Egy fiatal lovas egy Ausztráliában rendezett lovas bemutatón.

Lovasember az, aki rendelkezik a lovakkal való foglalkozáshoz és lovagláshoz vagy hajtáshoz szükséges szakmai ismeretekkel, gyakorlattal, és képes a lovakkal kölcsönös tiszteleten alapuló jó viszonyt kialakítani. Ez az általános leírás magában foglalja mind a lovak gyakorlati, munkára való használatát, mind a szabadidős tevékenységeket, mind pedig a versenysportokat.

A lovas tevékenységek áttekintése szerkesztés

 
Egy trükk lovas a devoni mezőgazdasági kiállításon

A lovakat kiképzik és lovagolják gyakorlati célokra például rendőrségi munkára vagy csorda állatok terelésére (puszta, ranch). Használják őket verseny sportra például díjlovaglás, távlovaglás, háromnapos verseny, reining, díjugratás, tent pegging, lovastorna, lovaspóló, lóversenyzés, hajtás, vagy rodeó. (Lovas sportokra további példák is vannak felsorolva a cikk alábbi részeiben.) A versenyek néhány népszerű formáját a lovas bemutatókon együtt szerepeltetik, és lovak a szakágak széles skáláján mutatják be tudásukat. Lovak (és más lóféléket, úgy mint az öszvéreket és szamarakat) használnak nem versenyszerű szabadidős lovaglásra, mint például a rókavadászat, a terep lovaglás vagy sétalovaglás. A világ majd minden táján vannak lovaglás céljából szabadon használható útvonalak. Sok park, ranch, és istálló kínál az érdeklődők számára lovaglási lehetőséget vezetővel vagy a nélkül. A lovakat ezen kívül használják még terápiás célokra. Egyrészt a speciális, mozgássérültek számára rendezett (paraequestrian) versenyeken, másrészt nem versenyszerű lovaglásra az emberi egészség és érzelmi fejlődés javítása céljából.

Továbbá hajtásra a ügetőversenyeken, a lovas bemutatókon és másfajta kiállításokon, történelmi játékokon vagy ünnepségeken, gyakran kocsik húzásara. A világ néhány részén, még mindig használják őket olyan gyakorlati célokra, mint a mezőgazdasági termelés.

A lovakat továbbra is használják közszolgálatra a hagyományos ünnepélyeken (felvonulások, temetések), rendőrségi és önkéntes lovas őrségi munka, valamint lovas keresés és mentés céljából.

A ló használatának története szerkesztés

Bár vitatott a ló háziasításának és a lovaglás kezdetének a pontos időpontja, a legjobb becslés a lovaglás kezdetét illetően megközelítőleg időszámításunk előtt 4500 évre teszi. Közvetett bizonyítékok azt támasztják alá, hogy a ló lovaglása sokkal előbb kezdődött mint a kocsiban való használata. Van néhány a Dnyeper folyó és a Don folyó vidékéről származó, körülbelül 6,000 éves lelet, melyek a zabla használatáról tanúskodnak, ugyanis egy ott eltemetett mén fogain a zabla használatára utaló kopásnyomokat találtak.[1] Mindazonáltal, a lovak munkára fogását igazoló legegyértelműbb korai archeológiai bizonyítékok a lovak hajtásáról vannak. Körülbelül az i.e. 2500-ból származó harci szekeres temetések szolgáltatják a legközvetlenebb szilárd bizonyítékot a lovak munkára fogásáról. Az ősi idők harci szekeres hadviselését a csatalovak könnyű és nehéz lovassági használatbavétele követte. A lovak fontos szerepet töltöttek be az emberi történelem során az egész világon, mind a háborúkban mind a békés célok szolgálatában, mint például a közlekedés, kereskedelem és mezőgazdaság.

Lóversenyzés szerkesztés

Úgy tűnik az emberek régóta vágynak arra hogy melyik ló a gyorsabb (vagy mely lovak gyorsabbak), így a lóversenyzésnek ősi gyökerei vannak. Ügy tűnik, a fogadás a lóversenyeken kéz a kézben jár a versenyzéssel, és szintén hosszú történelme van. A telivér fajta kitűnő versenyló hírében áll, de más fajták is versenyeznek.

