EQUESTRIAN SPORT

SHOW JUMPING

International equestrian sports are ruled by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). Today with indoor arenas it is possible to hold events all year round. The Olympic disciplines are show jumping, dressage and three-day eventing, with each reaching World Championship. There are individuals and teams competing. The teams have four members but only three win.  Each year many countries holding an International Horse Show. Some are also holding Nations Cup events for show jumping teams and the country having the most points are the winner.

SHOW JUMPING

Riders and horses have to master a taunting course of obstacles. There are straight or upright obstacles which rise in one vertical line. The spread obstacles extend upwards too. There is a four metre water jump or two parallel poles in one leap to clear. A multiple or combination obstacles are four barriers to be jumped in succession.

Designers' plan to build challenging courses but still able to be mastered.  Most obstacles are less than 1.7m high and under two metres wide.

For every mistake the rider gets penalty points. The mistake that counts is that the horse goes the wrong way or refuse to jump. The mistake has a three points' penalty and the second mistake has a six point penalty. If there is another mistake it will be elimination from the event. If an obstacle is knocked down it costs four penalty points and the same goes for not clearing the water jump. If a rider or horse falls it brings eight penalty points. An extra 0.25 points for every second going over the allotted time. The faults are added up at the end of the course and the rider with the lowest penalty points wins. If they have the same faults then the rider with the fasted time wins. If this is not the case there will be jump-offs; in other words they have to ride the course again and then the fastest with the lowest penalties wins.

POLO

If you like a fast game then polo is for you. The game played on horseback is fast. The field is 275m long and 183m wide. A game is 56 minutes and is played in eight equal periods which is called chukkas. Two teams of four players trying to strike the ball with long sticks or mallets into the opponent goalposts. The player following the ball most closely has the right of way. The other riders are not allowed to block his route. The game of polo came original from India. It is now also very popular in South America. Polo ponies have to be strong and calm especially under pressure.

DRESSAGE

The dressage is to train a riding horse. Dressage tests require the grace and agility of a horse and the authority of the rider. It is team work. The competition is held in a sandy arena. They walk, trot and canter and using various long strides called paces. They are also to make smooth changes which are called transitions between each movement. Lateral work involves the horse's front and rear feet move on two different tracks and it also includes sideways motion. The passage is an exact, high legged trot. Similar to this is the piraffe but on the spot.

Horses ride in loops called serpentine and turn on one leg called a pirouette.

The judges give marks and the highest scorer wins.

THREE-DAY EVENTS

The three-day events are tests on skill, strength and bravery. They often are held at horse trials such as Badminton and Burghley in Britain.

The first day is held with dressage. The second is a tuff endurance test held in four parts. 'A' and 'C' are road and track courses which are up to 20km long and has to be covered within a time limit. 'B' is a steeplechase course like on race courses. 'D' is the worst. - A cross-country course with high jumps, wide jumps, water jumps and steep slopes. The riders are timed and get penalty points for falls and refusals.

The third day, a vet will check whether the horse is fit or not. Then they will lead into the arena for show jumping. It contains up to 15 obstacles. The winner will be who has the lowest penalty points over the three events.

PONY CLUB

The pony riders have a busy time right through the summer. The clubs hold competitions, camps, rallies and championships. The members receive riding lessons and can win rosettes. They compete in dressage, show jumping, eventing and polo contests.

The horse shows are held on a level field and roped off. They are for all kind of classes, sizes, types and standard of animals. Some competitions, the riders have to show walk, trot and canter and the judges look for skills of the rider as well as the hose. An assessment is made on the appearances of built and coat. The inhand classes are for working hunter horses and ponies jumping over natural obstacles. Gymkhanas are for young riders with quick-witted and agile ponies. They are not very serious. They have to weave in and out of obstacles and such like.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Equestrian Sports