What is U.S. Horsemanship?

The dictionary defines horsemanship as the art, ability, or skill of riding horse, but U.S. horsemanship is so much more than that. It’s roots reach back to the 1500s when  Spanish conquistadors explored the New World, through the history of California and Texas and the Cowboys in the west , to the horses and horse racing that the British brought to the colonies. The Founding fathers of our country were horseman  and horsemanship played a role in all of the wars that formed our Nation. The United States was built with horsemanship.

English riding dominated the east coast while western style riding dominated the West.  The South was the home to the plantation horses, another different style of riding. And while the East may have had less work and more sport associated with horsemanship it ran a parallel with the West, each seat and style serving a unique purpose.  Racing developed in the east while a form of  deadly racing developed in the west through the Pony Express, Cowboys moved herds and worked on ranches in the west  while children rode horses to school and  Fox Hunting flourished in the east.

The West had competitions as rodeo developed. The East had the society shows.  And And certainly horsemanship skills abounded at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows.

The amazing horsemanship of the Indians and the grueling rides of the Cavalry are both part of U.S. Horsemanship.

Polo, jumping competitions and endurance rides abounded between U.S. Forts and Fort Riley developed into the finest Cavalry School in the world and sent successful equestrian teams to the Olympics. Then when the Cavalry was dismounted  the public flourished in developing skills and competition.

Horsemanship was not immune to the interests of women and  just like in other aspects of US culture women began to make strides in riding. Women broke through barriers and went from riding side saddle to riding astride and were accepted as Olympian and finally as Jockeys.

Breeds and associations developed, horse show competition became a way of life. And horsemanship became a huge industry.

About midway in the 20th century  youth programs like USPC and 4 H developed. And now in the 21st century reining is on the list as an Olympic sport. Roping has huge popularity on both coast and as more amateurs and urban adults find the means to learn to ride, pleasure riding has become a huge pastime.. As the amateurs increased a new genre of horseman developed. They are called horse whisperers or round pen trainers, modern terms for very old skills.

U.S. Horsemanship is as complicated as is our society. In fact, if one studies the horsemanship growth, styles, and trends of our great country one studies U.S. history.

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