also a number of cross-country chases where horses have to jump up and down banks, gallop through water. Auteuil in Paris is perhaps the best known racecourse in France for French jump racing, the Velká pardubická Steeplechase in Pardubice in the Czech Republic is the location of one of the longest steeplechase races in Europe. The first Velka Pardubice Steeplechase was held on 5 November 1874, in the United States, there are two forms of steeplechasing, hurdle and timber. National fences stand 52 inches tall at the highest point, but are made of synthetic brush that can be brushed through
19.
Thoroughbred horse racing
–
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies, there are two forms of the sport, Flat racing and jump racing, called National Hunt racing in the UK and steeplechasing in the US. Jump racing can be divided into hurdling and steeplechasing. Traditionally racehorses have been owned by wealthy individuals. It has become common in the last few decades for horses to be owned by syndicates or partnerships. 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, owned by IEAH stables, historically, most race horses were bred and raced by their owners. Additionally, owners may acquire Thoroughbreds by claiming them out of a race, a horse runs in the unique colours of its owner. These colours must be registered under the governing bodies and no two owners may have the same colours. The rights to certain colour arrangements are valuable in the way that distinctive car registration numbers are of value. It is said that Sue Magnier paid £50,000 for her dark blue colours. If an owner has more than one running in the same race then some slight variant in colours is often used or the race club colours may be used. The typical cost of owning a horse in training for one year is in the order of £15,000 in the United Kingdom. The facilities available to trainers vary enormously, some trainers have only a few horses in the yard and pay to use other trainers gallops. Other trainers have every conceivable training asset and it is a feature of racing that a modest establishment often holds its own against the bigger players even in a top race. This is particularly true of national hunt racing, Racing is governed on an All-Ireland basis, with two bodies sharing organising responsibility. The Turf Club is the rulemaking and enforcement body, whilst Horse Racing Ireland governs, in 2013, Ireland exported more than 4,800 Thoroughbreds to 37 countries worldwide with a total value in excess of €205 million. This is double the amount of horses exported annually from the U. S, the Jockey Club in the UK has been released from its regulatory function but still performs various supporting roles. A significant part of the BHAs work relates to the disciplining of trainers and jockeys, disciplinary enquiries usually relate to the running of a horse, for example, failure to run a horse on its merits, interference with other runners, excessive use of the whip
20.
Buzkashi
–
Buzkashi, is the Central Asian sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to place a goat or calf carcass in a goal. It is the sport of Afghanistan, although it was not banned. Traditionally, games could last for days, but in its more regulated tournament version. From Scythian times until recent decades, buzkashi has remained as a legacy of that bygone era, during the rule of the Taliban regime, buzkashi was banned in Afghanistan, as the Taliban considered the game immoral. After the Taliban regime was ousted, the game resumed being played, today games similar to buzkashi are played by several Central Asian ethnic groups such as the Kyrgyz, Pashtuns, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Uyghurs, Hazaras, Tajiks, and Turkmens. In the West, the game is played by Afghan Turks who migrated to Ulupamir village in the Van district of Turkey from the Pamir region. In western China, there is not only horse-back buzkashi, Buzkashi is the national sport and a passion in Afghanistan where it is often played on Fridays and matches draw thousands of fans. Whitney Azoy notes in his book Buzkashi, Game and Power in Afghanistan that leaders are men who can seize control by means foul and fair, the Buzkashi rider does the same. Kazakhstans first National Kokpar Association was registered in 2000, the Association has been holding annual kokpar championships among adults since 2001 and youth kokpar championships since 2005. All 14 regions of Kazakhstan have professional kokpar teams, the regions with the biggest number of professional kokpar teams are Southern Kazakhstan with 32 professional teams, Jambyl region with 27 teams and Akmola region with 18 teams. Kazakhstans national kokpar team currently holds a title of Eurasian kokpar champions, a photograph documents kokboru players in Kyrgyzstan around 1870, however, Kyrgyzstans kokboru rules were first officially defined and regulated in 1949. Starting from 1958 kokboru began being held in hippodromes, the size of a kokboru field depends on the number of participants. The buzkashi season in Tajikistan generally runs from November through April, High temperatures often prevent matches from taking place outside of this period, though isolated games might be found in some cooler mountain areas. Buzkashi was brought to the USA by a descendant from the Afghan Royal Family, a mounted version of the game has also been played in the United States in the 1940s. Young men in Cleveland, Ohio played a game they called Kav Kaz, the men – five to a team – played on horseback with a sheepskin-covered ball. The Greater Cleveland area had six or seven teams, the game was divided into three chukkers, somewhat like polo. The field was about the size of a field and had goals at each end, large wooden frameworks standing on tripods. The players carried the ball in their hands, holding it by the long-fleeced sheepskin, a team had to pass the ball three times before throwing it into the goal
21.
