What the heck is a musical ride?!!

In what context? The Household cavalry do a performance to music with gun carriages, not dissimilar to dressage- is that what you mean?
 
Orchardbeck said:
In what context? The Household cavalry do a performance to music with gun carriages, not dissimilar to dressage- is that what you mean?
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No, I've seen an ad for musical rides at a local riding club - you pay an entry fee and go along to do whatever the heck it is they do?! It doesn't even say what they do!
 
We used to do musical rides when I was young, a riding club team of us riding patterns in a ring to music, it went well till someone had the bright idea we would ride at one show accompanied by the bagpipe band on the show ground instead of our music, we lost one team member before they really got started as her pony left the arena at speed!
 
We have done 2 versions of musical rides - We all started a hack on our least favourite horse, then all swapped around until we ended the ride on our favourite :)

Or, just like musical chairs! First one off the horse and onto the chair wins!
 
Have never done it, but a young friend of mine does. A I understand and have once or twice seen it, it's basically a co-ordinated dressage-style (but much more fun) ride set to music - a bit like freestyle skating. It can be one person (I've seen it done in Spain) but more usually a team of six or eight riders. Impeccably dressed, sometimes the ladies riding sidesaddle, on, if possible, perfectly matched horses.

Don't make light of it because you don't know it. It requires extremely polished riding skills, and can be breathtaking to watch. When the army and police do musical rides it's more in the nature of very fast, accurate riding involving intricate movements, occasionally involving jumping as well. Google it and you'll see!
 
As basically said by Rosefolly above, police display rides are a good example of modern Musical rides.

Usually a group of 6 or more - tho 16 is a good number to start with.
Usually in a good sized arena - 60 x 20 or wider.
Drill ride starting with riders put into 2 single file rides, performing movements in the arena, anything from coming up centre line in pairs, to 4's to catherine wheels, to changing rein on opposing diagonals as single file rides, then pairs & more (having to slot between each other on cross over) etc etc....
Can also include jumps for the more brave.

Often would be a 'staple' at pony clubs, sometimes in the past used with whistle only & in later years having music.
2 of our local PC's would put one on at the end of camp - lovely to try to marshall anything up to 60 children on 12hh to 16hh+ into doing the same movements together!!
Great fun for those who like doing movements in an arena with others :)
A much older friend of mine loves them - she hates schooling, but her horse enjoys these & she can concentrate on being arruate with movements (and leaves the 'outline stuff') :biggrin3:

Choice of music helps in making a Musical Ride go well :)

Best term to think of is Synchronised team riding to music :)
 
Our club is offering group riding to music as a bit of fun and a precursor to see if anyone would be interested in Quadrille.

Years ago at riding school we would ride a pattern as a group and it was really fun trying to match paces and coordinate so that you didn't collide!
 
Throughout I school I was on a quadrille team (of anywhere between four six, depending whether people were available) and I loved it. There were quadrille tests at all the dressage shows, so we did quite a lot of showing and always did well. I tried to get one going at my uni, but people weren't interested. :(

I have also had musical rides at a horse camp where we all rode around and music played. When the music stopped, you had to jump off your horse and sit in a chair. A chair would be taken away every round, the usual traditional musical chairs thing. It was exciting.
 
Caol Ila said:
I have also had musical rides at a horse camp where we all rode around and music played. When the music stopped, you had to jump off your horse and sit in a chair. A chair would be taken away every round, the usual traditional musical chairs thing. It was exciting.
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It was canage when we did it :)
 
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