The biannual Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup will be taking place in South Africa this year, and on March 30 and 31, top riders from around the country will be competing for their chance to represent the United States.
At the finals, riders will be mounted on horses that they have never ridden before. To find a team of riders best suited for the pressure of catch-riding, competitors at this weekend’s trials will ride William Woods University school horses with minimal warm-up time. Each competitor will be judged by a panel of five judges while riding two different horses on the rail and in two equitation patterns.
Entry into the trials is limited to junior and amateur riders age 14 and older. Riders qualify for the three-gaited trials by winning one of the six UPHA Challenge Cup finals, the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final, the USEF Amateur Adult Saddle Seat Medal Final, the American Morgan Horse Association Medal Final and the Arabian Horse Association Medal Final. This allows for representation from all of the major saddle seat breeds.
Two riders receive automatic bids for the five-gaited trials by winning the UPHA Five-Gaited Horsemanship Finals or the National Show Horse Five-Gaited Horsemanship Finals. The remaining spots are selected from riders who have submitted an application with reference letters and a video demonstrating their riding ability.
Saddle seat equitation is governed by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) but is not an FEI-recognized sport and is little-known outside of the Saddlebred, Arabian and Morgan communities in the United States. However, with the continued success of the World Cup over the past twenty years, the sport’s supporters have raised its international profile. In 2011, the USEF announced that it would be providing support for the World Cup teams. This year’s trials will mark the first done under the direction of the USEF.
I had no idea there was a saddle seat world cup! Very cool.
Does anyone check these horses for “soring”? They should!!!
As a person competing in the trials, I suggest toyon get yourself educated about this breed and their abilities. They are not sored. The fact that you would even suggest that they are is extremely offensive tithe entire Saddleseat community. Please, save yourself from embarrassment and educate yourself. There are reasons why only several breeds are used in Saddleseat.. Because they are the only breeds with the natural ability.
The horses used for the trials are mainly Saddlebreds, and there is no need to test them for soring. If they were sore or lame in any way, they could not trot and could not do the railwork or patterns required. The competition this weekend is for selection for the riders only, and they will be riding horses from William Woods College.
I love this article and I wish all of the competitors the best of luck. Best piece of advice..which you have all heard before “Enjoy your ride”!
Good luck to all
Looks like fun.