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Ever since the beginning of civilization as we know it, horses have been a part of human culture and lifestyle. When they were domesticated, they provided humans with endurance and food. Mankind has been riding on horses for ages now, and everyone has had a different experience with horseback riding. There are quite a few people who would never mount a horse. More people people routinely rode on the slow walking horse at the county fair every year when they were children. Some people have been horseback riding through trails with professional rider as a guide. On a higher skill level than these groups of people lie a select amount of people who actually compete with their horse. According to Horse Council, only about 840,000 people participate with races. These few individuals face many problems as well as successes during their time in the arena.
How Does One Even Compete with a Horse?
If one wants to own and compete with a horse, they should know it is not just fun and games. Mountains of work go into becoming a successful rider. One must not only learn how to maintain their balance on such a large animal, but they also must build a relationship with the horse. There are heaps of training involved to prepare a horse for a competition. In order to simply keep a horse in shape, someone must ride it a minimum of three times a week. According to HorseRacing.com, a horse must be constantly cared for. Days before competitions, they must be groomed, fed, and warmed up; owners will go so far as to give their horses massages. Only when a horse is prepared can it have a shot at winning the shiny, gold metal in a competition.
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What Competitions Can a Horse Do?
Different people participate in different races with their horses, depending on their own likes and dislikes. America's Horse Daily describes variations of competitions an equestrian can participate in. The most popular form of horseback riding is the arena race. Normally, these are the races that are seen in the movies, which involving completing one full ring around the stadium. Love Horseback Riding also says other races include hair pin, show jumping, and Texas barrels. Out of all the horseback races one can enter in, one that requires the most skill is barrel racing. In this event, riders work to patiently train their horse to ride around the barrels in record speed. This activity requires great agility and strength on the part of both the horse and the rider.
The Dangers of Riding
According to The Top Tens, there are many associated risks with riding a horse. Being a true rider is seen as a sport and not for recreation. Equestrians break their necks and other bones commonly, from injuries such as falling off of the horse. After a twelve year old girl was thrown off of her horse, she suffered from massive brain injuries (spinal injuries are also common when falling off of a horse. Equestrians normally have an accident ever 350 hours of riding. It is important for riders to be aware and wear the correct (and safe) gear. Often times a horse will be spooked very easy, by things ranging from camera flashes to snakes. One must always proceed with caution when riding and handling a horse.
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The Price of Being an Equestrian
In most cases, an owner must provide the horse with food, shelter, and other necessities. First, owners need a horse, which according to Equine can cost anywhere from to $5,000 to $100,000. Food costs an average $1000 to $1500 a month, depending on the type of meal the horse needs. On top of this, there is also an added cost for veterinarian bills, which are around $500 per horse for every year. Additionally, owners typically pay for a farrier which is $40 for a horse every six weeks. Added costs are associated with having a horse, so one must make sure they can financially support this lifestyle before getting involved.
Winning a Competition
Entry fees for competitions are hefty. They can range from $30 to $175, according to various competition sites. Some people enter competitions to show of their skill, and more do it for the grand prize. At the National Barrel Horse Association's horse shows, final payouts for the winner cost around $4,000. The price of one's horse also increases as they spend more time and win the arena, which increases the competition at certain horse shows.
The Top of the Pyramid
Often when kids visit a rodeo, they expect to see cowboys with their lassos. The children don't understand that women are excelling in the world of barrel racing. According to WPRA, women are becoming more prominent in barrel races. Most are becoming popular due to the National Finals Rodeo, which is similar to a "world cup" for horseback riding. The best of the best, mounted on horseback, compete here. The Rodeo is so popular that it is televised on CBS Sports. Horses at this show can be worth upward of $100,000. Women who barrel race as their career can normally win upward of $200,000, for simply barrel racing and achieving the lowest time. Being a horseback rider is a full-time job, but if one truly has the passion for it, it can relieve stress and create profound memories. Competitively, there are many opportunities for volunteers and owners to get involved, and many strive to achieve the coveted prize money of many competitions.
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