Home / Equestrian sports / Horse agility
For everyone: leisure and amateur
Horse agility means guiding a horse through an obstacle course while you walk or run beside it instead of riding. The idea comes from dog agility.
| Group | For everyone: leisure and amateur |
|---|---|
| Also called | equine agility, horse agility at liberty, Equagility |
| Olympic | no |
| Governing body | International Horse Agility Club |
| Where it is popular | Horse agility began in the UK, and thanks to online competitions people take part from many countries. |
The handler leads the horse through obstacles such as a seesaw, tunnel, hoop, tarpaulin, poles, a gate and picking up feet. Each obstacle earns up to 10 marks: up to 5 for how it was tackled and up to 5 for good horsemanship. Handlers start with slow on-lead levels, then move to liberty work with no rope. Whips and sticks are not allowed, and you can even compete online by sending a video of your course.
All horses and ponies of any age, breed or size can take part, as well as donkeys and mules. It is a great option for older horses or horses that cannot be ridden.
You need a halter and lead rope, gloves and sturdy closed shoes, and children should wear a helmet. No whips are used.
The main events are the monthly Online Horse Agility competitions of the International Horse Agility Club, where entrants film their course.
This is one of the easiest disciplines to try: you do not need to ride, just a calm horse and an adult who knows how to work safely with horses from the ground. Start with simple obstacles at a walk on the lead.
The International Horse Agility Club was founded in the UK in 2009 by horsewoman Vanessa Bee, who based the idea on dog agility.
Sources: horse-canada.com, horseandrider.com