Parent Primer on Horses

Learning that your child has fallen in love with horses is not usually what most parents want to hear - I know mine didn't!   But no matter how many times you ask them if they would rather take up golf or running they usually say NO!  So you are stuck with a horse crazy girl, what do you do now? 

Eventing - This is the sport where my heart is.  It is often called the Triatholon of Horse Sports.  There are three distinct phases in Eventing: Dressage (see below), Cross Country and Stadium Jumping. 

Dressage is always first and there is a set pattern of movements that each competitior needs to learn.  The judge marks each movement on a scale of 1-10 and those marks are added together to create a penalty score. 

Cross-Country may be 2nd or 3rd in the order depending on scheduling.  This phase is done in a field and the horse and rider jump obstacles that are present in the countryside.  This would include drops, banks, water obstacles and solid fences.  Cross country is timed and riders have to learn how to ride at a set speed.  Introductory competitions eliminate the time element so horses and riders can use their own judgement on what speed to go.  Penalties are severe in this phase with a stop on the XC course receiving 20 penalties.  You can not have more than 3 stops at one fence or 5 stops on the entire course.

Stadium jumping is usually done in a ring.  There is a set course of jumps and the rider must learn the course and jump each jump without having a refusal (stop at a fence) or a knocked down rail.  Five point penalties are given for each disobedience.  Having more than three stops will eliminate the team.

Dressage - Most young girls think this is an evil concept that is put in the competition just to make you hate it.  Actually, the word Dressage comes from the French word for training. Dressage uses Classical methods (think Lippazaners) to create a horse's muscles and mind to be the best riding horse it can be.  Dressage is only done at the walk, trot and canter.  Dressage is the first phase of Eventing (see above).

Hunters - Riding Hunters is a type of riding that is based on creating a good Foxhunting horse.  There are jumping classes as well as flat classes.  Horses are to be quiet, be ridden in a longer frame and should have ground covering movement.  Hunters are judged and therefore subjective.  This makes it difficult for Parents to know how they child did until the ribbons are awarded.

 At ERE, we attend local Hunter shows to help give our horses and riders show experience and to work on their equitation (how well they sit on a horse and how effective they are).  Our riders usually excel in these endeavors due to the emphasis of correct form during lessons. 

Jumpers - Jumper classes are usually held in conjunction with Hunter Shows (H/J Shows) - Unlike Hunter classes where the horses need to be quiet, relaxed and correct there are no guidelines for horses looks or way of going in these classes.  Jumper classes are timed and the horse that jumps the fastest and cleanest (without knocking down a rail - or touching a rail) wins.  My father loved coming to watch me in the Jumpers because he could tell how I did in comparison to other competitors.  The rider's are not judged on their position so style isn't important. When ERE riders compete in Jumper classes I do not to stress speed.  When they enter Jumper classes it is because I feel that they will not sacrifice riding well for riding fast.