Equestrian drill team
–
An equestrian drill team is a group of horses and riders performing choreographed maneuvers to music. Teams typically perform at rodeos, horse fairs, parades, benefits, Drill teams are intended to entertain, show sportsmanship, horsemanship, teamwork and dedication. Competition drill at the level is a controlled ride and has continuous forward motion. Some competition venues have set up divisions of competition to provide for novice, rodeo, youth, gaited and special effects such as theme. Theme drill provides a division that allows teams to showcase their uniforms, horse ability, music, members must have a uniform appearance, including outfits, hats, tack, and flags. Horses should be of the type, e. g. stock type, gaited, or miniature. Teams can range in size from four horses to 20 plus horses, categories can include Novice, Youth, 4-H, Gaited, Theme, Rodeo, Quad, or Open. The United States Equestrian Drill Association is the body for mounted drill. The USEDA sanctions competitions throughout the United States, the United States Equestrian Drill Championship is held each June at the Texas Rose Horse Park near Lindale, Texas as part of Super Ride - an International Festival of the Equestrian Arts
22.
Polo
–
Polo is a team sport played on horseback. The objective is to score goals against an opposing team, players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing teams goal using a long-handled mallet. The traditional sport of polo is played on a grass field up to 300 by 160 yards, each polo team consists of four riders and their mounts. Field polo is played with a plastic ball which has replaced the wooden version of the ball in much of the sport. In arena polo, only three players are required per team and the game involves more maneuvering and shorter plays at lower speeds due to space limitations of arenas. Arena polo is played with a small air-filled ball, similar to a small football, the modern game lasts roughly two hours and is divided into periods called chukkas. Polo is played professionally in 16 countries and it was formerly an Olympic sport. Its invention is dated variously from the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD, Persian Emperor Shapur II learnt to play polo when he was seven years old in 316 AD. The game was learnt by the neighbouring Byzantine Empire at an early date, a tzykanisterion was built by emperor Theodosius II inside the Great Palace of Constantinople. Emperor Basil I excelled at it, Emperor Alexander died from exhaustion while playing, naqsh-i Jahan Square in Isfahan is a polo field which was built by king Abbas I in the 17th century. Qutubuddin Aibak, the Turkic slave from Central Asia who later became the Sultan of Delhi in Northern India, ruled as a Sultan for only four years, from 1206 to 1210, but died accidentally in 1210. While he was playing a game of polo on horseback, his horse fell and he was buried near the Anarkali bazaar in Lahore. Aibaks son Aram died in 1211 CE, so Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, another ex-slave of Turkic ancestry who was married to Aibaks daughter, after the Muslim conquests to the Ayyubid and Mameluke dynasties of Egypt and the Levant, their elites favoured it above all other sports. Notable sultans such as Saladin and Baybars were known to play it, Polo sticks were features on the Mameluke precursor to modern day playing cards. Valuable for training cavalry, the game was played from Constantinople to Japan by the Middle Ages. It is known in the East as the Game of Kings, the name polo is said to have been derived from the Balti word pulu, meaning ball. The modern game of polo is derived from Manipur, India and it was the anglicised form of the last, referring to the wooden ball that was used, which was adopted by the sport in its slow spread to the west. The first polo club was established in the town of Silchar in Assam, India, the origins of the game in Manipur are traced to early precursors of Sagol Kangjei. This was one of three forms of hockey in Manipur, the ones being field hockey and wrestling-hockey
23.
Polocrosse
–
Polocrosse is a team sport that is played all over the world. It is a combination of polo and lacrosse and it is played outside, on a field, on horseback. Each rider uses a cane or fibreglass stick to which is attached a racquet head with a loose, thread net, the ball is made of sponge rubber and is approximately four inches across. The objective is to score goals by throwing the ball between the teams goal posts. Anyone who can ride a horse can play polocrosse, which helps improve riding skills. All ages and abilities are encouraged to play and the Pony Club have recognised polocrosse as a horse sport, to get started, players need a recognized safety helmet, a racquet, a ball, leg wraps and coronet boots for the horse. Unlike polo, players are allowed only to one horse. There is no restriction on the height, although polocrosse horses are generally smaller than 16hh. Horses of all breeds play polocrosse and the Australian Stock Horse is the most popular breed playing in Australia, stallions are not permitted to play. A match comprises four, six or eight chukkas, the three players in each section play the position of a No. The team structure was designed to force players to pass the ball about amongst themselves, making it a better skilled, the field is 60 by 160 yards, with three separate areas. The goal scoring areas, on end, are 30 yards long. Only the No.1 of the team and the No.3 of the defending team can play in these areas. The middle area is 100 yards long, the line separating the goal scoring and centre areas is called the penalty or thirty-yard line. Goal posts are eight feet apart, to score, the ball must be thrown from outside an 11-yard semicircle in front of the goal. Players can pick up the ball from the ground, catch it in their racquet and they throw it to other players until the No.1 has possession in the goal scoring area. A player cannot carry the ball over the penalty line, and it can also be passed to a player over the line. When carrying the ball, a player must carry it on the stick side, a player can, however, pick-up or catch the ball on the non-stick side provided they immediately bring it back to their stick side
24.
