Horse riding not a sport...?

Question

Alright...whip out those thinking caps. I have had an ongoing argument with a friend for quite some time now. He thinks that horseback riding is NOT a sport. Now I am not talking about going for a leisurely ride, I am talking about jumping, eventing, dressage, reining, cutting, etc. He thinks that anyone can hop on a horse an be able to accomplish these things within a year. He thinks sports need involve hand-eye coordination, and for the most part they also require playing with a ball of some sort, horse people have NO endurance or cardio vascular strength, no muscle tone etc etc blah blah blah. He is under the impression that the horse does ALL of the work. Now I tend to get flustered when I am in a disagreement and lose my train of thought...in other words, all good points go out the window. I am looking for some good opinions and points on this...WELL WORDED. This is meant to be more fun than anything, and I will show him the results. Thanks all!

Answer 1

Tell your friend that is bullshit (not in those words) but horse riding IS a sport and requires lots of practice and balance skills it takes time like any other sport to get good at and requires the same amount of work if not more than any other sport.

Answer 2

Take him on a 2 hour HARD ride! Then listen to him cry like a baby!!!! You know he will!!! If not that day the next, when the soreness sets in!! LOL That is my favorite thing to do to people like that!!!!!! You & I both know he will be sore!!! LOL

Answer 3

Horse Riding is absolutely a sport.  It is also a fun activity.  You use quite a bit of muscle while riding, and there is plenty of coordination and balance need to do this.  Think about it this way - you have 2 hands and 2 legs that all need to act independently of one another to accomplish a lot.  Plus, you need to use the rest of your body for balance and steering.  

Tell your friend to get up bareback and see if his leg muscles don't get an incredible workout when he's done.  I bet he's in pain for at least 2 days.  How is this not a workout?

Tell him to try posting for a long time - not just a few minutes.  How does he feel after that.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who has felt the ab workout from this.  

Horse shows draw a crowd (albeit a small one sometimes) - but there is competitiveness, cheering, winners and such.  These are all qualities that sports have.

Good luck.  Some people just don't get it until they experience it.

Answer 4

He Say WHAT NOW!! Tell him polo is a sport what do they use a BALL that's a pretty tiring sport so you need to be very fit and you need hand eye cordination.

What else, you need to have hand eye cordination to may things.

Put him on a horse and see what he says after you put him over a jump, on a 10 hour endurence ride, maybe even on a naughty horse and see if he says that's a sport

HORSE RIDING IS A SPORT TELL HIM !! =)

Answer 5

it is a sport if u enjoy doing it. my uncle has a farm and its a sport to  me cuz once in a while i get to ride horses and i enjoy  so YES its a sport

Answer 6

Ha ha ha.  Horse riding is definitely a sport and requires a good deal of skill, muscle tone, coordination, and generally years and years of practice.  Of course, you get the occasional prodigy, as with anything else, who's born riding centered and anticipating the horse's every mood and movement, but usually, it takes years and years of practice and dedication to be any good at all.  In fact, I would say it requires a good deal more skill and practice than many other sports.  Put him on a horse bareback, have him walk, trot, and canter (if he's still on).  I would bet he will very quickly have more respect for the sport.  A good rider can anticipate a horse's movements based on their muscle movements, will not slide or bounce on the horse's back and will remain centered at all gaits.  If he's not a rider, even a shorter trail ride using a comfy saddle will leave him pretty sore, I would bet, as well.  Riders use muscles that aren't used in other sports.

Answer 7

Guess I'll get the big "thumbs down" here, but I do not consider "riding" a horse a sport.  I DO however consider some of what a rider does while on the horse "sport".  As you mentioned, jumping, eventing, dressage, reining, cutting, roping, barrel racing, racing, etc. Yes!  I do consider those a sport WHEN done in a competitive way.

I grew up on a ranch where cutting cattle & roping were part of the job, so at that time even though I was on a horse I do not consider that a sport, just as I do not believe it is a sport when I go out now catch my horse saddle up & ride around.  When we took our horses to a weekly team roping, THAT was a sport.  See what I'm saying???  It is not the act of riding the horse, but some of what is done while one is on the horse.  Make sense???

