Pulling Their Weight (And Then Some!)

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!