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Did You Know

1. The FEI, founded in 1921, is the international body governing equestrian sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Today, it is the sole controlling authority for 8 equestrian disciplines – how these came into being and where they fit into the big picture is outlined below:

Jumping is undoubtedly one of the best known FEI disciplines and is one of the three disciplines in competition at the Olympic Games. The first documented jumping or “leaping” contests, as they were called, were organised in 1866 in Paris and in 1868 in Dublin. The first large international competition was held in 1902 and Jumping became an Olympic Discipline at the 1912 Games in Stockholm. Jumping was one of the founding members of the FEI.

Dressage is often referred to as the art of equestrian sport and is used as the groundwork for all the other disciplines. Dressage, in its universal appeal, is also one of the three Olympic disciplines. The Dressage tradition can be traced back all the way to ancient Greece – indeed, the first known work on horsemanship dealing with Dressage was written by the General Xenophon (430 – 354 BC). Twists and turns in the ebb of history, meant that despite the fact that over the centuries the discipline had enjoyed numerous followers and theorists, the first competition did not take place until 1873 in Vienna (AUT). Dressage also made its first appearance at the Olympics in Stockholm in 1912 and was thus set to become one of the founding members of the FEI in 1921.

Eventing is the most complete combined discipline recognized by the FEI and demands a wide range of skills and competence in all braches of equestrian sport, including precise knowledge of the horse’s abilities and competence. Eventing originated with the military, where it was seen to test officers and horses for any challenges that could occur on or off duty. The first modern Eventing competition was held at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm (SWE) where it lasted 5 days and was comprised of speed, endurance, steeplechase, jumping and dressage phases. Today, Eventing is composed of three stages: dressage, cross country and jumping. Eventing was another founding member of the FEI in 1921.

Driving is the oldest competitive equestrian sport, indeed, horses were long driven before they were ridden. When the need for horses as a primary form of transportation subsided, horses and driving became a recreational sport, and a fast growing one at that. It was the Duke of Edinburgh (GBR), FEI President from 1964 – 1986, that got the wheels turning in 1969, where interested parties were summoned and the first rule book for Combined Driving was produced. The modern driving competition format thus consists of three phases, namely Dressage, Marathon and Obstacle Driving with the three alternatives – a single horse, a pair or a team of four. Following the elaboration of the first rule book in 1969, it is only natural that Driving became the fourth FEI discipline in 1970.

Endurance riding has gone from its necessary beginnings to a fully fledged sporting discipline in the past 50 years. Horses being the main form of transportation, it was only natural to seek a horse that had a healthy predisposition to long distances… While Endurance riding started in the US and became a competitive sport there in the 1950s, it was not until the 1960s that Endurance riding came to Europe. Endurance riding is more than racing against the clock, requiring very astute decision making with regards to pacing and training of which a thorough understanding between horse and rider is indispensable. Indeed, the emphasis in modern day competition rests on finishing in good condition rather than finishing first – which explains why stringent rules with regards to veterinary checks throughout and after the race are in place, thus ensuring that the health of the horse is indissociable from the sport and the competition. Endurance riding became an FEI discipline in 1982.

Vaulting: While it may not be immediately apparent, Vaulting owes its beginnings to military training in ancient Greece. Its original premise was based on the need for balance when in battle, and as ones hands were full of weaponry, it was probably very handy indeed. While Vaulting won’t save your life any more, it experienced a remarkable comeback in the second half of last century as a gymnastic performance on a moving horse. Vaulting became as an FEI discipline in 1983.

Reining If you’ve ever had the chance to see Reining, you will immediately trace it back to its early beginnings – cattle horses and their special moves in the line of duty, a rigouros and impressive display of athletic ability. Reining was first recognized as a sport in 1949 by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) – the world’s largest equestrian organisation. The art or sport of reining is designed to show the athletic ability of a cattle horse in the confines of a show arena with specific patterns, divided into seven or eight manoeuvres that are the hallmark of the reining horse. From 1966 to 2000, the sport was managed by the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA). On 14 April 2000, Reining became the seventh FEI discipline.

Para-equestrian sport in both Dressage and Driving is available and practiced by equestrians with a wide variety of disabilities and has been developing for over 20 years with World Championships being held since 1984. In 1991, Para-equestrian sport was recognized by the International Paralympic Committee and governed until very recently by the International Equestrian Paralympic Committee. However, in 2006, the FEI became the first International Federation to govern and regulate the sport for both able bodied and disabled riders. The FEI now officially recognizes Para-Equestrian as a full discipline with national and international competitions in both Dressage and Driving for individuals with a disability. Para-Equestrian became the eighth FEI Discipline

2. The FEI is the only International Federation to govern and regulate a sport for both able bodied and disabled athletes.