Barrel racing
–
Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both boys and girls compete at the level and men compete in some amateur venues and jackpots, in collegiate and professional ranks. Barrel racing originally developed as an event for women, while the men roped or rode bulls, in early barrel racing, the pattern alternated between a figure-eight and a cloverleaf pattern. The figure-eight was eventually dropped in favor of the more difficult cloverleaf and it is believed that competitive barrel racing was first held in Texas. The WPRA was developed in 1948 by a group of women from Texas who were looking to make a home for themselves, when it initially began, the WPRA was called the Girls Rodeo Association, with the acronym GRA. It consisted of only 74 members, with as few as 60 approved tour events, the Girls Rodeo Association was the first body of rodeo developed specifically for women. Today barrel racing is a part of most rodeos and is included in gymkhana or O-Mok-See events. There are also open barrel racing jackpots, Barrel racing is usually one of the main three challenges in which age group riders compete against each other, the other two being keyhole and pole-bending. In barrel racing the purpose is to make a run as fast as possible. The times are measured either by an eye, a device using a laser system to record times. Judges and timers are more seen in local and non-professional events. The timer begins when horse and rider cross the start line, the riders time depends on several factors, most commonly the horses physical and mental condition, the riders horsemanship abilities, and the type of ground or footing. Beginning a barrel race, the horse and rider will enter the arena at top speed, once in the arena, the electronic timer beam is crossed by the horse and rider. The timer keeps running until the beam is crossed again at the end of the run, modern barrel racing horses not only need to be fast, but also strong, agile, and intelligent. Strength and agility are needed to maneuver the course in as little distance as possible, a horse that is able to hug the barrels as well as maneuver the course quickly and accurately follow commands, will be a horse with consistently low times. The approach to the first barrel is a moment in executing a successful pattern. The rider can decide whether to go to the left or the right barrel first, each turn in barrel racing should be a relatively even half circle around the barrel. The athleticism required for this comes from optimum physical fitness of the rider
25.
Corrida de sortija
–
The corrida de sortija is a traditional gaucho sport of the Rio de la Plata area of South America. In the middle of this cross-beam, and underneath is loosely suspended a small ring, not larger than a wedding-ring. A Gaucho, galloping at the fastest beneath this, is to bear off the ring on a bit of twig, about the calibre of an ordinary pencil, numberless are the failures, for knocking off, without retaining it on the stick, is not sufficient. But many, of course, are the successes, each of which is greeted by a Viva
26.
Jigit
–
Jigitovka was also used in training of cavalry forces in the Russian Empire and USSR. Jigitovka as a competition is performed on a horse galloping at the 360 m long and 10 m wide path. The exercises are divided into three groups by their complexity, maximum points are given for exercises of the most complex third group. Jigitovka as a circus performance includes complex stunts usually performed by a group of riders, history and current status of dzhigitovka - rus. History, training dzhigitovka Russia Georgian Trick Riders in American Wild West Shows, 1890s-1920s by Irakli Makharadze, Publisher, McFarland
27.