Just because I am on my horse & decide to lope or run around a few barrels, I do not consider that a sport.  See???

Now, as for horse shows, I do not consider western pleasure, western equitation, etc. a sport ever, those are simply classes in a show.

O.K. thumbs down me now!!!

**EDIT**

Horse riding is not in the Olympics, otherwise ANYONE who can sit a horse would be on the team.

Olyimpic riders "compete" in what?  Show Jumping, Eventing, Dressage & a couple of other events I think.

**EDIT**

Don't get me wrong, riding takes skill, control & concentration.  Muscle helps, but is not required as you can see with the many mentally & physically disabled people who ride.

Answer 8

Why dont you put him on the lunge preferably bareback and garenteed he will be hurting the next morning.  Then just say see i use these muscels every time i ride so i need to be fit so it is a sport.

Also just remember its an olympic sport if it wasnt a sport then why would it be in the olympics.

Not forgetting the trainning which goes into keeping horse and rider fit just like a runner trains.

Answer 9

Throw him on a horse and go make him jump a 4 foot oxer.  Just throw him on a horse in a roundpen and lunge him on canter circle for a while, he'll feel it in his abs.

Your horse is your teamate.  and if he decides so, could easily kill you and get away with it.

But as for horsebackriding being a sport, ask him how many weak, fat, stupid people he knows who successfully ride horses.  Take him on a ride, just a trail would be fine, but make it a working trail, up hills, through creeks at a faster pace.

Answer 10

event or not it is a sport !!!!!!!!!!

Answer 11

Horse riding is a sport and is known as a sport. And i bet your friend finds horse riding EASY when he or she get on it takes REAL skill to ride and be a TOP rider!

If you go onto u tube there is a little movie on what you need to have if u are a good rider

I HOPE U WIN THIS BATTLE WITH YOUR FIEND AS HORSE RIDING RULES!!!!!!!!!

Answer 12

Tell him why is it in the olympics then!?

Answer 13

put your friend on a horse and have him ride for a few hours, then see what his answer is after all his muscles are sore and aching which they probably will be if he is not used to riding.

Answer 14

Its an Olympic event, it has to be classed as a sport to be in the Olympics.

Answer 15

Have him go on youtube and watch videos of people riding and falling.

You guide your horse with your hands and eyes, and sometimes the horse does not want to go a certin way.

Polo uses a ball, and jumpers, barrels and poles use timers.

People devlope a lot of arm, leg and core muscle.

Answer 16

Get him trotting or cantering for an hour or two then ask him if he is able to walk the next day!! lol

Coordination is everything when riding a horse also! You need to have every aspect of the horse under control at all times legs body arms and feet all the same time!

*Also he will have a lot of enemies if he goes to a horse show/horse barn and says that horse riding isn't a sport too!!

I get a lot of respect for being able to ride a horse from my friends!

Edit: Have him take a few lessons!! It might also be fun to watch too!!

Answer 17

Explain to him that the horse does do most of the work. Carrying the rider, following through most of orders.. but explain it's like a player out on a football field. Just because the coach isn't out there doesn't mean he isn't doing work or isn't in shape. The rider there is to guide, and in some moments, punish their partner. That doesn't make them any less fit or strong. To get an independent, spooky, bottom-of-the-food-chain animal to do what you ask of it, takes a lot of strength: mentally, emotionally and physically.

For the hand-eye coordination, show him barrel, eventing, jumping, reigning, etc's need to be able to look at something, go straight on an animal that doesn't always WANT to do what the rider wants, and use their hands and legs to accomplish their goal.

For the ball, show him polo! That involves a ball, and a hand-eye coordination! :D

Another option, is to go down to a local barn and have him arm or leg wrestle with someone around his age, that rides horses.  Good luck :)

*Edit* As many others has stated, it's in the olympics. I believe it's more of a sport than ping-ball, but that's my opinion. Have him read some articles about people who went on trails - the long 7 day plus ones, where they have a guide and go out to the middle of no where. Those people look pretty 'fit' and yet they still say - after the first day of riding - they are sore as heck. Riders use a different set of muscles than the average sport or workout. Their muscles have to be able to sway, bend, and even sometimes bounce with another mammal's muscles - while making it look easy, and keep a stiff posture. They don't bounce around, or look like they are going to die if a horse goes a little faster - they smile, and enjoy it because they are in the best shape they can be - for their level of riding. :)

Answer 18

haha you should dare him to ride a horse then he will see. my brothers were the same way, but one they tried they stopped making fun just like this poor uninformed boy will too.

