Equestrian Dzhigitovka
Welcome to the coolest new equestrian sport! Developed in Russia and based on the traditional Cossack arts of war, Equestrian Dzhigitovka is a multi-phase discipline involving acrobatic tricks and five types of weapon, all on horseback!
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Trick Phase Rules
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Tricks should be performed on two marked-off sections of track, each 40-60 meters in length.
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In international competitions, the rider performs three rounds with two tricks each. That is, they do two tricks—one on each section of the track—then take a break before repeating that process two more times. In Russian competitions, the rider does all six tricks in one continuous round of three laps around the track.
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Tricks may not be repeated; the rider must perform six different tricks.
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Dynamic tricks that involve constant motion should be performed once; they must be completed before the rider reaches the next section of the track (or the end of the track).
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For tricks that involve holding a pose, or static tricks, the judges will mark off a small stretch of track in each section with flags; the rider must be in the final pose when riding past the first one and hold it until they pass the second one. The distance between the flags is usually about ten meters (3-4 of the horse’s strides, usually).
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Tricks are divided into four difficulty levels. The score given for each trick can range from 0 to 10 points and is multiplied by a coefficient based on the trick’s difficulty level. Level one tricks have a coefficient of 1; level two tricks have a coefficient of 2; level three, 3; and level four, 4. Level one and two tricks are generally for less experienced competitors; level three is where most of the tricks performed by experienced competitors come from, and level four exercises are not all that frequently performed at competitions, because they are so difficult.
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All details noted in the descriptions of tricks, including raising or extending hands, must be completed for a trick to be counted. Beyond that, performing the trick neatly and smoothly, keeping legs straight and toes pointed, and other technical considerations may give the rider a better score. This is all determined by the judges.
Level One Tricks
Standing in one stirrup
Standing in one stirrup
The rider drops one stirrup and brings that leg over the saddle, standing in the other stirrup, holding on to the saddle with one hand and raising the other above their head.
Lying across the saddle
The rider brings one leg over the horse’s neck and lies down perpendicular to the saddle, holding the saddle horn with one hand and extending the other hand back.
Drag in both stirrups
The rider makes sure their legs are secure in the stirrups and falls back and to the side, extending their arms toward the ground. Arms must be straight and hands below the rider’s head.
Riding on the horses neck (no vault)
Keeping straight legs, the rider spins around the saddle horn and sits on the horse’s withers in front of the saddle, facing backward. The rider must sit in this position for the required distance with one arm extended above the head.
Cossack Hang
Holding onto the saddle horn with both hands, the rider drops the right stirrup and brings their right leg over the horse, turning to face backwards at the same time so that the left leg is tucked under the left stirrup leather. This can be achieved by bending the left leg before starting to move and pressing the knee into the saddle; that way, the leg will automatically end up in the right position. The left leg should remain bend in its secure position under the stirrup leather, and the right leg and right hand should be extended, parallel to the horse, while the left hand remains on the saddle horn.
“Flag”
This exercise is performed just like the “standing in one stirrup” trick, but after bringing a leg across the horse, the rider bends the leg that is in the stirrup and lowers their body such that the other leg, hanging down, almost touches the ground. A hand must still be extended above the head.
Swallow pose in one stirrup
Standing in one stirrup, the rider extends their other leg up and back, holding onto the pommel with one hand (on the same side as the extended leg) and extending the other hand out in front of them.
Level Two Tricks
Hanging upside down
The rider drops their stirrups and grabs the right stirrup leather with their left hand and the saddle horn with their right. They then straighten themselves and fall forward until they are hanging upside down, legs up in the air, body balancing against the horse’s shoulder. The body should be perpendicular to the ground, legs together and straight, with pointed toes.
Vaulting over the horse’s neck
Holding the saddle horn, the rider brings their right leg over the horse’s neck. Still holding the horn with both hands, they then jump onto the ground and push off back into the saddle. Both the descent and jump back up should be performed with straight legs, and the rider should “fly” up over the horse with legs together before landing in the saddle.
Vaulting over the horse’s croup
Holding the saddle horn, the rider brings their right leg over the horse’s croup. Holding the horn and resting their arm on the saddle, they jump down onto the ground, then jump back up and sit in the saddle. The descent and jump back up should be performed with straight legs and pointed toes, and the rider’s body and legs should rise over the horse’s back.
