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Equitation Home |
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Equitation – the art and practice of horse riding (Concise Oxford Dictionary) |
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The Aim |
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Introduced into SA in 1970 by Mrs Charlotte Stubbs after a visit to the USA and in consultation with Mr George Morris, American coach and Olympic rider; the goal of equitation has always been to educate, set a standard of correct horsemanship nationally and to give exposure at a grass roots level to as many instructors and young riders as possible.
This goal is achieved by continuing to encourage the improvement of effective and correct riding by means of seminars, novice competitions, capacity building clinics, equitation rallies and so on.
Regional equitation committees hold competitions from Pre Novice upwards each month and the SA Pony Club holds its own equitation competitions annually in every region.
The most important thing about equitation is that you don’t need a pony or horse that excels at jumping or dressage!
Equitation remains committed to GOOD RIDING. You, the rider are judged and when you ride well, your mount performs better and you are doubly rewarded with a good performance for your effective riding ability!
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The Rider |
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The challenge for any young and upcoming rider is –“to go as far as your talent will allow, without having a wonderfully talented horse or pony”
If you lease a pony from the local riding school or have a pony at home, you can enjoy the challenge and pleasure of learning to ride him/her properly, and from the comments on your score sheet, improve on your faults and gain confidence when you are rewarded for good riding.
Once you are able to ride more correctly and effectively, you will be able to improve your horse’s schooling, he or she will perform better and your marks will reflect this.
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The Horse
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An Equitation horse or pony can be any
well schooled mount. It doesn’t have to be
as beautiful as a show horse neither is it
required to have excellent movement, or the
strength of a Jumper. It may be a horse or
pony of any breed and size. |
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The Competition |
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The tests consist of technical
difficulties on the flat and over fences,
and aims to reward the rider who has
developed the correct seat and is able to
ride effectively, so as to improve the
horse’s way of going. The flatwork movements
are intended to reward the rider who is able
to sit correctly and with feel, be effective
in riding the horse in the correct frame so
that the movements are ridden with accuracy,
impulsion and submission.
The jumping phase
is at a level that suits the average horse
or pony, and the ability of the rider to
partner his or her mount effectively and
accurately around the course.
‘Maximum
effect with minimum visible effort’
Equitation strives also to guide, encourage
and educate the rider who has yet to
establish his or her position and feel.
Equitation competitions are structured so
that every competitor will receive a free
critique from knowledgeable
judges-especially valuable to young riders
in outlying areas who may seldom have the
benefit of expert tuition.
Those talented
riders who are lucky enough to have a
talented mount may go on to compete in the
higher graded classes, but riders and mounts
at all levels will ride and perform better
if they have the correct foundation.
Once a
rider has moved through the levels and
begins to compete in the Open equitation
classes, any one of our top coaches (and we
have many) will carry that rider forward and
with self motivation, and dedication, riders
are able to qualify for provincial colours.
Once established in the correct techniques
of effective riding, our leading juniors,
all of whom have expert instructors who
believe in and practice this correct
standard of horsemanship, will be well
equipped to move up into the top levels of
Show jumping and other equestrian
disciplines. |
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How the World sees our Riders |
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Visiting Coaches continually compliment
our young riders on their riding ability
saying “the standard of the top SA pony
riders and juniors are as high as anywhere
in the world” and in this regard our country
can be seen as “a leading country in the
world”.
We have young riders competing
internationally at the highest levels, who
are formerly Equitation riders. |
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