The subtleties of horse racing
Horse racing is a very common sport in Europe. Horse racing has been popularized since ancient times. Equestrian sport is a complex concept, it means a sporting event using horses. Control over the horse is carried out through the movements of the rider's body, pulling the reins, squeezing the sides with the legs.
Horse racing
Varieties of sporting events
There are many types of equestrian sports, but only 3 are considered to be the main ones:
- show jumping;
- dressage;
- triathlon.
Additionally, there are such types of equestrian events as derby, steeple-chase, cross. Horse racing is divided into varieties, depending on the prestige and forms of conduct. Smooth horse racing is distinguished, during which animals move in a circle without obstacles. These types of races are carried out most often on unpaved or grassy tracks.
Only horses over 3 years old are allowed to participate in the derby. Steeple chase is one of the varieties of horse hunting. A jockey has to cover long distances at high speed. This type of horse race is considered the most difficult and dangerous. Falls often cause serious injury to both animals and people.
General provisions and uniforms
All riders must wear special uniforms:
- leggings;
- boots with a flat sole with a small heel;
- helmet;
- whip.
For racing, horses are saddled with special lightweight saddles with high stirrups. The rules apply to most of the venues. The race area must have an even, soft surface.
Show jumping
There are quite a few varieties of it. Most often, the rider must cover a certain distance with obstacles located in a certain sequence in the shortest possible time.
Participants are disqualified when:
- there was a fall;
- when the animal has thrown 2 times;
- in case of violation of the route scheme;
If the rider does not meet the specified time, additional penalty points are awarded to him.
Olympic competitions involve overcoming the distance of the highest class twice. In hunting parkour, riders select a distance on their own, where they perform a specific task within the allotted time. There are a lot of conditions and they are all varied. This gives an opportunity to try their hand at equestrian sport not only for top-class professionals, but also for beginners who came to the sport relatively recently.
Dressage
Dressage is one of the most difficult equestrian varieties. Today, this is not the same dressage that was done before. All complex elements, which today can only be found in world equestrian schools or in the circus, have been removed from this type of competition. Such tricks could be performed by certain breeds of horses. However, today it is very difficult to show oneself in the best possible way, as the competition has become too high.
The situation with the refereeing rules has changed. Previously, to win, it was enough to do all the necessary tricks correctly, without making mistakes, but today every athlete plays by the strictest rules. For example, if the animal is trotting, then the speed is at the limit. All elements go one after another very tightly, continuously.
Triathlon
This type includes the passage of three distances:
- dressage;
- running with obstacles;
- running with overcoming obstacles on rough terrain.
Three-day triathlon is a kind of test of the endurance and power of the horse and the skills of the rider. The form of its conduct originates from military checks in ancient times. For the cavalry, the main thing in the horse was complete obedience and execution of commands, the ability to show oneself during the battle, and the next day after the battle, the war horse had to perform all its duties and not look lethargic or sick.
To participate in this competition, the rider must have all the necessary skills. It is very important that a person adequately assesses the physical condition and readiness of his horse for such a competition. Preparation for triathlon lasts a very long time, only the strongest and most enduring win here.
Dressage riding
One of the varieties of dressage. In this demonstration, horses move around the arena. It is a continuous program with flawless execution.
A horse should be more than just skillful, dexterous to perform all tricks and radiate health and energy. Dressage is simple at first glance. Fulfilling all the elements is far from an easy task. Initially, this is good moral preparation, which concerns unquestioning obedience in the execution of commands.
Field exercise
These are competitions for endurance and speed. The first round of the competition begins with a light trot, smoothly turning into a trotting run and ends with a light canter. The second round of the competition is a steeplechase, which involves overcoming several obstacles at high speed. The length of the distance is 2-4 km, shrubs or hedges are mainly used as obstacles.
The third round is a respite distance. Completion of the distance must be achieved within a specified time. In the third stage, the rider can even run next to the horse in order to save its strength as much as possible before the final run. In these races, all horses undergo a medical examination in the third stage. If the horse is unable to work any longer, then the rider is not allowed to the fourth round.
