What is Equestrian?

Equestrian is the encompassing term for all activity involving the horse or other equus species (eg. mule). The term equestrian describes both recreational and competitive riders, handlers, and drivers. Equestrian includes all disciplines or activities participated in whilst mounted on the horse, as well as unmounted disciplines or activities. It is the partnership of horse and human and, in some disciplines, horse to horse.

Mounted equestrian disciplines are commonly divided into two categories: English disciplines and Western disciplines. As a general rule of thumb, the classification of English or Western describes the type of “tack” (equipment) used on the horse. The type of tack used is the most easily distinguishable factor in the division of English and Western disciplines. Other disciplines that do not fall under the categories of English or Western include driving, halter (in-hand), and vaulting (gymnastics on horseback).

Certain breeds of the horse are often favored and are more suitable for either English, Western, or other disciplines, and many breeds have been developed with discipline-specific purpose in mind. However, as merit to the versatility of the horse, many if not most breeds are able to participate successfully in a wide variety of disciplines; English, Western and otherwise.

Some of the most common equestrian disciplines under English, Western, and Other categories are summarized below. These disciplines may be participated in recreationally or competitively.

English

The Collaboration of Competitive Trail

Competitive Trail tests the stamina, manners, and conditioning of the horse and rider. Competitive Trail has some similarities but is quite different from the discipline of Endurance (see below). Competitive Trail rides can be up to 40 miles long and are to be finished within the time allotted, and not over or under the set time. Veterinarian checks must be completed.

Horse and rider pairs are scored on a demerit system, based on the conditioning and manners of the horse and rider. A scoring system penalizes horse and rider for aspects such as unsatisfactory pulse rate, lesions, lameness etc. The pair with the lowest score (lowest number of demerits) wins. 

The Art of Dressage

“Dressage” is derived from the French verb “dresser”, meaning “to train”. Dressage is the systematic and sequential training of horse and rider, developing harmony between the two. The object is to produce a willing, obedient, balanced, and supple horse that appears to require minimal input from the rider.

A standard dressage test involves a series of movements the horse and rider must perform to demonstrate the correct progression of the pair’s training. Each movement is preformed at a specified point. The difficulty of the tests increases gradually, with a horse at the highest level showcasing a very high degree of obedience, gymnastic ability, and wonderfully graceful, expressive and rhythmic movement.

Dressage can also be performed as a freestyle or as a pas-de deux.  A freestyle is a dressage test set to music of the rider’s choice. A required set of movements must be demonstrated, and it is the choice of the rider as to where and in what order the movements are executed. A pas-de-deux involves two horse and rider pairs, who perform a series of movements together in mirror image of the other.

In dressage, horse and rider combinations are scored in percentages; a score in the early 60’s and upwards is desirable. The pair with the highest score wins. 

The Thrill of Show Jumping

Show jumping is a test of power, precision, agility, and speed. The horse and rider must navigate a course of brightly colored fences in an optimum time while incurring as little faults as possible. The courses are designed to challenge the horse and rider’s ability to make adjustments on course as required in order to leave all the obstacles intact.

Faults are assessed for a knockdown (4 faults), a refusal (4 faults), a run-out (4 faults), a fall (elimination), or for being over the time allowed (1 fault per 4 seconds over the time allowed). While there are several different formats used in show jumping, generally, a horse and rider pair that posts a clear (fault-free) round is eligible for a jump-off. A jump-off is a race against the clock over a shortened course. The horse and rider with the fewest faults and fastest time wins.  

The Challenge of Horse Trials / Eventing

Eventing tests the courage, stamina, and versatility of the horse and rider. Advanced eventing is held over 3 days - called 3-day eventing -  each day featuring a different phase of competition: dressage (see above) on day 1, cross-country - which can include 4 phases - on day 2, and show jumping (see below) on day 3. Cross-country consists of 2 roads and tracks phases, a steeplechase phase, and the exciting cross-country phase in which a jumping course made up of natural, solid obstacles is set over varied terrain that the pair must negotiate.

The competition encompasses 3 separate tests, each scored individually but added together for the final results. Penalties or faults will be totaled and the horse and rider pair with the fewest combined faults over the 3 days wins.  

