Riding Disciplines
Welcome to Riding Disciplines which covers every English and Western riding style! The English riding covers Dressage, a ballet on horseback, Driving which features both the beautiful horses and the carriages they pull, Foxhunting, Eventing, Jumping, Saddle Seat, and even the sport of Polo.
The Western riding category includes Pleasure, Reining and all Rodeo events involving a horse, so look for Barrel Racing, Bronc Riding, Chuck Wagon Racing, Cutting, Pole Bending and Roping.
Want to know the date of your favorite horse show or rodeo? Don’t miss it! Dates and locations are included in the in both the Calendar of Events for English Riding and the Calendar of Events for Western Riding. Are we missing a category or event? Please use the useful feedback link and let us know!
Photo courtesy of Specialized Saddles
Ranch horse competitions have been exploding in popularity, and in an effort to help more riders develop the partnership these events require, North American Western Dressage (NAWD) is pleased to introduce Ranch Horse Western Dressage. This exciting new program celebrates the athletic abilities of the working ranch horse while demonstrating the benefits that can be gleaned from Western dressage training.
Inspired by the ranch riding classes so popular in stock horse associations, Ranch Horse Western Dressage combines dressage training-scale values with maneuvers used by the working ranch horse, including hesitations, sidepassing, rollbacks and more. Horse and rider must work together to complete a prescribed pattern of maneuvers while showcasing calmness, relaxation, balance, precision, obedience and self-carriage.
Read more: North American Western Dressage gets punchy with Ranch Horse Western Dressage tests
Equine Info Exchange recently spoke with Mario Dino Di Salvo at the Saratoga Polo Club where he is located from spring to fall playing polo and teaching lessons.
EIE: Tell us about growing up in Argentina. It is a vast and beautiful country. Did you group up near Buenos Aires?
MD: I grew up in Veinticinco de Mayo, a city located about 2 and 1/2 hours away from Buenos Aires. There are no mountains or snow there!
EIE: Please describe the Argentine culture with horses.
MD: I don't know how to describe it, because I was lucky that my grandparents had a farm and we always rode. The horses at the farm were for work. We would go and move animals from one pasture to another or just go and check on them, everything was done on horses. That way you ride a lot, growing up was fun and. I didn't realize how many hours of riding I got on vacations working with my grandparents.
by Laura College, Demand Media
Pole bending is a speed event that requires precision and stamina of both horse and rider. Practicing poles over and over again will reinforce bad habits and bore the horse, so it is important to conduct other exercises that will benefit your performance in pole bending but challenge your horse at the same time. When starting pole bending, focus on exercises that encourage responsiveness and agility.
Halt and Reverse
Practicing only speed for a speed event will yield an unresponsive horse. Your mount must learn to wait for your aids and respond to them immediately, which is why the halt and reverse is one of the best pole bending exercises. Walk, trot or lope your horse in a straight line. Sit back in the saddle and apply light pressure to the reins. If he gives his nose and lifts his shoulders in preparation for a change, reward him by releasing the pressure. If, however, he sets his jaw against the bit and lifts his head, halt him immediately. Back him up by alternating pressure on the left and right reins until he yields his nose and reverses. Then send him forward again. Repeat this exercise two or three times per training session in both directions.
Read more: Exercises for Horses That Are Beginning Pole Bending
By Tom Sweetman, for CNN
Read the original article on CNN here...
Having given birth to her first child in January, Zara Phillips has since returned to competition and helped Great Britain qualify for the 2016 Olympics with her performance at August's FEI World Equestrian Games.
- Zara Phillips helps Britain qualify for 2016 Olympics less than nine months after giving birth
- Phillips now targeting gold medal in Rio de Janeiro after claiming silver at London 2012
- The 33-year-old is treasuring the experience of being a mother to Mia Grace Tindall
Read more: Zara Phillips targets Olympic gold with baby Mia by her side
- OMR Sisters Gallop to Glory
- Horse Carriage Driving Enthusiasts Compete on Brean Beach
- Navajo Barrel Racer Is Saluted With ‘Kassidy Dennison Day’ in New Mexico
- Reining: Boemil Twin Robotop - the only Appaloosa in the Individual Finals
- Boyd Martin Sets Record at Jersey Fresh International Three Day Event