Answer 19

Its definatly a sport. . .

its in the olympics so it must be a sport

3 day eventing is on the TV. .  .Badminton & Burghly so that shows that its a sport. . .

X

Answer 20

SORRY.....IT ISN'T A SPORT!!!

Answer 21

Although I do not participate in eventing, Here are some things you could use to argue your point:

1.  There is hand-eye coordination in jumping because the rider has to cue the horse as to when to begin the jump which is based on visual cues....to make the situation even more difficult, the rider has to work with an animal who has a mind of his own and may not have the same goal in mind hereby creating a need for the rider to maintain her balance should the horse refuse the jump...easier said than done.

2.  The muscles required to ride a horse during eventing are muscle groups similar to those other athletes use....strong abdominals, thighs and shoulders....to prove your point, ask your friend to "hop on" a horse and ride for 1 hour, working with jumping.  I have taken many people riding and they inevitably turn up sore the next day....and these are not necessarily people who are sedentary either.  We ride for up to 8 hours at one time (not including lunch break).

3.  Although riders do not have balls to play with, they have a living, breathing partner who doesn't speak english and can bolt, buck, refuse, fall on them, etc.....you get the picture.  The last time I checked, a ball may go out of bounds, but it won't decide to try to kill you!  A horse, on the other hand, just might get mad enough to do just that!  The rider has to do her best to control an animal who has a mind of its own.

Challenge your friend to put his money where his mouth is and take riding lessons for a year...consistently, as if he were wanting to really get into jumping.  I bet he'll either chicken out (sounds like he's not the kind of guy to admit he's wrong) or he will quickly learn that he needs to keep his mouth shut when he doesn't know anything about the subject at hand.

Answer 22

just take your friend riding with you, make him go for 2 to 3 hours.....then call him in a few days and ask how are you walking? I think his mind will be changed.

Answer 23

yes...

we need to be in great shape/health as other sports!!!

Answer 24

if he thinks anyone can hop on a horse and do these things straightaway, he is under some serious delusions lol. stick him on a horse for a few hours and see how he feels the next day. he'll probably be whingeing for days after about his sore muscles lol

Answer 25

Ha...one...just ONE ROUND of team penning, roping, reining, cutting, barrel racing...pretty much you name it...and he would be singing a different tune.  

Because he is insistent that the horse does the work...fine.  He has to be put on a 'finished' horse.  Let's just start with roping.  If he can even stay in the saddle for the first burst of speed...that takes legs, seat, and stomach...Let's see him 'coordinate' throwing a loop on horse that is in a dead run.  Many times without a tight grip on the reins.  Then come off a horse before it is even stopped all the way.  He may survive the first day...then ask him to get back on the same horse the next 3 days.  He'll have to buy stock in ibuprophen and tylenol!  I'm sure the pain will convince him of the need for muscle tone.

Same for any western event that requires any speed from the horse.  Cutting, reining, barrel racing...any of these require eye/hand/and body muscle coordination.  Without these things...wrong signals are given to the horse and is the difference between losing or winning an event.

One more thing...your friend can VERBALLY communicate with a trainer/coach.  Just how soon does he think he can turn his muscles and body language into a form of communication for a non speaking animal??  He has to learn to let his muscles "talk" for him.  That's some serious 'coordinating' that has to be mastered.  Not able to be done by just 'anyone.'

Let's see how his muscles 'feel' when he gets dumped again and again...as he is learning.  It takes mental strength too...to know you can only communicate with your body language.  Besides the obvious 'whoa' and such.

I don't know many people...outside the ones who actually do it...who can ride a finished cutting, reining, barrel, or cow horse.  They don't have the strength or the flexibility...and usually end up hurt.  The same as I would...if I tried to play football with real 'players.'

Can't speak for dressage or english...I only do western.