A lóversenyek fajtái szerkesztés

Nyereg alatt:

  • Világszerte a telivér lóverseny a legnépszerűbb. Angliában ezt síkversenynek hívják, és ezek a versenyek Angliában a Jockey Club felügyelete alatt állnak. Az Amerikai Egyesült Államokban a lóverseny az Észak-Amerikai Jockey Club irányítása alá tartoznak.
  • A Steeplechase olyan lóversenyt jelent, ahol a versenypályán a lovaknak akadályokat is át kell ugrani. Ez angliában a legelterjedtebb, ahol ezt Nemzeti Vadász Versenynek is hívják.
  • Amerikai Quarter Horse versenyek -- a verseny körülbelül negyed mérföldes távolságon zajlik. Leginkább az Amerikai Egyesült Államokban az Amerikai Quarter Horse Egyesület (AQHA) felügyelete alatt rendeznek ilyen versenyeket.
  • Arab lovak, Akhal-Teke, Appaloosak, American Paint Horses és más könnyű fajták szintén világszerte versenyeznek.
  • Távlovaglás, a sport in which the Arabian horse dominates at the top levels, has become very popular in the United States and in Europe. The Federation Equestre International (FEI) governs international races, and the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) organizes the sport in North America. Endurance races take place over a given, measured distance and the horses have an even start. Races begin at 20 mérföld (32 km) and peak at 100 mérföld (160 km). especially the Tevis Cup.
  • Ride and Tie (in North America, organized by Ride and Tie Association). Ride and Tie involves three equal partners: two humans and one horse. The humans alternately run and ride.

In harness:

  • Standardbred horses race in harness with a sulky or racing bike.
  • The United States Trotting Association organizes harness racing in the United States (the horses may trot or pace).
  • Harness racing is also found throughout Europe, New Zealand and Australia.

Olimpiai sportágak szerkesztés

A modern Olimpiai játékokon lovas sportágak először 1900-ban szerepeltek. 1912-re mind a három ma is látható olimpiai sportág szerepelt a játékokon. A versenyek következő formáit a világ minden részén elismerik és a lovas események részét képezik az Olimpiákon:

  • A Díjlovaglás (Dressage, Francia eredetű szó, "edzést" jelent) magában foglalja a a ló fokozatos kiképzését egészen a lendület, összeszedettség, és átengedőség legmagasabb fokáig. A versenyszerű díjlovaglás célja azoknak a természetes mozgásformáknak a bemutatása, akkor amikor a lovas kéri azokat, amelyeket a szabadon levő ló gondolkodás nélkül végrehajt. Az egyik díjlovas mester úgy határozta meg, hogy "a lovast hordozó ló szabadságának a visszaadása."
  • Díjugratás comprises a timed event judged on the ability of the horse and rider to jump over a series of obstacles, in a given order and with the fewest refusals or knockdowns of portions of the obstacles.
  • Lovastusa, also called combined training, horse trials, the three-day event, the Military, or the complete test, puts together the obedience of dressage with the athletic ability of show jumping, the fitness demands the cross-country jumping phase. In the last-named, the horses jump over fixed obstacles, such as logs, stone walls, banks, ditches, and water, trying to finish the course under the "optimum time." There was also the 'Steeple Chase' Phase, which is now excluded from most major competitions to bring them in line with the Olympic standard.

Additional events sanctioned by the FEI as international disciplines include combined driving, reining, equestrian vaulting, endurance riding and paralympic competition. While these events are recognized internationally and are all part of the FEI World Equestrian Games, none are yet part of the Summer Olympics, though some, such as vaulting and reining, are potentially on track to be added. [forrás?]

Haute École szerkesztés

The haute école (F. "high school"), an advanced component of Classical dressage, is a highly refined set of skills seldom used in competition but often seen in demonstration performances.

