Equestrian sport for and against

Riding is not only a fascinating hobby, but also a therapeutic experience. It has a healing effect on the body. It strengthens the muscles of the whole body and trains the balance system. Horse riding is possible not only for adults, but also for children. There are special equestrian clubs where professionals teach children how to hold a saddle, ride a horse and perform interesting tricks, and also teach various facts about horses. The decision as to whether their son or daughter should learn to ride lies with the parents and of course depends on the interests of the child.

Equestrian sport for children: from what age and with what advantages

Today we will discuss the most important points about equestrian sports for children: at what age can a child start playing the sport, what contraindications are there, how much does training cost and much more.

Horse racing is not only an interesting but also a useful sport. It was first played in Dublin in 1868. In 1912 he was accepted into the Olympic Games. So it is not surprising that sport has great potential for the young generation in the 21st century.

Types of equestrian sports

There are many types of equestrian sports. The most famous are show jumping, dressage, cross-country riding, gallop racing, triathlon (dressage, steeplechase and cross-country riding), carriage driving, jigging, trotting under saddle, fence racing and skejoring. There are also national equestrian sports.

Let's stop at two types. Show jumping is an equestrian sport that involves overcoming obstacles over a certain distance (from 200-1100 m). Dressage demonstrates the horse's ability to follow the rider's instructions. Both equestrian disciplines are part of the Olympic Games.

Is it worth teaching your child to ride?

If your child is interested in animals, enjoys watching movies and reading books about animals, then he or she will be happy to get to know horses. He may be a little afraid of them at first, but this fear will subside over time.

Are there age restrictions? A child can ride a horse from as young as two years old under the supervision of an adult. The instructor or parents should always reassure the child. The optimal age for training on horseback is 7 years old.

When riding, the child learns to coordinate his movements and train all important muscle groups, even those that are not used in daily activities. Some parents notice an improvement in their child's gait after regular exercise.

Another interesting fact is that a horse's body temperature is slightly higher than that of a human. Therefore, the little rider's blood circulation accelerates while riding, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the internal organs. The stress that the body experiences while riding is comparable to that of jogging, but there are no harmful effects on the joints.

It's important to remember that it's not the safest hobby. The risk of injury is always present, but safety regulations require children to wear protective helmets, vests, knee pads and elbow pads. These can protect the child in the event of a fall. The teacher will teach the child in advance how to land safely.

Parents should therefore carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a final decision about whether to introduce their child to horse riding.

At what age can children sit confidently in the saddle?

It takes at least 2-3 months for a child to sit properly and safely in the saddle. To master this technique, lessons with a riding instructor are required. Of course, we are not talking about two or three year old children, but at the age of 7-8 you can already actively sit in the saddle.

There are also special courses for children that do not require a saddle. Entire sets of exercises have been developed that can be performed while the horse is standing still or running recreationally. They promote coordination and help the child to concentrate. It becomes more flexible, more elastic and more decisive.

It is also important that the child's shoes are cared for. Sandals, flip-flops, boots or shoes with an inside zipper are strictly prohibited. Feet must be completely covered and of course skirts and dresses are also excluded. Pants should not be too wide and, if possible, not have thick seams.

The most important rule is that clothing must not restrict freedom of movement. That's why long scarves should stay at home. In the cold season, you can dress your child in thermal underwear.

Before you go to the track, you can visit your pediatrician to make sure your child is healthy and to ask about any restrictions.

Where you can learn horse riding

Before you get on a horse for the first time and go for a ride, you should learn and carefully follow the rules for handling the animal. You can learn these rules and take lessons at the following locations:

• Riding schools. Both adults and children aged 2 and over can register here. There are various programs that help children maintain a healthy lifestyle and develop gymnastic skills. Adults can also take part in fitness classes. A single lesson in such a school costs between 2,000 and 4,000 rubles.
• A riding club is also very popular today. This facility is for adults only. The trainer will explain to you the basic principles of riding a horse. Hippotherapy, photo sessions with horses and equestrian theater, the organization of events and trail rides are also offered here. A single lesson costs about 3,000 rubles.
• You can take lessons from a private teacher. Individual attention is guaranteed here, but a single lesson can cost up to 5,000 rubles.

