Equestrianism facts for kids

A young rider at a horse show in Australia

Lusitano riders of the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art, one of the world's most famous riding academies.

Riding Icelandic horses in the beautiful Skaftafell mountains of Iceland.

Equestrianism is all about activities involving horses. It includes riding, driving (where horses pull carts or carriages), and vaulting (gymnastics on horseback). People use horses for many things, like working on ranches, traveling, having fun, performing in shows, and competing in sports.

Exploring Horse Activities

Musicians riding horses during the Tang dynasty in ancient China.

Horses are amazing partners! They are trained for important jobs, such as helping police or guiding herds of animals on a ranch. Horses also shine in many exciting sports. These include dressage, endurance riding, eventing, reining, show jumping, polo, horse racing, and rodeo. Many of these competitions happen at horse shows.

Beyond sports, horses are great for fun activities. You can enjoy trail riding through nature or simply go for a leisurely ride. Many parks and stables offer guided rides. Horses also help people in special programs to improve health and happiness.

Horses are also used to pull things. They can pull carriages in parades or for special events. In some parts of the world, horses still help with farm work. They are also part of public service, like in traditional ceremonies or for mounted search and rescue teams. Indoor riding arenas allow riders and horses to train and compete no matter the weather.

A Look Back at Horses and Humans

An ancient cave painting showing a horse and rider.

Horses have been friends with humans for a very long time. Experts believe people first started riding horses around 3500 BC. Early evidence suggests that people used special mouthpieces called bits on horses around 3000 BC. The clearest signs of horses working with humans come from about 2500 BC, when they pulled chariots.

Throughout history, horses were vital for battles, transportation, trade, and agriculture. Horses disappeared from North America after the last Ice Age. European explorers, like Christopher Columbus, brought horses back to the continent starting in 1493. Equestrian sports became part of the 1900 Summer Olympics with jumping events.

Thrilling Horse Racing

People have always loved to see which horse is the fastest! Horse racing has been a popular sport for thousands of years. Many people also enjoy betting on races. Thoroughbred horses are famous for racing, but other breeds also compete.

Types of Horse Racing

There are different ways horses race:

Under Saddle:
- Thoroughbred horse racing is popular worldwide. Horses gallop on a flat track.
- Steeplechasing involves horses racing and jumping over obstacles on the track. It's common in the UK.

In Harness:
- Horses pull a lightweight cart called a sulky or racing bike. The Standardbred breed is famous for this sport, either trotting or pacing.
- Harness racing is popular in the United States, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.

Distance Racing:
- Endurance riding is a long-distance race, usually 50 to 100 miles (80 to 160 km) over natural terrain. Horses have health checks along the way to make sure they are fit to continue. The first horse to finish and pass the vet check wins.

Olympic Equestrian Sports

Equestrian events joined the Olympic Games in 1900. By 1912, all three main Olympic disciplines were included. These sports are recognized globally and follow rules set by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI):

Dressage: This means "training" in French. It's about training a horse to perform graceful, precise movements on command. It shows how well the horse and rider work together.
Show jumping: Riders guide their horses over a course of obstacles in a set order. The goal is to jump cleanly without knocking down any parts of the obstacles and finish within a time limit.
Eventing: This is a challenging "three-day event" that combines three different skills. It includes the obedience of dressage, the athletic jumps of show jumping, and a tough cross-country phase. In cross-country, horses jump over solid obstacles like logs, walls, and water, aiming to finish within an "optimum time."

The FEI also recognizes other international sports that are not in the Olympics. These include combined driving, endurance riding, reining, and equestrian vaulting. These sports are featured at the FEI World Equestrian Games every four years.

Para-Equestrian Sports

Para-equestrian competitions are for riders with disabilities. They are also governed by the FEI and include:

Para-Equestrian Dressage: Riders compete in dressage, but they are grouped into different categories based on their abilities.
Para-Equestrian Driving: Competitors drive horses in harness, also grouped by their skill levels.

Caring for Our Horse Partners

It's super important to make sure horses are always comfortable and healthy when we ride them. Good riders pay close attention to their horse's behavior to understand if they might be uncomfortable. Learning to recognize these small signs can help riders address any issues early.