Leading haute ecole demonstration teams include:

Horse shows szerkesztés

Horse shows are held throughout the world with a tremendous variety of possible events, equipment, attire and judging standards used. However, most forms of horse show competition can be broken into the following broad categories:

  • Equitation, sometimes called seat and hands or horsemanship, refers to events where the rider is judged on form, style and ability.
  • Pleasure, flat, or under saddle classes feature horses who are ridden on the flat (not jumped) and judged on manners, performance, movement, style and quality.
  • Halter, in-hand breeding, or conformation classes, where the horse is led by a handler on the ground and judged on conformation and suitability as a breeding animal.
  • Harness classes, where the horse is driven rather than ridden, but still judged on manners, performance and quality.
  • Jumping or Over Fences refers broadly to both show jumping and show hunter, where horses and riders must jump obstacles.

"English" riding szerkesztés

In addition to the classical Olympic events, the following forms of competition are seen. In the United States and Canada they are referred to as "English riding", to contrast them with western-style riding :

  • Hunt seat or Hunter classes judge the movement and the form of horses suitable for work over fences. A typical show hunter division would include classes over fences as well as "Hunter under Saddle" or "flat" classes (sometimes called "hack" classes), in which the horse is judged on its performance, manners and movement without having to jump. Hunters have a long, flat-kneed trot, sometimes called "daisy cutter" movement, a phrase suggesting a good hunter could slice daisies in a field when it reaches its stride out. The over fences classes in show hunter competition are judged on the form of the horse, its manners and the smoothness of the course. A horse with good jumping form snaps its knees up and jumps with a good bascule. It should also be able to canter or gallop with control while having a stride long enough to make a proper number of strides over a given distance between fences.
  • Eventing, show jumping, and dressage, described under "Olympic disciplines," above are all "English" riding disciplines that in North America sometimes are loosely classified within the "hunt seat" category.
  • Saddle seat, is a primarily American discipline, though has recently become somewhat popular in South Africa, was created to show to best advantage the animated movement of high-stepping and gaited breeds such as the American Saddlebred and the Tennessee Walker. Some Arabians and Morgans are also shown saddle seat in the United States. There are usually three basic divisions. Park divisions are for the horses with the highest action. Pleasure divisions still emphasis animated action, but to a lesser degree, with manners ranking over animation. Plantation or Country divisions have the least amount of animation (in some breeds, the horses are flat-shod) and the greatest emphasis on manners.
  • Show hack is a competition seen primarily in the United Kingdom, Australia, and other nations influenced by British traditions, featuring horses of elegant appearance, with excellent way of going and self-carriage. A related event is Riding Horse.

"Western" riding szerkesztés

Western riding evolved from the cattle-working and warfare traditions brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors, and both equipment and riding style evolved to meet the working needs of the cowboy on ranches in the American West.

Though the differences between English and Western riding appear dramatic, there are more similarities than most people think. Both styles require riders to have a solid seat, with the hips and shoulders balanced over the feet, with hands independent of the seat so as to avoid disturbing the balance of the horse and interfering with its performance.

The most noticeable feature of western style riding is in the saddle, which has a substantial tree that provides greater support to horse and rider when working long hours in the saddle. The western saddle features a prominent pommel topped by a horn (a knob used for dallying a lariat after roping an animal), a deep seat and a high cantle. The stirrups are wider and the saddle has rings and ties that allow objects to be attached to the saddle.

Western horses are asked to perform with a loose rein, controlled by one hand. The standard western bridle lacks a noseband and usually consists of a single set of reins attached to a curb bit that has somewhat longer and looser shanks than the curb of an English Weymouth bridle or a pelham bit. Two styles of Western reins developed: The long split reins of the Texas tradition, which are completely separated, or the closed-end "Romal" reins of the California tradition, which have a long single attachment on the ends that can be used as a quirt. Modern rodeo competitors in timed events sometimes use a closed rein without a romal.

Western riders wear a long-sleeved shirt, denim jeans, boots, and a wide-brimmed cowboy hat. Cowboy boots, which have pointed toes and higher heels than a traditional riding boot, are designed to prevent the rider's foot from slipping through the stirrup during a fall, preventing the rider from being dragged--most western saddles have no safety bars for the leathers or automatic stirrup release mechanism. A rider may wear protective leather leggings called chaps. Clean, well-fitting work clothing is the usual outfit seen in rodeo, cutting and reining competitions, especially for men, though sometimes both men and women wear brighter colors or finer fabrics for competition than for work.