Swallow pose on the saddle
The rider stands on the saddle on one knee. This can be achieved two ways: the rider can stand in one stirrup and raise their other leg, before dropping the supporting stirrup, or they can drop both stirrups and “jump” into the saddle by swinging both legs. The hand opposite the supporting knee holds the saddle horn; the other extends forward, and the free leg extends backward. The rider should be parallel to the horse, and the extended leg and arm should be straight, tensed, and not sway to the sides.
Forward hanging
The rider jumps out of the saddle, stays on the ground, and hangs from the saddle horn with both hands, feet touching the ground. Arms must hold the rider in place, and legs should be straight with pointed toes. After this, the rider must jump back into the saddle.
Drag in one stirrup leather
This trick must be ridden with a sufficiently tight skashovka (the strap that ties the stirrups together under the horse). Failure to test the skashovka before performing it can be dangerous. To perform the trick, the rider drops both stirrups and tucks one leg under the corresponding stirrup leather. Because the skashovka holds the stirrups in place, this leg is now in a very secure position. The rider then falls back and sideways, extending their other leg into the air and stretching their hands downward. The hands must be below the rider’s head for the whole distance.
Off-tempo vault
The rider jumps down as in the vault over the horse’s shoulder, but takes a step next to the horse instead of immediately jumping back. They then bend their right leg and, pressing it against the horse’s shoulder as they jump up, swing their left leg over the horse’s neck to land facing backwards on the horse’s withers. They must then sit with straight legs and one hand raised over their head.
Reverse Cossack Hang
The rider drops their left stirrup and holds on to the saddle horn with their right hand. Swinging their left leg, they spin around the axis of the saddle horn and land on the left side of the horse, with their right leg, still in the stirrup, over the horse’s neck. The rider’s right hand remains on the saddle horn, while the left leg and arm stretch out straight in opposite directions, parallel to the horse. After this the rider must swing their body back up and over the horse’s neck and return to the saddle.
Lying across the horse’s neck
The rider drops their left stirrup and holds on to the saddle horn with their right hand. Swinging their left leg, they bring it over the saddle, spinning their body around the axis of the saddle horn, and lie on the horse’s neck, perpendicular to its movement. The right hand stays on the saddle horn, while the left is extended straight back behind the rider’s head. The left leg should also be straight, with pointed toes, while the right one remains in the stirrup to help the rider return to the saddle afterward.
Hanging upside down
Drag in one stirrup leather
Level Three Tricks
Pinwheel around the saddle horn
The rider performs a vault over the horse’s neck and jumps back up, landing on their side on the saddle, with legs on the horse’s right side. They hold onto the saddle horn and, keeping their legs straight and toes pointed, swing themselves all the way around the horse’s neck, landing back in the saddle.
Standing on the saddle
The rider begins this trick with feet in the stirrups. They jump from the stirrups up onto the saddle, holding the reins in one hand, and stand up. Ideally the jump should be performed with no hands, but gripping the saddle with them for guidance/balance does not disqualify the trick if the rider stands fast enough. When standing, the rider must extend one hand above the head for the trick to be counted. Legs should be as straight as possible, and hands should ideally not be used when the rider sits back down as well.
Reverse pinwheel
The rider performs a vault over the horse’s neck, and while returning to the saddle, turns their body upside down, with straight legs up in the air. They land facing backwards on the horse’s withers. In this position, they must extend a hand upwards to confirm their secure seat. Finally, they jump to the ground and back into the saddle. The rider must be vertically upside-down during this trick for it to be counted; the jump to the horse’s neck should not be a horizontal one.
Climbing around the horse’s neck
This trick requires additional equipment: a strap tied to the saddle horn, hanging on the right side of the horse, with a loop on the end. The rider must bring this strap around the horse’s neck so that the loop is on the left side and put their left foot into it. They then remove their right leg from the stirrup and, holding onto the saddle horn with their right hand, swing their body down and forward to around the horse’s neck. They then grab the saddle horn with their left hand and bring their right leg over the horse’s neck to sit on its withers facing forward. Finally, they return to the saddle, with or without a vault to the ground. This exercise must be finished before the rider reaches the halfway point between the two sides of the track, or it will not be counted. If the rider successfully completes it in time, and their horse does not break to the trot, they automatically receive a score of ten.
