There is no buzz quite like watching the thump of a horse’s hooves as it crosses the finish line. It’s even more exciting if you have backed it to win. And yet, horse racing is not the only thrilling equestrian sport you can watch. Across the globe, many sports use horses in human competition games. Read on as we discuss lesser-known equestrian sports that are great for spectators.
Pato
Horse racing is considered among the world’s oldest sports, dating back to 3000 BC on the Kazakh Steppe. Today it has evolved to be much more inclusive of its spectators. In addition to being able to visit racecourses and place bets on horses, it is much easier for people to own racehorse shares through syndicates. The digital age has meant people can choose some of the most promising horses and invest in their progress while being able to track it through a browser. Low entry costs also mean it is now accessible to more people, evolving it beyond the purely spectator sport it was originally.
Pato, also known as horseball, is often considered a modern invention. However, it also dates quite far back, though only as far as 1610. It has, however, been played across continents in different variations. In this hybrid game of polo and basketball, two four-member teams must battle to control and deposit a ball through a vertically positioned ring.
In the past, it had been banned numerous times because of the level of danger involved. It also, extremely cruelly, used to employ a live duck instead of a ball. This has also been banned. Though the game now has set rules and is regulated, its fearsome reputation remains.
Skijoring
Photo by Lee Pigott on Unsplash
Skijoring is a winter sport involving horses, dogs, or mobile snow sledges. It also hails from traditional roots, wherein the Sami people would pull themselves using reindeer to traverse large expanses. Today, it is a competitive sport and has been included in the Nordic Games and an exhibition sport at the 1928 Winter Olympics.
Teams consist of two people: a rider and a skier. The horse gallops down a track, and the skier must complete a course with obstacles like jumps and gates. In some events, skiers must also grab coloured rings. In others, they do away with the rider, and the skier must guide the horse independently, increasing the difficulty.
Polocrosse
Unlike other sports, polocrosse is fairly new; it had its first world championship in 2003. Its council was formed in 1976 in Australia and featured only five founding members. Since then, it has grown, and there is even a UK Polocrosse Association.
The game itself is a blend of polo and lacrosse. Teams are made of six players, who each compete on horseback. Each player has a stick that has a loose net at the end. They must use this to score goals by throwing the ball between the opponent’s goalposts.
There are many other types of equestrian sport, and many more will be invented. They are occasionally put on the world stage at the Olympics, opening them up to a more diverse audience. If you want to try one, look up a local association or start with horse riding lessons. Who knows? Before long, you may no longer be a spectator and could be a star player in a new discipline.