Show events such as Western pleasure use much flashier equipment, unlike the English traditions where clothing and tack is quiet and unobtrusive. Saddles, bits and bridles are ornamented with substantial amounts of silver. The rider may add a jacket or vest, and women's clothing in particular features vivid colors and even, depending on current fads, rhinestones or sequins.[2]

Western horses are asked to have a brisk, ground-covering walk, but a slow, relaxed jog trot that allows the rider to sit the saddle and not post. The Western version of the canter is called a lope and while collected and balanced, is expected to be slow and relaxed. Working western horses seldom use a sustained hand gallop, but must be able to accelerate quickly to high speed when chasing cattle or competing in rodeo speed events, must be able to stop quickly from a dead run and "turn on a dime."

Rodeo szerkesztés

Rodeo events include the following forms of competition:

Timed events szerkesztés

  • Barrel racing and pole bending - the timed speed and agility events seen in rodeo as well as gymkhana or O-Mok-See competition. Both men and women compete in speed events at gymkhanas or O-Mok-Sees; however, at most professional, sanctioned rodeos, barrel racing is an exclusively women's sport. In a barrel race, horse and rider gallop around a cloverleaf pattern of barrels, making agile turns without knocking the barrels over. In pole bending, horse and rider run the length of a line of six upright poles, turn sharply and weave through the poles, turn again and weave back, then return to the start.
  • Steer wrestling - Also known as "Bulldogging," this is a rodeo event where the rider jumps off his horse onto a steer and 'wrestles' it to the ground by grabbing it by the horns. This is probably the single most physically dangerous event in rodeo for the cowboy, who runs a high risk of jumping off a running horse head first and missing the steer, or of having the thrown steer land on top of him, sometimes horns first.
  • Goat tying - usually an event for women or pre-teen girls and boys, a goat is staked out while a mounted rider runs to the goat, dismounts, grabs the goat, throws it to the ground and ties it in the same manner as a calf. This event was designed to teach smaller or younger riders the basics of calf roping without the more complex need to also lasso the animal.

Roping szerkesztés

Roping includes a number of timed events that are based on the real-life tasks of a working cowboy, who often had to capture calves and adult cattle for branding, medical treatment and other purposes. A lasso or lariat is thrown over the head of a calf or the horns of adult cattle, and the animal is secured in a fashion dictated by its size and age.

  • Calf roping, also called "tie-down roping," is an event where a calf is roped around the neck by a lariat, the horse stops and sets back on the rope while the cowboy dismounts, runs to the calf, throws it to the ground and ties three feet together. (If the horse throws the calf, the cowboy must lose time waiting for the calf to get back to its feet so that the cowboy can do the work. The job of the horse is to hold the calf steady on the rope) This activity is still practiced on modern working ranches for branding, medical treatment, and so on.
  • Team roping, also called "heading and heeling," is the only rodeo event where men and women riders may compete together. Two people capture and restrain a full-grown steer. One horse and rider, the "header," lassos a running steer's horns, while the other horse and rider, the "heeler," lassos the steer's two hind legs. Once the animal is captured, the riders face each other and lightly pull the steer between them, so that it loses its balance, thus in the real world allowing restraint for treatment.
  • Breakaway roping - an easier form of calf roping where a very short lariat is used, tied lightly to the saddle horn with string and a flag. When the calf is roped, the horse stops, allowing the calf to run on, flagging the end of time when the string and flag breaks from the saddle. In the United States, this event is primarily for women of all ages and boys under 12, while in some nations where traditional calf roping is frowned upon, riders of both genders compete.

"Rough Stock" competition szerkesztés

In spite of popular myth, most modern "broncs" are not in fact wild horses, but are more commonly spoiled riding horses or horses bred specifically as bucking stock.

  • Bronc riding - there are two divisions in rodeo, bareback bronc riding, where the rider is only allowed to hang onto a bucking horse with a surcingle, and saddle bronc riding, where the rider is allowed a specialized western saddle without a horn (for safety) and may hand onto a heavy lead rope attached to a halter on the horse.
  • Bull Riding - though technically not an equestrian event, as the cowboys ride full-grown bulls instead of horses, skills similar to bareback bronc riding are required.

