June 21, 2016 
Every rider in every disciple at every level has heard it before: “Riding is not a sport.” And time and time again, every equestrian puts up a fight defending how it is, in fact, a sport.
Personally, I no longer bother to have this debate with people because, to be honest, they are not entirely wrong.
For some of us, we are athletes, and this is undeniably a sport. For others, though, riding is a hobby. Those who ride as a hobby ride two times a week or even less perhaps. They are the people who take quiet trail rides or just ride around the ring for their own pleasure. There are also adults and kids who take lessons once or twice a week at a school barn, and for them, it is just a hobby. There is nothing wrong with being one of those riders. But for those people, it is not a sport.
This is the same as if someone plays tennis once a week with some friends. Tennis is not their job, they are not training to be a professional. They would not consider themselves an athlete for simply playing some tennis once a week.
Where it crosses the line into being a sport is when it is what you live seven days a week. When it is no longer something you do for a few hours and is instead something you spend 50+ hours a week focused on. You spend more than three hours a day in the saddle. You are riding young horses, made horses, and all the in-betweens. You dedicate hours upon hours to perfecting how to take care of your four-legged teammate.
©Alex Carlton
We are the same as any other athlete. Just like other athletes, we watch “film” to learn about what we are doing and how to get better. We also have practice six days a week when we are not competing. A typical show week is what other athletes would call a “double header.” We don’t show for just one day. We don’t have just one round. We have “walk throughs” of our “plays.” The only difference is that ours take place on the day of our competition, and only half the team gets to be there (sorry, no ponies allowed at the course walk!).
The one difference is, we don’t have an off-season. Horses need to work and be taken care of 365 days a year. We compete year-round.
So for those of us who are, in fact, athletes, we don’t need to have this timeless argument. When I come home and my arms feel like jello from the horse that dragged me around. When my back hurts because I jumped three horses today. When I am pouring sweat because it’s 75 degrees out and I am trying to get through this no stirrup lesson. I don’t need anyone’s recognition that what I am doing is a sport because the calluses on my hands and the pain in my back give me all the reassurance I need.
About the Author
Kaitlan Parker is a collegiate equestrian who rides for the Bridgewater College IHSA Equestrian Team. She has competed in hunters, jumpers, equitation on the ‘A’ and ‘AA’ circuit. In addition, she has been a working student for top professionals in the industry such as Nona Garson. Her blog, “Sixteen Hands”, gives insight into her experiences in all aspects of the horse industry.