Tersk pinwheel
The rider performs a vault over the horse’s shoulder, but lands in the saddle lying on their side rather than sitting. In this position, they extend their hand to signal that the first part of the trick is finished. They then bring their right leg over the horse’s neck to sit on it backwards, as in riding on the horse’s neck. In this position, they must raise their hand over their head again. Finally, they jump off the horse’s neck by bringing their left leg over to the left side of the horse, and vault back into the saddle. The hand rider must raise a hand during each phase of this trick for it to be counted.
Ural pinwheel
As in lying across the horse’s neck, the rider keeps their right foot in the stirrup and swings their left leg around, rotating around the saddle horn, so that their body ends up on the horse’s neck. However, they then drop their stirrup and continue the circle, coming down on the left side of the horse and vaulting back into the saddle. It is advised to touch the horse’s neck as little as possible during this trick and avoid pausing or resting on it.
Scissors
The rider leans toward the saddle horn or cantle and swings their legs to lift their body off the saddle. In the air, they cross their legs and land sitting backwards on the saddle. To confirm their stability in this position, the rider must raise a hand. Then they return to their original position the same way. Legs should be straight and toes pointed, and the rider should try to achieve maximum airtime above the horse.
Vaulting on both sides
This vault is performed the same way as the vault over the horse’s neck (level 2), but instead of sitting back in the saddle, the rider lifts their body over the saddle to the other side of the horse. They must do this at least three times before sitting in the saddle. Legs should be straight and toes pointed, and should not “hang” for a long time in the saddle before descending to the other side.
Picking up objects from the ground
At competitions, the objects used for this exercise are metal rings 20 cm in diameter, each of which has a spike on the bottom that can be secured in the footing. Two of these must be picked up for the trick to be counted—one on the left and one on the right. The rider can lead down and forward or down and backward, gripping any part of the saddle, or even a single additional strap affixed to the saddle for this purpose.
Reverse hanging
Holding onto the saddle horn and the handle on the cantle, the rider lies down across the saddle on their stomach. They then bring their legs up over the horse’s croup and down to the ground such that they are facing outward and backward with their feet dragging. To return to the saddle, they perform the same movements in reverse order.
Standing on the saddle
Climbing around the horse's neck
Picking up objects from the ground
Level Four Tricks
Climbing under the horse’s belly
This trick requires extra equipment: straps on the left side of the horse to hold on to, a long strap wrapped around the horse’s belly with a sturdy ring attached for the rider’s foot to fit into. To perform the trick, the rider keeps their right leg in its stirrup and lifts their left leg onto the saddle, so they are perpendicular to the horse, facing its left, resting on their knee. They tuck their left foot into the ring, then secure the foot against their right knee (this makes a #4 shape and keeps the ring from slipping). Releasing their right stirrup, the rider dives toward the horse’s left side, holding the saddle horn with their left hand and the extra strap on the horse’s left side with their right hand. The ring moves along its strap, and the rider must be careful to keep their body close to the horse’s belly as they climb around. When they come around the other side, their left hand takes hold of the extra strap on the horse’s right, their right hand grabs the saddle horn, and then they climb back into the saddle.
Ural vault
The rider performs a vault to the ground and lands lying across the saddle on their back. Then, holding on to the saddle horn and handle, they must curl their body and bring their legs to the ground on the same side of the horse as their head. They then push off the ground, return to a lying position, and then sit back in the saddle.
Shoulder stand
Holding on to the stirrup leathers with both hands and with feet initially in the stirrups, the rider leans forward over the saddle horn and places their right or left shoulder on the horse’s neck. While they balance in this position, their body must be straight up and down, with legs together and extended and toes pointed.
Circus pinwheel
The rider performs a vault to the ground, and while jumping back up, brings their body into a vertical position, as in the Reverse pinwheel. However, instead of sitting on the horse’s neck, they spin all the way around the saddle horn, as in the Pinwheel around the saddle horn, and sit back in the saddle.