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Equestrian sports: every horse sport explained

46 horse sports and games from around the world: Olympic show jumping and dressage, racing, polo, rodeo, the nomadic games of the steppe, mounted archery and leisure riding. For each one: how competitions work, which horses take part, the main events and how to start.

Olympic disciplinesOther FEI disciplinesRacingTeam games on horsebackWestern and rodeoNomadic horse gamesTraditional and historicFor everyone: leisure and amateur

Olympic disciplines

Three equestrian disciplines are part of the Olympic Games.

Dressagedressage ridingShow jumpingjumpingEventingthree-day eventing

Other FEI disciplines

Disciplines of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) with world championships.

Vaultingequestrian vaultingEndurance ridingenduranceDrivingcombined drivingPara dressagepara-equestrian dressage

Racing

Flat racing, jump racing and harness racing.

Harness racingtrottingFlat racingThoroughbred racingQuarter Horse racingQuarter horse racingJump racingsteeplechase

Team games on horseback

Balls, sticks and relays: horse games played in teams.

Mounted gamesPony Club mounted gamesPatojuego del patoPolochovganPolocrossepolo-crosseHorseballhorse-ball

Western and rodeo

American sports that grew out of cowboy ranch work.

Barrel racingbarrelsWestern pleasure and trailwestern pleasureCuttingcutting horseTeam ropingdally team ropingRanch sorting and team penningranch sortingReiningwestern reiningRodeopro rodeo

Nomadic horse games

Traditional horse games of the steppes and mountains: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and beyond.

Audaryspaker enishBaigabaigeKokparkok-boruKyz kuukyz kuumaiNaadam horse racingMongolian horse racingTenge ilutenge alu

Traditional and historic

Riding traditions from around the world, from classical haute école to mounted archery.

Classical dressage (haute école)haute ecoleJigitovkadzhigitovkaSide-saddle ridingsidesaddleHorseback archerymounted archeryPalio di SienaIl PalioWorking EquitationWEJoustingjoustGaited horse competitionstoltTent peggingtentpeggingCharreríacharreada

For everyone: leisure and amateur

Easy ways to start riding and sports people do for fun.

GymkhanaO-Mok-SeeHippotherapy and therapeutic ridingadaptive ridingTRECTechniques de Randonnee Equestre de CompetitionTrail riding and equestrian tourismtrail ridingSkijoringski joringShow hunterhuntersHorse agilityequine agility

Where to see and try it

Equestrian events calendar · Riding clubs and stables worldwide · Horse breeds · Hobby horsing

Questions and answers

Which equestrian sports are in the Olympics?

Three: show jumping, dressage and eventing. Para-dressage is part of the Paralympic Games.

What is the most popular equestrian sport?

In most countries show jumping draws the most riders and spectators, while horse racing draws the biggest crowds and TV audiences.

Which horse sports can children start with?

Most riders start with lessons on a pony at a riding school, then try show jumping, dressage, mounted games or gymkhana. Pony Clubs in many countries run activities for children.

Is hobby horsing an equestrian sport?

Hobby horsing copies equestrian disciplines such as show jumping and dressage, but the rider runs on foot with a hobby horse. Many hobby horsers later start riding real horses.