I had to create that title. My father was not thrilled with "horse riding stuff" growing up, and wanted me to participate in "real" sports. He made it so I had to sneak around to get to my riding lesson and could never talk about a good lesson I had just had or an upcoming Pony Club rally I was excited about. Unless it was tennis, soccer, or crew talk it didn't count.
“Isn’t it really easy?”
“So you just sit there.”
“So, do you do any real sports?”
We know it's a sport, but have you found yourself defending your childs athleticism to your well-intentioned friends and family? We have collected some information here in this post to bolster your position and add to the conversation...
Riding requires muscle training and balance.
Sports require muscle strength, balance, flexibility, agility, and overall body awareness. Riding, especially requires a few muscles that aren't often used in other sports. Consider the control it takes to use rein, leg, and seat aids to influence a pony! Dealing with an animal many times larger than yourself does require physical presence, while making the job appear effortless. Additionally, riding requires both endurance and fine muscle control—a unique combination among sports. The way that you sit, the position of your leg and hands… every small adjustment affects your ride and the communication with your pony.
THIS: Next time a skeptic challenges the athleticism of riding, smirk with the knowledge that an intense thirty minutes of no stirrup work would render them completely useless.
Riding requires strategy.
Just ask my 8 year old! "Mom, jumping is the easy part...Remembering where to go next is hard!"
And we are asking young kids to memorizing an intricate equitation course! And not to mention the execution of the course! Whether it be for hunters, jumpers, equitation, cross country, dressage, or any other discipline, it requires quick thinking and a cool head...And the gumption to keep going even when it all falls apart. On the back of a large animal with their own agenda for the day, your ride will always be different, and there’s no playbook to rely on. You must do the best with what you have and know how to pivot - fast!
Riding requires teamwork.
Your child and your pony are a team, and this is a sport where our teammates don’t speak the same language. Our kids need to rely on communication and trust - picking up every subtle cue from our mounts who are also looking to us for reassurance, guidance, and calm. What kind of mood is our teammate in today? How are they reacting to the venue? How are they reacting to what they are being asked to do? How is your child feeling and how is that being communicated to the pony? The equestrian sport is truly the epitome of communication with your team. And then we are asking them to "get it together" and enter the ring.
Riding requires bravery.
Deep breath and go! While riding is not the MOST dangerous sport in the world, base jumping is, you can certainly find plenty of articles that say otherwise!
"A recent study shows that horseback riding is known to be the most dangerous sport, according to researchers at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley."
Danger isn’t a necessary attribute to qualify an activity as a sport, but the equestrian sport certainly poses dangers. And along that mindset, we also have the understanding that serious accidents do happen. They aren’t predictable and they definitely aren’t desirable, but we work through the hurdles as best we can, just like any other sport.
Riding is competitive.
There are horse shows across the globe, and many people have made careers in the equestrian world due to their success in the show ring. Also, have you noticed lately all the celebrities throwing their hats into the ring (pun intended)? See my post in the Forum about that here.
There is a huge market for all products equestrian-related. People get scholarships and sponsors for their skills in the equestrian sport, and it’s in the Olympics!
THIS: At this point, your opponent must either admit the inarguable fact that equestrian is a sport, or they must bring into question the validity of the Olympics.
Therefore, we conclude that riding is absolutely a sport (I'm not bitter, dad!)! And when you combine our sport’s difficulty with the amazing community, the connections we form, and the sheer joy you find watching your child and watching them soar...It's a great one!
Have a picture of your competitor to share? Have anything to add? Are you holding your ground in this conversation with friends? Do tell!
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