Equestrian competitions represent the pinnacle of equestrian sports, where skilled riders demonstrate their mastery through various disciplines that test both horse and rider abilities. From the precision of dressage to the speed of barrel racing, competitive horse riding offers diverse opportunities for equestrians to showcase their talents and pursue excellence in their chosen discipline.
The world of equestrian competitions encompasses numerous disciplines, each with unique requirements, rules, and traditions. Whether you're interested in the elegant artistry of dressage competitions or the adrenaline-fueled excitement of show jumping, understanding different types of equestrian competitions helps riders choose the path that best matches their skills and interests.
Equestrian sports have evolved over centuries, with many disciplines now featured in prestigious events including the Olympic Games. Riding in each event requires various skills, gear and training, so competitive horse riding is a tough and rewarding activity for any equestrian.
Types of Equestrian Sports & Competitions
1. Show Jumping
What it is: Show jumping is one of the most popular and visually impressive equestrian competitions, with riders guiding their horses over a course of obstacles. The activity challenges horse and rider in a timed format over fences of differing heights and spread.
How it works: Show jumping is performed in competition, where riders compete for the best score while riding a course of jumps singly and horses have to clear a course of 12 to 15 fixed jumps. The goal is to finish the course without knocking over any rails, refusing any jumps, or running out of the permitted time. It is scored for faults and penalties are given for knocked rails, refusals and time faults. The rider with the least number of faults wins, with jump-offs used to break ties where applicable.
Players/teams: The sport of show jumping is largely an individual one, but for team competition, two to four riders form a team who help each other over the course. Nations Cup competitions are for teams of four riders, and the team total is the sum of the best three scores.
Championship events: The FEI World Cup Finals and World Equestrian Games are the most elite platforms of show jumping competition, while the Olympic Games include the discipline as one of its three equestrian events.
2. Dressage
What it is: Dressage is frequently referred to as the “ballet of equestrian sports” and it is the ultimate test of training and control for horse and rider. This involves riding patterns with particular movements performed in sequence, as the rider communicates with the horse, using the horse's obedience, responsiveness, suppleness, and physical ability to perform the maneuvers.
How it works: Dressage competitions consist of riders riding dressage tests in a 20x60 meter arena, with movement locations determined by letters around the area. These trials are made up of a series of prescribed movements or patterns that are scored individually by the judge between 0 and 10. Placings are determined by the percentage score, with grades of movement and movements relative to the test being weighed more heavily than the lower marked movements.
Players/teams: Dressage is primarily an individual sport, though there are team contests at major championships. Team dressage events usually consist of three or four riders per team, with the best three scores added to the team total.
Name of championship: The FEI World Cup Dressage Finals and World Equestrian Games feature the world’s best dressage athletes, with dressage competition in the Olympic Games epitomizing the sport’s prestige.
3. Eventing
What it is: Eventing, also known as the “equestrian triathlon,” has three phases: dressage, cross country and show jumping.
How it works: Eventing competitions take place over a few days, with riders completing all three phases with the same horse. The dressage phase shows the training and obedience of horse and rider, the cross-country demonstrates how they negotiate obstacles over natural terrain, and the show jumping shows that the horse is still fit and keen after cross-country. Scores from all the different competitions add up to get a final placing.
Players/teams: Eventing operates both on an individual and team competition, with the team usually consisting of three or four riders. Team scores are determined by being the best three individual results, individual championships are crowned the winners.
Championship title: The FEI World Equestrian Games and Olympic Games present eventing as a premier sport, with the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event and Badminton Horse Trials among the most high-profile contests.
4. Western Pleasure
What it is: Western Pleasure is a common western style competition that judges horses on being a pleasure to ride. This riding sport places an emphasis on gait and calm behavior, as well as motion and train-ability, a smooth ride and a beautiful horse.
How it works: Western Pleasure horses are shown at three gaits – walk, jog and lope – both ways of the arena, and are judged on quality of movement. Selectors judge for looseness of action, carriage of head and body and the quality of the movement. Horse can back, extend gaits, and transitions must be light and willing.
Number of riders/teams: A single event in which multiple riders share the same ring at one time but do not ride at the same time. Classes usually contain 8-15 riders and judges order the horses from first to last depending on their performance.
Championship title: The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show and American Paint Horse Association (APHA) World Championship Show are the premier venues for Western Pleasure competition.
