When I think of equestrian events at the Olympic Games I think of dressage and show jumping – you know – the Summer Olympics. Did you know there used to be a winter equestrian sporting event? It’s called skijoring and in 1928 it was a demonstration sport in the 2nd modern Winter Olympics! 1. In…
Did you know that mules can jump in a different way than horses? A mule is a cross between a female horse and a male donkey or “jack.” The donkey part of their bloodline gives them unique muscular characteristics that enable them to do a standing high jump. Competitions are held to see which mule can jump the highest from…
Most people today have never even seen a real sleigh being pulled by horses. But there are places where people still hitch up their horses, wrap themselves in warm blankets and with sleigh bells jingling, go for a sleigh ride. At one time Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, held an annual event to keep this wonderful…
The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Poll is taken each year to select the top pacers and trotters of the year in the United States. Horse Talk – pacers and trotters: Pacers move both legs on the same side forward in unison. Trotters move right front and left rear legs forward almost simultaneously, then follow suit with left…
One of the exciting events at the Washington International Horse Show is the Children’s Jumping Championship, offering $10,000 in prize money. The picture above shows the course for this year’s Children’s Championship. As you will see, there is plenty of math in show jumping. Learning to read the course design and understand the written information is…
Have you heard about the sport of ring jousting? It has been played in North American for quite some time and in fact became the official sport of Maryland in 1962! 1. How many decades have passed since jousting became the official sport of Maryland? Jousting tournaments have been held in Maryland since early colonial times…
Icelandic horses have two extra gaits. In addition to the gaits which all horses show (walk, trot, canter), Icelandic horses also have tölt and pace. In Iceland, the tölt is highly-valued because it is so comfortable to ride over long distances. Tölt is referred to as the fourth gait. It has four beats with phases in which the horse…
A 1,200 pound bronze statue of real-life warhorse Reckless will be immortalized on July 26 with a dedication near the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. Reckless carried load after load of ammunition to Marines during the Korean War (1950 to 1953) and brought wounded men off the battlefield while under fire. She…
A new world side saddle high jump record was set in 2012 at the National Showing and Showjumping Show in Aintree, England. Susan Oakes traveled all the way from County Meade in Northern Ireland to Aintree to take part in the competition. Riding Brandy And Red, she jumped 5ft 9in to set a new side saddle…
Caroline Butler of Keymar, Md., set her eyes on her dream pony –a red-and-white Chincoteague colt with a white diamond marking on his forehead. She began working to earn money by mowing grass and cleaning horse stalls. 1. In four months she saved $1,500. On average how much did she earn each month? The 15-year-old’s…