Horse Riding
Equestrianism
(from Latin equester, equestr-, horseman, horse) more often known as riding,
horseback riding (American English) or horse riding (British English) referring
to the skill of riding, driving, steeplechasing or vaulting with horses. This
broad description includes the use of horses for practical working purposes,
transportation, recreational activities, artistic or cultural exercises, and
competitive sport.
Horse
riding is an essential means of transportation in parts of the world where the
landscape does not permit other means
Horses are trained and ridden for
practical working purposes such as in police work or for controlling herd
animals on a ranch. They are also used in competitive sports including, but not
limited to, dressage, endurance riding, eventing, reining, show jumping, tent
pegging, vaulting, polo, horse racing, driving, and rodeo. Some popular
forms of competition are grouped together at horse shows, where horses perform
in a wide variety of disciplines. Horses (and other equids such as mules and
donkeys) are used for non-competitive recreational riding such as fox hunting,
trail riding or hacking. There is public access to horse trails in almost every
part of the world; many parks, ranches, and public stables offer both guided and
independent riding. Horses are also used for therapeutic purposes, both in
specialized paraequestrian competition as well as non-competitive riding to
improve human health and emotional development.
Horses are
also driven in harness racing, at horse shows and in other types of exhibition,
historical reenactment or ceremony, often pulling carriages. In some parts of
the world, they are still used for practical purposes such as
farming.
Horses
continue to be used in public service: in traditional ceremonies (parades,
funerals), police and volunteer mounted patrols, and for mounted search and
rescue.
History of
horse use
Domestication of the horse and Horses in
warfare
Though there
is controversy over the exact date horses were domesticated and when they were
first ridden; the best estimate is that horses first were ridden approximately
4500 BC. Indirect evidence suggests that horses were ridden long before they
were driven. There is some evidence that about 6,000 years ago, near the Dneiper
River and the Don River, people were using bits on horses, as a stallion that
was buried there shows teeth wear consistent with using a bit. However, the most
unequivocal early archaeological evidence of equines put to working use was of
horses being driven. Chariot burials about 2500 BC present the most direct hard
evidence of horses used as working animals. In ancient times chariot warfare was
followed by the use of war horses as light and heavy cavalry. The horse played
an important role throughout human history all over the world, both in warfare
and in peaceful pursuits such as transportation, trade and agriculture. Horses
lived in North America, but died out at the end of the Ice Age. Horses were
brought back to North America by European explorers, beginning with the second
voyage of Columbus in 1493.
An
equestrian Mughal nobleman on horseback.
Horse
racing
Horse
racing, Harness racing, and Parimutuel gambling
Humans
appear to have long expressed a desire to know which horse (or horses) were the
fastest, and horse racing has ancient roots. Gambling on horse races appears to
go hand-in hand with racing and has a long history as well. Thoroughbreds have
the pre-eminent reputation as a racing breed, but other breeds also
race.
Types of
horse racing
Under
saddle:
Thoroughbred horse racing is the most popular form worldwide. In the
UK, it is known as flat racing and is governed by the Jockey Club in the United
Kingdom. In the USA, horse racing is governed by the Jockey Club of North
America.
Steeplechasing involves racing on a track where the horses also
jump over obstacles. It is most common in the UK, where it is also called
National Hunt racing.
American Quarter Horse racing—races over distances of
approximately a quarter-mile. Seen mostly in the United States, sanctioned by
the American Quarter Horse Association.
Arabian horses, Akhal-Teke,
Appaloosas, American Paint Horses and other light breeds are also raced
worldwide.
Endurance riding, a sport in which the Arabian horse dominates at
the top levels, has become very popular in the United States and in Europe. The
Federation Equestre International (FEI) governs international races, and the
American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) organizes the sport in North America.
Endurance races take place over a given, measured distance and the horses have
an even start. Races begin at 20 miles (32 km) and peak at 100 miles (160 km).
especially the Tevis Cup.
Ride and Tie (in North America, organized by Ride
and Tie Association). Ride and Tie involves three equal partners: two humans and
one horse. The humans alternately run and ride.
In
harness:
Both light and heavy breeds as well as ponies are raced in harness
with a sulky or racing bike. The Standardbred dominates the sport in both
trotting and pacing varieties.
The United States Trotting Association
organizes harness racing in the United States.
