Show jumping:
Imagine cantering at top speed, then turning a sharp corner only to find a huge oxer facing you as you come around. You jump it, flying over the rails, not a hair of your horse touching the jump as you glide towards the ground. The you land, perfectly, soft as a feather and continue to canter and pick up speed as you a approach another jump. This is what most people wish will happen at a show jumping competition. Riders guide their horses through a course of jumps that are feet high. They are judged on whether they complete the coarse in time and how many faults they had. One knocked down rail costs the horse and rider team 4 faults (points), so if they knocked down 2 rails then 8 points would be deducted from their score, 3 rails and 12 points subtracted and so on. The most common breeds to compete in this sport are warmbloods, thoroughbreds, quarter horses and trakehners.
Hunter/Jumper:
This sport involves YOU more than anything. Hunter classes rate you on how well you perform - not how well your horse does. If you want to compete in hunter shows you have to be balanced and have very good form. You must look clean, with proper attire and you must be a well-disciplined rider in general.
Racing:Pounding hooves, coats matted with dirt, dust circling the horses, whips flying - these all describe the heart-pounding sport of horse racing. In racing, two or more horses run on turf or dirt to try and finish the required furlongs of the race first. Thoroughbreds and less commonly, Quarter Horses, are usually great racers.
Fox Hunting:
Fox Hunting is not exactly what it sounds like. It takes place on horseback, but riding is only incidental and the other animals aren't foxes. The real objective is to follow dogs, called "hounds", and eventually get to know them. In Fox Hunting, the main animals are the dogs , or "hounds". They are always in groups of about 30 - 50 hounds.
Dressage:
There is often controversy over the word "dressage". In the dictionary it is described as, 'the training of the horse in deportment and obedience'. Riders usually think of it as simply training on the flat. It improves the horse's balance and muscle development and also develops concentration and encourages obedience. Dressage is held in a school or dressage arena. To compete in dressage, you must have an athletic, obedient and responsive horse that is sound and well-balanced such as a Warmblood or Saddlebred.
Three-Day Eventing:
Three-Day Eventing includes three different types of riding -- show (or stadium) jumping, cross-country and dressage. Cross-country is basically riding a course through nature and handling a variety of barriers such as jumps, water or logs.
More information coming in the near future!!
