Equestrianism

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

Equestrianism includes three main kinds of activity: riding, driving, and vaulting. Riding means sitting on a horse and moving with it, while 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 are also used in artistic and cultural performances, and in competitive sport.

Overview of equestrian activities

Horses are trained and ridden for practical work, such as police work or controlling herd animals on a ranch. They are also used in competitive sports like dressage, endurance riding, eventing, reining, show jumping, tent pegging, vaulting, polo, horse racing, driving, and rodeo. Some popular competitions are grouped together at horse shows, where horses perform in many different disciplines. Horses, and other equids such as mules, are used for recreational riding, such as fox hunting, trail riding, or hacking. There is public access to horse trails in almost every part of the world, and many parks, ranches, and public stables offer guided and independent riding. Horses are also used for therapeutic purposes, to improve human health and emotional development.

Horses are also driven in harness racing, at horse shows, and in exhibitions such as historical reenactment or ceremonies, often pulling carriages. In some parts of the world, they are still used for practical purposes such as farming. Horses continue to serve the public in traditional ceremonies like parades and funerals, in police and volunteer mounted patrols, and in mounted search and rescue. Riding halls, also known as indoor arenas or schools, allow horses and riders to train in all weathers and hold indoor competitions.

History of horse use

Main articles: Domestication of the horse and Horses in warfare

People are not certain of the exact date that 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 there has teeth wear that matches the use of a bit. The clearest early archaeological evidence shows horses being driven 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 played an important part in human history around the world, 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, beginning with the second voyage of Columbus in 1493. Equestrianism became an Olympic sport with jumping events at the 1900 Summer Olympics.

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

Humans appear to have long wanted to know which horse was the fastest, and horse racing has ancient roots. Gambling on horse races appears to go hand in hand with racing and also has a long history. Thoroughbreds have the strongest reputation as racing horses, but other breeds race too.

Under saddle, Thoroughbred horse racing is the most popular form around the world. In the UK it is called flat racing and is governed by the Jockey Club. In the US, the Jockey Club governs horse racing. Steeplechasing involves 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 or racing bike. The Standardbred dominates the sport in both trotting and pacing. The United States Trotting Association organizes harness racing in the United States, and it is also found in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. In endurance riding, horses start evenly 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 confirmed 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 included in the modern Olympic Games in 1900, and by 1912 all three Olympic disciplines were part of the games. Three forms of competition are recognized worldwide and are part of the equestrian events at the Olympics. They are governed by the rules of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). Dressage, which means "training" in French, involves training a horse to a high level of impulsion, collection and obedience, so it can perform natural movements on request. Show jumping is a timed event where horse and rider jump a series of obstacles in a set order, with the fewest refusals or knockdowns. Eventing, also called combined training, horse trials, the three-day event, the Military or the complete test, combines dressage, show jumping and the cross-country jumping phase, where horses jump fixed obstacles such as logs, stone walls, banks, ditches and water within an "optimum time".

Other internationally sanctioned disciplines that are governed by the FEI but are not Olympic events include combined driving, endurance, reining and vaulting. These are part of the FEI World Equestrian Games, held every four years, and may have their own World Championships in other years. The FEI also recognizes horseball and tent pegging as its two regional disciplines. Para-equestrian competition, including the Paralympics, is also governed by the FEI. Para-Equestrian Dressage follows the same rules as regular dressage, but riders are divided into grades based on their functional abilities. Para-Equestrian Driving places competitors in 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 whose owners reported no such problems. Even so, about 73% of the 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). Similar results were found in other studies and places, and similar problems were also found in horses used for leisure riding.

How long a horse is ridden each day makes a difference. Riding school horses showed more facial grimacing on days of moderate work (1 to 2 hours of riding) than on rest days, and the signs of pain increased further on days of prolonged work (3 to 4 hours). Riders of all skill levels were found to miss signs of pain in their horses, though skill did help horse welfare. Saddle fit also matters, since poorly fitted saddles 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 is a set of very refined skills that is rarely used in competition but is 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, with 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 (not jumped) and judged on manners, performance, movement, style and quality. In halter, in-hand breeding, or conformation classes, a handler leads the horse on the ground and the horse is judged on its conformation and how suitable it is as a breeding animal. In harness classes, the horse is driven rather than ridden, but is still judged on manners, performance and quality. Jumping, also called over fences, covers both show jumping and show hunter, where horses and riders must jump obstacles.

