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Dressage

Dressage consists of a series of compulsory movements, in walk, trot and canter, in an arena measuring 60mx20m, where 12 lettered markers are placed symmetrically along the fence, indicating where movements are to start, where changes of pace or lead are to occur and where the movements are to end. The judges mark the fluidity, the regularity of the movements and the paces.
Dressage is one of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines, with Show Jumping and Eventing.

Driving

Driving is a discipline without riders. It consists of a driver who sits on a vehicle drawn by a single horse, a pair or a team of four. The horse(s) and driver have to complete three tests: Dressage, Marathon and Obstacle Driving.
Dressage is a sequence of compulsory movements in an enclosed arena. Judges award the smoothness of the movements, the obedience of the horses, impulsion and correct positioning
Marathon is a course of natural obstacles over a maximum of 22 km, including natural and artificial obstacles.
Obstacle driving is a cone course that tests the horse shape after the marathon. The aim is to drive through a narrow track outlined by cones with balls balanced on top.

Endurance

Endurance, or Long Distance Riding, consists of a course where the purpose is to complete the course in the shortest time, with a horse in good condition. The horse’s condition is monitored regularly at the ‘vetgates’, to check whether the horse is fit to finish the course.
Eventing
Eventing is a discipline, where the horse and rider have to complete three tests, in the following order: a dressage test, a cross country test and a show jumping test.
The dressage test consists of a sequence of predetermined movements in walk, trot and canter.
The cross country course is the main test of eventing, which needs speed and agility to complete a course of 30 or 40 natural solid obstacles. In events with steeple chase, two roads and tracks and a steeple chase are prior to the cross country.
The jumping test proves the good shape of the horse and rider after the cross country who have to jump around 12 obstacles without mistakes.
Eventing is one of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines, with Show Jumping and Dressage.

 
Para-Equestrian

Para-equestrian is a discipline available to people with disabilities who compete in classes according to the level of their physical disability, in both Dressage and Driving. Para-equestrian disciplines follow the same rules as the other equestrian disciplines. On top of these, the Generic Rules for Para-equestrian events lay out the specifications revolving around the organization of Para-equestrian events.

Polocrosse

The sport of Polocrosse began in Australia in 1938 as an exercise to supplement work at riding schools and to make the young riders take better charge of their horses. It has grown to become a very skillful equestrian discipline with a solid foundation in good horsemanship which combines the skills found in Dressage with the excitement of Eventing.
Since its arrival in Ireland, polocrosse has been compared to many things but perhaps the most fitting comparison is one that incorporates our own native sport; “Hurling on Horse Back”! The sport has a very relaxed philosophy and huge emphasis is placed upon enjoyment and sportsmanship. It’s a family orientated sport with many great attributes that riders of all abilities and from all walks of life have embraced.

Reining

Reining is designed to show the athletic ability of ranch type horse in the confines of a show arena. Contestants are required to run one of ten approved patterns, divided into seven or eight manoeuvres, including small slow circles, large fast circles, flying lead changes, 360 degree spins done in place, and the exciting sliding stops that are the hall mark of the reining horse. Despite the seemingly relaxed attitude of both horse and rider and the loose reins typical of the discipline, Reining is a high level competition sport requiring concentration and high riding competence. Reining was approved as an FEI discipline in 2000 and covers horses of 6-years and over. The number of international competitions organised throughout the world is growing at a healthy pace: from three in 2001 the number has increased to 43 in 2008 with events organised in the United States of America and Canada, but also in Italy, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Israel and Brazil.
Reining originated from the moves that cattle horses adopt when on the job... It was first recognised as a sport in 1949 by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), the world’s largest equestrian organisation currently counting more than 320,000 members and some four million horses. Its members, be they competitors, coaches, breeders or horse owners, greatly contributed to giving the western ranch type horse the international recognition it enjoys today. From 1966 through to 2000, the sport was managed by the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA). In 1999, it had some 9,000 members worldwide and distributed USD 3,6 in prize money to 317 competitions. On 14 April 2000, the FEI approved Reining as its seventh discipline.

Show Jumping

Show jumping is a sport for horses and riders which tests the horses ability to jump over a course of fences at a pre determined pace.
Show Jumping is one of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines, with Eventing and Dressage.

TREC

TREC is an equestrian discipline which was originally developed in France in the 1970’s to improve the skills and competency of trekking guides and horses. It grew from there and is now a sport enjoyed by thousands of riders throughout Europe, America, Canada and more recently Japan and has an international governing body FITE (Federation Internationale de Tourisme Equestre). The first World Championships were held in 1997 and a team representing Ireland competed at the European TREC Championships in 2006. Members of this team are now working as trainers with TREC Ireland.

Vaulting

Vaulting is a combination of gymnastics and dance on the back of a cantering horse. It has often been described similar to ice-skating as there are seven compulsory exercises, a technical programme and a free-style programme.

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