The 18 US Equestrian Federation Disciplines — What You Need to Know

The United States Equestrian Federation is one of the largest organizations in the riding world. It accepts 18 national and international disciplines, each of which is assigned discrete completion levels, or phases, and each of which requires and showcases a variety of different skills. The variation in sport allows competitors to become better riders. Here is more information about each of the disciplines:

1. Combined Driving

Combined Driving is an international three-phase driving discipline where competitors can drive a single — or up to four — horses or ponies while pulling a carriage. Riders and horses put their skill, conformity, swiftness, and power to the test in the three phases of Driven Dressage, Marathon, and Cones.

During the various phases, a competitor’s harmony, impulsion, mobility, accuracy, and judgment are also put to the test. Though Combined Driving is considered a technical and demanding discipline, anyone can enjoy competing in the event.

2. Dressage

Dressage is where a horse and its rider perform from memory a series of prearranged actions. It showcases all levels of training in nine separate competitions. Any accepted breed and any level of rider can compete in Dressage events.

3. Endurance

Generally, Endurance events cover long distances comprising various elevations, topography, and weather. The aim of this discipline is to test the condition and resilience of the horse as well as the athlete’s horsemanship skills. Several health and fitness checkpoints are placed throughout the course to ensure the well-being of all competitors.

4. Eventing

Eventing is an Olympic sport with three phases, dressage, cross country, and show jumping. Elegant movements performed in a specific order, daring, correct form, focus, and precision are all skills needed to do well in this event.

5. Jumping

Jumping is one of the most recognized events in the world of professional equestrianism and is one of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines. Riders are timed as they jump their horses over obstacles of various heights and widths. Strength, nimbleness, obedience, exactness, sensitivity, and awareness are all must-haves to score well in this event.

6. Para-Equestrian

Para-Equestrian events offer athletes with physical disabilities a chance to practice equestrianism and compete. Riders compete in events according to their ability and our grouped to maximize fairness.

7. Reining

During Reining competitions, riders exhibit their horse ranching skills through 13 precise and refined movements inside a pen. Some of these actions include circles, rollbacks, 360-degree turns, and sliding stops.

8. Vaulting

To compete in Vaulting events, riders must be capable of flawlessly performing acrobatic displays on horseback that demonstrate power, flexibility, technicality, memory, and balance. These must be done while also covering all parts of a horse and facing all four directions. The horse is responsible for providing quality and consistent gait while on a longe line.

9. English Pleasure

In their performances in three diverse categories — hunter seat, saddle seat, and driving — horses are expected to demonstrate perfection in manners, obedience, and precision even in their gait transitions. Every move must be seamless and refined. Extreme motion, changes in speed, or any resistance to direction by the horse should can cause a competitor to be eliminated from this event.

10. Carriage Pleasure Driving

Carriage Pleasure Driving is the perfect equestrians of any age. One or multiple horses or ponies can be shown for competition or pleasure. Many who participate in this event showcase antique carriages.

11. Hunter

The purpose of a Hunter event is to show off all the good traits of a field hunter, including a calm demeanor, faultless manners, seamless gaits, and jumping efficiency. A competitor’s conformation, athleticism, and disposition are judged during this event.

12. Jumping Seat Equitation

The purpose of this discipline is for riders to master proper form and style, including position, accuracy, and jumping fences identical to those found in jumping rings. This event is also referred to as Hunter/Jumper Seat Equitation.

13. Parade Horse

Horses of any breed may participate in Parade Horse events. In this format, horses are outfitted in brilliant bridle, breast-collar, and silver-decorated saddles that match the rider’s vibrant attire. A horse must be well-mannered, have no blemishes, and demonstrate an animated walk and a parade gait.

14. Roadster

In this event, spectators will see horses hitched to two-wheeled carts or four-wheel wagons showing off seamless transitions from a jog-trot to a road gait to moving at speed. During all of this, a horse and its rider must remain in perfect form.

15. Saddle Seat

Saddle Seat is an international World Cup event and team competition. It’s held bi-annually, and event competitors participate in three-gaited and five-gaited components. Morgan horses, American Saddlebred horses, and Arabians are the breeds of horses most frequently used in this event.

16. Western

The horse must maneuver fluidly through strategically placed challenges on a course to demonstrate the skills of a working ranch mount, while being timed as it sorts a steer from a herd.

17. Western Dressage

The emphasis is on partnership, subtle cues, and harmony. The horse should be versatile and willing, and the writer should be calm and steady. Long-term partnerships between horse and rider can be showcase beautifully within this style.

18. Western Seat/Reining Seat Equitation

Riders demonstrate their control of their mounts in this event as well as their connection to the horse. Competitors perform a variety of gaited blocks as well as two tests off of an approved list.

With so many wonderful events, all equestrians can enjoy a little competition while gaining skills, developing bonds with their horses, and evolving into better athletes with every challenge.