Equestrian Sports: Difference between revisions
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{{Useful Notes}}
Equestrian sports developed out of the various uses of horses in history, including military warhorses, hunting horses, and working cattle horses. Today there are two main categories of equestrian sports: "English" and "Western".
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''Hunter Jumping''
Whereas show-jumping focuses on speed and power, hunter jumping focuses on form, discipline, and teamwork. The jumps are no more than three-and-a-half feet high, so there are quite simply ''no'' excuses for sloppy riding here. The horse and rider are judged on how well they work together, how well they cleared the jumps, and if they completed the course within the time limit. Falling off is still a Very Bad Thing (and will disqualify you) and points are still deducted for knocking down poles.
''Dressage''
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'''''Western Riding'''''
Western riding developed out of the working cattle ranches of the American West. Although no Western riders compete in the Olympics, due to the sport largely being confined to the United States and Australia, reining has recently been added to the World Equestrian Games. The National Reining Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association, National Paint Horse Association and National Cutting Horse Association are affiliated governing bodies and between the four of them largely govern Western riders.
In recent years reining has seen an absolute explosion in growth, becoming quite popular in Western Europe - indeed, the woman widely considered to be the world's best dressage rider, Anky van Grunsven, has recently begun competing in reining. Should Western events ever be added to the Olympics, this is likely to be the first to make it in.
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Demonstrates the abilities of the horse to cut (separate) a cow or calf from the herd and prevent it from rejoining for a given length of time. This discipline has obvious roots in stock management and requires a horse with agility, intelligence, and good balance. Ideally the rider will loosen the reins and give no direction once the animal has been cut from the herd. Good horses can not only read the animal's body language (a trait known as "cow sense") and be ready to counter any swerve or plunge, but will work with style, energy, and evident enjoyment.
''Roping''
Demonstrates the ability of the rider to rope and tie a calf in a maximum time - usually done with two people on a team.
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'''''Popular Breeds For Equestrian Sports'''''
Just about any horse can be used for any of these competitions; some breeds, however, are better than others for certain competitions. For show-jumping, where the jumps are often up to six feet high, you're going to need a tall horse, like a Hanoverian or Dutch Warmblood. Three-day eventers need a horse with a strong constitution; Arabians, Barbs, and Thoroughbreds are popular choices here. Western riders tend to favor colorful horses, like [https://web.archive.org/web/20110203151439/http://www.ponykids.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/paint_horse2.jpg paints], [https://web.archive.org/web/20120331121557/http://www.windriverhistory.org/exhibits/chiefjoseph/images/ideal%20photo%202.jpg Appaloosas], and [http://www.theequinest.com/images/palomino-horse.jpg palominos]; gaited breeds, like [http://www.sweetgrassranch-twh.com/picts/gen.jpg Tennessee Walkers]{{Dead link}}, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120325070600/http://www.mypets.net.au/upload/flex_img/16112008031227_177.jpg Saddlebreds], and [http://www.gaitedmeadows.com/Assets/Foal%20Joshua%20fall%2007.jpg Rocky Mountain Horses]{{Dead link}} are specifically ''bred'' for Western riding.<ref> All horses have four main gaits: Walk, trot, canter, and gallop; gaited horses have a fifth gait that is unique to their breed, and they must be trained to use this gait. A gaited horse that doesn't learn to use its fifth gait can be used for non-Western disciplines, but they will have a very awkward and hard-to-sit trot and canter.</ref><br />And then there are breeds who can do any and all of these disciplines. The most popular horse in the world is the American Quarter Horse; thanks to their build (strong hindquarters, deep chests, and long necks) and extremely pleasant personalities, Quarter Horses are suited to almost every discipline imaginable (though, as they tend to be on the small side, they're not often seen in show-jumping arenas) <ref> An Appendix Quarter Horse is half-Quarter and half-Thoroughbred; they often have the slight build of a Thoroughbred and the height and malleable temper of the Quarter</ref>. Similarly, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and most warmblood breeds are popular in many disciplines, and for short riders, taller pony breeds like the Connemara are more than capable of clearing hunter-jump obstacles.
And then there are breeds who can do any and all of these disciplines. The most popular horse in the world is the American Quarter Horse; thanks to their build (strong hindquarters, deep chests, and long necks) and extremely pleasant personalities, Quarter Horses are suited to almost every discipline imaginable (though, as they tend to be on the small side, they're not often seen in show-jumping arenas) <ref> An Appendix Quarter Horse is half-Quarter and half-Thoroughbred; they often have the slight build of a Thoroughbred and the height and malleable temper of the Quarter</ref>. Similarly, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and most warmblood breeds are popular in many disciplines, and for short riders, taller pony breeds like the Connemara are more than capable of clearing hunter-jump obstacles.
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Sporting Event]]
[[Category:Equestrian Sports]]
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