**EDIT...I do have to agree with Blue Sage Badger.  You will notice that my examples are done in 'competitions.'  Competition is a contest to see who is the best.  NOT A SHOW...I do agree you have to be 'doing' something and not just riding on the trails or around an arena.  This is hard to explain!  Oh h**l...anyone with common sense should know the difference between speed and agility events and just riding a pattern.  That's the best I can explain it at this time...

Answer 26

No muscle tone?  No Cardio?  Obviously he hasn't ridden a horse.  Everybody who has ever gotten on a horse knows that riding uses lots of muscles in your legs, back, shoulders and arms.  You can find muscles you didn't know you had.  The heavy use of Ibuprofin following first rides is a good indicator.  Horse back riding requires superior balance and coordination, as anyone who has ever been thrown from a horse could tell you.  It also requires that two thinking beings work together.  It is not like riding a motorcycle, you have to move and control a very large animal that could move any direction at any time.  You have to be ready for any move and be able to move with him.  If you are just sitting there like a lump then you will be hitting the ground fairly often.  

Put him on a horse for an hour and allow him "work" some of those muscles.  He'll be singing a different tune and begging for the ibuprofin even after just a leisurely ride through the countryside.  Sometimes experience is the best teacher.  And as every horse person knows, successful horse riding also requires a love of horses and a desire to be one with them.  Even with the love of horses some people have a natural ability and some people have to really work at it and although they can successfully guide a horse and stay in the saddle they never get good enough to ride in top performance classes.  Excellent horse riders have a TALENT for it that requires a certain amount of athletic ability.

Answer 27

Horse riding IS a sport. Riders do some work by using their leg muscles to guide horses in some events and for stopping them. Horses do indeed do some work but it's the rider who has to do the important stuff such as guiding the horse and so on. For it to be in the Olympics, it MUST be a sport. Sports always have competitions too.

Answer 28

horse riding is a sport if it wasn't a sport it would'nt be in the olympics and its not true that anyone can accomplish horse riding at an expert level ina year it take a long time to be at the level where you can go to the olmpics

Answer 29

You tell him that you'd like to see him get up on a horse and try staying on with no stirrups! Now it doesn't even have to be eventing to considerate a sport. An hours lesson would do to prove him wrong. In one hours lesson you can do jumping, flatwork (the 3 trots, cantering, etc.), a bit of dressage, no stirrup work. No stirrups : Now this is the toughest thing you can come across when you first start doing it. First you just do sitting trot with no stirrups as its the easiest, then you move on to cantering, rising trot, standing trot, then jumping. When i first started with no stirrups i couldn't walk the next day as my legs would be aching! and that would last for about 2 days. It took more then 5 weeks to get used to no stirrups. Now look at me, i'm jumping without stirrups. I'd like to see a person get up on to a horse with no training before (as in never been in a lesson) and go with no stirrups! its pretty dam hard!(at first) especially because when you feel like your gonna fall of you push your legs up and if you keep doing that you will fall off as you have to relax and keep your legs down to hold on.

No Hands : To go with no hands you have to be able to steer the horse with your legs which can be hard. So you start of trotting with no hands, then catering, then jumping (which is so cool!) you have to be able to trust your horse and believe that its gonna get you over the jump when jumping. Instead of getting all nervous and panicking, relax and stay calm.

Its takes years to becomes a top eventer. But  I'm not going to   lie if you have really really good talent like raw talent you can be trained within a year. But its only if you have real real talent. I know that i had to work hard to get where i am now.

=D

Answer 30

Anyone who says riding is not a sport has never been on a horse that wants you OFF.

In some words, riding is more extreme than any sport, simply for the fact that you have two minds at work. No, your bike will not fight with you when you are biking thirty miles for a triathalon. No, your shoes will not stick to the ground when you start to run track. No, hurdles will not suddenly say "you are NOT jumping over me!" when you start to do track and hurdles. Yes, your horse will do all that and more. Try to force a horse out onto the riding arena when it's time for a serious lesson, and you'll be sweating before you swing your leg over to get in the saddle.

So basically, saying that riding isn't a sport is HOGWASH, and your friend (no offense; i have friends like this who deny it) is retarded. xD

Answer 31

if horseback riding wasnt a sport...it wouldnt be in the olympics