How many equestrian disciplines do you think there are? Horses have accompanied humans throughout history, and for this reason, there are various equestrian specializations depending on the work performed with the horse and its purpose.
In this article, we discuss the different, highly specialized disciplines in the equestrian world, aimed at achieving maximum performance and the best results from the work undertaken.
We'll explain what they involve and how you can equip yourself in the best way at our riding store, where you'll find the best equestrian clothing. We hope that by the end of this read, you will have learned something new and that your interest in the equestrian world will grow.
Show Jumping
Show jumping is one of the most well-known equestrian disciplines in the world and is practiced almost everywhere; it is one of the most popular equestrian activities. It has been an Olympic sport for many years.
It involves riding a horse over obstacles on a numbered course in the shortest possible time. The obstacles are made of bars, and successfully clearing them means not incurring any penalties due to knocking down a bar or refusing to jump. There are several different show jumping competitions, each with its own regulations: normal, power and skill, high jump, speed, and handling. The height of the obstacles varies depending on the type of event.
Practicing this discipline requires good communication between rider and horse, as well as a relationship of trust, safety, and respect between the pair.
The equipment for this discipline consists of:
· Competition breeches: Competition breeches must be white or light beige, and recently they have been combined with gray tones. They should fit snugly for greater comfort during riding and movement execution, so they must be made of stretchy fabric.
· Show coats: Competition jackets can be solid colors with variations in their structure. The most classic colors are red, blue, or black; but fortunately, show jumping is the discipline that is advancing and modernizing the most, allowing riders to enjoy current and more daring fashion, sporting different colors, from metallic gray to a groundbreaking fuchsia. Our models, of course, have taken a leap with the discipline itself, differentiating themselves from other brands with their distinctive patterns and colors. Always with a foundation of absolute elegance.
· Competition polo shirt: It is mandatory to wear a shirt or polo with a white collar, allowing the rest of the garment's design to vary. Our favorite choice is to go for a jacket and polo combination. If the jacket is not worn, the shirt must have sleeves, and short sleeves are permitted.
· Helmet and boots: A helmet is mandatory for all riders competing in an equestrian event of any category, whenever they are mounted on a horse. The helmet must be hard, with three points of attachment, and correctly fastened. Competition boots must be tall and dark-colored, brown or black.
Dressage
Alongside Show Jumping, Dressage is one of the most popular and practiced disciplines worldwide. In this discipline, a series of movements are performed based on the harmony between the rider and their horse.
The difficulty of the movements is associated with each "reprise," a pre-established program that indicates all the movements to be performed and the order to follow. All movements are natural for the horse, although to achieve perfection in rhythm and execution, the pair must train consistently.
This Olympic discipline is practiced in an arena with specific dimensions of 20 meters x 60 meters or 20 x 40, alongside which judges score the exercises with marks and comments.
Some of the exercises required in this discipline include: flying changes, rein back, leg-yield, shoulder-in, canter pirouettes, half-passes, pirouette or half-pirouette, piaffe or passage, among others. Other aspects to consider are rhythm, suppleness, relaxation, collection, impulsion, and straightness.
The equipment for this discipline consists of:
· Jacket and Tailcoat: black, blue, or other dark colors within the scale. May have contrasting colored piping. They stand out for their elegance and sobriety.
· Top hat, bowler hat, and helmet: black or the same color as the jacket and tailcoat.
· Breeches: white and fitted to provide comfort and freedom of movement for the rider during the test.
· Tie: white or the same color as the jacket.
· Shirt: any color as long as it has a white collar. High collar with integrated jabot for female riders and classic collar and tie for male riders.
· Gloves: white or the same color mentioned above.
· Boots: Competition boots must be tall and dark-colored, brown or black.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is very popular worldwide and has a long history. It takes place in specialized venues called racetracks, although there are also popular races in places like beaches.
The horse races with its rider, called a jockey, at the highest possible speed on a flat track without obstacles, usually grass or sand. Over a short distance, between 400 and 4000 meters, the first to cross the finish line wins.
The horses used in this discipline are hot-blooded animals with a highly specialized anatomy, featuring large sizes, very light bodies, and long, thin legs.
The equipment for this discipline consists of:
· Breeches: white and elastic; the jockey's posture on the horse is in flexion, so they need breeches that provide a lot of freedom and comfort.
· Helmet and jacket: matching. A rigid helmet is mandatory, and the jacket should represent the colors of the rider or the club they represent, always tucked inside the breeches to not interfere with movement on the horse.
· Boots: black.
· Whip: that complies with regulations.
