Horse Riding

Horse riding combines a variety of competitions in the sport, the main of them being horse riding and riding in harness. Speaking more specifically about riding under the saddle, here you can include the following types of equestrian sports: dressage, overcoming obstacles, record jumping, relay races, etc.

History of Horse Riding

The history of equestrianism dates back to ancient Greece, where dressage was initially developed to prepare horses for war. It later became part of the ancient Olympic Games, a chariot race held around 680 BC.

Equestrian events in the modern Olympics began as an Olympic event in Paris 1900. Although it was not part of the Games in the subsequent two editions, it was included back in 1912 and has been an integral part of the program ever since. At the same time, women's equestrian events were started in 1952.

Dressage

Dressage is considered one of the most artistic of equestrian sports and gives the horse a chance to show off his talent. In this, riders and their horses are judged on the basis of their speed, endurance, coordination, and flexibility. It is also seen in this phase how accurately the horse obeys the orders of the rider.

The type of horse used in this step

1. Horsemen at this stage prefer to use Warmblood breed horses. The medium-weight horses used for this event are found in large numbers in Europe.

2. Small or standard arenas are used for the dressage stage. In these areas, different letters are assigned at several places, which indicate where the race is to take place.

3. The smaller arena measures 20m by 40m and is typically used for lower levels of eventing. The standard arena measures 20 m x 60 m.

Jumping 

The jumping category measures the coordination between the rider and the horse. Because, in this event, the rider has to jump over many obstacles along with the horse. The jumping route consists of several obstacles, including pits, small walls, and parallel poles.

1. This event is held over various courses that comprise of obstacles, spreads, verticals and double and triple combinations

2. The horse rider is to make clean jumps over the course within a predetermined time limit. Points are deducted for jumping faults like refusals or knockdowns by the horse.

3. A horse and rider who do not have penalty points are said to have achieved a 'clear round'.

4. Penalties for knockdowns are imposed only if the height/width of the jump is changed by the knockdown. Refusals are also penalized for up to four faults.

Cross-country

This is one of the phases of the three-day Eventing. It's an endurance test that tests the stamina and jumping ability of the horses on a cross-country course.

The event also demonstrates the riders' experience and knowledge of pace. It also requires the pair of competitors to be in excellent shape and to trust each other. Riders have to overcome up to 40 various obstacles spread between 5700 and 6800m at the higher levels.

Rules and Scoring

The pair of rider and horse in the jumping event with the fewest penalties and the least amount of time is considered the winner.

These are the common penalties in the event

Jumping penalty: This is a refusal or knockdown penalty and can significantly affect the score. Each refusal or knockdown results in an addition of four faults.

Time Penalty: A time penalty occurs during play when a pair of rider and horse takes more than the prescribed time to cross an obstacle. Every time a rider overtakes a second or fraction of a second, a penalty of 1 time is added.

List of Equestrian Discipline

International Horse Sports Confederation

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body for horse sport, and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), joined forces in 2013 to create the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC), the first formal vehicle for cooperation between the world’s leading bodies for equestrian sport.

Today, the FEI is the governing body for eight equestrian disciplines: Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting, Reining and Para-Equestrian.

Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI)

National and International competitions in Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Tent Pegging, and Endurance are run under the auspices of the EFI, which itself is affiliated with the sport’s international governing body, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), based in Switzerland.

Equestrian sport is concentrated in certain areas of India these are Delhi, Meerut, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata, Chennai, Pondichery, Pune, Mumbai and Bhopal. The Equestrian Federation of India joined the FEI in 1971 and has been sending teams in all equestrian disciplines in Asian Games since 1982. The eventing is the core discipline and the eventing team has been winning team medals in almost all Asian Games till 2006.

Equestrian Sports in India are under the authority of the EFI or the Equestrian Federation of India. It was established by the Indian Army in 1967. The first meeting of the Organization was held on 14 March 1967.

The EFI became affiliated with the FEI in 1971.

The EFI was highly responsible for the establishment of The Asian Equestrian Federation in 1978. It also had a huge role to play in the inclusion of Equestrian Sports at the 1982 Asian Games which were hosted by India.

Top Indian Horse Riding Players

Several Indian Players have played in various equestrian sports over the years. India has won bronze medals in Eventing at the Asian Games 2002 and 2006.

India has participated in Equestrian Sports at the Olympics four times. Equestrian players have represented India at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

India is yet to win a medal in Equestrian Sports at the Olympics. India has won 12 medals in Equestrian Sports at the Asian Games until now. India has won 3 Gold, 3 Silver, and 6 bronze at the Asian Games.