Horse riding: for horse enthusiasts
« Horse riding is the noblest expression of a carnal union. » – Jacques Ferron.
For the little history
Horse riding and, more generally, the use of the horse take many forms, hunting, war, portage, traction. This diversity manifests itself in an exceptional way and on all levels.
Domesticated in Central Asia since ancient times, the horse was imported into China, West Asia, Europe and Africa, during the migrations of nomadic pastors.
Three sedentary peoples of Antiquity made efforts to adapt the horse to war: the Chinese, the Greeks and the Romans.
During the last four hundred years, it is in France that the practice and theory of learned horse riding reach their fullest development with other European countries such as Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, England and Germany.
Most common equestrian disciplines
In show jumping (or show jumping for “show jumping competition”), the rider and his mount jump from obstacles constructed with movable bars. Its playful and spectacular aspects as well as the simplicity of its rules make this sport attractive, and largely explain its success. Show jumping is the most practiced equestrian sport in the world. There are different types of obstacles such as ground bars, crosses, verticals and oxers. In competition, the height of the obstacles is very variable. The classification of the riders is done according to the best time made on the course but also the number of faults made. For example, the courses without faults are classified first from the fastest to the slowest, then the courses with faults are classified from the fastest to the slowest. Sometimes a faultless run is slower than a faulty course but it will still be ranked ahead. In certain competitions, riders without faults decide during a last event called the « jump-off ». The fall of a bar or a refusal to jump the obstacle is sanctioned by 4 penalty points.
The training is theoretically the culmination of the myth of the centaur, to be one with his mount. The rider must seek harmony with his horse there, the primary goal being to make the horses pleasant in their specialty. Whatever his discipline of equestrian sport, the rider can devote himself to dressage to bind to his mount. At the highest level of competition dressage, drifts (rollkur) are however observed. This discipline requires different figures in a straight line and diagonally, such as volts and movements of the hips or shoulders. Dressage is practiced seated and with stirrups.
The complete competition, or CCE, is only practiced in competition. Before 2004, it always included a dressage test, a road, a steeplechase, a cross and a horse, a specific show jumping event. Since 2004, the road and steeplechase events have been removed from the most important international meetings and, as a result, are gradually disappearing from all other competitions.
In a team, the leader drives horses harnessed to a car. In competition, the groom positions himself in the car in such a way that it remains balanced in all circumstances. It is not strictly speaking a discipline of riding in the sense that the horse is not ridden, but the team is generally managed by equestrian federations.
International competitions
Olympic Games
Horse riding at the Olympic Games is represented in three equestrian disciplines competing individually and in teams: show jumping, dressage, and eventing. The format of the Olympic events has presented different forms over time and has gradually adapted to the evolution of equestrian disciplines and new directions in sport. Each discipline responds to strict regulations drawn up by the International Equestrian Federation and subject to validation by the International Olympic Committee. Horse riding being the only Olympic sport in which animals compete, rules of respect and good treatment of the animal are also enacted and particularly followed, in particular for the fight against doping which concerns the horse but also the rider.
World equestrian games
The World Equestrian Games are held once every four years, in an even year, alternating with the Olympic Games. They bring together in one place and over a given period the championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
World Cup
The world cup is an indoor and outdoor circuit according to the discipline which is organized by the International Equestrian Federation and its sponsor, through different leagues: Western Europe, Central Europe, United States East Coast, United States West Coast, South America, etc …
Nations Cup
The Nations Cup is an international competition organized by the International Equestrian Federation. Its particularity is that it is a collective test: the best countries compete in the most important competitions in the world.
European Championships
European Championships are held every two years. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded at the end of the individual and team competitions. There are also European Championships for Young Riders, Juniors, Ponies, Children and Veterans.
My favorite athletes
Pierre Durand
Pierre Durand, born February 16, 1955 in Saint-Seurin-sur-l’Isle in France, is a French show jumping rider. He won the gold medal at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. He is also embodied in the successful film Jappeloup by Christian Duguay.
Simon Delestre
Simon Delestre is a French show jumping rider, born June 21, 1981 in Metz. At the beginning of March 2016, he occupied the first place on the Longines Ranking List and became the third French to become world number 1.
Karen Polle
Karen Polle is a professional horseback rider from New York. Polle started riding horses at the age of 7 and competitively at the age of 13. In 2016 she won the Hampton’s Classic Grand Prix and won $250,000 from Longines. She rides for Japan and aims to represent them in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Polle rides « With Wings » or simply Wings as she refers to him.
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