Er Enish
–
Er Enish, or Oodarysh, is a traditional Kyrgyz equestrian sport. It is a kind of horseback wrestling, the rules allow dangerous holds, such as holding the flanks, arm muscles and joints. The horses skill is as important as the riders in this kind of wrestling, horses need to be heavy, strong and biddable. Er Enish is one of the featured in the Worldwide Nomad Games. In official competitions, participants must be at least 19 years old and be medically certified, competitors are divided in 3 categories according to weight, up to 70 kg,70 to 90 kg, and more than 90 kg. Er Enish needs flat, clear ground, the sport is played in a 30 m diameter circle, under the supervision of a mounted referee. Participants wear a costume that leaves them naked to the waist, an Er Enish bout lasts an average of 6 minutes, but the game stops if a horse or wrestler is hurt. In this case, a 2-minute break is allowed to the wrestler for a medical examination. If he does not resume wrestling after this time, his opponent wins the bout, during the match, the referee awards points to the wrestlers for each hold or fault that takes place. At the end of the game, the amount of points decides the winner, if the score is equal. Some moves are not allowed, such as kicks, punches, using a whip, holding onto the face or hair, finger twisting, points are awarded as follows, - If a wrestler keeps a hold on the opponents horse for 3 seconds, he earns 1 point. If a wrestler keeps a hold on his opponent for 3 seconds, If a wrestler manages to unbalance his opponent, so the opponent has to hold onto his horse to avoid falling, he earns 2 points. If a wrestler manages to hold his opponents hand behind his back without unseating him, If a wrestler tries to avoid his opponents hold, he gets a warning for passiveness, and his opponent earns 1 point. If a wrestler holds the opponents horse by the reins, he gets a warning, If a wrestler causes his opponent to fall from his horse, he earns 4 points. The game can also be played in teams, in case the total cumulative score of each team decides its ranking in the competition. Er Enish is mentioned in the Epic of Manas
28.
Kyz kuu
–
Kyz kuu or kyz kuumai, literally girl chasing, is an equestrian traditional sport among Turkic peoples such as Azerbaijanis, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz. It exhibits elements of racing but is often referred to as a kissing game. A game is conducted as follows. A young man on horseback waits at a starting line, a young woman, also mounted, starts her horse galloping from a given distance behind the young man. When the young woman passes the young man, he may start his horse galloping, the two race towards a finish line some distance ahead. If the young man is able to catch up to the woman before they reach the finish line, he may reach out to her and steal a kiss. However, if the man has not caught up to the young woman by the time they reach the finish line. If she is in range of the man, she may use her whip to beat him
29.
Mounted games
–
Mounted games is a branch of equestrian sport in which very fast games are played by people of all ages on ponies up to a height of 15 hands. Mounted Games were the inspiration of Prince Philip, the sport of mounted games as it exists today was founded by Norman Patrick. His aim was to extend the sport, previously age-restricted by Pony Club, for wider participation, in the years which followed his continued support and patronage ensured that the sport spread across Great Britain and beyond. There are many different games played in mounted games and these are split into team, pairs and individual games. At the first World Championships in 1985 only four teams participated, originally Great Britain participated as one team however from 2000 onwards this was split into England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland have always participated as a separate team, the European Team Championships had already existed in an unofficially format for a number of years before being officially recognised as an IMGA event in 2006. Since then the organisation of the championships has fallen into the model as the World championships with a different member country hosting the event each year. Unlike the World Team Championships, this event is also stages across different age groups, in 2010 IMGA introduced a Southern Hemisphere Championship as a regional international championship similar to the European Team Championships. This was then expanded to include all members in 2014. The World Pairs Championships started in 1992, originally as an Open competition with an Under 17 class being added in 1993, to date the championships have always been held at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground in England. The World Individual Championships started in 1986 across Open, Under 17, in 1990 an Under 12 class was also added and from 1999 to 2008 there was also a veterans class. Until 2012 the championships were held in Great Britain. 2013 was the first time that the competition was held outside of GB, in 2010 a European Individual Championships was run for the first time concurrently with the European Team Championships. This championship is open to all ages
30.
Pole bending
–
Pole bending is a timed event that features a horse and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. This event is seen in high school rodeos and 4-H events as well as American Quarter Horse Association, Paint. Setting up the pole bending pattern is crucial to the success of this event, the pole bending pattern is to be run around six poles. Each pole is to be 21 feet apart, and the first pole is to be 21 feet from the starting line, poles shall be set on top of the ground, six feet in height, with no base more than 14 inches in diameter. These are the measurements implemented and endorsed by the National High School Rodeo Association, the purpose of a universal pattern is to be able to track and compare times everywhere poles are run. Good horsemanship is the foundation for success in pole bending and barrel racing, the horse and rider team must work as one in order to excel. Various methods are implemented in pole bending from the approach to the “side pass” approach. Depending on the horse/ rider combination, the needs to experiment to see what method works best for their application. Each contestant will begin from a start, and time shall begin. A clearly visible starting line must be provided, an electric timer or at least two watches shall be used, with the time indicated by the electric timer or the average time of the watches used by official timers to be the official time. A horse may start either to the right or to the left of the first pole, knocking over a pole shall carry a five-second penalty. Failure to follow the course shall cause disqualification, a contestant may touch a pole with his or her hand in pole bending. Poles shall be set on top of the ground,6 feet in height, poles shall be PVC pipe, and bases shall be rubber or plastic. For added safety, PVC caps are recommended, preferred color for poles is natural white, but red, white, and blue rings shall be allowed. Solid rubber bases are preferred, but hollow plastic bases shall be allowed only if filled completely to emulate a solid base, when riding a horse through the poles, the rider must first look to where they want to go. It is essential that the rider sits in the saddle and uses lower body, forward motion must be maintained in order to keep all of the poles standing. The use of the horse’s hindquarters helps the horse zigzag through the poles in a smooth weave. Anytime all of the poles are left standing is considered a run, however
31.
