Connie Cusack asked:


Participating in horse riding games, which are highly exhilarating and intoxicating is every horse-rider’s dream. As a person gradually grows from being an amateur through to a professional this dream only gets stronger. This article will come as a boon to many horse-riding enthusiasts who want to know about the games that can be played mounting the horse’s back.

Horse riding games can be enjoyable for people of all ages and genders and at various level of skill. Certain games, especially those played by children, ponies are used. Different games are designed for the enjoyment of couples, individuals or teams.

Most of these games are enjoyed on the horse’s back and are played as individuals, paired or team events. Some games can be enjoyed by adults and children. One popular game for children are the Egg and Spoon Race. In this game the child rides on a pony, equipped with a spoon and an egg. While riding the horse he needs to balance the egg on the spoon which is held in his mouth until he reaches the finish line. Along with the joy riding on the horse, the child also learns concentration and balancing skills.

Another game is the horse-riding relay game which is played in pairs. It is also called a Pairs race. Each pair can use only one horse. In this event, one member of the team mounts the horse and reaches another point where their partner is waiting. On reaching their partner, the rider has to get off the horse and help their partner mount the horse. The pair that completes the entire event in the shortest time possible is declared as the winner.

There are many horse riding games which test the control of the rider over the horse. One such game is barrel racing where the individual has to complete a preset pattern formed by using barrels in the shortest time. Though this game originated as an event for women, it is equally enjoyed by both sexes in today.

Another game which tests the horse control skills, but is for professionals, is the barrel racing event. In this event, the rider has to manoeuvre the horse around a preset formation arranged by using barrels. This event initially originated for women horse-riding enthusiasts, but today, it is enjoyed by both sexes equally.

Another famous horse-riding game is steer wrestling. This is a bizarre version of bull fighting. In steer wrestling, the rider mounts the horse and chases the steer (a bull with long and sharp horns). On catching up with the steer, the rider has to jump off from the horse and wrestles with the steer by holding on to its horns. This event is highly risky since there are high chances of injury to the rider. Also, the animal rights community has raised its voice against the cruelty meted out to animals in this event.

Polo is a favourite horse-riding sport for people all over the world. This game is also a great pastime for the elite in society. The polo teams consist of 4 members each and their horses. The team with the highest number of goals at the end of the game is declared the winner. The members score points for the team by directing the wooden or plastic white ball into the goal post of the opposite team. The ball is hit using long wooden sticks called the mallet which is similar to the hockey stick but with variations. This game can be played either indoors or outdoors. It can be played during the bright and sunny summer season or during the cold and frozen winter season.

English Habit asked:


 Competition

Dressage competitions may begin in local communities with Introductory level classes where riders need only walk and trot. Horses and riders advance through a graduated series of levels, with tests of increasing difficulty at each level, until the most accomplished horse and rider teams compete at the Grand Prix levels and international competition, such as the Olympic games.

Dressage consists of the lower levels: First, Second, Third and Fourth. Introductory and Training levels prelude First level in the United States. In Australia the levels are as follows Prep, Preliminary, Novice, Elementary, Medium and Advanced. The FEI (Federation Equestrian International) levels: Prix St. Georges, Intermediare I, Intermediare II and Grand Prix.

Apart from competition, there is a tradition of classical dressage, in which the tradition of dressage is pursued as an art form. The traditions of the masters who originated Dressage are kept alive by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria and the Cadre Noir in Saumur, France.

 

 

 Rider clothing

Dressage riders, like their horses, are dressed for formality. In competition, they wear white breeches, that are often full-seat leather to help them “stick” in the saddle, with a belt, and a white shirt and stock tie with a gold pin. Gloves are usually white, although less-experienced riders or those at the lower levels often opt for black, as their hand movement is not as noticeable. The coat worn is usually solid black with metal buttons, although solid navy is also seen. In upper-level classes, the riders wear a shadbelly with a yellow vest or vest points instead of a plain dressage coat.

Riders usually wear tall dress boots, although field boots may be worn by riders at the lower levels. Spurs are required at the upper levels. A whip may be carried in any competition except in a CDI or a national championship, and the length is regulated.

If the dressage rider has long hair, it is typically worn in a hair net. The hair net is carefully selected to blend in with the rider’s hair color. Lower-level riders may use a derby, hunting cap, or ASTM/SEI-approved Equestrian helmet. At the upper levels, a top hat that matches the rider’s coat is traditionally worn, though in some competitions, an ASTM/SEI approved helmet is show legal.

  Tests

Dressage tests are the formalized sequence of a number of dressage movements used in competition, wherein the horse and rider team are judged both against a common standard, and against other competitors.

At the upper levels, tests for International competitions, including the Olympics, are issued under the auspices of the Federation Internationale Equestre. At the lower levels, and as part of dressage training each country authorizes its own set of tests. In the USA it is the The United States Equestrian Federation and the United States Dressage Federation. Pony Clubs also produce basic walk/trot tests. The British Dressage Federation has similar rules.

Each test is segmented into a number of sequential blocks which may contain one or more movements. Each block is generally scored between one and ten on the following scale:

10 Excellent

9 Very good

8 Good

7 Fairly good

6 Satisfactory

5 Sufficient

4 Insufficient

3 Fairly Bad

2 Bad

1 Very bad

0 Not executed

In addition to marks for the dressage movements, marks are also awarded for more general attributes such as the horse’s paces, submission, impulsion and the rider’s performance. Some segments are given increased weight by the use of a multiplier, typically 2, which then doubles the marks given for that segment.

 Scribing

Scribing (also known as Penciling) is the writing down of the scores and comments of Judges at dressage events, so that the Judge is able to concentrate on the performance. In addition to this the scribe should check the identity of each competitor, and ensure that the test papers are complete and signed before handing them to the scorers. The scribe should have some knowledge of dressage terminology, be smartly dressed and have legible handwriting. The scribe should also be professional in manner, neutral and not engage in small talk or make comments. It is permissible to use abbreviations provided they are accepted and intelligible