Discipline Guides

Harness racing is an equine sport that tests the speed of Standardbred horses as they pull drivers in lightweight, two-wheeled carts called sulkies around an oval track. Unlike mounted horse racing, the driver sits behind the horse and guides it...

A musical dressage freestyle is a test in which riders choreograph required movements to music instead of following a fixed pattern. Blending technical precision with artistic interpretation, it allows horse and rider to showcase harmony, creativity, and degree of difficulty...

Classical dressage is a traditional method of training horses rooted in the principles of old masters and historical riding schools. At advanced levels, classical dressage resembles equestrian art, but its foundation lies in systematic gymnastic development designed to help the...

English riding is one of the most recognizable and widely practiced forms of horsemanship. Rooted in classical traditions, it has evolved into a diverse family of disciplines that emphasize balance, precision, and effective communication between horse and rider. From the...

Hunter paces, commonly referred to as “paces,” is an equestrian sport that integrates aspects of endurance riding, eventing, and the strategic skills of traditional fox hunting. This discipline offers a unique way to test your horse’s fitness and partnership outside...

Calf roping is a fast-paced rodeo discipline that tests teamwork, athleticism, and precision between horse and rider. Modern calf roping originated from everyday ranch tasks, where cowboys needed to immobilize young cattle for branding or medical care. Over time, this...

Saddle seat is an elegant English riding discipline designed to showcase the brilliance, animation, and style of high-stepping horse breeds. This discipline originated in the United States and has become closely tied to breeds such as the American Saddlebred, Morgan,...

Western riding is a diverse category of equestrian sports with roots in ranch work and cattle handling. Horses were essential partners for working on the range in the American West. Managing livestock required athleticism, stamina, and reliability. These skills eventually...

Team roping is a dynamic rodeo event that combines speed, precision, and teamwork. Unlike individual rodeo disciplines, team roping involves two riders – the header and the heeler – working in sync to rope a steer. It is one of...

Western pleasure stands as one of the most distinctive and enduring disciplines in Western riding, originating from the practical needs of working ranch horses and evolving into a highly refined competitive sport. Riders aim to present their horses as effortless...

Western dressage is an equestrian discipline that blends the time-honored principles of classical dressage with the tack, style, and culture of Western riding. In classical dressage, the horse learns to move smoothly, stay balanced, and respond to the rider's cues....

Cross-country riding is a thrilling equestrian sport that tests both horse and rider across varying terrain and solid obstacles. It demands precision, speed, endurance, and quick decision-making for success. Rooted in fox hunting and military training traditions, cross-country riding has...

Polocrosse is a variant of traditional polo that combines elements of polo and lacrosse, adding an inventive twist that emphasizes individual skill and teamwork. Known for its family-friendly nature and emphasis on teamwork and inclusion, polocrosse has steadily grown in...

Polo is a high-intensity equestrian team sport that offers spectators and participants a captivating blend of strategy, speed, and horsemanship. Polo has roots stretching back to ancient times, and has evolved into a global sport with a formalized structure. This...

Known as the sport of kings, horse racing is one of the oldest pastimes in the world. This popular equestrian activity showcases the speed and endurance of equine athletes. Some horse breeds, such as the Thoroughbred, are bred specifically for...

Fox hunting is a traditional countryside activity that has become a popular equestrian pastime. While initially developed to hunt foxes, most modern hunts are held purely for sport and rarely involve kills. The sport has a history of controversy. Some...

Cutting is a Western equestrian sport that demonstrates a horse and rider's ability to work cattle. Skilled cutting horses face off with cattle in this competitive event that celebrates the cowboy heritage of the American West. What was once a...

Barrel racing is a female-dominated rodeo event. This deceptively simple sport challenges the horse's athleticism and the rider's horsemanship through their ability to carefully run a set pattern around barrels as fast as possible. The speed of barrel racing makes...

Working Equitation is a dynamic equitation discipline that aims to test the versatility and skills of the horse and the owner, as well as the level of collaboration between the two. While the sport officially came into being only in...

Reining is a Western discipline that showcases the skills and abilities traditionally needed by working ranch horses. Sometimes compared to the English discipline of dressage, reining competition involves riders piloting horses through precise patterns in a competition arena. The explosive...

Equestrian vaulting is a sport that incorporates gymnastics performance with equestrianism. Athletes perform complex gymnastic routines on the back of a moving horse, demonstrating balance, strength, and harmony with their equine partner. Depictions of vaulting date back to ancient times...

Hunter horses are known for their elegance, grace, and good manners. Originating from fox hunting traditions in the United Kingdom, hunters now compete in show arenas around the world on the flat and over jumps. Judges score hunters based on...

Combined driving is an equestrian sport that transforms driving, the use of horses as a form of transportation, into a competitive and intense event that challenges the limits of equine stamina, fitness, and obedience. Athletes and their horses compete in...

Endurance riding is a marathon for horses, with horses and riders covering distances of up to 100 miles per day. Athletes cover rugged terrain including slopes, hills, water, and different types of footing, during the competition. Endurance riding has its...

Para equestrian is equestrian sport performed by para-athletes, athletes who have physical impairments that make equestrian sport challenging. Para equestrian is also the only horse event offered at the Paralympics. Para equestrian sports offered at an international level include para...

Para equestrian is the only equestrian sport held at the Paralympics, including at the upcoming Paris 2024 Paralympics in September. Para equestrian athletes demonstrate precision and harmony with their equine counterparts as they perform different dressage movements in the Paralympic...

Eventing is the triathlon of equestrian sport. Also known as horse trials or three-day eventing, this discipline requires horses and riders to master three phases of competition: dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. Initially developed to test cavalry horses, the sport...

Jumping is one of three equestrian sports featured in the Olympic Games. The speed and precision of show jumping make this sport a spectator favourite. Equestrian jumping events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will test the ability of the...

Dressage is an equestrian discipline that combines technical execution and artistic expression. Most riders associate dressage with advanced horse and rider combinations performing intricate movements, but riders of all levels can participate in dressage competitions. Cross-training in dressage can also...

Show jumping is one of the most popular and recognizable equestrian sports in the world. Jumping appears alongside eventing and dressage in the equestrian events at the Olympic Games. While well-known for attracting celebrities at the international level, show jumping...