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Categories: Equestrian Lifestyle

The Near Side: When Other Animals Compete in Equestrian Sports


Note: This is day five in my 30-day blogging challenge. What the heck is a 30-day blogging challenge? Read about it here.



Well, here’s the best thing that came through my news alerts all weekend. It’s the Squirrel Grand National Nutional, where squirrels compete in a specially designed steeplechase course to determine who reigns supreme.



Squirrel Steeplechase is just one of many equestrian sports that have been adorably appropriated by other species. What could be better than Bunny Show Jumping?

How about Dog Dressage?

Or Kitten Barrel Racing?

Or Big Fluffy Cat Jumpers?

Seriously, what did we do before the Internet?

Back to The Near Side


Leslie Potter is Sr. Associate Web Editor of horseillustrated.com. Follow her on Twitter: @LeslieInLex. 

Leslie Potter

Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky. Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.

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