Sports dozen…

As a quick taster, I’ll try to describe the goals of different horse sports in 12 words or less each. Here goes:

1. Dressage: look pretty (it’s figure skating on horse back).

2. Stadium jumping: go fast, don’t knock down any jump rails.

3. Cross country: go faster, jump “natural” things (water, ditches, stone walls).

4. Eventing: Do it all–dressage, stadium jumping, & cross country.

5. Show hunter: You and your horse look good while jumping.

6. Equitation: Look good yourself, either jumping or not.

7. Jumpers: Get over the fences, fast as you can–but don’t knock rails!

8. Rodeo: be a proper cowboy (lots of events)

9. Pole bending: Go fast through a line of poles (like slalom).

10. Barrel racing: Go fast around three different barrels. Don’t knock them over!

11. Calf roping: Lasso a running calf from horseback.

12. Reining: look pretty (it’s like dressage).

13. Cutting: Use your horse to get one particular animal out of a herd.

14. Western pleasure: Ride better than all the others riding with you in the arena.

15. Fox hunting: Stay on, follow the leader. Jump the hedges if you want!

16. Polo: Hit the ball (not your horse!) with a mallet through the goal.

17. Polocrosse: Throw the ball through a goal using a pseudo-lacrosse stick.

18. Driving: Control your horse perfectly while he pulls you in a cart.

19. Trail riding/endurance: Finish the ride at the right time, as calmly as possible.

20. Horse racing: Be the fastest!

If this list has you interested, please subscribe to our site and get a free pamphlet with a much more thorough explanation of horse sports!!!

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