Harness szerkesztés

 
A welsh pony in fine harness competition

Horses, mules and donkeys are driven in harness in many different ways. For working purposes, they can pull a plow or other farm equipment designed to be pulled by animals. In many parts of the world they still pull wagons for basic hauling and transportation. They may draw carriages at ceremonies, in parades or for tourist rides.

As noted in "horse racing" above, horses can race in harness, pulling a very lightweight cart known as a sulky. At the other end of the spectrum, some draft horses compete in horse pulling competitions, where single or teams of horses and their drivers vie to determine who can pull the most weight for a short distance.

In horse show competition, the following general categories of competition are seen:

  • Combined driving, an internationally-recognized competition where horses perform an arena-based "dressage" class where precision and control are emphasized, a cross-country "marathon" section that emphasizes fitness and endurance, and a "stadium" or "cones" obstacle course.
  • Draft horse showing: Most draft horse performance competition is done in harness.
  • Pleasure driving: Horses and ponies are usually hitched to a light cart shown at a walk and two speeds of trot, with an emphasis on manners.
  • Fine harness: Also called "Formal driving," Horses are hitched to a light four-wheeled cart and shown in a manner that emphasizes flashy action and dramatic performance.
  • Roadster: A horse show competition where exhibitors wear racing silks and ride in a sulky in a style akin to harness racing, only without actually racing, but rather focusing on manners and performance.
  • Carriage driving, using somewhat larger two or four wheeled carriages, often restored antiques, judged on the turnout/neatness or suitability of horse and carriage.

Other equestrian activities szerkesztés

 
Girls and their horses preparing for a polo game

There are many other forms of equestrian activity and sports seen worldwide. There are both competitive events and pleasure riding disciplines available.

Arena sports szerkesztés

  • Arena polo and Cowboy polo
  • Pato (Argentina's national sport)
  • Charreada, the highest form of Mexican horsemanship based on a mixture of Spanish and Native traditions.
  • Lovastorna: In vaulting, a surcingle with two hoops at the top is attached around a horse's barrel. The horse also wears a bridle with side reins. The vaulter is longed on the horse, and performs gymnastic movements while the horse walks, trots, and canters.
  • Gymkhana, also known as O-Mok-See in the western United States.
  • Reining

Horse sports that use cattle szerkesztés

Defined area sports szerkesztés

Cross-country sports szerkesztés

  • Competitive Mounted Orienteering‎, a form of orienteering on horses (but unrelated to orienteering) - consists of three stages: following a precise route marked on a map, negotiation of obstacles, and control of paces.
  • Le Trec, which comprises three phases - trail riding, with jumping and correct basic flatwork. Le Trec, which is very popular in Europe, tests the partnership's ability to cope with an all-day ride across varied terrain, route finding, negotiating natural obstacles and hazards, while considering the welfare of the horse, respecting the countryside and enjoying all it has to offer.
  • Competitive trail riding, a pace race held across terrain similar to endurance riding, but shorter in length (25 - 35 mérföld (56 km), depending on class). Being a form of pace race, the objective is not to finish in the least time. Instead, as in other forms of judged trail riding, each competitor is graded on everything including physical condition, campsite, and horse management. Horsemanship also is considered, including how the rider handles the trail and how horse is handled and presented to the judge and vet throughout the ride. The horse is graded on performance, manners, etc. "Pulse and respiration" stops check the horse's recovery ability. The judges also set up obstacles along the trail and the horse and rider are graded on how well they perform as a team. The whole point is the partnership between the horse and rider.
  • Cross Country Jumping, a jumping course that contains logs, and natural obstacles mostly. The common clothes worn are usually brighter colors and less conservative.
  • Endurance riding, a competition usually of 50 to 100 mérföld (160 km) or more, over mountainous or other natural terrain, with scheduled stops to take the horses' vital signs, check soundness, and verify that the horse is fit to continue. The first horse to finish and be confirmed by the veterinarian as fit to continue is the winner. Additional awards are usually given to the best-conditioned horses who finish in the top 10.
  • Fox hunting
  • Hacking or pleasure riding
  • Hunter Pacing is a sport where a horse and rider team travel a trail at speeds based the ideal conditions for the horse, with competitors seeking to ride closest to that perfect time. Hunter paces are usually held in a series. Hunter paces are usually a few miles long and covered mostly at a canter or gallop. The horsemanship and management skills of the rider are also considered in the scoring, and periodic stops are required for veterinarians to check the vital signs and overall soundness of the horses.
  • Ride and Tie is a form of endurance riding in which teams of 3 (two humans and one horse) alternate running and riding.
  • Steeplechase
  • Trail Riding, pleasure riding any breed horse, any style across the land.