How to choose the right clothing for equestrian sports

Riding will be very enjoyable and useful in many ways if you choose good, high-quality training clothes.

• Your breeches should be made of natural fabric or suede. It should fit snugly and not cause discomfort to you or your pet.
• The jacket should also adapt to your body without hindering your movements. Outerwear always emphasizes the rider's form and grace.
• Choose your outerwear according to the season and the weather.
• Also purchase a helmet to protect your head in the event of a fall. In most courses you are not allowed to take part without a helmet.
• Gloves to protect your hands from abrasions. Gloves can be made of any material as long as you can comfortably wiggle your fingers and move your hand while handling the horse.

• Jeans. They are totally uncomfortable and can cut into the inside seam when riding.
• Sports pants should not be worn because they don't fit properly, they wrinkle and the leg is always in the wrong position.
• All other pants with thick seams or decorations

When choosing footwear for riding, you should pay attention to the following

• Whether the cuff of the shoe reaches to the knee. This means that stirrups and buckles don't get in the way. Even better, get a pair of high-top boots that can be worn over all types of shoes;
• a small paragraph. This way it's out of the way but rather fixed and keeps your feet in the stirrup;
• The material of the shoes is natural. Suede or rubber may also be preferred;
• The shoes should not have any zippers or fasteners so as not to injure the animal. The closures can also be located on the outside of the foot.

Types of equestrian sports

Equestrian sports are diverse and require effort, training and understanding between animal and rider. There are only three classic types:

1. The dressage. It consists of a sequence of compulsory exercises (turns, forward and backward movements and pirouettes). Despite their apparent simplicity, there is a lot of work behind each element.
2. The jumping. Overcoming obstacles is the most spectacular and dangerous form of equestrian sport. The competitions take place on specially fenced areas with obstacles.
3. Three-way fight. The competitions include the disciplines mentioned above plus cross-country running.

In addition to the classics, there are many other sports whose popularity varies from country to country:

1. Riding – horse competitions.
2. Dzhigitovka – gymnastics on horseback.
3. Riding in the distance.
4. Hunting on horseback.
5. Equestrian team games.

Benefits of Equestrian Sports

• Prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The activities take place outdoors; Under these conditions, the lungs are enriched with oxygen, which has a positive effect on the heart.
• Combating obesity. Physical activity has a positive effect on body shape. It has been proven that a leisurely walk on a horse is equivalent to a sporty walk, and riding at a gallop is comparable to jogging.
• Stabilization of the nervous system. During training the rider must be concentrated and attentive; Regular training increases stress tolerance and normalizes the emotional background.
• Development of coordination of movements, since the main task is to stay in the saddle without the help of hands. The bonus is improved posture and abdominal muscles.
• The horses develop a sense of responsibility, care and love.
• Hippotherapy (treatment by horseback riding) is effective for cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, polio, scoliosis and osteochondrosis.
• With the help of special equipment, people who no longer have limbs can practice equestrian sports, develop positive feelings and improve their self-esteem.
• Horse riding is an effective means of preventing gynecological diseases in women and prostatitis in men.
• Horse riding is beneficial for women who want to conceive. While riding, blood flows to the pelvic organs, improving the supply of nutrients and oxygen.
• Riding sharpens the senses of people with hearing and visual impairments.
• Horse riding has been found to bring blood sugar levels to normal levels in diabetics.
• Riding allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature and enjoy its aesthetics.
• There is no such thing as 'too late' in equestrian sport. England's Nick Skelton won Olympic gold in show jumping at the age of 58.
• You don't need any special physical training to get started.
• When you meet new people, training becomes even more fun.

Equestrian equipment – the right clothing for riding and equestrian sports

What should be the right clothing for equestrian sports?

