Guest Post: Top Horse Events for Every Type of Rider
Horses are magnificent animals primed to compete in all manner of different competitions and events.
From the elegance and poise of a dressage event to the power and pace of racing, horses have been a key part of many sporting events for as long as people care to remember. Even today, big race meetings draw worldwide attention, whilst up and down the country amateurs compete locally in dressage, rodeo and many, many other events.
What are the pinnacle events of these different horse-related sports? If you are a keen and able rider, what sporting fields should you be aiming to get to the top of, and competing in which events will signal you have succeeded? These are some of the biggest events across a broad range of horse-related sports.
What are the pinnacle events of these different horse-related sports? If you are a keen and able rider, what sporting fields should you be aiming to get to the top of, and competing in which events will signal you have succeeded? These are some of the biggest events across a broad range of horse-related sports.
Racing
Horse racing has a long and distinguished history stretching back to ancient civilizations, and it continues to be a huge draw for fans and riders alike. One of the most important in the US calendar is the Kentucky Derby, contested at Churchill Downs and on which the eyes of the world fall. Bwin explains that one such event, in 1978, saw the culmination of one of the greatest ever rivalries between Affirmed and Alydar. The fact that is still discussed today underlines the importance of racing in the US.
Horse racing has a long and distinguished history stretching back to ancient civilizations, and it continues to be a huge draw for fans and riders alike. One of the most important in the US calendar is the Kentucky Derby, contested at Churchill Downs and on which the eyes of the world fall. Bwin explains that one such event, in 1978, saw the culmination of one of the greatest ever rivalries between Affirmed and Alydar. The fact that is still discussed today underlines the importance of racing in the US.
Show jumping
The World Equestrian Games are perhaps the pinnacle of the showjumping scene, and they have twice been held here in the US. In 2010, Lexington held the event and boasted a record of 27 events, up from 16 in 2006. In 2018, the games returned to America at Tryon, North Carolina, with US riders taking three gold medals and 12 in total, finishing fourth.
Rodeo
The rodeo is very much an American passion, and might not hold the prestige of the other events listed here, but it is no less skilled or fun. Two of the best in the country are Cheyenne Frontier Days, usually held in late July, and National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. It has been held for 110 years now and usually takes place in Denver.
Polo
Polo is unusual in that it is a horse-related team sport, packed with excitement and incident. Here in the US, the pinnacle of a polo player’s career is participation in the US Open Polo Championship, which is considered by many to be the most prestigious polo tournament in the country. Polo also carries importance across the Atlantic and is a favored sport of the British Royal family, with the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Windsor Great Park one of the very best tournaments in the world.
Olympics
For many riders, the pinnacle of their career is a spot at the Olympics. This year sees the summer games head to Tokyo, having been postponed during the challenging summer of 2020. The equestrian events in Tokyo will include dressage, eventing and showjumping. US riders are the fourth most successful of all time at the summer games, collecting 11 gold medals, 21 silver and 20 bronze. In 2016, the US picked up two bronze medals and a silver, with Laura Graves (on Verdades), Steffen Peters (on Legolas), Kasey Perry-Glass (on Dublet) and Allison M. Brock (on Rosevelt) taking bronze in team dressage. Phil Dutton took bronze in eventing on Mighty Nice, whilst Kent Farrington (on Voyeur), Lucy Davis (on Barron) McLain Ward (on HH Azur) and Elizabeth Madden (on Cortes 'C') took silver in team jumping.
The World Equestrian Games are perhaps the pinnacle of the showjumping scene, and they have twice been held here in the US. In 2010, Lexington held the event and boasted a record of 27 events, up from 16 in 2006. In 2018, the games returned to America at Tryon, North Carolina, with US riders taking three gold medals and 12 in total, finishing fourth.
Rodeo
The rodeo is very much an American passion, and might not hold the prestige of the other events listed here, but it is no less skilled or fun. Two of the best in the country are Cheyenne Frontier Days, usually held in late July, and National Western Stock Show and Rodeo. It has been held for 110 years now and usually takes place in Denver.
Polo
Polo is unusual in that it is a horse-related team sport, packed with excitement and incident. Here in the US, the pinnacle of a polo player’s career is participation in the US Open Polo Championship, which is considered by many to be the most prestigious polo tournament in the country. Polo also carries importance across the Atlantic and is a favored sport of the British Royal family, with the Cartier Queen’s Cup at Windsor Great Park one of the very best tournaments in the world.
Olympics
For many riders, the pinnacle of their career is a spot at the Olympics. This year sees the summer games head to Tokyo, having been postponed during the challenging summer of 2020. The equestrian events in Tokyo will include dressage, eventing and showjumping. US riders are the fourth most successful of all time at the summer games, collecting 11 gold medals, 21 silver and 20 bronze. In 2016, the US picked up two bronze medals and a silver, with Laura Graves (on Verdades), Steffen Peters (on Legolas), Kasey Perry-Glass (on Dublet) and Allison M. Brock (on Rosevelt) taking bronze in team dressage. Phil Dutton took bronze in eventing on Mighty Nice, whilst Kent Farrington (on Voyeur), Lucy Davis (on Barron) McLain Ward (on HH Azur) and Elizabeth Madden (on Cortes 'C') took silver in team jumping.
Happy riding!
Copyright wise-marketing.co.uk February 18, 2021
Opening Photo Credit: https://images.pexels.com/photos/1559388/pexels-photo-1559388.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&dpr=2&h=650&w=940
Copyright wise-marketing.co.uk February 18, 2021
Opening Photo Credit: https://images.pexels.com/photos/1559388/pexels-photo-1559388.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&dpr=2&h=650&w=940