Lacrosse, Water Skiing, Acrobatics, and Horses - Three Crazy Horse Sports You’ve Never Heard of

When many people think of horseback riding, they probably think of horse racing, or even dressage (“horse dancing”). But there are so many more adrenaline-packed ways to enjoy horses; below is a list of some you've probably never heard of!

Trick riding

Now a popular rodeo halftime performance, trick riding was actually developed in Caucasia by the Ukrainian Cossacks, who used tricks on horseback to outmaneuver their enemies on the battlefield. When Ukrainians began immigrating to the United States in the 1920s, they brought their tricks with them. Riders competed for money by scoring points that were allotted based on the difficulty of their moves.                              

In the 1940s, trick riding was banned as a rodeo event because of its extremely dangerous nature; yet the sport lives on today through non-competitive demonstrations and trick riding associations that host their own events. Trick riding uses modified western saddles that allow riders to perform tricks such as flips, shoulder stands, and layouts, wherein riders hold on with just their feet as they let their hands touch the ground. Oh, and did I mention that all of these tricks are performed as horses run in a full gallop?

Where to watch

Head to Alberta to watch one of the numerous Canadian Trick Riders Association’s summer events (full schedule found here) or watch live streams through here. 

Polocrosse

Do you find lacrosse slow-paced and boring to watch? Polocrosse might be for you! Developed in the 1930s in England, Polocrosse was originally created just as an indoor exercise to help children gain confidence on horseback. Polocrosse became an official sport when it was further developed by Australian horse breeders.                            

Polocrosse is a combination of traditional Polo and lacrosse. Teams of six compete against each other to score points by landing a shot through the opposing team’s goal posts. The ball is passed between players using a stick similar to a lacrosse stick. Games are divided into 4-6 periods, called chukkas. The game is quite physical, as players try to gain possession of the ball through striking their opponent’s sticks, and horses often battling for space as riders try to maneuver to line up the perfect shot.

Where to watch

The Canada Polocrosse website contains a full schedule for Polocrosse matches happening in Canada (found here), or you can mark your calendar to attend the next Polocrosse World Cup, which takes place in 2023 in Africa.

Skijoring

Skiing is already one of the most dangerous sports in the world, but American cowboys thought they could up the ante and popularized skijoring, a sport that combines obstacle courses, waterskiing, and horseback riding into the ultimate winter spectacle.                                     

Skijoring teams consist of three members: a horse, a mounted rider who guides the horse down the track, and a skier who is pulled behind the horse using a 30ft rope (this is where waterskiing ties in!). As the horse gallops down the track, skiers must weave around slaloms and gates, launch off 6ft jumps, and collect rings with a javelin. Popularized in US mountain states as a way to keep horses fit over the winter, recognized competitions now take place all over the US, and teams have the ability to win thousands of dollars in prize money.

Where to watch

Live Streams and past competition videos can be found on the Skijoring America website, or if you're feeling adventurous you can take a trip to Whitefish, Montana for the yearly finals every March!

So, had you heard of any of these? After watching the attached videos, head on over to our social media and let us know which crazy horse sport is your favorite!