English riding

Main article: English riding

In North America, these styles are called "English riding" to set them apart from western riding. Elsewhere, they are usually called "classic riding." Hunt seat and Hunter classes judge the movement and form of horses that work over fences. A horse with good jumping form lifts its knees and jumps with a good bascule. Eventing, show jumping and dressage are sometimes grouped under hunt seat in North America.

Saddle seat is mainly an American style, though it has recently become somewhat popular in South Africa. It was created 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 nations influenced by British traditions, and features elegant horses with good movement and self-carriage. A related event is riding horse.

Western riding

Main article: Western riding

Western riding grew out of the cattle-working and warfare traditions that the Spanish brought to the Americas. Both the equipment and the riding style changed to meet the needs of the cowboy on ranches in the American West. The most noticeable feature is the western saddle, which has a large saddle tree that supports horse and rider during long hours of work. It has a raised front called a pommel, topped by a horn, which is a knob used to hold a lariat after roping an animal. It also has wide stirrups. A deeper seat is used for barrel racing or cutting cows, while a shallower seat is used for general ranch riding or Steer wrestling.

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

Harness

Main article: Driving (horse)

Horses, ponies, mules and donkeys are driven in harness in many ways. For work, they can pull a plow or other farm equipment. In many parts of the world, they still pull wagons for basic hauling and transportation. They may also draw carriages at ceremonies, in parades, or for tourist rides.

Horses can race in harness, pulling a very light cart called a sulky. At the other end, some draft horses take part in horse pulling contests, where teams try to pull the most weight over a short distance. In horse shows, there are several kinds of harness competition. Combined driving includes precise control, endurance, and an obstacle course. Draft horse showing is mostly done in harness. Pleasure driving focuses on manners, and fine harness focuses on flashy, dramatic action. In roadster classes, exhibitors wear racing silks and ride in a sulky, similar to harness racing but without racing. Carriage driving uses larger carriages, often restored antiques, and 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, horse and rider move quickly and skillfully 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 wrestles it to the ground by grabbing its horns. Goat tying is usually for women or younger riders, and it was designed to teach the basics of calf roping. Roping events are based on 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, a method still used on working ranches for branding and treatment. In team roping, two riders work together to catch a steer, and 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. In spite of popular myth, most modern "broncs" are not wild horses but horses bred specifically as bucking stock. 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 modified saddle without a horn while holding 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, but it requires similar skills. Rodeo is also held in other countries, including Australian rodeo, Chilean rodeo, and Charreada.

Other equestrian activities

There are many other forms of equestrian activity and sports seen around the world. Some are competitions, and others are pleasure riding disciplines. In arena sports, Arena polo and Cowboy polo are played, and Pato is Argentina's national sport. In equestrian vaulting, a surcingle with two hoops is attached around a horse's barrel. The horse wears a bridle with side reins, and the vaulter is longed on the horse while performing gymnastic movements as the horse walks, trots, and canters. Gymkhana is a competition of timed pattern games, also known as O-Mok-See in the western United States. Horse sports that use cattle include Bullfighting (rejoneo), with Portuguese-style bullfighting and Spanish-style bullfighting. Others are Campdrafting, a cattle-working competition popular in Australia, Cutting, Team penning, and Working cow horse.

Defined area sports include Buzkashi, which began on the steppes of central Asia and is now the national sport of Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. Others are Cowboy mounted shooting, Horseball, and Jousting and Skill at Arms, which use lances, swords, and obstacles and are often seen at historical reenactments, Renaissance Fairs, and Society for Creative Anachronism events. Mounted archery includes Yabusame, and Mounted Games are fast relay-style games with two to five members per team. Polo is a team game in which riders use a long-handled mallet to drive a ball into the opposing team's goal. Other defined area sports are Polocrosse and Tent pegging. Cross-country sports include Competitive Mounted Orienteering, a form of orienteering on horses (but unrelated to orienteering), and Le Trec, which is very popular in Europe. Competitive trail riding is a pace race over varied land, judged on the horse and rider as a team, and 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 leading cause of sports-related traumatic brain injury in the United States. A 2023 study of 210 equestrians found more concussions in equestrian sports than in football or rugby. Horses are large animals that can move quickly and unexpectedly, and a rider's head may be up to 4 m (13 ft) from the ground. Injuries range from very minor to fatal. Studies in Germany, Victoria, Australia, Greece, and the United States found that riding carries real risks, especially for adolescents, children, and novice riders. Falling from a horse is the most common cause of injury, followed by being kicked, trampled, or bitten. Head injuries are especially serious, and wearing a helmet greatly lowers the chance of a brain injury. Many competitions now require helmets, and experts advise replacing a helmet after a hard fall.