ALL ABOUT HORSES
Learn about the basics of horsemanship, breeds, disciplines, horse care, horse management and more.
All Disciplines
Barrel Racing
Barrel Racing is primarily a rodeo event for women combining the horse's athletic ability and the rider's horsemanship skills in order to safely and successfully maneuver through a clover leaf pattern around three barrels in the center of an arena. In timed rodeo events, the purpose is to make a run as fast as possible, while the time is being clocked. ... MORE
Calf Roping
The goal of this timed event is for the rider to catch the calf by throwing a loop of rope from a lariat around its neck, dismount from the horse, run to the calf, and restrain it by tying three legs together, in as short a time as possible. When the tie is complete, the roper throws his hands in the air to signal "time" and stop the clock. ... MORE
Combined Driving
Combined Driving, modeled after ridden three-day eventing, has an extra challenge generated by the addition of the carriage. Drivers first present their horses in the dressage arena .The marathon is next. The final phase, the cones, tests the ability of the driver to clear a course of up to 20 gates at the required pace without incurring penalties. ... MORE
Cutting
In cutting, a horse and rider are judged on their ability to separate a single cow from a herd and keep it away for a short period of time. Once the cow is cut from the herd, the rider must give the horse its head. The cow instinctively tries to return to the herd, but the horse must defend the herd and hold the cow. ... MORE
Dressage
Dressage requires the horse and rider to combine the strength and agility of gymnastics with the elegance and beauty of ballet. The result is truly the best blend of sport and art. The highlight of a dressage competition is the Musical Freestyle in which the rider creates and choreographs to music an original ride of compulsory figures and movements. ... MORE
Endurance
In the modern Endurance discipline a horse/rider combination must complete a prescribed course in the fastest time possible, while meeting strict veterinary criteria. Distances of 50, 75 or 100 miles are covered in a single day. Endurance riding combines riding a challenging course with your equine partner and the fun and camaraderie of camping and socializing with a group of individuals who share your same interests. ... MORE
Eventing
Eventing brings out the harmony between horse and rider that characterize dressage; the courage and stamina essential for the cross country; the agility and technique involved in jumping. ... MORE
Foxhunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Since the sport does not have the agricultural imperative to control the fox population, American foxhunting emphasizes the thrill of the chase in a beautiful natural setting. ... MORE
Hunter
Hunters over fences are judged on performance and soundness. Judges are looking for great jumping style, quality of both looks and movement, as well as willingness, manners, and suitability of horse and rider. Hunters on the flat are judged both directions at the walk, trot, canter, and sometimes the hand gallop. Movement, manners, and quality are judged at all gaits. ... MORE
Hunter Seat Equitation
Hunter Seat Equitation is a division judged on the ability and style of the riders over fences and on the flat. In over fences the riders are judged not only on their ability to negotiate a course of jumps on their horses, but also on their style and position. On the flat riders are tested at the walk, trot and canter at the lower levels, and at more difficult gaits in higher level classes. ... MORE
Para-Equestrian
Para-Equestrian sport includes all equestrian disciplines practiced by people with physical disabilities.The primary focus of the are to provide clinic and competition opportunities for these athletes. Many who participate in Para-Equestrian are quite talented, and some are considered to be among the elite equestrians of the world, regardless of their physical condition. ... MORE
Parade Horse
The Parade Horse must be a beautiful, stylish animal, displaying refinement and personality and presenting eye-appeal for horse and rider. He is shown at an animated walk and at a parade gait. Good manners are essential, both in executing gaits and while lined up in the ring. Horses must be serviceably sound and in good condition. Since beauty is important, blemishes will be considered. ... MORE
Pleasure Driving
In Pleasure Driving competitions, horses or ponies are hitched to antique vehicles or replicas. Classes or divisions can be divided by the size of the animal, the kind of vehicle, and the number of animals pulling the vehicle--singles, pairs, unicorns (one horse in front of two), tandems (one behind the other), or teams such as the four-in-hand. Open Carriage Pleasure Driving competitions are open to all breeds of horses and ponies. ... MORE
Pole Bending
Pole bending is timed event that features a horse and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. Good horsemanship is the foundation for success in pole bending.This event is usually seen in high school rodeos and 4-H events, American Quarter Horse Association events, local National Barrel Horse Association shows, Paint and Appaloosa sanctioned shows, as well as at many gymkhana or O-Mok-See events. ... MORE
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet.The horses traditionally called ponies, are well trained equine athletes. Able to stop and turn on a dime, they are considered faster than racehorses over short distances. Polo ponies are the most essential part of the game. ... MORE
Racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has been practiced over the centuries. In modern racing, the Thoroughbred covers moderate distances at a very fast pace. The Standardbred horses use their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. ... MORE
Ranch Sorting
Teams compete against other teams to sort cattle in numerical order. The goal is to have the most cattle sorted in the least amount of time, without a foul or disqualification. ... MORE
Reining
Reining contestants are required to run one of several approved patterns, all of which include small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, rollbacks over the hocks, 360-degree spins in place, and the sliding stops that are the hallmark of the sport. Scorers give points for smoothness, finesse, attitude, quickness and authority when performing the various maneuvers. ... MORE
Rodeo
Professional rodeo consists of roughstock events and timed events. The roughstock events are bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding. The timed events are steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and steer roping. ... MORE
Saddle Seat Equitation
Saddle seat is a style of riding within the category of English riding that is designed to show off the high trotting action of certain horse breeds. All saddle seat riding is done on the flat. In Saddle seat, high-stepping gaits are required of the horses shown, and the rider's position, behind the center of balance of the animal, allows the riding aids to be used to encourage front leg action in the horse. ... MORE
Show Jumping
In a jumping competition the horse and rider are tested under various conditions over a course of obstacles. It is intended to demonstrate the horse’s freedom, energy, skill, speed and obedience in jumping as well as the rider’s horsemanship. Show jumping is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters and equitation. ... MORE
Team Penning
Team penning is a fast-paced event that gives a team of three riders on horseback 60 to 90 seconds to separate three specific cattle from a herd of 30, and put them into a pen at the opposite end of the arena. ... MORE
Team Sorting
Team sorting is a working cow horse sport featuring fast-paced action in a friendly yet competitive environment. Working against the clock, teams of three riders sort cows in numeric order while keeping unnumbered cows contained. ... MORE
Trail Riding
Trail riding is riding outdoors on natural trails and roads as opposed to riding in an enclosed area such as a riding arena. Trail rides may be informal activities of an individual or small group of people, or may be larger events organized by a club. There are competitive events available, which test the horse and rider's ability to navigate obstacles commonly found on the trail. ... MORE
Vaulting
Vaulting is a competitive discipline where both gymnastic and dance elements are combined and performed to music on a cantering horse. It's an engaging competition for spectators, because these superb athletes perform many breathtaking movements. ... MORE
