National Equestrian Championships and 58th Calcutta Horse Show will be held in our city over this week. I am looking forward to going on Saturday as I love going for different sports events being a sports freak.
What do I look forward to in an Equesterian championship? Is it a good watch? Any tips on offer?
Also, what do you look for in a horse show?
Thanks.
Right here I go, I'll try.
What do you look forward to in an Equestrian Championship? Well the depends on what you're watching. I'm guessing that it will be dressage and/or showjumping, can't see eventing being a good idea in the heat of India. It's a shame as the cross country phase is the most accessible for casual fans to get into and the easiest for them to appreciate and see the challenges.
I'll do a brief explanation of the three formats:
Dressage: Pretty straightforward to understand. You go in a ring and perform a test. This is generally the hardest format for casual fans to get into. It's not exactly an exhilarating adrenaline fest for the fans, but as I rider I personally find I'm under the most pressure in this ring because of the demand for getting it right 100% of the time and you don't have the adrenaline burst of jumping to take away your nerves. Horses can pick up very quickly when the rider is nervous and they get nervous and generally go worse, so it's a vicious circle.
I don't think you'll like dressage much. Without wanting to sound a snob, those that haven't ridden will miss the subtle commands completely so its only really a sport to watch for those that know whats going on. If you can tolerate dressage then just chill and watch the horses really, look for the nice, relaxed (ha! but I wont bring up modern vs classic dressage debates here
), obedient horses. You might find you're confused by the winner as you thought someone else was better. Welcome to dressage. I'd be willing to bet at the level you'll be watching the judges will have biases towards certain techniques/horses/riders just like they do here (unless you're watching three or four star dressage, where the judges get fired if they're douches, though India not being a powerhouse in Equestrian, maybe the pricks will follow.)
Have I turned you off modern dressage yet?
Onto showjumping we go.
Showjumping involves, unsurprisingly, jumping. If you knock poles you incur time faults and falling off earns elimination. Being a national competition the highest level should at least be three star, four if its an international competition. 3 Star Horse Grand Prix is generally around 1.40-1.50m with four star being 1.60m. Oxers (The jumps which involve two uprights set close together to make a wide jump) are allowed to be as wide as they are high, and triple bars are even bigger. This varies between countries though but if India complies with the rest of the world then you'll be looking at some very tall jumps.
I'll try and briefly explain (probably badly) a little bit of riding technique so when stuff goes wrong you can see why (in technical ways, not just the horse shying, which they shouldnt anyway at this level). The horse needs to go quickly of course to have the momentum to get over the obstacle, but as a horse gets faster it elongates and it becomes harder for the horse to get its legs underneath it to jump. This is reffered to as being "flat". Being flat can vary in degrees of course and result in anything from a knocked rail to plowing into it. The goal is to have both forward and upward momentum. The horses that seem to be in a more compact position will generally jump better than those stretched out like a worm.
Riders use an upright body position to keep the horse balanced, their seat will vary whether they're riding a warmblood or thoroughbred. Thoroughbred riders will be slightly out of the saddle whilst warmblood riders will be seated because warmbloods require more pushing with the legs. Oh yeah, leg is more than kicking. Riders will only kick to change the speed of the pace (the paces are walk, trot, canter, gallop) or if they're grumpy
its all about varying degrees of leg pressure. Not enough and the horse will arrive at the fence at a dribble and likely stop, too much and they'll arrive there flat. how much leg to use is related to body position and the other bit I haven't mentioned which is hands. Hands control the head, NOT steering. If the head is pointing out like a spike the horse is more likely to be flat but if its pulled to far in then its a barrier to forward momentum. Having the horse "on the bit." Engages all that power in balance.
Okay I've just realised that all of what I've said above, along with poorly explained, is kinda needless and excessive
basically pair yourself up with someone who knows stuff when you're there and you'll understand whats happening more. I'd avoid dressage though some of the moves are pretty impressive, depends on the test. Freestyle Dressage to music is pretty cool. Eventing, just briefly, has dressage, cross country, showjumping. You'll like cross country. In Inida I'd back the thoroughbreds to dominate because of the ridiculous heat out on the cross country course. Even if the warmbloods are winning after dressage I'd back a few to throw a tantrum out on course once it gets tough. Cross country is a slightly different form of jumping again which I wont torture you with an explanation for.
Don't be fooled into thinking the biggest, prettiest, most expensive horse will win either (well, excpet in dressage
) Its just as much heart as it is talent, and the riders ability and their relationship with the horse. Riding is a very mental battle. They have to be calm and not ride emotionally. Anyway I'll shut up. Just enjoy yourself and i hope the competition is close and that you have a good time.
Oh one last tip, just be aware that in semi-pro sport armchair critics (there's one at every show) get offered a horse and an entry.
are you staying the night there? Over here even pro riders are pretty approachable, and I'm talking Olympians *name drop gloat mode* like Mathew Grayling and Heelan Tompkins, whom I've even gone out for dinner with once (Taranaki jumperz 4 lyf). Might be different in India though, I know in England sometimes it can be a bit snobby. Because it's semi-pro sport drinking and socialising is heavily encouraged after a big day out so if you make some friends during the day then you might find yourself in for a big night
.