The fourth round is a system of obstacles that must be overcome in the allotted time. The maximum height of obstacles is 120 cm. The most difficult thing is not in the height of the obstacles, but in their placement. The least amount of time is given to overcome the most difficult obstacles.
Vaulting
This is a type of sporting event in which people perform all kinds of acrobatic stunts in pairs, alone, or even as a whole group. The horse at this moment is galloping in a circle. The competitive program consists of two parts:
- mandatory;
- arbitrary.
The first part strictly regulates the referees, while the second is independently composed by athletes. For these races, they begin to train a horse and try their hand at acrobatic skills right in the arena. With the advent of experience, athletes master acrobatic exercises in the gait, then gradually increase their pace.
The more difficult the program, the higher the jury score. In international competitions, vaulting is performed only on a horse that is galloping. Not every sports horse is suitable for vaulting. An integral participant in the entire process, including training, is the spar - a person who constantly controls the animal with a long rope.
He is training the horse. For this type of competition, it is very important that the horse is well-behaved and fulfills all commands without the slightest hesitation, because the life of a vaulter depends on this.In addition, the horse must be very tough.
Driving, racing, running
Horse-drawn carriage competitions. The harnesses are divided into several classes, depending on how many individuals are in the harness. Even ponies can participate in these races. Sled classes:
- single;
- steam room;
- tandem;
- quadruple.
The fastest horse wins the race. These competitions are held in order to decide which individuals to keep for the tribe. Racetracks of various sizes are the most commonly used method. The main winners of the races become the most sought after in terms of mating.
Races are held for trotting horse breeds. The horses run, harnessed to a special running rocking chair. Representatives of trotting breeds, in fact, began to breed for the transport of crews with people.
Skijoring and neuroing
Skijoring is the newest form of equestrian sport. It is the towing of the skier behind the horse. Mostly held in Switzerland. Sometimes, in this type of race, deer are used instead of horses.
Reining is an American variation of dressage. The most ambitious and spectacular dressage, in terms of popularity in the United States, only rodeos can be compared with it. There are no gender distinctions for men and women, so all riders participate in competitions on equal terms. Reining is considered extremely dangerous compared to English dressage, because all the links are performed at great speed.
Trotter requirements
Not all individuals participate in races. Horse racing from the age of 2 is acceptable, and to participate in the derby, the animal must be 3 years old. In theory, any horse can participate in races, but for each individual there is a certain limit.
Even heavyweight horses can be prepared to run. However, they can cover a very small distance, because by nature they have the ability to lift large loads, and the constitution does not allow them to develop too high a speed.
The most demanded in the world today are Arabian horses and their derivatives. Although mongrel horses often become winners, so the choice of a trotter for a race should not be based on the prestige of the breed. In order to increase the chances of winning, it is very important to take into account certain data of the horse:
- exterior;
- body type;
- physical data;
- endurance;
- disposition.
The most important thing in competitive racing, especially when passing obstacles or vaulting, is unquestioning command execution. The quality of the tricks, the safety of the rider and the animal itself will completely depend on this. A horse for racing must be well built, well-muscled, playful and obedient.
Conclusion
Now you know everything about mesmerizing horse racing: the rules, as well as the options. Horse racing has long been very popular. The original purpose of the races is to determine the breeding individual. Many equestrian sports have their roots in military science. For example, triathlon used to be used to evaluate war horses, the requirements for which were very strict. Such competitions last 3 days.
The rules for each individual equestrian sport will vary. The question is often asked: "How old can horses be in horse racing?" The answer to it will depend on the form of the event and where the horse races take place. Horses of various breeds participate in competitions. Some even involve ponies.
In horse racing, the most important thing is to find a good horse. They do this not on the basis of the nobility of the breed, but according to external data, agility, endurance and body structure. Outbred horses very often win races.