Equestrian. No, it’s not an online Star Wars series, but the discipline of riding horses competitively. It’s that sport where you see riders in tight pants and high boots leading their horses to jump over large candy-cane like poles. There’s no doubt that it’s a harrowing sport at times… I’m not sure I would feel too confident being on the back of a horse while it’s leaping over tall barriers, but maybe that’s just me?
Sometimes though, things can go a little awry…
In this incredible video, we see that it’s not just the rider who is determined to do well in the competition. In fact, it seems as if this horse would rather complete the whole routine without the rider altogether!
It all starts off pretty well, with the rider and horse both gracefully leaping over each obstacle (the rider is on the horse’s back obviously… they’re not taking turns or anything…)
In fact, they seem to be doing a great job, and the horse remains focused and steady in its approach to and clearing of each set of hurdles.
The first sign that things may go a bit wrong comes when the horse jumps a bit short of one of the hurdles. The rider is nearly flung off as the horse trips up, kicking up sand and almost collapsing.
The horse however, regains its composure and trots on, and the rider pulls herself back into control of the horse.
Or, maybe not complete control.
Even thought the team seem to be getting back on their hooves, as they begin to approach a hurdle on the far end of the competition space, the rider begins to slip off of her saddle. When the horse leaps over the hurdle, it’s game over for the rider.
As the horse lands, so does she, but painfully, on her back!
For a brief second it looks as if she may even get trampled and spectators can be heard gasping and yelling out in fear.
It’s a freaky moment, and anyone watching would seriously fear for the rider’s safety. The horse does trot on and away but bizarrely, does not lose pace.
The horse just keeps on going! You have to start wondering if in fact this horse was trying to lose the rider all along?
Not to jump to conclusions, but this horse seems pretty content to keep on trotting without the rider, so it seems to be happy to have lost the extra burden of a jockey.
The horse actually seems to be enjoying itself as it continues to leap over hurdle after hurdle. That is until the staff try to rein it back in and ruin all the fun.
Why can’t the horse complete the routine itself?
It takes several minutes to corner the horse, and the rider steps in to try soothe it. The horse is determined to keep on galloping and dodges the people as if playing a game of tag.
Eventually the horse comes to a stop, but not to any of the people in the competition zone.
At long last the horse concedes and it calmed by someone stepping out of the entrance near the spectators.
Watch the full video below to check out this wild ride with a horse who has a mind of its own!
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