Making sure a saddle fits perfectly is key to a horse's comfort. A poorly fitting saddle can make a horse's back sore. Regular checks by a qualified saddle fitter help ensure the saddle is always right for the horse. A rider's balance and how they sit on the horse also help keep the horse comfortable. Learning to ride well helps the horse feel good and perform its best.

Haute École: High-Level Riding

The haute école (which means "high school" in French) is a very advanced type of Classical dressage. These highly refined skills are rarely seen in competitions but are often performed in special demonstrations.

Some of the world's most famous classical riding schools include:

The Cadre Noir in Saumur, France.
The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.
The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art in Queluz National Palace, Portugal.
The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Exciting Horse Shows

Horse shows happen all over the world, with many different events and styles. Most horse show competitions fit into these main types:

Equitation: Here, the rider is judged on their riding form, style, and skill.
Pleasure or Flat Classes: Horses are ridden without jumping and are judged on their manners, performance, movement, and overall style.
Halter or Conformation Classes: A handler leads the horse on the ground. The horse is judged on its body shape and how well it fits its breed standards.
Harness Classes: The horse is driven (pulling a cart) instead of ridden. They are judged on manners, performance, and quality.
Jumping or Over Fences: This includes show jumping and show hunter events, where horses and riders jump over obstacles.

English Riding Styles

A rider competing in a dressage event.

"English riding" refers to several styles, including the classical Olympic events. In North America, it's called "English riding" to tell it apart from Western riding. Elsewhere, it's often called "classic riding."

Hunt seat or Hunter Classes: These classes judge horses that are good at jumping over fences, like those found during a fox hunt. Horses are judged on their movement, manners, and jumping form.
Saddle seat: This American style highlights the energetic, high-stepping movements of breeds like the American Saddlebred and Tennessee Walking Horse. Horses are judged on their animated action and good manners.
Show hack: Popular in the UK and Australia, this competition features elegant horses with excellent movement and self-carriage.

Western Riding Adventures

A rider in Western horsemanship attire.

A horse and rider working together in a cutting horse competition.

Western riding developed from the traditions of cowboys working with cattle in the Americas. Both the equipment and riding style were created to help cowboys on ranches.

The most recognizable part of Western riding is the western saddle. It has a strong frame that supports both horse and rider during long hours. Western saddles have a horn (a knob used for wrapping a lariat), wide stirrups, and sometimes two cinches (straps that hold the saddle on).

Western horses are trained to respond to light cues, often with the reins held in one hand. Riders wear a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, cowboy boots, and a wide-brimmed cowboy hat. Sometimes, riders wear protective leather leggings called chaps. For competitions like Western pleasure, riders might wear brighter clothes and use saddles decorated with silver.

Harness Driving

A Welsh pony competing in a fine harness event.

Horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys can pull things in harness. For work, they might pull a plow or other farm equipment. In many places, they still pull wagons for transportation. They can also pull carriages for ceremonies or tourist rides.

In harness racing, horses pull a very light cart called a sulky. At the other extreme, some draft horses compete in horse pulling contests, where they show off their strength by pulling heavy weights.

In horse shows, you can see different types of harness competitions:

Combined driving: This international competition has three parts: a precise "dressage" test, a challenging cross-country "marathon," and an obstacle course.
Draft horse showing: Most competitions for large draft horses involve them pulling in harness.
Pleasure driving: Horses and ponies pull light carts, judged on their manners and smooth gaits.
Fine harness: Also called "Formal driving," this showcases horses with flashy, dramatic movements while pulling a light cart.
Roadster: Exhibitors wear racing silks and drive a sulky, focusing on performance and manners, similar to harness racing but without actually racing.
Carriage driving: Horses pull larger carriages, often antique ones, and are judged on the overall appearance of the horse and carriage.

Exciting Rodeo Events

Rodeo events are thrilling competitions that often come from the real-life tasks of cowboys on ranches.

Timed Events

Barrel racing and pole bending: These are speed and agility events. In barrel racing, horse and rider gallop around a cloverleaf pattern of barrels. In pole bending, they weave through a line of poles.
Steer wrestling: Also known as "Bulldogging," this event involves a rider jumping from their horse onto a steer and using skill to bring it to the ground.
Goat tying: Often for younger riders, this event involves racing to a staked goat, dismounting, and quickly tying three of its legs. It teaches basic roping skills.

Roping Events

Roping events are based on how cowboys used to catch calves and cattle for branding or medical care.