The Resilience of Endurance

Endurance riding tests the stamina, speed, and conditioning of the horse and rider. Total distances per ride vary, with the longest and most difficult rides around 100 miles, to be completed in 24 hours. Different types of terrain and natural hazards must be negotiated, calling for an obedient horse and knowledgeable rider. Various veterinarian checks must be completed during the ride to monitor the horse’s “soundness” or conditioning and deem the horse and rider pair fit to continue. 

The object is to complete the ride in the fastest time possible, while passing the vet’s inspections. The first horse and rider pair to finish the ride and also receive the vet’s approval wins. 

Western

Western riding in North America originated from the Spanish conquistadors in the 17th Century. As the conquistadors travelled to what is now Texas and California, this style of riding began to spread across the continent.

Orginally, Western riding was a “working” discipline. The cowboys who drove cattle on the large western cattle ranches relied on their mounts to do a job. Both riders and horses had to be in good physical condition as they sometimes travelled hundreds of miles in just a few days.

From these beginnings, the modern competitive Western events of cutting, reining, speed events, and general performance divisions have developed. The popularity of Western riding has grown tremendously during recent years and Western riding enthusiasts can now be found worldwide. 

The Exhilaration of Barrel Racing

Barrel Racing tests the speed, accuracy, and control of the horse and rider. The horse and rider must complete a triangle of 3 barrels set at measured distances as quickly and as error-free as possible. The barrels are negotiated in a clover-leaf pattern. The tightest possible turns must be made around the barrels while maintaining and controlling the speed.

Penalties are assessed if a barrel is knocked over by adding a set amount of seconds to the pair’s final time. Going off-course or off the pattern results in disqualification. The horse and rider pair with the fastest time wins. 

The Intuitiveness of Cutting

Cutting tests the instinct, intelligence, and agility of the horse and the judgment and training provided by the rider. The pair must select a calf from a herd of cattle, isolate it, and prevent it from returning to the herd. A time is allotted; more than one calf can be cut in a contest, but only one calf at a time.

The cutting horse’s “cow sense” is its instinct and ability to match the calf’s movement. This is scored by a judge along with factors such as the challenge of the calf selected and any errors made by the horse/rider. 

More coming soon!  

Reining 

Western Pleasure   

Other

The Daring of Driving

Driving is an unmounted equestrian discipline in which one or more horses pulls the driver(s) in a carriage. Like all equestrian disciplines, driving can be for recreation and pleasure, or for sport. Competitive driving competitions include four-in-hand, pairs, singles, and tandems. There are 3 types of driving competitions: presentation/dressage, marathon, and obstacle driving. A popular combination of these is called Combined Driving.

Combined Driving is the equivalent to ridden eventing (see below), testing the horse and driver’s courage, stamina, and versatility. The three phases include: Dressage (see above) in which the horse, while pulling a carriage, must demonstrate a series of movements and demonstrate willingness, obedience, balance, and suppleness; Marathon in which there are several phases, including the navigation of obstacles over varied terrain where each obstacle has a start and finish and is timed separately; and Obstacles (cones) in which the carriage, within a time allowed, must be accurately pulled through obstacles (cones with balls on top) that are set barely wider than the carriage itself. Any cones that are touched or balls dislodged results in penalties assessed.

The horse(s)/driver pair with the fewest penalties assessed over all components wins. 

The Excitement of Vaulting

Vaulting is sometimes called gymnastics on horseback. Vaulting tests the control, obedience, and steadiness of the horse, while the vaulter, on top of the horse, demonstrates the gymnastic requirements of balance, flexibility, strength, and style. Vaulters compete both individually, men and women, and in teams. 

A vaulting team is composed of several vaulters and one reserve vaulter, one “longeur” (controls the horse on a circle with the use of a long line attached to the horses’s bridle, called “longeing”), and one horse. The horse is “longed” at a canter, left-hand on a circle with a minimum diameter of 13 meters. Both the individual and team vaulting competition consist of two parts: the compulsory test and the freestyle test.

More coming soon!

Halter