Equestrianism

Equestrianism is the name for activities that involve horses. It is also often called horse riding or horseback riding. The word comes from Latin words meaning "horseman" and "horse."

Equestrianism has three main kinds of activity: riding, driving, and vaulting. Riding means sitting on a horse and moving with it. Driving means guiding a horse that pulls a vehicle.

The field is very broad. People use horses for practical working jobs, for getting from place to place, and for fun. Horses also take part in artistic and cultural shows, and in competitive sport.

Overview of equestrian activities

Horses are trained and ridden for real jobs, such as police work or herding animals on a ranch. They also take part in competitive sports like dressage, endurance riding, eventing, reining, show jumping, tent pegging, vaulting, polo, horse racing, driving, and rodeo. Some popular events are grouped together at horse shows, where horses take part in many different kinds of contests. Horses, and other equids such as mules, are also used for fun riding, such as fox hunting, trail riding, or hacking. In almost every part of the world, people can ride on horse trails. Many parks, ranches, and public stables offer guided rides and rides you can take on your own. Horses are also used for therapeutic purposes, to help people feel better and grow emotionally.

Horses are also driven in harness racing, at horse shows, and in events such as historical reenactment or ceremonies, often pulling carriages. In some parts of the world, they are still used for work on the land, such as farming. Horses still take part in traditional ceremonies like parades and funerals. They also help in police and volunteer mounted patrols, and in mounted search and rescue. Riding halls, also called indoor arenas or schools, let horses and riders train in any weather and hold indoor contests.

History of horse use

Main articles: Domestication of the horse and Horses in warfare

People are not sure of the exact date when horses were domesticated or when they were first ridden. The best estimate is about 3500 BC. Some evidence suggests that around 3000 BC, near the Dnieper River and the Don River, people used bits on horses. A buried stallion found there has teeth wear that matches the use of a bit. The clearest early archaeological evidence shows horses being used to pull loads. Chariot burials from about 2500 BC are the most direct proof of horses used as working animals. In ancient times, chariot warfare was followed by the use of war horses as light and heavy cavalry.

Horses have played an important part in human history all over the world. They helped in war and in peaceful work, such as transportation, trade and agriculture. Horses once lived in North America but died out at the end of the Ice Age. European explorers brought horses back to North America, starting with the second voyage of Columbus in 1493. Equestrianism became an Olympic sport when jumping events were added to the 1900 Summer Olympics.

Main articles: Horse racing, Harness racing, and Parimutuel gambling

People have long wanted to know which horse is the fastest, and horse racing has very old roots. Gambling on horse races has a long history too and often goes along with racing. Thoroughbreds have the strongest reputation as racing horses, but other breeds race too.

When horses are ridden, Thoroughbred horse racing is the most popular form around the world. In the UK it is called flat racing and is run by the Jockey Club. In the US, the Jockey Club also oversees horse racing. Steeplechasing is racing on a track where horses also jump over obstacles. It is most common in the UK, where it is also called National Hunt racing. In harness racing, horses pull a sulky, which is a light racing cart. The Standardbred is the main breed in both trotting and pacing. The United States Trotting Association organizes harness racing in the United States. It is also found in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. In endurance riding, horses start together and cover a measured distance, often 50 to 100 miles (80 to 161 km) over mountains or other natural land. The first horse to finish and be checked as fit by a veterinarian wins. Variants include Ride and Tie.

International and Olympic disciplines

Main articles: Equestrian events at the Summer Olympics and International Federation for Equestrian Sports

Equestrian events were first part of the modern Olympic Games in 1900. By 1912, all three Olympic disciplines were included. Three forms of competition are recognized around the world and are part of the equestrian events at the Olympics. The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) makes the rules for them.

Dressage is a word from French that means "training." In dressage, a horse is trained to move with impulsion, collection, and good obedience. This helps the horse perform natural movements when its rider asks.

Show jumping is a timed event. The horse and rider jump a set of obstacles in a set order. The best riders have the fewest refusals or knockdowns.

Eventing is also called combined training, horse trials, the three-day event, or the complete test. It combines dressage, show jumping, and cross-country jumping. In cross-country jumping, horses jump fixed obstacles such as logs, stone walls, banks, ditches, and water. They must finish within an "optimum time."

Other horse sports are also governed by the FEI, but they are not Olympic events. These include combined driving, endurance, reining, and vaulting. They are part of the FEI World Equestrian Games, which are held every four years. Some of them also have their own World Championships in other years. The FEI also recognizes horseball and tent pegging as its two regional disciplines.