A lovak sportban való használatának kritikái szerkesztés

Most horse owners are interested in the well-being and welfare of horses. Some are allied with various animal welfare organizations that try to end genuine abuse of horses. Almost all competitive events have well-established rules and regulations to prevent abuse of animals and to encourage ethical behavior. Most high-intensity sports like show jumping, endurance riding, eventing, rodeo, and horse racing are closely monitored by veterinarians to prevent and treat injuries. On the other hand, there are genuine abuses of horses that do occur. Some people, often motivated by profit or a desire to win at all costs, may inflict pain, overwork, injure, neglect, starve, or drug horses in ways that harm the animal's physical health and mental well-being.

Organized groups dedicated to protecting all animals, such as the Humane Society of the United States, and animal rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, target some horse sports with claims of animal cruelty. Horse racing and rodeo are most commonly targeted both because of their visibility to the non-horse-oriented public and because these are sports where it is sometimes difficult for people who do not know much about horses to differentiate between pushing equines to perform to their peak and actual abuse.

One problem is a disagreement about terms like abuse. While some individuals consider even fairly drastic discipline of horses as non-abusive, others consider abuse to be anything done against the will of the animal in question. Some people consider poor living conditions abusive, others think riding itself is abusive. There is no consensus on the issue. Further, the perspective of the individuals holding various viewpoints is sometimes quite different. For example, horse professionals claim they know better what is best for horses than people who live horseless lives, easily influenced by propaganda. On the other hand, other individuals claim that many horse professionals are biased because of motivation for personal gain.

However, many people take a middle ground, primarily concerned that certain sports or training techniques may unnecessarily cause pain or injuries to horse athletes, just as they do for human athletes. Some people who advocate use of horses in equestrian activities point out that horses in the wild have a shorter average life expectancy and are injured more often and more severely than those used in sport. Most public laws and statutes carefully describe criminally abusive practices that incur legal penalties in very specific terms.

Some behaviors and activities are widely condemned as abusive by people within the horse industry, even if not illegal as a matter of public law. Use of many performance-enhancing drugs is prohibited in most competitions, and organizations that sanction various events spend a great deal of money testing horses for illegal drugs. Some specific training or showing practices are so widely condemned that they have been made illegal at the national level and violations can incur criminal penalties. The most well-known is soring, a practice of applying a caustic ointment just above the hooves of a Tennessee Walking Horse to make it pick up its feet higher. However, in spite of a federal law in the United States prohibiting this practice and routine inspections of horse shows by inspectors from the United States Department of Agriculture, the practice is still widespread and difficult to eliminate.[3]

Some events themselves are also considered so abusive that they are banned in many countries. Among these are horse-tripping, a sport where riders chase and rope a loose-running horse by its front legs, throwing it to the ground.

Lásd még szerkesztés

A Wikimédia Commons tartalmaz HorsemansWiki/Lovasember témájú médiaállományokat.

Források szerkesztés

Ez a szócikk részben vagy egészben az Equestrianism című angol Wikipédia-szócikk ezen változatának fordításán alapul. Az eredeti cikk szerkesztőit annak laptörténete sorolja fel. Ez a jelzés csupán a megfogalmazás eredetét és a szerzői jogokat jelzi, nem szolgál a cikkben szereplő információk forrásmegjelöléseként.

Hivatkozások szerkesztés

Külső hivatkozások szerkesztés