• Riding breeches should be made of a natural material that conforms to the rider and fits snugly on the horse. They can be sewn from suede.
• A sweater or jacket should also be form-fitting, emphasizing shape and grace but not restricting the rider's movements in any way.
• The outerwear can be anything depending on the season. A light coat or jacket, preferably not fitted, is appropriate.

What clothing is not suitable for class at all:

• Jeans. Although they fit snugly on the legs, they hinder movement and can even pinch the legs with the inside seam.
• Sports pants should also not be worn for riding. The material from which they are made wrinkles. This puts the leg in an incorrect position.
• All pants with thick seams.

When choosing footwear for riding and equestrian sports, it is worth paying attention to:

• The ankle of the boots. They should be high and reach to the knee so that the stirrup leathers are out of the way. There are also gauntlets, which are shin guards that fit over short boots.
• Paragraph. The boots may have a small heel. This serves as additional support and fixes the foot in the stirrup.
• The material of the shoe. Natural materials are a good choice. A good choice is not only leather or suede shoes, but also rubber shoes. These are intended for training in the arena and for stable work.
• Fasteners on the boots. Please note that it is better to choose boots or shoes without buckles, buckles or laces. If zippers are present, they should be placed on the outside, away from the horse.

Safety precautions when riding and equestrian sports – how can injuries and accidents be avoided?

To avoid injuries, riders must know and follow proper safety precautions when riding and equestrian sports. Here are the main requirements:

• The horse should always be led forward.
• The horse should be saddled on the left side.
• Before you get on, you should check the harness and adjust the length to your height.
• Do not pull on the reins, but lead the horse calmly, gently and without haste.
• If you are traveling in a column, keep your distance. Maintain a distance of at least 3-4 meters in front of the walking horse.
• Do not overtake the rider in front of you.
• If you see an obstacle in front of you - a car or a dog - shorten the reins and calm the animal, talk to it.
• Do not take off your outer clothing while riding.
• Dismount the horse on the left side, throw off both stirrups, but do not let go of the reins.
• Follow the riding instructor's instructions carefully.

Where does the training begin?

The first step in learning to ride is getting mounted correctly. The entire training is closely monitored by the riding instructor, who puts the child on the horse and attaches a rope (a long leash that allows you to control the horse's movements). After the new rider has been familiarized with the basics of horse control, he or she learns the gaits. There are several basic gaits: walk, trot and canter, which can be slow or fast. If the child has mastered this, he or she can ride the horse in the dressage arena in the future and practice independently.

During further training, the horse learns how to properly ride with several riders in the arena, how to keep a distance, how to learn to overcome fear, how to care for the horse after training and much more.

The time that passes from the first visit to the training center and the stables to training and competition is very individual. One lesson per week is the minimum necessary for regular training.

The cost of training

It's no secret that equestrian sports are expensive and probably one of the most demanding sports. Parents of young athletes pay a lot for their equipment: breeches or leggings, hard-soled boots to protect the feet and protective accessories that are mandatory in the first years of training (vest, helmet, gloves, gaiters). Even the cheapest item of clothing on the list costs no less than one and a half thousand. And all elements of the sports wardrobe need to be renewed quite often, as children are constantly growing.

Riding lessons aren't cheap either. On average, a single lesson (namely personal training at the beginning that children need) costs from a thousand rubles. Prices for equestrian activities in our country range from 12,000-15,000 rubles to 70,000 or even 100,000 rubles per month.

And if the result of hard training is a real competition, the young athlete will have to rent a stable horse and higher quality equipment. This results in additional costs – including indirect costs (for horse care products, feed, etc.).

Of course, the amount of expenses depends on the goals of the parents and the child - whether riding is just a useful hobby or the starting point for achieving certain sporting excellences - but in any case, horse training becomes a constant and fairly large expense item in the family budget represent.

Research work and projects

Including. a physical education project about the benefits and harms of equestrian sports a theory of equestrian sports and an assessment of the effects of equestrian sports on the health and physical development of children.

Read more about the work:

As part of the sports science research work,Benefits and harms of equestrian sports'The author gives a definition of equestrian sport, discusses the characteristics of this sport and explains the benefits and risks of riding.