Calf roping: Also called "tie-down roping," a rider uses a lariat to rope a calf. The horse helps by holding the rope steady while the rider dismounts and ties three of the calf's legs.
Team roping: This is the only rodeo event where men and women can compete together. Two riders work as a team to rope a full-grown steer. One rider lassos the steer's horns, and the other lassos its hind legs.
Breakaway roping: An easier form of calf roping where a short lariat is tied lightly to the saddle. When the calf is roped, the rope breaks away, stopping the clock.

"Rough Stock" Competitions

A small herd of horses bred for rodeo events.

These events feature powerful, bucking animals. Most "broncs" (bucking horses) are specially bred for rodeo.

Bronc riding: Riders try to stay on a bucking horse for a set time. In bareback bronc riding, riders hold a strap. In saddle bronc riding, they use a special saddle and rope.
Bull riding: While not strictly an equestrian event, it requires similar skills. Riders try to stay on large, bucking bulls.

International Rodeo

Rodeo is also popular in other countries, with unique styles like Australian rodeo, Chilean rodeo, and Charreada in Mexico.

Other Fun Horse Activities

Girls and their horses getting ready for a polo game.

There are many other exciting ways to enjoy horses around the world, both for competition and for fun!

Arena Sports

Arena polo and Cowboy polo
Pato: Argentina's national sport, played on horseback.
Equestrian vaulting: Performing gymnastics on a moving horse.
Gymkhana: Timed pattern games, also known as O-Mok-See in the western United States.

Horse Sports with Cattle

Campdrafting: A cattle-working competition popular in Australia.
Cutting: A horse and rider separate one cow from a herd.
Team penning: Teams of riders work together to separate and pen specific cattle.
Working cow horse: Shows a horse's ability to work with cattle in various ways.

Defined Area Sports

Buzkashi: A sport from central Asia, where riders compete to grab a goat carcass.
Cowboy mounted shooting: Riders shoot targets while on horseback.
Horseball: A team sport played with a ball, similar to basketball on horseback.
Jousting and Skill at Arms: Events involving lances, swords, and obstacles, often seen at historical reenactments.
Mounted archery: Shooting arrows from horseback.
Mounted Games: Fast-paced relay games played by teams on horseback.
Polo: A team game where riders use mallets to hit a ball into a goal.
Polocrosse: A mix of polo and lacrosse, played on horseback.
Tent pegging: Riders use lances or swords to pick up small targets from the ground.

Cross-Country Sports

Competitive Mounted Orienteering: Riders follow a precise route using a map, navigating obstacles.
Le Trec: A European sport testing a horse and rider's ability to handle an all-day ride across varied terrain.
Competitive trail riding: A judged ride over natural terrain, focusing on the partnership between horse and rider, horse condition, and horsemanship.
Cross Country Jumping: A jumping course with natural obstacles like logs and ditches.
Endurance riding: A long-distance race over natural terrain, with vet checks to ensure horse fitness.
Fox hunting: A traditional activity where riders follow hounds tracking a fox.
Hacking or pleasure riding: Simply enjoying a ride through the countryside.
Hunter Pacing: Teams ride a trail at a specific speed, aiming to finish closest to an ideal time.
Ride and Tie: A unique endurance event where two humans and one horse take turns running and riding.
Steeplechase: A horse race over long distances with various fences and ditches.
Trail Riding: Enjoying riding any breed of horse, in any style, across different landscapes.

Staying Safe While Riding

Like many sports, horse riding has some risks, but you can greatly reduce them by being careful and prepared. Horses are large animals and can move quickly, so understanding their behavior is key to safety.

The most common type of accident is falling from the horse. Other accidents can happen from being kicked or stepped on. Learning how to handle horses safely on the ground and how to fall properly can help prevent injuries.

Wearing the right safety gear is extremely important. A certified riding helmet is your best protection against head injuries. Helmets are designed to absorb impact and protect your head if you fall. Always wear a helmet that fits well, and remember to replace it if it's been in an accident, even if you don't see any damage. Helmet manufacturers also recommend replacing helmets every three to five years.

Many equestrian organizations and competitions require riders to wear helmets. For example, the United States Equestrian Federation and the United States Dressage Federation have rules making helmet use mandatory in many events, especially for younger riders and at certain competition levels. Always follow these rules to keep yourself safe.