Home / Equestrian sports / Jigitovka
Traditional and historic
Jigitovka is daring trick riding on a galloping horse: standing in the saddle, turning around, hanging down to the ground. It comes from the riding skills of Caucasian and Cossack horsemen.
| Group | Traditional and historic |
|---|---|
| Also called | dzhigitovka, Cossack trick riding, trick riding |
| Olympic | no |
| Governing body | Federation of Equestrian Sport of Russia (FKSR) |
| Where it is popular | Jigitovka is practised in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Kazakhstan and among the Cossacks of Russia. Since 2016 it has been an official equestrian sport discipline in Russia. |
Competitions usually have two parts. In special jigitovka, the rider hits targets at a gallop with a lance, a sabre and a knife, and judges value accuracy, speed and clean technique. In free jigitovka, each rider performs their own routine of several tricks on a moving horse. Judges score the performances, and winners are named in individual and team standings.
The sport needs calm, hardy horses with a steady, rhythmic canter that fully trust the rider. Traditionally the Don Cossacks rode Don horses.
Special jigitovka requires a lance, a sabre and a knife for hitting targets. When practising tricks, riders are always spotted for safety.
Russia holds national jigitovka competitions, and a world championship took place in 2017. Jigitovka is also part of the Moscow Mayor's Cup in equestrian sport.
It is best to learn at a Cossack riding club or a jigitovka school, where a coach teaches tricks step by step. A rider first needs a secure seat and good gymnastics, and tricks start at a walk and trot, with a helmet and spotting.
From 1892, Georgian horsemen performed jigitovka in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, and historians say they influenced the trick riding of American cowboys.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, mos.ru, riamo.ru