Horse Sports
Popular Riding Sports Explained
Horse Sport Examples
Some Popular Riding Sports Include:
HUNTER JUMPER
Hunter Jumper shows are divided into hunters, equitation, and jumpers. Hunters are judged on manners, way of going, and conformation. Jumpers have more power and energy than hunters and are judged on jumping ability over a timed course. Equitation classes judge the rider’s position and overall effectiveness.
Check out our interview with a hunter trainer
Learn More On the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Website
SHOW JUMPING
Show Jumpers have more power and energy than hunters and are judged on jumping ability over a timed course.
Learn More On the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Website
POLO
Polo is a team sport played on a grass field that consists of four riders. The objective is to score goals by hitting a small ball into the opposing team’s goal using a long-handled mallet
Combined Driving
Combined driving is similar to eventing in that it has three phases, but you drive a horse from a carriage instead of riding it. The phases are dressage, a marathon section, which is similar to riding cross country in eventing, and a cone section which is similar to showjumping but you drive a horse or pony through an obstacle course instead of over jumps.
Check out our interview with a combined driving instructor
EVENTING
Eventing is an Olympic sport where a horse and rider teams compete over three days in dressage, show jumping, and cross-country.
Learn More On the United States Eventing Association (– USEA) Webpage
DRESSAGE
Learn More On the United States Dressage Federation (– USEF) Western Webpage
VAULTING
Equestrian vaulting incorporates gymnastics and dance on the back of a moving horse, and can be competitive or recreational. The horse is controlled by a person in the center of a circle called a lunger, and it moves around that person on a long rope called a lunge line. Riders learn the moves on equipment on the ground before they try it on the back of a horse. Large, sturdy horses that are even tempered and have consistent and rhythmic gaits make for good vaulting partners.
Check out our interview with a vaulting instructor
SADDLE SEAT
Saddle Seat riding is an English riding sport with energetic and high-stepping horses that are smooth and comfortable to ride. The rider sits toward the back in the saddle and carries the hands higher than in other riding sports.
Learn More On the United States Equestrian Federation (– USEF) USA Saddle Seat Webpage
WESTERN PLEASURE
Western Pleasure is a western style competition where the horses appear to be a pleasure to ride and very smooth and collected with minimal rein contact.
Learn More On the United States Equestrian Federation (– USEF) Western Webpage
FOX HUNTING
Fox hunting has a long tradition of hunting a fox on horseback with a pack of foxhounds over open terrain. Participants must understand and follow the traditional rules and etiquette of of the sport. In current hunts in the United States, the fox is rarely killed. The hounds follow the scent of a fox (or coyote) until the animal hides underground, while the people on horseback follow the hounds. The horses are usually draft and thoroughbred crosses or full thoroughbreds, although any type of horse or pony can be used. The horse must be able to stop and stand, have endurance over long distances, and be able to jump solid obstacles.
Learn More On the Masters of Foxhounds Association and Founders Webpage
Fox Hunt Photo Gallery
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Related Posts from the Allpony Blog
Allpony Horse Sports Video Series: Vaulting
This equestrian vaulting instructor interview is the third video in a series of educational videos intended to teach children about different horse sports. Vaulting is gymnastics on horseback and amazing to watch!