5. Barrel Racing
What it is: A fast time western riding event consisting of horse and rider riding a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels in the fastest time possible. Fast paced, acrobatic and fun to watch, when the dust has settled on the action, the racers with the fastest times will be the winners.
How it works: Riders compete against the clock one at a time, racing their horses around three barrels placed in a triangle. The challenge is to successfully run the course without hitting any barrels in the shortest time. There are penalties for knocked-over barrels, and the rider with the fastest clean time wins.
Players/teams: Barrel racing is a solo event, with one rider competing against the clock. The number of competitors at events ranges in the dozens to hundreds if it is not a small local competition.
Championships: The National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is the championship of the NFR, though the International Barrel Racing Association (IBRA) and Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) hold world championships.
6. Reining
What is it: Reining, a western riding competition which displays the athletic ability of ranch type horses in an arena setting. Frequently described as “western dressage,” the competitive riding discipline compels horses to execute intricate patterns that involve spins, stops and lead changes with effortless grace and natural-looking ease.
How it works: Riders perform individual patterns that contain designated maneuvers which they are scored on. Every single trick is rated on scale -1.5+1.5 value, 0 indicates average execution. The highest combined total score of the trials sequences decides the winner of the contest.
Players / Teams: Reining is generally an individual sport, but team competitions are held during World Equestrian Games and other international events. There are normally four riders to a team in team reining with the best three scores counting toward the team total.
Championship designation: The sport's elite competition levels are the FEI World Equestrian Games, the NRHA (National Reining Horse Association) Futurity, and the World Reining Championships.
7. Endurance Riding
What it is: Endurance riding challenges the endurance, conditioning and partnership of horse and rider over long distances, most commonly between 25 and 100 miles.
How contests are run: Endurance races involve riders following marked trails across all types of country, from desert flats to mountains, in maximum time limits. Mandatory veterinary examinations determine the soundness and condition of the horse before, during and after the event.
Players/teams: Most endurance riding tends to be individual, although there are team competitions to be found at international level. Most rides are teams of three to four, however the success of a team is based on the number of starting members who complete the ride.
Championship title: The FEI World Endurance Championships and Tevis Cup are some of the most famed endurance championships along with the surrounding rides being heavily precipitated with anticipation from its dedicated supporters, as well as the World Equestrian Games includes endurance riding as one of its official disciplines.
Choosing the Right Competition for You
There are lots of elements that influence the right kind of equestrian competition for you such as your riding ability and your horse’s ability. Whatever your skill level, weigh in what you have experience in, as some disciplines require knowledge of a broad area, such as eventing or western pleasure.
The breed, conformation, and temperament of your horse dictate which type of equestrian competitions are best for your partnership. A horse with an athletic jump is bred for Show Jumping, while a smooth gait and disposition is often ideal for a Western Pleasure class. Knowing where your horse is strongest provides guidance to the most appropriate path of competition.
Equipment requirements vary significantly between disciplines. English disciplines typically requir equestrian breeches, show coats like rj classics show coat, and helmets, while western competitions demand different attire and tack. Consider the investment required for proper equipment, including specialized items lik equiline breeches or dada sport equestrian gear for specific disciplines.
The amount of time and dedication it takes to train varies greatly across all of the horse sports. Daily training and competition is required in some sports, whereas other sports are less time-consuming. Consider your time and resources when deciding which competitive horse riding road to take.
Final Thoughts
The equestrian world is full of opportunities for riders of all skill levels to challenge their riding ability and strive to become the best. Whether the precision needed to compete in dressage, or the speed required for barrel racing, every discipline offers its own challenges and rewards, yet they all add another dimension to the diverse spectrum of equestrian sports.
Whether you are enamored with the grace and elegance of dressage events, the jumping thrills of show jumping, or the thrill of endurance riding, competitive horse riding offers avenues to personal development and accomplishments. The secret to success is in interpreting each discipline's needs, acquiring the necessary riding skills, and establishing great teamwork with your equine friends.
And like every other competitive sport, these equestrian events are constantly being refined, new technologies and training techniques are being invented to produce better performance and safety. As you look into different facets of competitive horseback riding, don't forget that success is the result of hard work and training and that these are simply the ways we all show respect for the beautiful animals contributing to our favorite sports. All of these disciplines have their own rewards, ranging from successfully completing a tough cross country course, to the exhilaration of putting down that perfect reining pattern or being in sync for dressage tests.
