Have you heard of parkour horses? It’s an equestrian sport that is relatively new. It involves teaching horses to navigate a course that includes obstacles, jumps, and challenges. It requires the same athleticism, strength and speed as parkour.

What is a Parkour Horse?

The sport of parkour horse requires both horse and rider to have a high level or training and skill. The horse is challenged to jump over obstacles and maneuver around them in a race where the fastest time wins. The obstacles are strategically placed in a race course that requires the horse’s strength, agility, speed, and endurance to get through.

There are two types: individual and team. Individual events involve single horse-riders competing against each other. Team events include two or more riders who work together to complete the course as quickly as possible.

The History of Parkour Horse

The popularity of parkour horse began to grow in the early 2000s in Europe and has since spread around the world. The sport was influenced by parkour – a discipline that originated from France and involves navigating urban areas using various acrobatic moves.

Initially, the parkour horse was designed primarily for entertainment. Riders would perform stunts and tricks in front of audiences. Over time, the sport evolved into a competition, with riders racing against each other in timed races.

The Basic Rules of the Parkour Horse

There are some general guidelines that apply across all parkour horse events. Here are the basic parkour horse rules.

1. Obstacle Course

The basic rule for parkour horses is to navigate a course that contains various obstacles, jumps, and challenges. The obstacle course is intended to test the horse’s agility, speed and strength. The course can be set-up indoors or outdoors and can be tailored to the specific needs of either the horse or the rider.

2. Time Limit

Each parkour horse event is subject to a time limit. This can range from 45 seconds up to a few moments. The horse and rider must navigate through the course as quickly as possible, without knocking over any obstacles. The fastest time wins.

3. Refusal and Knockdowns

If a horse knocks over an obstacle or refuses a jump, it is penalized by adding time to the overall course time. The number of penalty second varies according to the event.

4. Scoring

The scoring system for parkour horses is based on a combination of the fastest time and the fewest penalties. In some events there may be other scoring criteria such as style or creativity, or the difficulty of completing an obstacle.

5. Safety

Parkour horse places safety first for both the horse and rider. The obstacles are designed for riders to have a challenging experience while remaining safe. They must also wear protective gear such as a helmet and boots.

Benefits of training your horse in Parkour

Both the horse and its owner can benefit from a parkour horse. Here are some of your horse’s most notable benefits from training in parkour.

1. Improved Agility & Balance

The parkour horse requires horses jump and maneuver around various obstacles, which require agility and balance. The training improves the horse’s coordination and reaction time, allowing it move more efficiently.

2. Strength and Endurance Increased

The horse must exert significant energy to complete a parkour course. This training builds stamina and strengthens the horse, allowing it to perform better in endurance settings.

3. Better Mental Stimulation

As they enjoy the challenges and perform different tasks, horses that have been trained in parkour horse will have a better mental stimulation. This training improves their mental agility, problem solving abilities, and overall development.

4. Bonding between horse and rider is a key factor in enhancing the bonding between them.

A close partnership is required between the horse and rider when it comes to parkour. The rider and horse must work together to overcome obstacles. This training strengthens the bond between the rider and horse.

How to train your horse for parkour

Starting from scratch, you can gradually increase the difficulty of obstacles as your horse becomes more experienced. Here are some tips to help you train your horse.

1. Start Slowly

Start by introducing your horses to simple obstacles such as logs or poles. As your horse becomes more familiar with the course, gradually increase the difficulty of obstacles.

2. Use Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is essential in parkour horse-training. When your horse successfully navigates an obstacle, reward them with treats or praise. This will motivate them to keep working hard.

3. Strengthen and Condition Your Body

Both the horse and rider must be in top condition to perform parkour. Include exercises to build stamina, such as trotting and cantering, jumping and hill work, in your training program.

4. Hire a Trainer

A professional trainer with experience in parkour horses is the best way to ensure that you are teaching your horse correctly. They can give you tips and tricks and create a training plan that is tailored to your horse.

Why Parkour Horse Is Here to Stay

It’s a relatively young sport, but its popularity is growing. Many riders are turning towards parkour horse as a way to challenge themselves and to take their skills to a new level.

We can expect even more growth and innovation as more people take an interest in this exciting sport.

Conclusion

If you are interested in equestrian sport and want a new challenge then parkour horse may be for you. It’s a thrilling sport that will keep both you and your horse on their toes. Follow these safety and training tips to ensure that your horse is ready to take on any obstacle course!