Equine trail sports: 10 equine trail sports.
Horses are noble animals that lend themselves to the execution of varied sports activities thanks to their obedience and intelligence, from dressage, through polo and even horse racing. All those disciplines that include a horse –or several– are known as equine trail sports. They can be speed, jumps, with the ball, traction or casts. Find out which is the best known in the following article.
What equine trail sports exist
Within equine trail sports, we can put together different groups: Olympic, Paralympic, racing, jumping, combined events, team, ball, dressage or traction. Among them, we highlight:
– Equestrian jumps
Within horse riding, this sport –represented in the image that opens this article– consists of performing synchronized movements with the horse so that it can overcome certain obstacles, always following a predetermined order. It is one of the most popular disciplines, and in addition to the world championships, it participates in the Olympic Games.
– Classic dressage
Also known as ‘dressage,’ it is another of the Olympic equestrian sports. Its objective is to obey the rider and execute the tests with harmony and balance. Horses that practice dressage are usually calm, flexible and attentive only to the orders of the one who guides them. ‘Warm blooded’ breeds are often used, such as track, hann and Goldberg.
– Cross-country
The ‘cross country’ event integrates dressage and show jumping and can be practiced separately in specific local competitions. In this sport, the specimens’ speed, jumping ability, and resistance are tested through a race with obstacles (water, walls, hedges, etc.)
– Gallop races
Since Ancient Greece, turf or horse racing has been one of the oldest horse sports, and spectators can bet on their favorite. The breeds chosen for this sport are the ‘thoroughbred’ and the ‘quarter horse.’ Generally, they are specimens of galloping with jumps, and they have a rider – jockey – who guides them.
– Polo
It is one of the equestrian sports in teams – four riders per side – and the objective is to hit a ball with a cue or mallet and take it to the local jail. It is played on a 270 by 150-meter grass field, and its origins date back 2,000 years to Central Asia. The game lasts for two hours, divided into six ‘chukkas. ‘
Equine trail sports
– Duck
This sport is originally from Argentina and emerged as entertainment for the gauchos who used horses in the ranches of the pampas. It is called ‘duck’ because, in the beginning, they used a live specimen of this bird inside a leather bag with ties. Later, they changed the rules and today. The ball is made of leather. Creole horses are used for competitions.
– Game of pegs
The International Equestrian Federation recognizes this cavalry sport with ancient origins. Within the rules, we can highlight that the riders carry swords or spears to pick up various targets, from a ring to a slice of lemon placed on the ground.
– Hooks
It consists of driving a group of horses hitched to a carriage through different obstacles. There are three types of scoring: dressage (horse harmony and cadence), endurance (the course is 22 kilometers) and obstacles (20 in total).
– Enduro
The equestrian raid or enduro is a test that considers the horse and rider’s skill, speed, and resistance. Long distances are covered in a single day in phases and must overcome natural obstacles and various soil types. Veterinarians check the animals at the end of each stage and decide if they are fit to continue.
– Reining
Unlike the ‘classical, Cowboy dressage does not use tame horses. The rider must show that he can handle it and that the equine will obey his orders from him. Skill, speed and maneuvers (circles, hand changes, step back, pirouettes, dead stop) used during the competition are evaluated. It originated in the western United States and is practiced in 40 countries.
