2.2 24 In the past, some horseriding events were only dedicated to men belonging to high military ranks. Women started competing in 1952 in dressage competitions. Among the non-Olympic disciplines, FEI had also included reining, a Western American riding competition, which was, however, removed from the FEI rule in 2021. The FEI includes 136 national equestrian sports federations. cattle: bestiame chariot: carro driving: attacchi endurance: resistenza eventing: concorso di completo handler: addestratore to herd: radunare horsemanship: equitazione to rely on: fare affidamento su vaulting: volteggio 50 TO GO HORSE-RIDING There is much we can learn from a friend who happens to be a horse. Aleksandra Layland HOW A MEANS OF TRANSPORT BECAME A SPORT Horse-riding has a long history which is strictly connected to the development of human civilisation. The origins Historical evidence shows that humans began riding horses around 3500 BC. At the beginning, horse-riding was mainly considered a means of transport: nomadic tribes relied on horses for herding cattle, hunting, and moving faster over long distances, while in fighting, warriors on horseback proved to be more effective than on foot. With the passing of time, horseriding evolved and became an art. Ancient civilisations like the Greek and Roman ones developed sophisticated equestrian skills, creating the first sporting events. Chariot racing, for example, became a popular pastime in ancient Rome, with elaborate tracks and a high level of competition between contestants. Modern times Horse-riding as a modern sport began in the 19th century, when equestrian events began to be organised throughout Europe. Later on, the establishment of rules and competitions contributed to make horse-riding a recognised sport, while the creation of equestrian clubs and societies was very important for promoting it, organising competitions and setting standards for horsemanship. In 1900, equestrian competitions were included in the modern Olympic Games. By 1912, the three equestrian disciplines, dressage, eventing, and show jumping, were definitely part of the games . Along with the Olympic disciplines, horseriding includes non-Olympic ones such as polo, driving, endurance, and vaulting . International association All these disciplines together with the para equestrian disciplines of dressage and driving are governed by the rules of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (F d ration Equestre Internationale, or FEI ). In horse-riding competitions, the horse s well-being is one of the most important concerns; harsh or abusive riding or training is strictly prohibited.