Equestrians: More than Just Horse Riders

Horses have played a vital role in the history of mankind. They have served several purposes from transportation to heavy cavalry. Nowadays due to the development of technology horses are no longer used anymore. They can be mostly found working for humans in ranches, farms, circuses and driving carriages for amusement rides. Although horses are not as vital as they were back in the days the tradition of riding them did not falter. Equestrians were regarded as nobles in Rome who are members of the cavalry. Nowadays they are riders who participate in a number of equestrian sports.

Equestrians in this day and age are more known for equestrianism. It refers to the ability to ride and drive horses. This definition does not just include the use of horses for recreational activities and sports but also for working and practical uses. Contrary what most people would think the term refers to other skills not just riding them for equestrian sports.

Equestrians before

Horses were used in variety of purposes. They were both used in war and peaceful pursuits. They were used from transportation, agriculture and warfare. In Rome Equestrians were regarded as elite. Horses were expensive at that time so owning one meant that you were rich and does not need to do manual labor. They were members of a social upper class in Rome. This class was most often referred to as knights. They were both a military and a political group because horsemen received financial compensation from the government.

As Rome expanded it relied on its allies for cavalry. There were no use from equestrians and they lost their military functions. They did not engage in war anymore but their titles still remain and indicate nobility. The equestrians were rich and governed the provinces. At that time senators were equal to equestrians.

The senators dominated the magistrate offices but were forbidden to operate business and gain commercial income. The equestrians on the other hand continued to invest in marketing and tax farming companies. Conflicts arose between the two of them. Equestrians made as much money as they can while senators notice rebellions due to overtaxing. During civil wars the two elite collaborated and their orders were defined as reforms were done.

Equestrians today

There are popularly known for participating in equestrian sports during Olympics. Like before horse back riding is reserved for the rich. Even today horses are still expensive and prized.

Equestrian events include dressage, show jumping and eventing. Equestrians should be able to make the horse carry out natural movements on request while running loose during competitive dressage. It is also referred to as "Horse Ballet". Its goal is to develop a horses' athletic ability and its initiative to perform to maximize its potential.
Show jumping is a timed even where equestrians are required to jump over a series of obstacles with the fewest mistakes. Riders and their horses should be able to go through the obstacle with the least knocked over portions of obstacles.

Eventing is the combination of dressage and show jumping. The horse and the rider have to go through a series of fixed obstacles such as stone walls, water, logs banks, ditches with the fastest time possible.

Although the role of equestrians has changed through the centuries it still holds that aura of nobility that it once enjoyed in medieval times.

United States Equestrian Federation

The United States Equestrian Federation or USEF formerly bore the name of American Horse Shows Association. USEF is the national foremost institution which handles the equestrian sports that there are in the United States. Among those equestrian sports which the Untied States Equestrian Federation administers include the eventing, dressage driving, hunt seat equitation, endurance riding, hunting, jumping, roadster, paralympic, reigning, vaulting, saddle seat equitation, trail, western equitation, and several other related equestrian events.
The job scope of the USEF is so vast that it is a recognized governing body in equestrian related activities. The following are the job functions and scope of USEF.
The breed shows such as the Lusitano, Andalusian, Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, half-Arabian, Friesian, Connemara, Hackney, American Saddlebred, Morgan, Paso Fino, National Show Horse, Shetland, and the Welsh breeds that are practically conducted in the whole of the Untied States are all governed by none other that the United States Equestrian Federation.
It is also the task of the United States Equestrian Federation to closely monitor the yearly points earned by the competitors in the horse shows and other related events. The points are actually accrued by the individual horse shows all throughout the year. USEF then renders special awards to the winners and their merits are based on the accumulated points. The points are summed up at the end of every year. The horse shows which are under the wings of the United States Equestrian Federation are rated with AA, A, B, or C ratings. The shows that earn the AA ratings are those which are considered to be the most prominent ones in the country and big prizes come at stake too. However, those shows which are rated with a C are those called local horse shows and of course, a lesser amount of money is specified for a prize.
The other governing organizations that work hand in hand with USEF are the United States Hunter/Jumper Association or USHJA, the United States Dressage Federation or USDF, and the United States Eventing Association or USEA. All of the competitions which are spearheaded by the abovementioned governing organizations are ruled by the bylaws set by USEF itself.
A Brief History of the United States Equestrian Federation
Everything started to boil up in January 20 of the year 1917 when the delegates from various horse shows set up a meeting in New York City. The council was then governed by Reginald C. Vanderbilt. The council's main goal was to unify all horse shows and to conduct clean competitions inside the horse show ring. They then solidified the organization under the banner of the Association of American Horse Shows and upon its initial meeting in the year 1918; exemplary organizers of the twenty six prestigious horse shows were all present. By the year 1924, the then twenty six horse show members increased to sixty seven.
By February 1933, its original name of Association of American Horse Shows, Inc. was altered to a new one, the American Horse Shows Association, Inc. It was in 2003 that the United States Equestrian Team merged with the United States of America Equestrian to form a new national governing body and the name United States Equestrian Federation or USEF came into being.
It is the USEF that provides an all out support to all equestrian sportspersons, establishes a clear future for all equestrians, and endorses international excellence in the horse sports field.