Sinjska alka
–
The Sinjska alka is an equestrian competition held in the Croatian town of Sinj every first Sunday in August since 1717. Because of this victory, the Venetians retained control over Sinj and integrated it into the Venetian Dalmatia, the people of Sinj believe that the Lady of Sinj miraculously drove away Ottomans, thus helping them to defend their town. In 2010, the Alka was inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, Alka is also the name of the object used in the tournament, it is made of two concentric rings connected with three bars 120° apart. The object is hung on a rope 3.32 metres above the race track, the contestant rides his horse down the race track and tries to hit the central ring of the alka with his spear in full gallop. Depending on which part of the alka he hits, he receives from 1 to 3 points, the contest consists of three rounds. Only men born in Sinjska krajina can take part in the Alka, the vojvoda of Alka is a ceremonial title representing the commander of the alkars. It is an honour to become the alkar vojvoda. The costumes worn by the men are the same that were worn by the warriors in the 18th century. Sinjska Alka was created in the early 18th century as a continuation of knightly competitions that were held across the Venetian Dalmatia, Zadar, Imotski, the oldest written mention of Alka are in the three sonnets and an ode written by the Italian poet Julije Bajamonti in 1784. In the letter Count Thurn informs Commander Grabovac that the Palatine Commission from Vienna approved further maintenance of Alka in Sinj on the last day of the carnival, at the past Alka was organised at a different time than today, occasionally twice a year. In 1834 it was organised on 9 February, in 1838 on April 19, Alka is organised regularly on August 18, which is the birthday of Emperor Franz Joseph, since 1849, as determined by the Statute of 1902. Since then, Alka is organised in August, in the first third of the month, so that Bara, Čoja, in 1818, during his trip through Dalmatia, the Emperor Francis II visited Sinj, and the locals organized a special Alka in his honor. The Emperor awarded the winner with a brilliant ring worth 800 forints, also, by 1818, Vienna was rewarding the winner with a prize of 100 florins, and this was probably main reason for the continuation of this knightly tournament. When the Emperor Franz Joseph rose to power in 1848 he established the award in the amount of 100 forints, from 1902 to 1914 prize awarded to winner was 4000 crowns, and from 1914 to 1918 it was 600 crowns. Alka was repeatedly organised during the visits of rulers or other important people. On March 28,1842 Alka was organised in honor of the Austrian Archduke Albrecht during his visit to Sinj, on May 18,1875 Emperor Franz Joseph visited Sinj. In his honor people of Sinj organised extraordinary solemn Alka, the Emperor awarded him with a gold ring. Alka was organised three times outside of Sinj, in 1832 in Split, in 1922 in Belgrade and in 1946 in Zagreb, vicko Grabovac was the longest-running Alka Duke with 28 commands over Alka festivities
32.
