5 Unusual Equestrian Sports You May or May Not Want To Try!

Whether you are a competitive rider or not you will no doubt be aware of the main equestrian disciplines such as dressage, show jumping and Eventing. However whilst I was aimlessly scrolling Instagram the other day I came across an equestrian competition of a different kind that caught my interest! Since then its got me thinking about other equestrian sports out there that we know nothing about so I did a little bit of research. Here are five of the more unusual options you may or may not want to try with your horse…

Working Equitation

This was the discipline that caught my eye on socials and I keep thinking it is something I would really love to try. Not quite sure what my youngster will think of it all but you never know. From my very basic understanding Working Equitation is made up of three phases – Dressage, Ease of Handling and Speed. Three different rounds that test you and your horses partnership in different ways. The dressage is as it sounds, then the ease of handling involves navigating various obstacles such as a bridge, a gate and a small jump. Finally the speed round involves tacking the same obstacles but this time round you are purely judged on your speed. If you’d like to learn more then I found there is a British Working Equitation Association Website or have a little search on TikTok or Instagram to see some competitors in action.

Horseball

Horseball is a fast paced team game where you will require both nerves and abs on steel! Games are played on a large pitch and players pick up the ball from the ground without dismounting their horse (imagine hanging off the side of your horse at speed!). The ball is passed between players or stolen from the opposite team with the aim of scoring goals. A game lasts 20 minutes and you’ll need to be at peak fitness to compete. This fun sport is gaining popularity so check out the British Horseball Association if you fancy having a go yourself.

Hobby Horsing

One for our mini horse divas, hobby horsing has gained a real following here in the UK in recent years having been popular in Finland for many years. You might have seen our previous blog about it too. Each competitor must have their own hobby horse to compete in a variety of disciplines, as you would with a real horse – choose from Dressage, Jumping or Western. Pony Mag’s Big Day Out had a hobby horsing arena and with its increasing popularity keep an eye out for a competition or “test ride” opportunity near you. Anyone tempted to give up the real thing and take up Hobby Horsing instead?!

Vaulting

Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a gymnast? If so perhaps you feel brave enough to give vaulting a go! The horse is being lunged whilst you perform exercises on the horse’s back both in walk and canter. The horse will wear special equipment so you have something to hold on to. This is typically suited to people already trained in gymnastics or dance. The vaulting horses are specially trained for this job. Whilst it definitely isn’t a “try this at home” sport you should be able to find a centre near you that offers a taster session. Take a look at British Vaulting Association for more information.

Horseback Archery

Originating from battlefield tactics this fun equestrian sport appeals to a mixture of ages and abilities. You can build up your skills to shoot arrows at targets starting at a walk, then trot then eventually a gallop! We are lucky as close to us in Hertfordshire we have the Centre of Horseback Combat who offer a range of courses including Horseback Archery. Fancy giving it a go? If you are close to us then take a look at their available courses and make a day of it. I have been lucky enough to go there myself and its such a fun day, great for the mind and body to try something new.

So the real question is would you try any of these sports or have you come across something new you would like to try in the equestrian world? I think its great to keep learning and try things outside of the box. No matter what your age and equestrian experience, being open to learning new skills and gaining new experiences is so important, especially for our mental health.