horseball - does it hurt their backs?

[skye123]

i`ve got in touch with a horseball trainer whoes willing to come and give me and other people down my yard a couple of horseball lessons to see how we get on for fun

i havent spoken to other people yet but i`ve spoken to one of my friends and she said her mum wouldnt let her as she thinks that it hurts the horses backs when we lean down to get the ball.

my reply was that surely its no different from doing mounted games and that the only time you are leaning down is when your picking up the ball (please correct me if i`m wrong)

so does it hurt their backs? its odviously its going to add a bit of strain but if the horses enjoy it and seem ok i dont see a problem?

 

[Bosworth]

people tend to favour one side when picking up = dependent on Right/left hand. This causes a wooden treed saddle to twist over the horses back and can cause permanent saddle damage which will then cause permanent back damage.

Also I am really concernned as I used to run a saddlery in an area that had several horse ball teams. As part of the rules, every rider HAD to wear spurs and a Standing Martingale. This from cadets upwards. Some of the cadets were 6 years old. How on earth can they be good enough to wear spurs. These were raked across the ponies sides as the riders slide around the horses bodies picking up .

Also we had several larger ladies who were so heavy they pulled their saddles round as they bent down - so they got seriously tight overgirths to jam the saddle on.

It is fun - and I am sure the adult version is skilled, but to be honest I was horrified by young kids wearing spurs and in the heat of the game the ponies welfare was completely ignored. It also in several cases made the pomies uncontrollable in company

 

[Orangehorse]

I have watched horseball in France and they have some extra girth to keep the saddle in place. They didn't use spurs and they were penalised for improper use of the whip. I only saw "friendly" games though, nothing official.

I was very impressed by the riders, they were extremely athletic.

 

[Bosworth]

The rules in france are well established as they have been playing it for years. An the adult teams are brilliant, as you say very athletic. However in this country the rules are a bit hit and miss. Certainly the 3 teams in my old area all Had to use spurs, and a standing martingale.

 

[Bounty]

I sold one of my mares into horseball, no hesitation whatsoever.

As long as the rider makes an effort to practise their pickups equally on each side then there shouldn't be a problem. It's extra important that your saddle fits properly though, especially the gullet width. I think on the horseball UK website theres a really good guide to preparing your horse for horseball. Alos, once you've got the hang of getting in and out of the saddle it's only fleeting moments of being unbalanced.

I've been and watched the mare play a few times, and yes there are standing martingales, but these are to help the ponies balance in the stops and turns (same as for polo and polocrosse) and help prevent missing teeth too!

Spurs are not compulsory and many people do not use them, the area played in is so small anyway, and the majority of horses/ponoes that play horseball are just bigger versions of mad PPC ponies, no extra rocket power required!

Have fun!

 

[IndianaWarpaint]

I can't really talk for horseball - looks like so much fun, but have never had a suitable animal!! - but i did do pony club games in which you leap on and off and have to lean right down off the ponies sides, and i've never known the ponies to get bad backs from this...

many of the games ponies also wear standing martingales, which is to prevent them throwing their heads up and tanking off with the small children...

we weren't allowed to wear spurs, but the idea of 6 year olds wearing spurs disgusts me. The kid's lower legs would be so wobbly they must rake those poor pony's sides!!

I hope you do find a good answer to your questions, and, if it does prove to be a suitable sport, that you enjoy your horseballing!!!

 

[SilverSkye]

I played for a good few years on my horse i very rarely wore spurs ( certainly not compulsary ) and the small children are only allowed to use spurs if there trainers consider they are capable ( therefore most dont! )
My mare never had a bad back from playing and i could only pick up on the left used to make sure she had the physio every 6 months and never a problem.
I had great fun playing and the weekends away are real fun ( both socially and the playing)
Who is it coming to train you??