Skijoring
–
Skijoring is a winter sport where a person on skis is pulled by a horse, a dog or a motor vehicle. It is derived from the Norwegian word skikjøring meaning ski driving, Skijoring with a dog is a sport in which a dog assist a cross-country skier. One to three dogs are commonly used, the cross-country skier provides power with skis and poles, and the dog adds additional power by running and pulling. The skier wears a harness, the dog wears a sled dog harness. There are no reins or other signaling devices to control the dog, the dog must be motivated by its own desire to run, many breeds of dog participate in skijoring. The only prerequisite is a desire to run down a trail and pull, small dogs are rarely seen skijoring, because they do not greatly assist the skier, however, since the skier can provide as much power as is required to travel, any enthusiastic dog can participate. Golden Retrievers, Giant Schnauzers, Labs, and many cross-breeds are seen in harness, pulling breeds work well also such as American Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, American bull dogs, and mastiffs. The sport is practiced recreationally and competitively, both for long travel and for short distances. Skijor races are held in countries where there is snow in winter. Most races are between 5 kilometers and 20 kilometers in length, the longest race is the KALEVALA held in Kalevala, Karelia, Russia, with a distance of 440 kilometres. Next is the River Runner 120 held in Whitehorse, Yukon, in the United States and Canada, skijoring races are often held in conjunction with sled dog races, skijoring being just one category of race that occurs during the days activities. In Scandinavia, skijor racing is tightly associated with the older Scandinavian sport of Pulka, Skijoring races are not normally limited to purebred Northern breed dogs such as the Siberian Husky. On the contrary, the top ranked racing teams in the world are German Shorthaired Pointers, Pointer/Greyhound mixes, Alaskan Huskies, although some races are unsanctioned, held under the sole guidance of a local club, many races fall under one of three international organizations. In the United States and Canada, ISDRA sanctions many races, in Europe ESDRA provides sanctioning, and the IFSS sanctions World Cup races all over the world, as well as a world championship race every two years. At the IFSS World championship event, skijoring races are separated into mens and womens,200 Skijoring teams raced in this event which included the first ever National Skijoring Championship. Since many leashed dogs naturally tend to pull a skier with no training and it was invented and continues to be reinvented all over the world. As a competitive sport, however, it is believed that the first races were held in Scandinavia as an offshoot of the sport of Pulka. Competitive racing has taken up in North America while its older cousin Pulka racing has not yet become popular
33.
Driving (horse)
–
It encompasses a wide range of activities from pleasure driving, to harness racing, to farm work, horse shows, and even International combined driving competition sanctioned by the FEI. The term in harness often is used to describe a horse being driven, for horse training purposes, driving may also include the practice of long-lining, wherein a horse is driven without a cart by a handler walking behind or behind and to the side of the animal. This technique is used in the stages of training horses for riding as well as for driving. Horses, mules and donkeys are driven in harness in many different ways, for working purposes, they can pull a plow or other farm equipment designed to be pulled by animals. In many parts of the world they still pull carts, wagons, horse-drawn boats or logs for basic hauling and they may draw carriages at ceremonies, such as when the British monarch is Trooping the Colour, as well as in parades or for tourist rides. Horses can race in harness, pulling a very lightweight cart known as a sulky. Draft horse showing, Most draft horse performance competition is done in harness, draft horses compete in both single and multiple hitches, judged on manners and performance. Carriage driving, using somewhat larger two or four wheeled carriages, often restored antiques, pulled by a horse, a tandem or four-in-hand team. Pleasure competitions are judged on the turnout/neatness or suitability of horse, nearly any breed of horse can be trained for pleasure driving. Fine harness, Also called formal driving, horses are hitched to a light four-wheeled cart and shown in a manner that emphasizes flashy action and dramatic performance. Refined pony breeds and certain light saddle horse breeds noted for their action are most often seen in fine harness, roadsters are shown at two types of trot, known as road gait and at speed. A team is more than one animal used together for draft, the animals may be arranged in various ways. While a single animal is placed between two shafts, a pair is usually hitched side by side with a single pole between them. A troika is a team hitched in a row of three, the center horse in shafts and each of the other two hitched on either side. A tandem hitch has one animal in shafts, then one or more others hitched ahead of the first in single file. Larger teams are usually in pairs, with four, six or even more animals overall, sometimes other arrangements are used, such as the unicorn, and the pickaxe. Teams larger than six are generally limited to situations where large loads must be hauled over difficult ground, for example, eight-ox plowing teams were once common on the heavy soils of southern England, as were very large ox teams used in 19th century South Africa. Twenty-mule teams were used in the century for hauling ore in California
34.
