E Q U I N E S C I E N C E 1

STYLES OF EQUITATION

EQUITATION

•Equitation is the art and skill or riding a horse. • The ability of the rider to communicate with the horse effectively

HORSEMANSHIP

• The care and management of horses (can include equitation)• Knowledge of the horse as an animal (anatomy,

physiology, behavior,)• Knowledge of proper care of horses at all levels of life

(nutrition, medical, etc)• Knowledge of equipment and tack and what to use in

what situations• Knowledge of housing needs• Knowledge of transporting and moving

RIDING STYLES

• English• Provides for closer contact and clearer communication

with the animal• Lightweight (equipment)• Provides freedom of movement

• Western• Originally designed for ranch work• Heavy duty saddles provide comfort for long duration• Protect sides of the animal from brush (range conditions)

• Pommel for tying off rope • Doesn’t allow for as close communication with horse,

rider relies on other aids

ENGLISH DISCIPLINES

• Common Disciplines• English Pleasure• Hunting• Show Jumping• Dressage• Eventing• Polo• Racing• Steeplechase• Saddle seat• Side saddle

HUNTSEAT- STYLE

• A term is used in the US and Canada to refer to a style of forward seat riding commonly found at American horse shows. • based on the tradition of fox hunting.• competition in North America includes both flat and over

fences for show hunters.

ENGLISH PLEASURE

• A show class in which riders exhibit their horses at the walk, trot, extended trot, canter, and sometimes a hand gallop.

• Horses exhibit their willingness and obedience to the rider.

• Riders are judged on their ability to communicate with their horse and in their riding ability/style.

• Done on the flat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL4Us3LslOM

ENGLISH EQUITATION

• Horse and rider must complete a prescribed pattern.• Horses are judged on their calm and quiet

obedience to the rider• Riders are judged on riding ability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1H8c8O0rbo

EQUITATION OVER FENCES

• Horse and rider are judged over fences and on the flat. • Looks at riders ability, not necessarily horse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJbkXpOMvrk

HUNTER-HACK

• Similar to an equitation class on the flat• Rider and horse perform a pattern that takes them over

several jumps (usually 2 under 28”)• Then rider and horse perform on the flat and are

evaluated on the horses movement and way of going (should cover ground with efficient movements)

• Judges riders ability and horses obedience

STADIUM/SHOW JUMPING

• Horse and rider jump over a course of fences. • Goal is to have a “clear round” (not knock down any

fences, refuse to jump, etc)• Fences may be single, double, or triple• May jump water obstacles, walls, or rails• Scores are based on time and faults• Quickest to complete with no faults wins

• Faults are incurred for knocking down a fence/rail, going over time• If you fall from the horse you are disqualified.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZzWccM_5cM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfzNMmauAmc

CROSS COUNTRY

• Horse and rider go through a course of natural and manmade jumps across open fields. • Jumps may consist of water, trees, ditches, bushes and

rocks and can be on uneven ground up or down. • Timed event

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDGt_awrVKM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-rl6zkLFb4

DRESSAGE

• Horses are worked on the flat• Evaluates horses ability to

perform calmly and quietly in complete obedience to the rider.• Perform special movements

at set markers or ‘letters’ in the dressage arena. • Compared to ballet or figure

skating for horse and ridershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjZGov3i70Ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY3wmWT-sb8

EVENTING

•Horse and rider take part in three phases of competition. • dressage,• cross country• show jumping.

•tests the skill of the rider and the ability and obedience of the horse.

ENDURANCE

• A race that takes place over a given, measured distance in which horse and rider must complete with the fasted time. • Races begin at 20 miles and peak at 100 miles • Horses are checked by vets at various spots during the

race, some known and others are surprises. • If a horse does not “pass” the vet check, they are

finished with the race.

POLO • This is a fast paced ‘stick and ball’ sport played

by two teams on horseback. • Each team tries to score as many goals as

possible. • The horses that are trained to play this game can

stop, start, turn, and sprint extremely quickly. • This game is very tiring for the polo ponies, so

each rider may have multiple horses or ponies to play the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dwOT0K8LVM

RACING

• There are three main types of race:• flat racing (on the flat)• hurdling (sprinting over fences)• Steeplechasing (longer race over large bushy fences)

SADDLESEAT- STYLE

• This 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, like the Saddlebred, Tennessee Walker, National Show Horse, Morgan or Arabian.

• The goal of the Saddle Seat riding style is to show off the horse's extravagant gaits, particularly the trot.

• All saddleseat riding is done on the flat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzVA8eKnS1Q

OTHER ENGLISH EVENTS

• Vaulting or trick riding• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rp0xmcVKSg

• Trick Riding• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kwER4fcxz8

• Drill Team • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF2ESm1ViSw

• Exhibition riding (shooting, etc)

• Harness Racing• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E1sQhi7Q2E

• Driving• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT_1OCOjQgk&index=17&list=PL43BA2C4718CE043C