Learn About Nine Team Sports on Horseback
Most equestrian sports pit single horse and riders against others. Sometimes teams are made up of individuals that add points such as team eventing in the Olympics. But there are a few team sports played on horseback that require more than one rider, or one rider/horse pair. Here is a look at team sports you can participate in.
As the name suggests, polocrosse combines polo and lacrosse, and is played on horseback. The riders carry a stick with a small net to carry the ball. The goal is to get the ball between the opposing team’s goal posts. Each team has six members, with three in active play.
Horse ball combines elements of basketball, rugby and polo and is an exciting contact sport on horseback. There are four horse and rider pairs on the field, and there can be up to two alternates, for a total of six pairs on each team. The net into which the ball is thrown to get points is similar to a basketball hoop, but is hung vertically, rather than horizontally. The ball is slightly smaller than a basketball, and has several attached straps that encircle the ball to make it easier to handle.
This is a fast paced game, played at a gallop, where riders must use their skill and balance to pick the ball up from the ground without dismounting, hold it while steering theirhorse and toss it through the hoop. Defensive strategies include bumping into another horse to make it change direction and grabbing the ball from an opposing player. Like polo, this is an exciting spectator sport.
Fédération Internationale deHorseball
This game is similar to horse ball and has a history of being very rough and tumble. Originally, it was played by gauchos with a duck inside of a basket. But it is now played with a ball. The ball has strap handles as in horse ball, and the rider in possession of the ball must hold it out, while standing in thestirrups. This allows an opposing team member, who must also stand in the stirrups a chance to grasp the ball.
The ensuing tug-o-war on horseback is an exciting element of the game. There are four players on each team and the field that pato is played on is larger than a horse ball field. Goals are made by tossing the ball through the large hoops at the end of the field.This is the national sport of Argentina.
These games are somewhat similar and played in several parts of the world,especially central Asia. It is a very ancient game and unlikely you’ll find a North American team. The various forms of the game use slightly different equipment, but the goal is to get the goat skin, or other item that represents a goat skin away from the other team.
There are several forms of the game—in some, the goat skin must be dragged outside of a large circle, or there is a specific path around a marker must be followed. Team members where any sort ofhelmet, thick clothing and boots to help protect them from the rigorous play.
Buzkashi teams consist of team members, with five being on the field at a time. Because the game could turn violent, most rules are to protect the riders from attacking the opposite team in some way. Horses are rigorously trained as well, as part of the strategy is to shove the opposing team’s horses away from the goat skin.
Vaulting can be an individual sport, or there may be pairs or teams. Vaulting is a graceful sport akin to gymnastics and ballet on horseback. Vaulting teams consist of Learnmore aboutvoltige or vaulting.
FEIVaulting
Team Roping is a rodeo event that involves two riders, that must rope a steer (male castrated cattle beast). One must rope it around the head, heck or horns. The other must rope the hind legs. The steer is immobilized, and thehorses are taught to keep pressure on the rope so it can not move. Learn more aboutteam roping from About.com’s Rodeo expert.
1. Polo
Polo is perhaps the most well known team sport on horseback, and it may be one of the oldest games in history. Once seen as a game played by the rich. polo is now accessible to all. Learnmore about the game of polo. Another variation is broom polo, and polo can be played on snow.
2. Polocrosse
As the name suggests, polocrosse combines polo and lacrosse, and is played on horseback. The riders carry a stick with a small net to carry the ball. The goal is to get the ball between the opposing team’s goal posts. Each team has six members, with three in active play.
3. Ride 'n' Tie
One horse and two riders make up a ride ‘n’ tie team. Competitors race to see which team has all three competitors across the finish line first. Teams can go as fast or slow as they wish. There are specific rules about how many times the horse must be tied and the horses are checked frequently to ensure they are not being overstressed during the race.
4. Horse Ball
Horse ball combines elements of basketball, rugby and polo and is an exciting contact sport on horseback. There are four horse and rider pairs on the field, and there can be up to two alternates, for a total of six pairs on each team. The net into which the ball is thrown to get points is similar to a basketball hoop, but is hung vertically, rather than horizontally. The ball is slightly smaller than a basketball, and has several attached straps that encircle the ball to make it easier to handle.
This is a fast paced game, played at a gallop, where riders must use their skill and balance to pick the ball up from the ground without dismounting, hold it while steering theirhorse and toss it through the hoop. Defensive strategies include bumping into another horse to make it change direction and grabbing the ball from an opposing player. Like polo, this is an exciting spectator sport.
Fédération Internationale deHorseball
5. Pato
This game is similar to horse ball and has a history of being very rough and tumble. Originally, it was played by gauchos with a duck inside of a basket. But it is now played with a ball. The ball has strap handles as in horse ball, and the rider in possession of the ball must hold it out, while standing in thestirrups. This allows an opposing team member, who must also stand in the stirrups a chance to grasp the ball.
The ensuing tug-o-war on horseback is an exciting element of the game. There are four players on each team and the field that pato is played on is larger than a horse ball field. Goals are made by tossing the ball through the large hoops at the end of the field.This is the national sport of Argentina.
6. Buzkashi
These games are somewhat similar and played in several parts of the world,especially central Asia. It is a very ancient game and unlikely you’ll find a North American team. The various forms of the game use slightly different equipment, but the goal is to get the goat skin, or other item that represents a goat skin away from the other team.
There are several forms of the game—in some, the goat skin must be dragged outside of a large circle, or there is a specific path around a marker must be followed. Team members where any sort ofhelmet, thick clothing and boots to help protect them from the rigorous play.
Buzkashi teams consist of team members, with five being on the field at a time. Because the game could turn violent, most rules are to protect the riders from attacking the opposite team in some way. Horses are rigorously trained as well, as part of the strategy is to shove the opposing team’s horses away from the goat skin.
7. Vaulting or Voltige
Vaulting can be an individual sport, or there may be pairs or teams. Vaulting is a graceful sport akin to gymnastics and ballet on horseback. Vaulting teams consist of Learnmore aboutvoltige or vaulting.
FEIVaulting
8. Team Penning
Most rodeo and cattle working sports have their roots in real ranch work and cattle handling. Team penning is a competition in which three riders must remove three marked cattle beasts from a herd of thirty and move them through a gate at the opposite end of thearena. Each rider has a specific role and must work together to separate and move the cattle before the allotted time is up. Learn more aboutteam penning.
9. Team Roping
Team Roping is a rodeo event that involves two riders, that must rope a steer (male castrated cattle beast). One must rope it around the head, heck or horns. The other must rope the hind legs. The steer is immobilized, and thehorses are taught to keep pressure on the rope so it can not move. Learn more aboutteam roping from About.com’s Rodeo expert.
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