About English Riding Events

The bond between horse and rider is unmistakable; there have been amazing stories of the lengths that both have gone to protect and serve each other.
One of the most graceful displays of this bond is the English riding event.

  1. Dressage

    • Dressage is a section of riding events that displays the discipline of both the horse and rider. There are a number of different levels of dressage competition, from amateur to Olympic, and each is a measure of the rhythm and collection of the rider.
      Horse and rider are put through a number of tests of discipline and endurance. Participants perform a collected and extended walk, trot and canter, a trot and canter half-pass (where the horse keeps its body parallel to the wall while moving both forward and laterally), passage (a trot in slow-motion), piaffe (trotting in place), tempi changes (change in lead of a canter) and a canter pirouette (a canter in place where the horse also turns in a complete circle).
      At higher levels of dressage, horses perform a series of maneuvers called Airs Above the Ground. Powerful horses are trained to perform maneuvers originally used to prepare military horses and riders for combat. In maneuvers where the horse leaves the ground, there is a great level of skill, strength and teamwork required to perform the maneuvers successfully. Today, the Lipizzan stallions of Spanish riding schools are most famous for these showy maneuvers.
      Most horses that compete in dressage are warmbloods, but all riding horses can participate in events.
      Dressage is an extremely formalized event, with written guidelines as to the horse's tack and rider's clothing.

    Cross-Country Equestrianism

    • Cross-country equestrianism is a riding event that requires both horse and rider to be in top physical condition to take on a course with a variety of obstacles designed to test the limits of competitors.
      Participants go through a series of challenges that test not only the speed and jumping ability of the horse, but also the ability of the rider to judge the performance of the horse and the ability of both to pace themselves across the demanding course.
      There are a number of different phases to the cross-country challenge, including a warm-up period, a series of cross-country jumps taken at a full gallop (the steeplechase), a slower period of recovery--and vet checks--and then a cross-country portion made of up an overland course complete with jumps and obstacles and even wooded areas and hills.
      Endurance is an important part of preparing both horse and rider for the cross-country event, and must be developed over a period of time to allow the horse to develop the muscular and internal strength necessary.
      Any horse can participate.

    Show Jumping

    • Show jumping is a series of events in which a horse and rider make their way through a course made up of a number of different types of jumps. Most horses that compete are warmbloods or thoroughbreds, and most are over 16 hands tall (although there have been instances of ponies that have been successful jumpers). Courses are made up of a number of jumps that are different distances apart--some no more than one or two paces apart--with many sharp turns that the horse must be skilled at navigating.
      Horse and rider are judged on their ability to clear the jumps, as well as their ability to complete the course in the allotted time.

    Show Hunters

    • Show hunters are similar to show jumping, but the horses are judged on their movement, grace and flowing stride, as well as temperament and manners.
      Horses should be relaxed and mellow, yet attentive and responsive to their riders. Their movements should be graceful and smooth.
      There are a number of classes that show hunters can participate in. Equitation judges the communication between the horse and rider, flat classes judge communication without jumping and over-fence classes judge communication and movement while going through a series of jumps. Handy classes combine over-fence and flat classes. Pleasure classes put more focus on the horse's temperament and bond with the rider, and less focus on requirement of smooth, graceful movement. In conformation classes, more focus is placed on movement than on temperament.
      Show hunters must be immaculately groomed and trimmed, with flawless coats, manes and tails.

    United States Equestrian Federation

    • The federation is the largest organizer of equestrian events in the United States.
      The federation began January 1917 as the Association of American Horse Shows. After a number of name changes, the name became the United States Equestrian Federation when the United States Equestrian Team took responsibility.
      There are more than 90,000 members, and the federation sanctions horse shows to keep rules and regulations consistent across the board. The USEF also keeps track of safety rules and regulations, awards honors for outstanding horses and bloodlines, regulates acceptable drugs and medications, and defines disciplines.