Category: Horse Pulling

Time to Carry That Weight

1/30/2020

The history of equestrian sport and how they have evolved is incredible. The sheer number and types of equestrian sport are staggering, and we love to share the stories behind their humble or exciting beginnings. There is such a rich story to each sport and a reason as to why they have lasted hundreds of years.

With Valentines Day right around the corner, we have the perfect gift idea for your loved ones. Come take a beautiful and romantic trail ride with us for a unique and memorable day for everyone you love! On the topic of love, we wanted to get back to celebrating the amazing equestrian sports that we love sharing with you. In our last blog, we talked about both the original and newest forms of horse pulling equestrian sport. We researched and found a few more sports just like it that we thought you would enjoy as much as we did! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

Horse Pulling

This, of course, is one of the founding sports of the category, as it shares the same name. It too is an older sport that has evolved into a much safer and more traditional sport.
It is a drag horse competition where the driver of the horse controls one or two harnessed horses to pull a weighted sled. These competitions have been modified over time to have different weight classes depending on the size and age of the horse, along with how much a horse can pull to keep them safe. The horses used in these types of competitions are specifically trained in the sport. They aren't just picked off the pasture and forced into competing.
The weighted sleigh they pull is called a dynamometer, which was specifically designed to test the horse's strength. Usually, about 1500 pounds is placed on the machine during these competitions. The length of the pull is a short distance. The dynamometer was created after WWI changing the face of the sport dramatically.
The last horse remaining in the race that has pulled the most weight when crossing the finish line wins.
It's origins lie in farm work. Other farmers would challenge one another on who's horses could pull the most the fastest and the farthest. The ideals have been modified to keep the horses safer but the heart is still there.
It is still a very popular sport to this day.

Skioring

This is a unique sport as it is not solely equestrian. In this sport, a rider is on a pair of skis and is pulled by horses, dogs, or a motor-operated vehicle. It is more common for dogs to be used, as they can adapt to the cold better and it is safer for dogs to maneuver courses and trails in the snow than it is horses. The rider is pulled around a track, and the first to cross the finish line wins.
The name of the sport is Norwegian and means "ski diving".
It is a popular winter sport that continues to grow in popularity. It is a simple sport that is fun and easy for all skill levels. You just need to have some basic knowledge of skiing and horses and be able to combine the two to be successful.
The sport was made official in Stockholm in the winter games in 1901. Its popularity has risen so much that organized races, events, and clinics can be found in the United States and Canada.
It was introduced into the Winter Olympics in 1928 and became a stand-alone equestrian sport in the 1940s.
The sport was used as a form of transportation for Scandinavians for hundreds of years.

Combined Driving

This is the triathlon of equestrian sport and is made up of three different events. Dressage, a cross country marathon, and obstacle cone driving. One or more riders drive a carriage pulled by one or more horses competes in this event.
Dressage is a series of patterns that the horse walks at different speeds and different walks. The goal of the event is to not only do it perfectly but also to make it look very easy.
The Cross Country Marathon is used to test the fitness and stamina of the horse. It is a divided marathon with three to five sections ranging between 10 to 22 kilometers. Each section requires the horse to walk or trot at different speeds.
Obstacle cone driving is used to test accuracy, obedience, and speed. The courses can have up to 20 cones that the driver has to navigate through while either going at a walk or trot.
At the very end of the race, whichever team has the highest combined score from each event is the winner.
The sport became official in 1970 and is played worldwide.
It is one of eight equestrian sports recognized by the FEI at an international level.
As a competitor, you need to have a high level of skill in multiple areas as does your horse.

How inspiring are these sports? The agility, power, and skill you need as a driver is incredible. The dedication to learning each of these sports goes deeper than just practice. Have these horse pulling sports inspired you too? We can help you with that! Come visit us and take a ride, even if it's not for Valentine's day. We are happy to share your love and interest in equine sports and horses alike!

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Pulling Their Weight (And Then Some!)

1/16/2020

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Horses have been known to be some of the most powerful creatures for hundreds of years. They have helped raise civilizations and helped us travel the world. Today we still celebrate their beauty and strength, and reminisce about their power through some of the most popular equestrian pulling sports still practiced to this day!