Para-equestrian competition is also governed by the FEI. This includes the Paralympics. Para-Equestrian Dressage follows the same rules as regular dressage, but riders are placed into grades based on their abilities. Para-Equestrian Driving also places competitors into grades, based on their skill.

Impact of riding on horse welfare

Several studies have raised concerns about how horseback riding affects horses. In a British study, researchers looked at limping and pain in sport and school horses. Their owners had not reported any such problems. Even so, nearly three in four horses showed some limping, and about half showed signs of pain while being ridden. The researchers measured pain using the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE). Other studies in other places found similar results. Horses used for leisure riding had similar problems too.

How long a horse is ridden each day makes a difference. Riding school horses made more facial grimaces on days with moderate work, about 1 to 2 hours of riding, than on rest days. The signs of pain grew stronger on days with longer work, about 3 to 4 hours. Riders of all skill levels were found to miss signs of pain in their horses, though skill did help the horse's welfare. Saddle fit matters too, because a poorly fitted saddle can cause back pain. The rider's weight, and how it is spread across the horse's back, also seem to affect the horse's pain.

Haute École

Main article: Classical dressage

The haute école (French for "high school") is an advanced part of Classical dressage. It uses very refined skills. These skills are rarely used in competition but are often seen in demonstration performances.

Some of the world's leading Classical dressage programs are the Cadre Noir in Saumur, France; the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria; the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art at Queluz National Palace, Portugal; and the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Other major classical teams include the South African Lipizzaners and the Hollandsche Manege of the Netherlands.

Horse shows

Main article: Horse show

Horse shows are held all around the world. They have many different events, equipment, clothing, and ways of judging. Most horse show competitions fit into a few broad groups. Equitation, sometimes called seat and hands or horsemanship, is where the rider is judged on form, style and ability.

In pleasure, flat, or under saddle classes, horses are ridden on the flat, without jumping. They are judged on manners, performance, movement, style and quality. In halter, in-hand breeding, or conformation classes, a handler leads the horse on the ground. The horse is judged on its body shape and how suitable it is for breeding. In harness classes, the horse is driven rather than ridden. It is still judged on manners, performance and quality. Jumping, also called over fences, includes both show jumping and show hunter. In these, horses and riders must jump over obstacles.

English riding

Main article: English riding

In North America, these styles are called "English riding" to tell them apart from western riding. In other places, they are usually called "classic riding." Hunt seat and Hunter classes judge how horses move and hold their bodies when they jump over fences. A horse with good jumping form lifts its knees and makes a smooth, rounded jump called a bascule. In North America, eventing, show jumping and dressage are sometimes grouped under hunt seat.

Saddle seat is mainly an American style, though it has recently become somewhat popular in South Africa. It was made to show off the lively movement of horses such as the American Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walker. Arabians and Morgans may also be shown this way in the United States. Show hack is seen mainly in the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries influenced by British traditions. It features elegant horses that move well and carry themselves proudly. A related event is riding horse.

Western riding

Main article: Western riding

Western riding developed from the cattle work and military riding traditions that the Spanish brought to the Americas. The gear and the riding style changed to suit the cowboys who worked on ranches in the American West. The most noticeable part is the western saddle. It has a large saddle tree that holds up both horse and rider during long days of work. The front of the saddle is raised into a part called the pommel, and a knob called the horn sits on top. Riders use the horn to hold a lariat after catching an animal with a rope. The saddle also has wide stirrups. A deeper seat is used for barrel racing or cutting cows. A shallower seat is used for everyday ranch riding or Steer wrestling.

Trained western horses answer to a loose rein held in one hand. The bridle may have a Snaffle bit or a curb bit. Some bridles have no bit at all, such as a bosal-style hackamore, often used on younger horses, or a mechanical hackamore. In Vaquero style training, a bosal and a bit are sometimes used together at certain stages. This is called a "two-rein." The standard western bridle has no noseband. It usually has one set of reins attached to a curb bit. The shanks on this bit are longer than those on a curb used on an English Weymouth bridle or a pelham bit. Western bridles have either a browband or a "one ear" loop. Two styles of reins developed. The Texas tradition uses long, split reins. The California tradition uses "Romal" reins, which can also be used as a quirt. Riders usually wear long-sleeved shirts, jeans, cowboy boots, and wide-brimmed cowboy hats. They may also wear protective chaps. In competitions such as Western pleasure, riders often wear brighter colors, and the saddles and bridles are decorated with silver. Modern rodeo riders in timed events sometimes use a closed rein without a romal.

Harness

Main article: Driving (horse)

Horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys can be driven while wearing a harness. They can pull a plow or other farm tools to help with work. In many parts of the world, they still pull wagons to carry things and people. They may also pull carriages at ceremonies, in parades, or for rides with visitors.

