Horse riding, a popular sport across the globe, is called Equestrianism. Horses have been used over the centuries for various domestic purposes, transportation, wars, and recreational purposes.
Horses can be trained as per the needs of the owner. Horses are also being used as therapy animals, in recent years. They have a good emotional quotient and boost the mental health of the owner.
Horse riding had always been a popular activity amongst the royals and the commons.
In recent years, it has gained immense popularity as a sport. Most countries around the world have proper shelters and stables, accessible to people, where one can enjoy horse riding under the guidance of trained instructors.
Statistics state that nearly 3 million people in the U.S.A ride horses.
History
The first known evidence of the existence of horse’s dates to nearly 2500 BC. They were initially used for wars, but over the years, they were domesticated and used for other purposes.
Horses had been wiped out from Europe during the Ice Age. However, they were introduced back to the continent during the second voyage by explorers like Christopher Columbus.
Ways to ride a horse
- Firstly, one should be gentle with the horse. The reign should be held loosely in front of the saddle. A foot should be put into the stirrup, next.
- Applying little pressure on the stirrup, the horse can now be mounted.
- However, one should be careful to not kick the horse accidentally, while mounting it.
- After gently sitting on the saddle, the other foot should be put into the other stirrup and the reigns must be adjusted.
- The reigns should not be held too tight, such that it causes discomfort to the horse.
- One should always sit up straight on the horse, head high and shoulders upright.
- Sight is very important, and one should always keep their eyes open. One should look where one intends to go; this also gives the horse a sense of direction.
- The focus must be kept on the position to prevent falling off and the horse must be handled and directed at the same time. This is tough but can be attained with proper training and practice.
- One should not rush at all. It is very important to control the speed of the horse.
- In the beginning, it is advised to consult a trainer. The guidance of the trainer will help one master the art of riding with time.
- With time and experience, one can understand horses better and improvise their riding skills.
- It is very necessary to learn and understand the behavior of horses if one wishes to pursue horse riding in the long run.
- Initially, a trained horse should be chosen while learning horse riding. An untrained horse and a new rider are not recommended.
Horse riding as a sport
Horse riding has been a popular sport throughout history and there have been centuries-old records of gambling on horses during races. To date, horse races are hosted, though gambling is restricted in many countries.
- There are various categories of races such as distance racing and more.
- Horse riding was introduced as a sport in the Olympics as early as 1900. By 1912, all the three events that are continued till today were included.
- The three events include Dressage, Show Jumping, and Eventing.
- While Dressage checks the obedience of the horse, Show Jumping requires the rider and the horse to jump over certain obstacles. In Eventing, the overall ability of the horse is tested, and results are declared based on the performance of the horses in all three events.
- The sport has specific rules, regulated by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports
Health risks associated with horse riding
There are many health hazards associated with horse riding and one must be extremely careful while dealing with horses.
- Horses are large, powerful animals with very swift movement; hence one might be prone to accidents. The injury may be minor or fatal.
- A study claims that the risk of injury from riding a horse is nine times more than the risk of injury from riding a bicycle.
- As per reports, there are nearly 670000 cases of injury sustained from horse riding, every year, 50000 being fatal cases. Out of these, 15000 cause brain damage, and there are approximately 60 deaths each year.
- Mostly the injury is sustained from falling off the horse or getting kicked by it. To avoid this, a trainer can be consulted, and it is very necessary to be gentle with the horse.
- The injuries usually result in arm fracture in 31 % of the cases, head injury in 21% of the cases, leg fracture in 15% of the cases, and a chest injury in 33% of the cases.
- All these injuries may prove fatal and may even cause death. The injuries may also cause severe trauma in the person.
Precautions and Safety measures
- Helmets must always be used. In most cases, there is a head injury, when a rider falls from a horse. The helmet protects the head. The helmet must not be ignored at any cost. The helmet must be chosen very carefully, and it is recommended to use good products in this case, since a head injury can kill a rider.
- One must always stay alert and keep a check on the behavior of the horse. In this way, often one can detect the mood of the horse and act accordingly to avoid its temper. An angry horse tends to throw down its rider or kick the rider.
- Horses are gentle creatures and must be dealt with very gently. If the horse is uncomfortable, it may throw down the rider.
While horse riding is thoroughly enjoyed as a sport and played widely all over the world, many horses are put through rigorous training and unfavorable conditions to make them fit for competitions, races, and shows. This can be termed as cruelty and must be avoided. The health and comfort of the animal should be the priority of all riders.