OTHER SPORTS

Pony clubbers can be introduced to a variety of other sports, some examples are listed below.

🏇

Le Trec (Techniques de Randonnée Équestre de Compétition) is an equestrian discipline that tests the practical skills needed for riding and caring for a horse over varied terrain. Originally developed in Europe to evaluate the abilities of trail and endurance riders, Le Trec combines horsemanship, navigation, obedience, and obstacle skills into a fun and challenging competition.

Le Trec typically consists of three phases. The first phase, Orienteering and Pace (POR), tests a rider's ability to navigate a prescribed route using a map while maintaining set speeds over different types of terrain. The second phase, Control of Paces (MA), evaluates the rider's ability to ride slowly and smoothly at the canter and quickly and energetically at the walk. The third phase, the Terrain Challenge (PTV), consists of obstacles that simulate situations a rider might encounter on a trail ride, such as crossing bridges, opening and closing gates, negotiating banks, mounting from the ground, or leading a horse through obstacles.

Le Trec emphasizes partnership between horse and rider, good horsemanship, problem-solving, and safe trail riding skills rather than speed or jumping height. It is an enjoyable discipline for riders of all ages and experience levels and provides an excellent opportunity to develop confidence, communication, and versatility while working with horses in a variety of situations.

🏇

Working Equitation is an equestrian sport that showcases the skills developed by working riders who traditionally used horses to manage cattle and work on farms and ranches. It combines dressage, obstacle navigation, speed, and cattle handling into a single competition.

Working Equitation exists of 4 phases, although the last phase is not often included. The first phase, Dressage demonstrates the horse's training, balance, obedience, and partnership with the rider through a prescribed dressage test. The second phase, the Ease of Handling, tests precision and horsemanship as the horse and rider navigate obstacles that simulate real ranch or farm tasks, such as gates, bridges, and poles. The third phase is the Speed phase and the same obstacle course is ridden as quickly as possible. Fast times are rewarded, but penalties are given for mistakes or missed obstacles.

An optional fourth pahes is the Cattle Trial where horse and rider demonstrate cattle-handling skills by sorting or moving cattle individually or as part of a team.

Working Equitation combines the elegance of dressage, the technical skill of obstacle work, the excitement of speed events, and the practical tradition of cattle handling into one versatile equestrian sport.

🏇

Polocrosse is a fast-paced team equestrian sport that combines elements of polo and lacrosse. Riders compete on horseback using a racquet to catch, carry, pass, and throw a ball while working together to score goals against the opposing team.

The sport is played on a rectangular field with teams made up of six players, although only three players from each team are on the field at one time. Matches are divided into short periods called chukkas, allowing horses and riders to maintain a high level of performance throughout the game.

Unlike polo, players cannot hit the ball along the ground with a mallet. Instead, the ball is carried and passed through the air using a racquet with a netted head. Riders must catch and release the ball while controlling their horse, often at speed and under pressure from opponents.