This sports project on the benefits and harms of equestrian sports provides a list of useful and harmful features of equestrian sports, introduces a concept such as hippotherapy and makes forecasts for the popularization of equestrian sports in Russia.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. What is equestrian sport?
2. The benefits of equestrian sports.
3. the damage caused by equestrian sports.
4. hippotherapy.
Conclusions

Introduction

Objective: Collection and systematization of information about equestrian sports. Raise public awareness of equestrian sport.

meaning of The relevance of the study lies in the fact that this topic makes it possible to deepen the role of the horse in the modern world and to stimulate interest and love for this animal and this sport.

I have been involved in equestrian sports for 10 years.. Since my early childhood Horse one of my favorite animals. I rode a horse for the first time when I was 3 years old. I started riding professionally at the age of 7. I have worked hard and now compete in regional competitions and have an adult 2nd division.

My involvement in Equestrian sportI'm improving my health: I get colds less often, I feel more awake and active. I would like to spend more and more time outdoors with my horses.

What is equestrian sport?

Equestrian sport – is the collective term for equestrian sport with horses. There are different types of this sport. The most popular are show jumping and dressage.

A less popular but still very popular equestrian sport that is on the Olympic program is triathlon. This is an equestrian sport that consists of a riding competition, a field or cross-country test and overcoming obstacles.

When riding, the rider actively interacts with the horse's movement. The horse is controlled by shifting the rider's body weight, squeezing the hips, and loosening or tightening the reins. The rider's voice can also influence the horse's movement, although this is not possible in all equestrian sports.

Many people describe equestrian sports as 'dual' because not only the person has to work physically, but also the horse. This sport is great because, in addition to physical exertion, the athlete also gets happy and positive emotions. Riding is also good for your health.

Riding and the sport are becoming increasingly popular today. It's not just a fascinating communication with an amazing animal. Many people have long known about the special health benefits of horse riding.

Regular exercise riding and close contact with horses not only strengthens the body, but also has a significant impact on health and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays it is easy to practice equestrian sports.

The emergence and development of equestrian clubs allows not only adults to spend time with horses. Children are drawn to them like a magnet. They are happy when they are petted and fed, and even more happy when they are allowed to ride a horse.

Despite the enormous benefits, horse riding and especially this sport is not recommended for everyone and in some cases can even be harmful to your health. So let's take a closer look at this topic: the benefits and harms of equestrian sports.

Types of equestrian sports

Every year there are more and more equestrian fans. People try to maintain their health by practicing hippotherapy. At the same time they often practice dressage or show jumping. These are two of the most popular sports. But there are others too:

Dressage riding

One of the benefits of this sport is hippotherapy. For some people, this is the most important criterion when choosing an equestrian sport. Hippotherapy is a treatment with horses aimed at psychosomatic therapy. The treatment method includes not only riding, but also caring for the horse and talking to the animal. Riding increases motor activity. The child or adult learns the skills of sensitivity and mindfulness and is freed from negative thoughts, fears and depression.

But despite the many benefits of riding, it can also have negative health effects. First of all, horseback riding can trigger a stroke in people who suffer from heart disease.

A big disadvantage for beginners is the enormous strain and muscle pain in the groin area.

A major disadvantage is the number of injuries. Common injuries include broken necks, broken limbs, numerous bruises and abrasions. A fracture of the spine is the most serious injury that can occur from a fall from a horse.

Equestrian sport

The number of equestrian sports enthusiasts is increasing every year. People try to do something for their health through hippotherapy. At the same time, dressage or show jumping is often practiced. These are the two most popular sports. But there are also others:

Dressage riding

This involves performing exercises on a horse. It takes place in front of an audience and a jury. It is the most demanding form of equestrian sport. In dressage, accuracy and dynamics are important. Mistakes are not allowed. Rider and horse must have a positive performance that shows everyone that the horse is listening to its master and wants to move forward. Some people compare dressage to ballet on horseback. All movements must be performed synchronously and in harmony, like a dance.

