Trained to Win: The Art of High Performance Disciplines
by Jennifer Prince, An EquestrianMag Exclusive Article

The majority of riders who compete in equestrian competitions aim to win. They know that a gold metal does not come easily, nor is preparation for a competition merely an occasional weekend ride. It takes commitment, an investment in the success of the horse and rider team.

As a rider interested in equestrian competitions, it is important to be well versed in the equestrian disciplines, Olympic or otherwise, before deciding on your niche and your horse’s suitability. Just like not every athlete is conditioned for rock-climbing, a particular horse may be better suited for one discipline over another. As a rider it is important to determine, between your strengths and the strengths of your horse, which discipline provides the highest potential for success.

Training is a very important and essential aspect of competition. Because of the level of competitiveness involved in equestrian competitions, only a well-practiced and polished performance will do. Your trainer should ideally have a positive reputation for training horses for competition and should be well versed in the rules and regulations of your particular discipline. Your horse’s veterinarian should also be knowledgeable as to the rules and regulations of competition so that they can guide you in the right direction with regards to prescriptions, vaccinations and overall equestrian health. Certain types of medications are banned from competitions. Understanding rules of the competition you plan to enter before registering could prevent disqualification.

So how do you choose a discipline? You could speak with acquaintances, trainers and professionals in different disciplines, take classes to get a feel for the style and determine your interest level, or go to horse shows to simply observe the level of complexity each discipline holds. Once you’ve narrowed down your list to two or three disciplines, research the ideal candidates for each, the characteristics of successful horse and riders to see where your team falls. Most importantly, choose the discipline that most interests you. In any competitive discipline, a vested interest is key. There is nothing like passion to motivate a successful team.

To help you get started, below are descriptions of a few equestrian disciplines:

Show Jumping

A fairly new sport compared to other disciplines, show jumping was not included into the Olympic games until 1912. As a discipline, a show jumping event is usually timed and scored by at least one judge. The premise of the event is to follow a course containing obstacles, such as fences, walls or rails, in a set amount of time with the least amount of penalties. There are four different types of show jumping courses, including hunter, jumper, stadium jumping and equitation. There are roughly fifteen obstacles in a prearranged course, and the horse, rather than the rider, is judged based on its performance.

Dressage

One of the disciplines that compete in the Olympic games, dressage is believed to have its roots in ancient Greece. Dressage is a very exact discipline where the horse must perform certain movements in a precise manner. In dressage, the horse must be willing to fulfill the rider’s requests without hesitation while completing a series of tests in a 20x60 meter arena. Some of the more sophisticated dressage movements tested in competition are the Passage, Piaffe and Pirouette. Though virtually any breed of horse could be a successful dressage competitor, necessary characteristics include a disciplined temperament, ability to vary its strides, maintain exceptional balance and have good physical conformation.

Endurance

Endurance riding tests the strength and speed of the horse and rider team. Endurance riding takes place on a predetermined course ranging from 25 miles (a small course) to over 100 miles in length over a period of one or several days. An interesting aspect of endurance riding is that despite the common goal of competition to cross the finish line in the shortest amount of time, the biggest accomplishment for most riders is being able to complete the course without injury or hardship. The horse’s health is the primary concern during an endurance competition. Because of this and of the immense physical demand an endurance competition places on the horse’s physique, horse and rider are required to stop at certain locations along the course. The horse is then examined by a veterinarian to determine whether or not it is well enough to continue the race. If so, the team continues on to cross the finish line.

Vaulting

One of several FEI recognized disciplines, vaulting involves acrobatic movements performed on a horse while in motion. The horse is attached to a lunge line while the competition is in progress, and the rider uses handles attached to the horse’s equipment for balance. In order to make a successful team, the horse must possess an easy temperament and have the ability to follow orders amidst distraction. Maintaining a slow and even walk or trot is another good characteristic of a suitable vaulting horse. Requiring extreme discipline and dedication, vaulting could help a rider learn balance, conformation, flexibility and focus.

A high level of dedication is required to be a successful competitor in any equestrian discipline. Deciding which discipline is of most interest to you and most appropriate for your horse and rider team is the first step in preparing for competition. Regardless of the discipline, training for competition requires hard work and dedication. It is a rigorous investment that could produce invaluable rewards for any dedicated team.

Trained to Win: The Art of High Performance Disciplines by Jennifer Prince, An EquestrianMag Exclusive Article

The majority of riders who compete in equestrian competitions aim to win. They know that a gold metal does not come easily, nor is preparation for a competition merely an occasional weekend ride. It takes commitment, an investment in the success of the horse and rider team.

Trained to Win: The Art of High Performance Disciplines
by Jennifer Prince, An EquestrianMag Exclusive Article