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Everyone Admires A Different Kind Of Horse Performance

By Essie Craft


This magnificent animal provides an exciting riding experience. Being a spectator at any type of horse performance can capture the heart. To a child who has the opportunity to hold out her hand to offer an apple, it will remain a memorable event.

Riding styles come in two variations. The first is English and the second Western. In an English show you will see flat leather saddles and bridles with double reins to control the animal. There is a special grace to the way a rider takes his mount over a fence or brick wall set up on the jumping course.

A Western show features barrel racing, pole bending and speed events, which might have names like potato race. The leather saddle is bigger and bulkier. It has a horn at the front. This originated from the roping event in which the competition involved roping and tying a calf in the shortest length of time.

In a rodeo the competitive events can get rough. The roping and barrel racing are timed. The wild horse race and bull riding can be quite dangerous. During the bronco bull riding there are two rodeo clowns in the arena to distract the bull from attacking the cowboy after he is bucked off, or finishes his eight second ride and dismounts voluntarily.

There is a show gait that takes excellent communication plus years of training to perfect. It is technically called dressage and often referred to as horse dancing. There are a number of intricately executed steps providing a fascinating spectacle.

There is a Western event that requires perfect communication between rider and mount. It copies the methods used by cowboys when they cut a calf from the herd. The event is referred to as a cutting class. Shifting the weight in the saddle tells the animal which way to turn.

Going to the racetrack is an exciting spectator sport. There is music and pageantry as the jockeys ride out on the track. The jockeys, small, lightweight men and women, are magnificent athletes in a somewhat dangerous competition. Each wears colors matching the tack worn by his or her mount. Race winners collect a purse, which can vary in amount.

The conformation of each breed makes it suitable for the competition it enters. A thoroughbred is taller and more slender. The compact quarter horse can turn quickly giving it an edge in barrel racing. Smaller animals are used for harness racing. The draft horses are taller and heavier. The Percheron and Clydesdale is well suited to pulling heavy wagons.

Another draft breed is the Scottish Clydesdale. Most recognize this tall animal as part of the team pulling the Budweiser wagon and having the long, feathery fetlocks, the hair above and behind each hoof. Color varies, but they all have some white markings.

When a parade marches down the street amidst music and cheering, the groups of horses are one of the favorite spectacles. This horse performance includes riders carrying flags and wearing bright costumes. Some wear military uniforms to represent a branch of the service. People wave and cheer as these equestrian groups ride by.




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