Horse riding stunts
Encyclopedia
Trick riding is a form of horse riding stunts, such as the rider standing upright on a galloping horse. Other stunts might include hanging upside down off of the side of the horse while attached to a strap or jumping on and off a galloping horse.
Horse riding stunts have been performed in many films, as well as in equestrian
events such as Equitana
and the official opening of the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
.
Horse riding stunts were also performed on the musical theatre
production of "The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular
". The trick riders for the show included Deborah Brennan and Zelie Thompson (who has also taken part in other horse shows such as Equitana).
and called it dzhigitovka. Cossacks were nearly unconquerable because could easily hide from their enemies. When communism overtook Russia, the Cossacks were forced to leave the country. Many moved to America, where they used their talents for money. They became part of the entertainment community, and soon Americans started catching on. Trick riding even became a rodeo event, where the hardest tricks earned the most points. Trick riding as a competitive rodeo event came to an end in the 1940s. The trick riding became more dangerous as the trick riders became desperate for the prize money. Rodeo producers deemed trick riding too dangerous for competition and trick riding then became a specialty act in rodeos.
Trick riders such as Shirley and Sharon Lucas became famous horse stunt women doubling for many very famous movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, Lana Turner and many more.
Rex Rossi was a World Champion Trick Rider in 1950 & 1961, World Champion Trick Roper 1971 & Hall of Fame Movie Stunt Man, a career that spanned 60 years. Rex did horse and falling stunts in Bonanza, Gunsmoke and many western movies. Rex stunt doubled for Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner, Jeff Bridges, Roy Rogers, and Bob Steele. Rex Rossi trick rode at the Madison Square Garden
in New York City for 19 consecutive years. His Veach Trick Riding saddle is on display at the Gene Autry Cowboy Museum in Los Angeles CA.
One type of trick riding is known as "roman riding", and is usually performed as entertainment in rodeo
s, circus
es and horse show
s. In Roman riding, the rider stands atop a pair of horses, with one foot on each horse. Roman riding is one of the older forms of riding, and was performed during the time of the Roman Empire
. As many as 5 horses, with the rider standing on the inner 3, have been ridden and jumped abreast. As many as 9 horses, 3 teams of 3 abreast, have been ridden and jumped in tandem. Tricks such as trading teams while riding, riding a pony team between the horse team and jumping 6 and 9 horse tandems are also performed. Sometimes riders will change teams at the trot, dance, ride backward and twirl a baton.
Horse riding stunts have been performed in many films, as well as in equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
events such as Equitana
Equitana
Equitana is a trade fair organization for equestrian sports. This bi-annual trade fair first opened in 1972 in Essen, Germany, and holds events in Germany, the United States, and Australia.-Germany:The 2009 fair was held on 14–21 March at Essen fairground...
and the official opening of the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre
The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre is a multi building and arena complex that was designed for equine usage. It has two indoor arenas, stabling, plus an education and training building, which is located on the New England Highway approximately five kilometres south of the Tamworth...
.
Horse riding stunts were also performed on the musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
production of "The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular
The Man From Snowy River: Arena Spectacular
The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular, which was based on Banjo Paterson's poem The Man from Snowy River, was a very popular musical theatre production which toured Australian capital cities twice during 2002....
". The trick riders for the show included Deborah Brennan and Zelie Thompson (who has also taken part in other horse shows such as Equitana).
History
Trick riding has a very interesting story. It has not always been an American entertainment act. It was once used as a weapon for the Russian Cossacks, who adopted it from the people of CaucasusCaucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
and called it dzhigitovka. Cossacks were nearly unconquerable because could easily hide from their enemies. When communism overtook Russia, the Cossacks were forced to leave the country. Many moved to America, where they used their talents for money. They became part of the entertainment community, and soon Americans started catching on. Trick riding even became a rodeo event, where the hardest tricks earned the most points. Trick riding as a competitive rodeo event came to an end in the 1940s. The trick riding became more dangerous as the trick riders became desperate for the prize money. Rodeo producers deemed trick riding too dangerous for competition and trick riding then became a specialty act in rodeos.
Trick riders such as Shirley and Sharon Lucas became famous horse stunt women doubling for many very famous movie stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, Lana Turner and many more.
Rex Rossi was a World Champion Trick Rider in 1950 & 1961, World Champion Trick Roper 1971 & Hall of Fame Movie Stunt Man, a career that spanned 60 years. Rex did horse and falling stunts in Bonanza, Gunsmoke and many western movies. Rex stunt doubled for Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner, Jeff Bridges, Roy Rogers, and Bob Steele. Rex Rossi trick rode at the Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City for 19 consecutive years. His Veach Trick Riding saddle is on display at the Gene Autry Cowboy Museum in Los Angeles CA.
Individual tricks
There are many horse riding stunts and many different variations of tricks, with each rider having an individual style. Tricks can be strap tricks or vault type tricks. Some tricks include the forward fender, one foot drag, spritz stand, shoulder stand, back drag, hippodrome, and spin the horn.One type of trick riding is known as "roman riding", and is usually performed as entertainment in rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
s, circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
es and horse show
Horse show
A Horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer for major, all-breed events or national and...
s. In Roman riding, the rider stands atop a pair of horses, with one foot on each horse. Roman riding is one of the older forms of riding, and was performed during the time of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. As many as 5 horses, with the rider standing on the inner 3, have been ridden and jumped abreast. As many as 9 horses, 3 teams of 3 abreast, have been ridden and jumped in tandem. Tricks such as trading teams while riding, riding a pony team between the horse team and jumping 6 and 9 horse tandems are also performed. Sometimes riders will change teams at the trot, dance, ride backward and twirl a baton.