What is Equestrian Sports? Know its history and rules, medal hopes from Indian team in 2024 Paris Olympics

Equestrian is a sport in which a rider performs skills while riding on the back of a horse.

In fact, there are many types of equestrian events, from horse racing and vaulting (gymnastics on horseback) to polo and rodeo.

Three equestrian sports are included in the Olympic Games. Jumping (also known as show jumping), dressage and eventing.

Let us tell you that the invention of horse riding dates back to around 3500 BC. Chariot racing was popular in ancient Greece and was one of the highlights of the Ancient Olympic Games.

What are the rules of horse riding?

• Dressage consists of a series of tests in which the horse and rider are awarded points for performing a set movement routine. Jumping involves the horse and rider trying to overcome a series of obstacles while following a set path. If two or more pairs complete the round better, a jump-off time is used to decide the winner.
• Eventing was originally developed to test and prepare horses for riding. It includes three different disciplines. Dressage test followed by cross country which is a 6 km long horse ride consisting of approximately 30 difficult obstacles, and then jumping.
• Horses must pass veterinary inspection before competing in all disciplines. In jumping and cross-country, penalties are awarded for crossing or skipping or missing an obstacle.

Horse riding and the Olympics

Equestrian sport was first demonstrated at the Paris 1900 Olympic Games. In which many jumping events and polo were organized.

Equestrian was dropped from the 1904 Games, with only polo being included in 1908. But jumping was also included, along with the first dressage and eventing competitions, in Stockholm 1912 and has been included as a competition in the Olympic program ever since.

Polo has been included in the Olympic Games a few times. Polo has been part of the Olympic Games only five times before being dropped from the Games after Berlin 1936.

Initially only men competed in horsemanship, with riders having to be either military officers or gentlemen. These restrictions were lifted in 1951 and women competed with men in dressage at Helsinki 1952. Women were also included in jumping in 1956 and eventing in 1964.

India hopes for medal in 2024 Paris Olympics

India’s dressage team of Hridaya Chheda, Anush Aggarwal, Divyakriti Singh and Sudipti Hajela won the gold medal in the Asian Games 2023. This team achieved this feat after 41 years. After which India is hopeful of a medal in Paris Olympics 2024.