Horses can race while pulling a small, light cart called a sulky. Some strong draft horses take part in horse pulling contests. In these contests, teams try to pull the heaviest load over a short distance. Horse shows have several kinds of harness competition. Combined driving tests careful control, stamina, and an obstacle course. Draft horse showing is mostly done in harness. Pleasure driving focuses on good manners, and fine harness focuses on bold, eye-catching movement. In roadster classes, riders wear racing silks and ride in a sulky. This is similar to harness racing, but there is no race. Carriage driving uses bigger carriages, often old ones that have been restored, called antiques. Judges look at how neat and suitable the horse and carriage are.

Rodeo

Main article: Rodeo

Rodeo has several kinds of competition. In timed events, riders race against the clock. In barrel racing and pole bending, a horse and rider move quickly through set patterns. These speed events are also seen at gymkhana or O-Mok-See competitions, where both men and women compete. At most professional rodeos, barrel racing is only for women. In steer wrestling, also called "Bulldogging", a rider jumps from a horse onto a steer and brings it down to the ground by holding its horns. Goat tying is usually for women or younger riders. It was designed to teach the basics of calf roping. Roping events come from the work of cowboys, who often had to catch calves and adult cattle for branding and medical care. A lariat is thrown over an animal's head or horns. In calf roping, also called "tie-down roping", a rider ties three of a calf's feet together. This method is still used on working ranches for branding and treatment. In team roping, two riders work together to catch a steer. It is the only rodeo event where men and women may compete together. Breakaway roping is an easier form of calf roping.

Rough stock events test riders on horses and bulls. Many people think wild horses are used, but most modern "broncs" are horses bred specifically for bucking. Bronc riding has two types. In bareback bronc riding, the rider holds a leather surcingle with one hand while riding a bucking horse. In saddle bronc riding, the rider uses a special saddle without a horn. The rider holds a rope attached to the horse's halter. Bull riding is not technically an equestrian event, because cowboys ride full-grown bucking bulls instead of horses. It still needs similar skills. Rodeo is also held in other countries, including Australian rodeo, Chilean rodeo, and Charreada.

Other equestrian activities

There are many other kinds of horse activities and sports around the world. Some are competitions, and others are pleasure riding activities. In arena sports, people play Cowboy polo and Arena polo. Pato is the national sport of Argentina. In equestrian vaulting, a surcingle with two hoops is fastened around a horse's barrel. The horse wears a bridle with side reins. The vaulter is longed on the horse, which means the horse moves in a circle on a long rope. The vaulter performs gymnastic moves while the horse walks, trots, and canters. Gymkhana is a competition of timed pattern games. In the western United States, it is also called O-Mok-See. Some horse sports involve cattle. These include Bullfighting (rejoneo), which has Portuguese-style bullfighting and Spanish-style bullfighting. Others are Campdrafting, a cattle-working competition that is popular in Australia, Cutting, Team penning, and Working cow horse.

Some sports are played in a marked area. Buzkashi began on the steppes of central Asia. It is now the national sport of Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. Others are Cowboy mounted shooting and Horseball. Jousting and Skill at Arms use lances, swords, and obstacles. They are often seen at historical reenactments, Renaissance Fairs, and Society for Creative Anachronism events. Mounted archery includes Yabusame. Mounted Games are fast relay-style games, with two to five members on each team. Polo is a team game. Riders use a long-handled mallet to hit a ball into the other team's goal. Other sports played in a marked area are Polocrosse and Tent pegging. Cross-country sports include Competitive Mounted Orienteering, which is a form of orienteering on horses. It is not related to orienteering. Le Trec is very popular in Europe. Competitive trail riding is a pace race over varied land. The horse and rider are judged as a team. Cross Country Jumping uses logs and natural obstacles. Endurance riding covers 50 to 100 miles (160 km) or more over mountains or other natural land. Fox hunting, hacking, Hunter Pacing, Ride and Tie, Steeplechase, and Trail Riding are also part of this group.

Health issues

Horseback riding is a common cause of head injuries in sports in the United States. A 2023 study of 210 riders found more concussions in equestrian sports than in football or rugby. Horses are large and can move fast and without warning. A rider's head can be about 4 meters (13 feet) off the ground. Injuries can be small or very serious. Studies in Germany, Victoria, Australia, Greece, and the United States found that riding has real risks, especially for adolescents, children, and new riders. Falling off a horse is the most common cause of injury. Being kicked, stepped on, or bitten can also cause harm. Head injuries are especially serious, but wearing a helmet greatly lowers the chance of a brain injury. Many competitions now require helmets. Experts advise replacing a helmet after a hard fall.