As horses moved from being an animal that was required for work, transport and warfare into a purely recreational animal, so to did the ability to ride long distances move from being a method of transport to a world renowned competitive sport.
The foundations of modern dressage are in classical dressage which developed from a need to train horses for the battlefield.
In fact ‘Dressage' is a French word, which roughly means ‘training'.
Eventing originally started in the military as a means of training and testing cavalry horses.
Mounted Games is an equestrian sport which owes its existence to a Colonel, a Prince, a prestigious horse show and the Pony Club movement.
Polocrosse is one of the most recent additions to the world of equestrian sports. It thrives in Australia, where it was first developed, and is increasing in popularity around the world with more than 10,000 players worldwide.
You wouldn't think that an Act of Parliament would create a new horse sport but it did. In England in the 1700s the first of the Enclosure Acts was brought in.
Today most large horse shows will have a ‘jumping' event and of course, the Olympic Games has continued to showcase and raise interest in this sport. At the beginnings of the sport it was taught at cavalry schools in Italy, Spain, France and Austria.
Cross-country jumping is not only part of Eventing competitions but it is also a sport in its own right and has its roots in the pastime of fox hunting and the training of cavalry horses by the major military schools.
I have to say right up front that I am biased because of my involvement with the organisation for the last 14 years, however I believe that it is the best youth sporting organisation in the world. WHY?
Campdrafting has its origins with the pioneering stockmen of the Australian bush. It is believed to have begun in outback Queensland, with stockmen having informal competitions for entertainment.
Droving is an Australian term, which means to move cattle or sheep (on the hoof) long distances. The settlement of rural Australia during the 1800s would not have happened without the skills of the Stockman, Overlander and Drover.