Disciplines...Dressage - Show Jumping - Equitation - One Day Events (ODE's) - Gymkhanas - Sporting - Mounted Games - Jamboree Dressage..The word "dressage" come from the French word meaning "to train". All disciplines of horse riding require the
basic principles of dressage to be applied in order for the horse to be supple and obedient enough to perform the
specific tasks asked of it by the rider. A dressage competition seeks to find the rider who is best able to
perform these principles in a competition situation before a judge. Riders are given a set of movements which
they are to learn in a sequence and then perform in an arena. These "tests" are usually between six and ten
minutes long and the arena is sixty metres long by twenty metres wide. The required movements are broken down
into separate sections and the judge gives a mark out of ten for each movement. As well as for the movements,
marks are also awarded for the horse and rider's overall performance in the test under the headings: Submission,
Impulsion, Paces, and the Position of the Rider and effect of the aids. The points for all sections are totalled
and the rider with the highest total wins. The tests are usually from a standard set and are themselves graded in
difficulty. The early tests only require basic control of the horse and simple movements while the more advanced
tests require expert riding and extremely difficult movements.
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Showjumping..This type of competition involves negotiating a course of obstacles over which the horse must jump without
knocking them down and in an obedient manner. The courses vary, producing different types of competitions that
may be aimed at making imposing and technically difficult courses (such as the Grand Prix), or may be aimed at
finding the rider who can jump the highest in a Topscore competition. Sometimes the competitions may be only for
training purposes (eg clear rounds). Most require the ability to "jump clear" ie with no penalties for knocking
down a jump, and the ability to do it at speed. This is not always the case, especially with the trend towards
technically difficult courses where excessive speed will cause errors of judgement.
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Equitation..More interest has developed in recent years in EQUITATION classes. These consist of one round over a smooth
flowing course over moderate height jumps. They are judged much like dressage and points are awarded for the
manner in which each jump is negotiated. This way, the rider with the best style is the winner. These competitions
are very useful for training purposes as the riders are forced to ride at their best overall. This must be
ridden in a snaffle bit. Dressage whips and spurs are allowed. One Day Events (ODE's)...One day events consist of three phases, being dressage, showjumping, and cross-country. Gymkhanas..Gymkhanas are competitions for hacking and are similar to shows. Riders and their horses are presented at their
best and ride around a ring with the other competitors before a judge. There are different classes throughout the
day and in them the judge chooses the riders that best deserve to win that class. Class names are usually things
like "Best Educated Mount under fourteen hands" or "Rider Thirteen years to Fifteen Years" (or "Longest Tail"
for beginners and littlies). When the riders are riding around the ring the judge selects riders who are likely to
win or get a place and calls them into the centre. All riders called out are asked to perform the same workout and
from their performance in these the judge selects a winner and the placegetters. At the conclusions of hacking a
few sporting games will also be played.
Sporting..Sporting activities let riders compete in many different fun games-like activities that are run usually against
the clock. The fastest usually wins the individual events, however riders can be eliminated from events for
various infringements such as knocking over a pole, missing a turn around a pole or marker, or stepping outside
the lines. At the end of the day, the rider who has won the most events is usually declared the overall winner
from that age-group.
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Mounted Games..These are similar to the sporting events, except that riders compete in teams. Usually all riders must
complete the course and the time is recorded for for all riders to finish as a group. No whips or spurs allowed.
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The Jamboree..At the end of every year, all clubs in the zone attend a weekend competition and this is often the highlight
of the year for many pony clubbers. The 'Grand finale' of the pony club year. The jamboree is usually held on the
first weekend of December. In 2006 it will be held on 9 and 10 December at Castle Hill Showground.
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