Welcome to the equestrian blog. My name is David, and I have been involved in show jumping for over 15 years. I have loved horses since I was a child, as my father had his own stable and I spent all my free time there, helping my father, and training horses.
In my blog I talk about what kinds of equestrian sports exist, their history, descriptions and much more. What are equestrian sports?
Equestrian sport is a composite concept that refers to sports games using horses. When riding, the rider actively interacts with the movement of the horse. The horse in doing so is controlled by moving the rider’s weight, squeezing the hips, and loosening or tightening the reins. The rider’s voice can also influence the horse’s movement, but not all equestrian sports allow this.
Equestrian competitions are an amazingly beautiful and exciting spectacle. Equestrian events (chariot races) were first included in the Olympics in 680 B.C. At the Olympic Games, held in 648 BC, horse and mule races were held for the first time. At the modern Olympics competitions in equestrian sports are held since 1912.
Working with a horse is not only about control, but also the ability to think correctly and make quick decisions. In showjumping competitions, riders are given time to study the course before they go out to perform. They go over it not to be horrified by the height of the obstacles they will have to overcome, but to build a trajectory between the hurdles and calculate the distance.
The rider has to estimate each turn where they can cut and understand where it is dangerous to do so, with their feet they estimate the number of gallops of the horse: 3.5-4 strides of a person equals one gallop. They also estimate at what angle it is better to approach the barrier.
In addition, athletes think through several plans, because at any moment something can go wrong. You have to be able to quickly change from plan A to plan B to keep yourself and your horse safe.
If you’re interested, read more in my articles and leave comments!