Harness racing is also found
throughout Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
(from Latin equester, equestr-, horseman, horse) more often known as riding,
horseback riding (American English) or horse riding (British English) referring
to the skill of riding, driving, steeplechasing or vaulting with horses. This
broad description includes the use of horses for practical working purposes,
transportation, recreational activities, artistic or cultural exercises, and
competitive sport.
Horse
riding is an essential means of transportation in parts of the world where the
landscape does not permit other means
Horses are trained and ridden for
practical working purposes such as in police work or for controlling herd
animals on a ranch. They are also used in competitive sports including, but not
limited to, dressage, endurance riding, eventing, reining, show jumping, tent
pegging, vaulting, polo, horse racing, driving, and rodeo. Some popular
forms of competition are grouped together at horse shows, where horses perform
in a wide variety of disciplines. Horses (and other equids such as mules and
donkeys) are used for non-competitive recreational riding such as fox hunting,
trail riding or hacking. There is public access to horse trails in almost every
part of the world; many parks, ranches, and public stables offer both guided and
independent riding. Horses are also used for therapeutic purposes, both in
specialized paraequestrian competition as well as non-competitive riding to
improve human health and emotional development.
Horses are
also driven in harness racing, at horse shows and in other types of exhibition,
historical reenactment or ceremony, often pulling carriages. In some parts of
the world, they are still used for practical purposes such as
farming.
Horses
continue to be used in public service: in traditional ceremonies (parades,
funerals), police and volunteer mounted patrols, and for mounted search and
rescue.
History of
horse use
Domestication of the horse and Horses in
warfare
Though there
is controversy over the exact date horses were domesticated and when they were
first ridden; the best estimate is that horses first were ridden approximately
4500 BC. Indirect evidence suggests that horses were ridden long before they
were driven. There is some evidence that about 6,000 years ago, near the Dneiper
River and the Don River, people were using bits on horses, as a stallion that
was buried there shows teeth wear consistent with using a bit. However, the most
unequivocal early archaeological evidence of equines put to working use was of
horses being driven. Chariot burials about 2500 BC present the most direct hard
evidence of horses used as working animals. In ancient times chariot warfare was
followed by the use of war horses as light and heavy cavalry. The horse played
an important role throughout human history all over the world, both in warfare
and in peaceful pursuits such as transportation, trade and agriculture. Horses
lived in North America, but died out at the end of the Ice Age. Horses were
brought back to North America by European explorers, beginning with the second
voyage of Columbus in 1493.
An
equestrian Mughal nobleman on horseback.
Horse
racing
Horse
racing, Harness racing, and Parimutuel gambling
Humans
appear to have long expressed a desire to know which horse (or horses) were the
fastest, and horse racing has ancient roots. Gambling on horse races appears to
go hand-in hand with racing and has a long history as well. Thoroughbreds have
the pre-eminent reputation as a racing breed, but other breeds also
race.
Types of
horse racing
Under
saddle:
Thoroughbred horse racing is the most popular form worldwide. In the
UK, it is known as flat racing and is governed by the Jockey Club in the United
Kingdom. In the USA, horse racing is governed by the Jockey Club of North
America.
Steeplechasing involves racing on a track where the horses also
jump over obstacles. It is most common in the UK, where it is also called
National Hunt racing.
American Quarter Horse racing—races over distances of
approximately a quarter-mile. Seen mostly in the United States, sanctioned by
the American Quarter Horse Association.
Arabian horses, Akhal-Teke,
Appaloosas, American Paint Horses and other light breeds are also raced
worldwide.
Endurance riding, a sport in which the Arabian horse dominates at
the top levels, has become very popular in the United States and in Europe. The
Federation Equestre International (FEI) governs international races, and the
American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) organizes the sport in North America.
Endurance races take place over a given, measured distance and the horses have
an even start. Races begin at 20 miles (32 km) and peak at 100 miles (160 km).
especially the Tevis Cup.
Ride and Tie (in North America, organized by Ride
and Tie Association). Ride and Tie involves three equal partners: two humans and
one horse. The humans alternately run and ride.
In
harness:
Both light and heavy breeds as well as ponies are raced in harness
with a sulky or racing bike. The Standardbred dominates the sport in both
trotting and pacing varieties.
The United States Trotting Association
organizes harness racing in the United States.
Harness racing is also found
throughout Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
