Leisure Kicks - The essencial sport and leisure guide

There are various disciplines within the equestrian world and below is a summary of them. To find out more about their respective rules go to the British Equestrian Federation website.

Dressage: a discipline in which horse and rider demonstrate a harmonious partnership (balanced and powerful yet calm and attentive) in each of the three tests used in competition - the grand prix, grand prix special and grand prix freestyle.

Horse Driving Trials: tests a driver and team of horses - 1, 2 or 4 carriage horses - through the driven phases of dressage, cross country marathon, obstacle and cones to test harmony, stamina and control.

Endurance: tests not only the rider but the stamina and fitness of the horse over distances of up to 100km and beyond in a competition against the track, distance, climate, terrain and clock.

Eventing: encompasses three different phases, dressage, cross country (looks at the speed, endurance, boldness and partnership of the combination over a number of solid obstacles across natural terrain) and show jumping. 

Horseball: could be likened to rugby or basketball, except played on horseback. A team sport where riders pass or scoop up the ball from the ground before shooting at the goal.

Para-Equestrian Dressage: features at the Paralympic Games, as with dressage there are three tests and horse and rider complete sets of movements whilst demonstrating a harmonious partnership. 

Polocrosse: a combination of polo and lacrosse played in a field on horseback. Riders use sticks attached to a racquet head with which they catch and carry a sponge ball before throwing it at the opponent’s goal posts.

Reining: A western form of dressage originating from moves required from ranch horses. Designed to show the athletic ability of a western type of horse – movements include 360 degree spins, sliding stops, 180 degree reversals and circle turns.

Show Jumping: the characteristics are speed, agility and accuracy of the rider and horse throughout a course of obstacles which can be up to 1.6 metres high!

Vaulting: a form of gymnastics performed on the back of a moving horse.

Choose your sport

British Eventing offer a series of accredited training tip videos