People riding horses dates back to the beginning of time. Around 2500 BC, horses pulled chariots during war, obviously were used for transportation and helped farmers plow their fields. During these early times, horses weren’t a luxury. They were a necessity. So where did all this Western, Dressage, Saddleseat, Hunt Seat, Jumping come from? Where did the idea of competing on horseback start?
The western style of riding began on ranches in the southern United States and Mexico in the late 1770’s. The stirrup leathers were long, compared to the traditional English leathers. This was for the cowboy’s comfort. They needed to be able to stretch their legs while sitting for hours on horseback. The horn is used to tie cattle to. Apparently they tried tying them to the horse’s tail, but that practice did not last too long! The western practice of neck reining was born out of necessity. The cowboy needed to use one hand to guide the horse and the other to rope cattle.
Over time cowboys being cowboys, they began testing one another’s skills and horses. Who had the fastest horse when rounding up cattle? Who had the most well mannered horse that would do whatever you said when you said it and “smile” about it? This is where the Western Pleasure classes we attend today derived from. Competitions between ranches became common entertainment.
English riding, excluding Saddleseat, originated in England. Fox hunting was a popular sport. The horses needed to carry their riders at great speeds over long distances and through many obstacles. In the 1900’s equestrian events were for the first time included in the Olympics. The 1908 Olympics included polo and fox hunting.
One of humankind’s most ancient sports is horse racing. For thousands of years it flourished as the sport of kings and nobility. The Greek Olympics in 638 BC held chariot as well as mounted horse racing. It became a passion in the Roman Empire. During the reign of Queen Anne, 1702 – 1714, races began offering large purses to the winners of races. This enticement brought out the best of the best horses as well as riders.
Saddleseat is the only discipline which was strictly started in the United States. It began in the southern states on plantations. These horses were used to carry the owner across his property to survey and inspect the crops. These horses often served dual purpose. The provided a smooth, ground covering gait to tour the plantation and be “showy” when going to town on the weekends.
On Sundays they would show off their flashiest, highest stepping horses by riding them in the city parks. Hence the term “park”, which is a very popular division in Saddlebred competitions today.
Saddleseat and Saddlebreds competitions are now across the globe in Africa. In 1916 a gentleman by the name of Claude Orpen imported the 1st American Saddlebred stallion to South Africa. By 1956,South Africa was the largest importer of American Saddlebreds.
Today, show ring attire for equestrian competitions can be very stylish. While in the show ring you must radiate confidence in yourself and your horse. You hone your showmanship skills by positioning you and your horse in the perfect spot to get yourself noticed by that judge.
This competition is a healthy natural outgrowth of horse lovers passion for their horses. You have a horse that really does a great job for you. You can’t help but wonder how your horse will stack up to another. It’s really no different than any other sport. Even those that don’t/can’t play still love to pick their favorites and cheer them on….much like the Sunday afternoon armchair quarterbacks.
