The Shire does many different disiplines of riding. One that we enjoy the most is Hunter Seat Equitation.

It gives any rider the skills to ride any horse in any situation. Equitation is a test for both horse and rider. You must deliver a quality performance to any judge you compete with. Creating a bond with harmony will give you success for your rides.

Hunt seat equitation classes judge the rider only, including his or her position on the flat and over fences and overall effectiveness while riding. Therefore, it is not imperative that the horse has perfect movement or jumping form, but it needs good manners and an attractive way of going that does not detract from the rider's performance. Although temperament is not judged, horses with a more tractable temperament are generally easier to ride, and can therefore help riders demonstrate their skills.

The ideal equitation mount has less bascule then the show hunter, because it is easier for a rider to maintain the correct jumping position on a "flatter" horse that does not throw the rider out of the saddle when it jumps. However, a show jumper is not ideal either, as the horse may be less than smooth in its way of going and too volatile in temper for the rider to maintain steady and correct form over a course. The horse must jump safely and not carelessly rub rails. The movement of the equitation horse is generally more collected than the show hunter, which allows the rider to better adjust the stride for tricky combinations.

History....

For a very interesting and surprising history lesson please visit this link below:

http://www.equineequip.com/triplecreekfarmhistory.htm