Understanding Equestrian Sports: Part 1 - Types of Horses

The first question one would ask upon reading the title is – what are equestrian sports? It’s quite simple really. Any sport that requires a horse and a rider is defined as an equestrian sport. There may be a few negative connotations when one think of sports in which horses are used. The most common image that comes to mind is people betting big money on horse-racing. However, that would do great injustice to this unique sect of sports. We, at Sportskeeda, endeavour to dispel common myths about equestrian sports and introduce our readers to the exciting world of horses. Welcome to the first part of our series ‘Understanding Equestrian Sports.’

The bond between a rider and his horse is almost sacred. The lack of trust between these two could scupper the chances of being successful and sometimes even throw you in a hospital bed. However, horses are gentle creatures and, when it comes to sports, they are specific in nature. You can use a particular breed for a particular sport, and forcing them to partake in another could awaken their rough side. They are creatures just like us and with mutual respect, you’re the beneficiary.

Before we get to the sports, here’s an insight into the different breeds of horses used across the equestrian spectrum.

The Kathiawari

1) The Kathiawari is a breed of horse from India, originating in the Kathiawar peninsula. Closely related to the Marwari horse, and resembles both that breed and the Arabian horse from which they descend. The Kathiawari was originally bred as a desert war horse for use over long distances, in rough terrain, on minimal rations. They are found in all colours except for black, and are commonly adorned with primitive markings. Breeding diminished after India’s independence, and today there are very few Kathiawaris left. Their ruggedness means that today they are used as mounted police horses and in the sport of tent pegging.

2) The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered “hot-blooded” and are known for their agility, speed and spirit.

The Thoroughbred, as it is known today, was bred in 17^th and 18^th century England, when native mares were crossbred with imported Oriental stallions of Arabian, Barb, and Turkoman breeding. All modern Thoroughbreds can trace their pedigrees to these three stallions imported into England. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Thoroughbred breed spread across the world; they were imported into North America starting in 1730 and into Australia, Europe, Japan and South America during the 19th century. Millions of Thoroughbreds exist today, and more than 118,000 foals are registered each year worldwide.

The Thoroughbred

Thoroughbreds are used mainly for racing, but are also bred for other riding disciplines such as show jumping, combined training, dressage, polo, and fox hunting. They are also commonly crossbred to create new breeds or to improve existing ones, and have been influential in the creation of the Quarter Horse, Standardbred, Anglo-Arabian, and various other warm blood breeds.

Thoroughbred racehorses perform with maximum exertion, which has resulted in high accident rates and health problems such as bleeding lungs. Other health concerns include low fertility, abnormally small hearts and a small hoof-to-body mass ratio.

The Hanoverian

3) A Hanoverian is a warm blood horse original to Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding styles, and has won gold medals in all three equestrian Olympic competitions. It is one of the oldest, most numbered, and most successful of the warm bloods. Originally a carriage horse, infusions of Thoroughbred blood lightened it to make it more agile and useful for competition. The Hanoverian is known for a good temperament, athleticism, beauty and grace.

The Indian Half-Bred

The Indian Half-Bred was developed in India primarily at the barracks to produce suitable cavalry horses. They are descendants of a cross between the native Kathiawari, oriental stock, the Australian Waler and a predominant amount of English Thoroughbred. Around the beginning of the 20th century, large numbers of Walers were imported to India for use within the Indian Cavalry and remained the principal method of transport until the start of mechanisation. The Half-Bred is now produced all over India especially at the army remount depot at Saharanpur and army stud at Babugarh. Apart from the army, the Indian Half-Bred is also used by the police force in towns and in rural areas. The Half-Bred can be of any colour and stand anywhere between 15 and 16 hands in height.

The Andalusian

The Andalusian, also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Española), is a horse breed from the Iberian Peninsula, where its ancestors have lived for thousands of years. The Andalusian has been recognized as an individual breed since the 15th century. Throughout its history, it has been known for its prowess as a warhorse, and was prized by the royals. The breed was used as a tool of diplomacy by the Spanish government and kings across the rest of Europe. During the 19th century, warfare, diseases and crossbreeding reduced herd numbers drastically, and despite some recovery in the latter part of the century, the trend continued into the early 20th century. Exports of Andalusians from Spain were restricted until the 1960s, but the breed has since spread across the globe, despite the low population numbers. In 2010, there were only about 185,000 registered Andalusians worldwide.

Strongly built, compact yet elegant, Andalusians have long, thick manes and tails. Their most common coat color is gray, although they can be found in many other colors. They are known for their intelligence, sensitivity and a docile nature. A sub-strain within the breed known as the Carthusian, is considered by breeders to be the purest strain of Andalusian, though there is no genetic evidence for this claim. The strain is still considered separate from the main breed however, and is preferred by breeders because buyers pay more for horses of Carthusian bloodlines.

The Andalusian is closely related to the Lusitano of Portugal, and has been used to develop many other breeds especially in Europe and the Americas. Breeds with Andalusian ancestry include many of the warm bloods in Europe as well as the rest of the western hemisphere breeds such as the Azteca. Over its centuries of development, the Andalusian breed has been selected for athleticism and stamina. The horses were originally used for classical dressage, driving, bullfighting, and as stock horses. Modern Andalusians are used for many equestrian activities, including dressage, show jumping and driving. The breed is also used extensively in movies, especially historical pictures and fantasy epics.

Now that we have a decent idea about the horses, in the next part of this article, we will instil an insight into the sports that they’re used in.

Read the other parts of the series here: Understanding Equestrian Sports