Ban'ei
–
Banei is a form of horse racing where draft horses compete by pulling heavily weighted sleds up sand ramps while being urged on by jockeys balancing on top of the sleds. The horses used in the races are either purebred or crosses of Percheron, Breton. Banei races are now held at the Obihiro Racecourse, as the popularity of the races has waned in recent years. The Obihiro racecourse nearly closed in 2006 before Softbank, a Japanese mobile phone company, odds Park Hai was established in 2007 as an expression of gratitude. Other companies, such as Rakuten and Sapporo Breweries have since joined in and several schemes have been initiated. Ban’ei racing has its origin in agricultural work, when horses were used to pull farming machinery. Eventually, the horses were tested for speed and strength in festivals of the late Meiji Era, the popularity grew, and in 1953, Hokkaido’s four cities began to manage races. Races were run until three of the cities, Kitami, Asahikawa, and Iwamizawa closed operations in 2007 due to declining revenues, Obihiro racecourse is now the only one currently active and hosts races almost every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Trainers use the beginning of April to prepare new horses, races are also held on additional days to mark special occasions, such as New Year. The Ban-ei course consists of a 200-meter dirt track with lines separated by ropes laid in the sand and this creates ten lanes, each incorporating a starting gate and two hill-shaped obstacles. The second and steeper obstacle is called the “Ban’ei Point”, horses haul sleds across this track, with the weight of each sled ranging from 450kg, to up to 1 ton, as seen in the Ban’ei Kinen event. Jockeys stand and balance on the sled, using long reins as a whip, each jockey must weigh at least 75 kilograms. If the jockey is underweight, more slabs are added to meet the minimum weight, horses are often deliberately stopped after the first obstacle, and given a chance to rest before being ushered to climb the second one. A horse has not finished until the whole sled is behind finish line, after the race completes, racehorses are freed from the sleds and led to the backyard, while the sleds are moved back to the starting gate with the aid of a trolley. The amount of each horse must pull is determined by several factors. Younger horses and mares are not required to pull as much as their older counterparts, a horses group and rating - which further determines the weight it is required to pull - depends upon the amount of money the horse has previously earned. The group the competing horse is in is labeled 1-26, and groups are rated with Open, A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, B4, C1 and this is similar to system used in local Japanese thoroughbred racing. Weight allowance of jockeys is either 10 kg or 20 kg based on the number of wins, because banei racing is about strength and not speed, the winning time of big races is often slower than lower class races, where even small overtime can get horse quickly disqualified
35.
Carriage driving
–
Carriage driving is a form of competitive horse driving in harness in which larger two or four wheeled carriages are pulled by a single horse, a pair, tandem or a four-in-hand team. In competitions the driver and horse have to complete three tests including Dressage, Marathon and Obstacle Driving, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports oversees International Shows. The FEI Driving rules are followed in these competitions which aim to protect the welfare of the horse, pleasure competitions also have classes which are judged on the turnout, neatness or suitability of the horse and carriage. Pleasure driving Combined driving Coachman serious competition competition
36.
Chuckwagon racing
–
Chuckwagon racing is an equestrian rodeo sport in which drivers in a chuckwagon led by a team of Thoroughbred horses race around a track. The most famous race in the world is held annually at the Calgary Stampede. The WPCA submits 25 drivers to the Calgary, while the CPCA submits 11 drivers, the sport is controversial as horses and drivers are occasionally injured or killed, prompting animal welfare groups to call for the sport to be banned. The first time chuckwagon races were held as a sport was at the 1923 Calgary Stampede. Guy Weadick, who had founded the Stampede eleven years previously, invited ranchers to enter their chuckwagons, in 2009, the total purse available to racers was $1.15 million. The actual origin of the sport is unknown, with different stories offered to explain how it originated. The first professional racing circuit was sanctioned in 1949 by the Cowboys Protective Association, which sanctioned all professional rodeo and chuckwagon races in Canada including the Calgary Stampede. It operates the GMC Pro Tour, a 10-event season with events held throughout Alberta, a smaller governing body, the Northern Chuckwagon Association was formed in the late 1970s, evolving into the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association in 1995. The CPCAs Pro Tour hosts events in Saskatchewan and northern Alberta, in 2001 in Northern Alberta the Western Chuckwagon Association was formed. They currently race in venues across the Peace River Country with major shows in Grande Prairie, AB and Dawson Creek, the WCA has grown to have around 20-25 drivers. While the sports popularity is greatest on the Canadian prairies, chuckwagon racing has been held in conjunction with many rodeos across North America, the sport can be very dangerous for wagon drivers and outriders. There have been five human deaths related to the Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stampede, three occurred between 1948 and 1971, one of which was a spectator struck by an outriders horse, and two occurred in the 1990s, an outrider in 1996 and a driver in 1999. The sport has faced opposition from animal welfare groups, who contend that it is cruel to the horses. Six horses died in 2010, two heart attacks. Approximately fifty horses have died in chuckwagon races at that event between 1986 and 2013, in 2013, a 12-year-old thoroughbred ridden by an outrider collapsed with a burst lung artery and died shortly afterwards, a death atrributed to Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Supporters of the event argue that the horses are well cared for, before, wagon drivers express sadness over the periodic deaths of horses at the Stampede, explaining that, while unfortunate, animal injury and death are a normal element of any ranch or farming operation. Critics counter that chuckwagon racing is simply a sport and produces no food. Thus the practice is an unnecessary and cruel risk to horses to take
37.