We cannot get over this January weather! It's so warm and balmy, we hope that you will take advantage of the weather and come take a ride with us! We had so much fun researching and talking about some of the most unique equestrian sports, that we wanted to share some of the more common and popular sports that highlight their strength and beauty. These are horse pulling sports. We have so many wonderful and exciting examples to share with you, that we couldn't put it all in one blog. So for January, all of our blogs will be focusing on this incredible category of equestrian sport.

Due to their incredible strength and power, and the hundreds of years that horses have been a part of human life, there are many different horse pulling sports out there. This particular category of sport didn't have the best or safest beginnings. Thankfully, they have become much safer for both the horse and the rider. Each pulling sport ranges in skill and difficulty, along with different weight classes and rules for each to keep the horses safe. These sports are meant to show off the feats of strength displayed by these amazing animals, not to hurt or harm them in any way. Some are very ancient sports, while others are very new. Each has such a unique and incredible way of showing off the strength of these wonderful animals.

Chariot Racing

This sport is one of the oldest of it's kind and is considered to be the oldest equine sport. Today the sport is only found in historical reenactments or movies. It is technically an ancient and retired sport, but you can still find it every once in a while. It made a resurgence in the 1920's between farmers in the winter to pass the time.
The race is between drivers who are standing in a cart (or chariot) on two wheels pulled by a team of 2, 4, or 6 horses. The cart was poorly designed with very weak materials that didn't give any real protection to its driver. These races were held in some of the largest stadiums ever built during their day. Many still stand today as ancient ruins. The race would last about 15 minutes, made up of 7 laps around an 8.5-kilometer track. No more than 12 chariots were allowed to race at one time.
It was a very popular sport played by the Greek and Roman cultures, along with other similar ancient cultures.
It was a very dangerous sport for both the horse and the driver.
It was known to be the most popular mass spectacle events in ancient Roam. Most drivers were slaves. The more popular winners would become, they would save up their winnings and buy their freedom.
It is rumored to be the very first sport to have inspired the Olympic Games.
Wars and the collapse of these ancient civilizations saw the decline of chariot racing. The last race was held in 549 A.D at the Circus Maximus.
It was made popular in pop culture once again in the 1959 movie "Ben Hur". This chariot race is still known to be one of the most epically filmed races on film to this day.

Scurry Driving

This very fast-paced sport is made up of a driven carriage pulled by two ponies through a racecourse filled with cones. The goal is to make it through the course the fastest without knocking over a cone or the balls on top of the cones. Whoever can make it through the course the fastest with the least knocked over cones is the winner.
This is a sport that is not only drive by speed but also accuracy. The cones are very close together. You need to be a skilled driver that can lead their team very quickly and precisely through the course.
There are about 10 to 14 cones in each course.
The sport started in the 1950's, and in those early days, barrels were used instead of cones. The sport originated in the United States but has become very popular in Northern Europe.
In the beginning, instead of a carriage, four-wheeled wagons were used.
Even though the sport originated almost fifty years prior, it wasn't recognized as a sport until 2001.
It is still a very popular sport and is celebrated as the highlight of equestrian events.

Chuckwagon Racing

An actual chuckwagon is pulled by a team of horses around a race track driven by a single driver. The spectacle of this sport is incredible to watch.
It is a very popular rodeo sport and is very popular in Canada.
The most popular Chuckwagon race is at the Calgary Stampede. It lasts for ten days with a total prize of 2 million dollars.
The first race was held in Calgary in 1923.
Although the origins of the sport are unknown, it is a very disciplined sport.
Only four teams are allowed to compete at once, and whoever reaches the finish line first wins!

You can just feel the power these sports bring just by reading about them. The skill each driver needs to be successful in these sports is incredible. We are very happy to see that horse pulling sports have become safe and exciting events that are still loved today. Have you been inspired by these sports? Come visit us! You might not be pulling or racing, but you will be riding an incredibly powerful horse and have an amazing afternoon spent in the saddle!

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Middleton Place Equestrian Center Blog

Time to Carry That Weight

Pulling Their Weight (And Then Some!)

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