3. Did you know: Jumping

On July 24 1952, Pierre Jonquères d’Oriola watched as his young cousin, Christian d’Oriola, be awarded the gold medal in foil fencing. Throughout the tournament Christian had worn a white cap for good luck. Pierre asked if he could wear the cap now that Christian no longer needed it. Christian handed it over and ten days later Pierre too earned an individual gold medal riding Ali Baba at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

That father and son Nelson and Rodrigo Pessoa competed together for Brazil three times – in Stockholm where the team placed 8th, in The Hague where the team was 4th and in Rome when the team finished 5th and where Rodrigo took the individual title? That brothers Michael and John Whitaker were on the British squad in Stockholm where they took the team bronze and again in The Hague where the team finished sixth? Other siblings who have competed together at the Games are German brothers Markus and Ludger Beerbaum who lined out in Rome in 1998 to take team gold, Switzerland's Thomas and Markus Fuchs who were on the bronze medal winning team at the Hague 1994 and brother and sister Evelyne and Michel Blaton who jumped side-by-side for the Belgian team that slotted into 14th place in that same year?

4. Did you know: Dressage

Emily Ward will make history at the WEG as the first ever representative to take part under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. Although educated in England and based in Holland, Ward was born on the Caribbean island of Antigua, which certainly has one of the most colourful flags – black, blue, red, yellow and white.
The Story behind the Dressage Letters, click here

5. Did you know: Eventing

No rider has successfully defended the individual world title since Bruce Davidson (USA) won it for the second time in 1978. Blyth Tait (NZ) won the title twice, in 1990 and 1998, but not back-to-back.
Despite winning three consecutive Olympics, Australia has never won a medal at a World Games, nor a world title. The Australian squad is split 50-50 with riders based in the northern (Andrew Hoy, Phillip Dutton and Clayton Fredericks) and southern hemispheres.
At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Australia’s bronze medallist team included the father-son combination of Bill and Wayne Roycroft. The Roycrofts repeated their performance in 1976, when father Bill was 61 years old. Two more of Bill Roycroft’s sons competed in the Olympics: Clarke in Munich in 1972 and Barry in Montreal in 1976 and Seoul in 1988. Wayne’s wife, Vicki, competed in Los Angeles in 1984, in Seoul and Atlanta in 1996. Following his brilliant career as an athlete, Wayne Roycroft was appointed Team Coach. Thanks to his talented leadership, the Australian Eventing team won the Olympic Gold at three consecutive Games: in Barcelona in 1992 (where Australian team member Matthew Ryan also became Olympic champion individually), in Atlanta and in Sydney in 2000. He is the current Chairman of the FEI Eventing Committee.

6. Did you know: Driving

Netherlands’ Ysbrand Chardon, 45, is the first and only driver to have been World Four-in-Hand Driving Champion three times. Chardon won the first of three individual gold medals (he also has won five team gold medals in the nations competition) at Apeldoorn (NED) in 1982 and the most recent at the last FEI World Equestrian Games in Jerez in 2002.
When Driving began as an FEI discipline in 1970, the vehicles used in the marathon were wooden ones, some of which very old. At a competition held at Windsor, Great Britain, a back wheel collapsed on a vehicle. The Queen was present and saw it happen. A person on the carriage asked the Queen if they could cut down a small tree to tie to the back axle to keep it off the ground. The Queen agreed. The vehicle crossed the finish line on three wheels plus one pole, much to the delight of the spectators. That is why the rule was changed to read "vehicle must have four wheels crossing the finishing line".

7. Did you know: Endurance

The first ever sports ride of over 100 km was organised in 1973
In 2003 there were 251 international competitions the total distance of which was 26,800 km. Given that the average number of riders per competition is 45, the total distance covered by all horses in all FEI Endurance competitions is 1,197,270 km. The distance to the Moon is 384,000 km. So… If all of the distances ridden by all of the competitors in all of the 2003 FEI Endurance rides world wide were laid end to end, it would cover the distance from the Earth to the Moon and back … and to the Moon AGAIN!

8. Did you know: Reining

With USD 2,128,298.10 in Lifetime Earnings, Tim McQuay is the Leading Lifetime Open Money Earner in the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and is the only competitor to have achieved the NRHA Two Million Dollar Rider status. A member of the prestigious NRHA Hall of Fame, McQuay has won every major NRHA sanctioned event at least once and for the first time is showing for his country at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games.
At the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, a young man serving competitors their coffee asked USA’s star rider Shawn Flarida for his favourite western hat. At first, Shawn refused but persistence paid off. He finally told the young man that if he won a gold medal, he’d give him the hat. The boy looked at him and said "You’re going to win." And Shawn won the Individual Gold Medal and became the first ever Reining World champion. Immediately after the awards presentation, he went looking for the young man. It took all afternoon, but Shawn found him and did just as he had promised – gave up his favourite hat to keep his word.

9. Did you know: Vaulting

It takes a very special kind of horse to become a Vaulting horse. The ideal Vaulting horse does not have to be pretty and elegant. It has a wide chest and strong legs and since some of the exercises are done right on its neck, it is better if the neck is short and thick. Good character and temper are essential. The vaulting horse must be very fit as it must be able to canter for long periods of time. It carries a lot of weight and does not mind that the weight keeps changing.
The first World Vaulting Championship was held in 1984 at Bulle, Switzerland. To that day, Germany and Switzerland, followed by France, Sweden and the United States had been the leading nations in all competitions leaving little room for their contenders. This did not discourage ambitious Poland. After rigorous six-month training with a horse, the Polish national B gymnastics team won the bronze medal.