Horse Shows in Poland v. the United States

Did you know at horse shows in Poland, the top three riders in a class all get trophies?! Cool, huh? While planning out my recent Etsy Equestrian feature with Kasia Bukowska, we got on the topic of horse shows in Poland and I was fascinated by some of the cultural differences! Here’s another one: there is no real correlation with ribbon colors like in the U.S. with blue being first and red second and so on. Also, in order to compete in horse shows, riders in Poland have to go through a series of “hoops” including riding tests and oral exams in order to earn a pin that will allow them to jump at certain heights. The emphasis on horsemanship and safety in undeniable.

Read along to see if you would be up for the challenge of competing at a horse show in Poland. And if you missed the recent blog interview with Kasia, click here to get acquainted with her remarkable art and story.

Notice the second place trophy.

How does the style of riding differ in Poland to the style in Los Angeles (or the U.S.)?

The style is completely different. First of all, hunters and equitation does not exist here. There is jumpers and that is all when it comes to jumping. In LA I was always focusing on my equitation, half seat, a longer light rein, and basically learning to let my horse do his job.  When I took lessons in Poland I found the style of riding was much more active. Sitting way back, having quite a strong contact on the horse’s mouth, and using my seat much more than I’m used to. It is a stronger ride. In training both these styles of riding, I have found I like to train my horses with a method in between, also incorporating natural horsemanship into the mix.

Kasia on Slawny.

What are horse shows in Poland like?

Something I find wonderful about Polish horse shows is that not just anyone with a checkbook can compete. Say what?!

Yes, the Polish Equestrian Federation requires that you pass a dressage test, jumping test, and oral exam covering hundreds upon hundreds of horse related questions, such as horsemanship, horse care, and equipment. That means if you want to compete in your first dressage schooling show, you have to pass all three tests, even if you never plan to jump.

There are also three levels of examination. Getting your bronze pin allows you to compete up to 1m, getting your silver pin allows you more leeway in moving up and you can compete up to 1.25m, and competing at 1.30m and up requires having your gold pin. You do actually receive a pin which you can wear on your show coat.

Kasia and Slawny share a victorious moment at a horse show in Poland.

Now other than pins you also have to have a riding license for competing at higher levels and bigger shows! In order to get your riding license you need to get a physical examination by a registered sports doctor. Then you need your pin so you can compete in a one meter jumper class that has some tweaks. It’s about finishing the course in the allotted time with the added aspect of a judge assessing your technique.

The judge is watching for lead-changes, chips, long spots, etc. If you are able to pass the judges score sheet and finish the course within the time limit, then and only then are you free to compete in whatever horse show you please (granted you compete in the designated heights for your pin ranking).

One last thing needed when sending in your show forms is your horse’s health records and passport. Yep, every horse is passported and all vaccinations (have to be signed by a veterinarian) are recorded in said passport.

If you missed the story of Kasia’s cool partnership with Slawny, click here to learn more.

Though getting all the documentation and approvals in order before being able to compete in Poland, I feel the system here keeps riders and horses as safe as possible. They are well rounded in riding, horsemanship, and are well prepared for the classes they enter. Accidents can happen, but Poland takes a lot of precautions in trying to minimize injures and equine outbreaks. In LA I remember being able to go to just about any show and compete in just about any class as long as I had a horse to do it on, a trainer who said I could do it, and the wallet to support that.

What are the show classes and show clothes like in Poland?

In the LA there were so classes you could enter open hunters, low modified jumpers, and a whole slew of flat classes. In Poland, these are your jumping options:

LL – .80cm
L – 1m
P – 1.10m
N – 1.20m
C – 1.30m

Kasia and Slawny in the jumper ring in Poland.

At shows, everyone wears white pants. The show coats vary in color and I personally love seeing riders in bright blue or red coats. In LA a majority of riders wear the classic hunter coats in navy, grey, and maybe even green. Many girl riders here just tie their hair back in a low ponytail. Girls with longer hair hair might braid their hair. I think a lot of LA trainers would have a fit seeing their riders’ hair all over the place and not tucked neatly away in a hair net.

Conclusion

I agree with Kasia that Poland is proactive in trying to minimize injures and equine outbreaks. I have witnessed riders in the jumper ring at local shows here in SoCal where I’ve thought, “Who is letting this person on that horse jumping fences at that height?” cringing as I prayed the pair stayed together, breathing a sigh of relief when they ended their round. And in the last year or so there have been two large equestrian centers where friends of mine board that have had outbreaks of hideous viruses. I just wonder if we will ever adopt greater health and safety standards with U.S. horse shows.

What do you think? Go ahead and leave your thoughts in the comments section. We’d love to know your view. Have you competed in horse shows in other countries and discovered things were different?  Or, if you are a reader from another country (not the U.S.) we’d love to hear about your horse shows too. 🙂 Maybe I’ll do a series “Horse Shows around the World.”

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