Horses provide a great way to stay fit and active. Whether riding a horse or working with it on the ground, you are sure to get a good workout. Joining a club or organization that matches your horse interests is a great way to meet people and enjoy new opportunities. There are many horse organizations in Ohio.
All Breeds
The Central Ohio Saddle Club Association (COSCA) supports all breeds and focuses on showing horses. Although the club is open to all breeds, OSCA offers breed specific high-point awards for Appaloosa, Tennessee Walking Horse, American Saddlebred, Arabian and Quarter Horses among others. The Association has divisions for youth and adult riders and supports both halter and under-saddle shows.
Rodeo
The Ohio High School Rodeo Association, or OHSRA, supports a number of rodeo events including bareback or saddle bronc riding; barrel racing; pole bending; breakaway, team or calf roping; steer wrestling; goat tying and cutting. The OHSRA strives to build character, sportsmanship and horsemanship in high school students through competing in rodeo events.
Trail and Endurance Riding
If you are interested in trail or endurance riding, consider joining the Ohio Arabian & All-Breed Trail Riding Society (OAATS). Two types of events are held by OAATS, competitive trail riding and endurance riding.
Competetive trail riding consists of trail rides that are typically 25 to 40 miles long. The horses are judged by their condition at the end of the race. For example, judges will compare the pulse rate and soundness of the horses. Endurance riding is a cross-country race that is typically 50 to 100 miles in length.
Dressage
For those who enjoy the classical art of dressage riding, there are several clubs available in Ohio. The Ohio Dressage Society and the Dressage Company are both part of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF). The clubs offer several USDF and schooling shows each year as well as membership meetings and informational clinics.
Breed Specific
There are also several breed-specific organizations in Ohio. For example, the Ohio Foundation Quarter Horse Association (OHFQHA), which holds shows for Foundation Quarter Horses. Some of the events included at the shows are ranch cutting or penning, cow working and ranch riding.
Owners of Arabian horses, consider the Ohio Valley Arabian Horse Association (OVAHA). The Association has recreational riding and high point awards for Arabians that show in events such as western or English performance or dressage.
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