Reining

Reining is a form of dressage in which the rider holds the horse with only one hand. In the other hand he must hold a lasso or reins. All elements of the program must be executed expressively. If the horse does not behave emotionally, no score is awarded and the competition is considered lost.

Show jumping

The most spectacular test. But also the most dangerous. The rider has to overcome obstacles on horseback. Special obstacles are erected on the competition site, the height of which depends on the level of the competition, the age of the horse and the rider.

Equestrian triathlon

This involves show jumping and dressage riding in one discipline. However, it also includes a 10km cross-country race. The competition takes place on a specially prepared track. This type of competition requires endurance. On some sections of the route it is possible to lead the horse to conserve its strength.

Distance running

Refers to the horse's endurance. The distance varies between 20 and 160 km. Many indicators are taken into account in the races. The winner is the one who not only has the fastest time, but also does not overtake the horse. For this reason there is a limit - the maximum speed in the race is 15 km/h.

Ride. Contraindications

It's not often that you hear that horseback riding poses health problems, most people talk about how beneficial it is. However, there are some contraindications that you should be aware of and be aware of if you have health problems.
I point out the people who have no health problems. You don't have to read the whole not-so-pleasant list. I hope you enjoy riding!

List of contraindications for riding:
1. Hemophilia.
The disease is believed to be hereditary. It causes bleeding disorders, bleeding into joints, muscles and internal organs.
2. Horse hair allergy
Caused by a protein contained in horse hair particles. When it enters the respiratory tract and the surface of the human skin, the following reactions occur:
– Itching and redness of the skin;
– allergic rhinitis, epiphora;
- Headache;
– etc.
3. Suffocation or 'asthma' attacks
4. Imperfect osteogenesis (DO)
LE is a group of genetic disorders associated with bone diseases in humans. One of the diseases is characterized by increased bone fragility. Some of the symptoms that occur with NLO are:
– frequent fractures, with little stress on the skeletal system;
– excessive joint mobility;
– Tooth decay and tooth loss;
- and so forth….
5. malignant hypertension (MH)
CG is hypertension (high blood pressure) with high blood pressure and characteristic changes at the back of the eye - papilledema.
6. recent stroke or myocardial infarction
7. Balance Disorder (BD)
BD is a short-term or permanent inability to control one's posture in space. It expresses itself in:
– Unsteady gait;
– Sudden falls;
– swaying from side to side;
– Impaired coordination.
8. acute thrombophlebitis (OT)
OT is a thrombosis with inflammation of the vein wall and formation of a blood clot that blocks the lumen of the vein.
9. Venous thrombosis – clotting or coagulation
VTE is a disease in which blood clots (thrombosis) form in the veins, completely or partially blocking these vessels.
10 Trophic Disorders of the Lower Limbs
A disorder of blood and lymph circulation in a particular part of the body or organ, leading to dysfunction and eventual death of that organ.
11. acute nephritis
12. Circulatory disorders
13. Scoliosis grade III-IV
Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine.
14. Mental or intellectual impairment or out-of-control disorders
15. Riding is also contraindicated for some gynecological diseases.

Have fun riding!

Riding boots are an important part of equestrian sport.
Whether just for training or for competition, a good pair of boots is essential for the rider's posture, safety and comfort. There are two basic types of riding boots: classic tall boots and short boots, which are designed for different riding styles, from competitive riding to recreational riding.
Riding boots are custom-made to your specifications using 3D scanners and orthopedic shoe modeling techniques.
They come with an orthopedic insole.
The riding boots are manufactured in Perseus Ortho's own production facility under the supervision of qualified orthopedists.
Perseus Ortho makes two types of riding boots - classic and general purpose - with attached cuffs are boots, without cuffs are paddock boots, also called 'Jodhpur' - short leather boots that stop just above the ankle and are intended for everyday recreational riding. It is a comfortable riding shoe option as it does not require a cuff.

Materials used in this article:
1 Zotova Irina, published in the TRUD newspaper, April 13, 2009.
2. Article from the 'Life on the move' resource.
3. Article from the 'Make a choice' resource.

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