Fun With Horse Riding Games

Participating in horse riding games, which are highly exhilarating and intoxicating is every horse-rider's dream. As a person gradually grows from being an amateur through to a professional this dream only gets stronger. This article will come as a boon to many horse-riding enthusiasts who want to know about the games that can be played mounting the horse's back.

Horse riding games can be enjoyable for people of all ages and genders and at various level of skill. Certain games, especially those played by children, ponies are used. Different games are designed for the enjoyment of couples, individuals or teams.

Most of these games are enjoyed on the horse's back and are played as individuals, paired or team events. Some games can be enjoyed by adults and children. One popular game for children are the Egg and Spoon Race. In this game the child rides on a pony, equipped with a spoon and an egg. While riding the horse he needs to balance the egg on the spoon which is held in his mouth until he reaches the finish line. Along with the joy riding on the horse, the child also learns concentration and balancing skills.

Another game is the horse-riding relay game which is played in pairs. It is also called a Pairs race. Each pair can use only one horse. In this event, one member of the team mounts the horse and reaches another point where their partner is waiting. On reaching their partner, the rider has to get off the horse and help their partner mount the horse. The pair that completes the entire event in the shortest time possible is declared as the winner.

There are many horse riding games which test the control of the rider over the horse. One such game is barrel racing where the individual has to complete a preset pattern formed by using barrels in the shortest time. Though this game originated as an event for women, it is equally enjoyed by both sexes in today.

Another game which tests the horse control skills, but is for professionals, is the barrel racing event. In this event, the rider has to manoeuvre the horse around a preset formation arranged by using barrels. This event initially originated for women horse-riding enthusiasts, but today, it is enjoyed by both sexes equally.

Another famous horse-riding game is steer wrestling. This is a bizarre version of bull fighting. In steer wrestling, the rider mounts the horse and chases the steer (a bull with long and sharp horns). On catching up with the steer, the rider has to jump off from the horse and wrestles with the steer by holding on to its horns. This event is highly risky since there are high chances of injury to the rider. Also, the animal rights community has raised its voice against the cruelty meted out to animals in this event.

Polo is a favourite horse-riding sport for people all over the world. This game is also a great pastime for the elite in society. The polo teams consist of 4 members each and their horses. The team with the highest number of goals at the end of the game is declared the winner. The members score points for the team by directing the wooden or plastic white ball into the goal post of the opposite team. The ball is hit using long wooden sticks called the mallet which is similar to the hockey stick but with variations. This game can be played either indoors or outdoors. It can be played during the bright and sunny summer season or during the cold and frozen winter season.