Draft horse showing
–
Draft horse showing refers to horse shows exclusively for horses of the draft horse breeds. Worldwide, some horse shows also feature riding classes. Draft horse shows are different from draft horse pulling competitions, where teams of horses compete to determine who can pull the most weight, exhibitors of these classes must follow a pattern for each class in which they participate. The pattern is the same for every class, the hitches enter the arena one at a time, following one another. They travel to the right, along the rail in a counter-clockwise direction, a hitch is a unit consisting of the exhibitor, his or her horse and vehicle, being a cart or wagon. The judge is observing each hitch from the middle of the ring where he or she is standing, all of the hitches make a few laps in this counter-clockwise direction and then reverse. A lap is completed when a hitch travels the way around the arena next to the rail. When the reverse is made, the hitches diagonally cut the ring in half in order to go the opposite direction and this allows the judge to see the other side of each hitch. A couple more laps are made going in this clockwise direction, while making these laps on the rail, the horses are trotting and usually asked to walk for a few steps only once during the entire class. Next, all of the line up, coming to a complete stop in the middle of the ring. The judge then looks at each hitch individually and has them back up and this requires the driver of each hitch to direct his or her horse to back either the cart or wagon a few feet, stop, and then step forward to the original position. Finally, the judge places all of the hitches in the order of his or her preference, considered an unsafe hitch by many drivers, since the tendency for the lead horse to turn around and face the wheel horse. These classes evaluate the conformation of the animals, the cost of a draft horse depends on the level of competition at which an exhibitor would like to compete. A draft horse shown as a hobby and competing only at local or county fairs would start at approximately $1,000, a harness exhibitor uses appropriate equipment for driving, beginning with a truck and trailer to haul the draft horses to the show. A show harness, a wagon, and a show cart must be purchased as well. These three items are used in the arena while a hitch is performing. Another set of harness and a practice wagon is used at home for training. Along with the equipment, decorations that are put up at the draft horse shows
38.
Fine harness
–
Fine harness is a type of driving competition seen at horse shows, that feature light, refined horses with high action. Popular breeds in this event include the American Saddlebred, Morgan, Arabian, Dutch Harness Horse, some breeds of pony are also shown in the fine harness style. These include the Hackney Pony, Welsh pony, and the American-type Shetland Pony, the harness used is a light, breastplate type without a horse collar. The cart used is generally a light, four-wheeled design
39.
Horse pulling
–
There are different weight classes and strict rules to avoid animal cruelty. The Belgian horse is the breed most frequently seen, but other breeds are also used. There are also competitions for ponies, where they pull significant weight relative to their size, related sports are tractor pulling and Canine Weight pulling. However, horses pull less weight than tractors, but much more than dogs, the sport of horse pulling originated when horses were still used for daily farm work. Farmers would challenge one another to see whose horse or team could pull the most weight, since then, horse pulling has evolved into an organized sport with teams of equine athletes. Horses that are used for horse pulling are generally not used for work on the farm, instead, they are worked regularly to keep their muscles and tendons strong and limber to prevent them from being hurt during competitions. The dynamometer was first thought of after the end of World War 1, professor E. V. Collins, of Iowa State College, worked between the years of 1923-1926 to find a way to test the efficiency of plowing horses. He built several machines that were designed to test the power of horses in different soil conditions. One machine that was created was called the Dynamometer and this machine was specially created to test the maximum pulling power of teams of horses. Arrangements were made for horse pulling competitions to be held at fairs, the dynamometer has changeable weights that are set on a vertical track. When a teams of horses were hooked to the machine, they would pull, there are several types of dynamometers including the Hensley-Humbert, Lance, Midwest, New York, Reed, Smith, and Tostenson. A starting load of 1500 pounds is set into the dynamometer, each team entered in the competition is hitched to the machine and they would pull it for a short distance. If the team can not pull the weight, they are removed from the competition, the competition continues on in this way until only one team of horses remains. Rules and regulations are in place to protect the safety of the horses during competitions, the Eastern Draft Horse Association, being the largest horse pulling organization in the United States, works to ensure safety during competitions by enforcing rules and regulations. Each competition has its own rules in addition to the Eastern Draft Horse Associations rules
40.
Roadster (horse)
–
Roadster is a type of driving competition for horses and ponies where the horse and exhibitor appear in equipment similar to that used in harness racing. It is derived from the use of certain horses hitched to light carts that traveled quickly from one place to another, often racing on ordinary dirt roads. The term is used to describe the horse used for such competition. Horses pull a sulky and drivers wear racing silks. However, the exhibitors do not race, instead, they perform in an arena at horse shows at trotting gaits that include a slow jog, a medium speed road gait, and a rapid and long-strided but controlled trot referred to as showing at speed. Animals are evaluated on performance and manners and this type of class is particularly popular in Shetland pony and Morgan horse breed shows
