Horse racing ? is a horse competition for speed passing the distance on the race track or flat area. Flat races are held, as a rule, in 1200-3200m distances (depending on horse's age: national flat races ? are usually held in longer distances (up to 7km), flat races combining with hurdle race is held in the racecourse of 2-3km extant with 1 meter height hedge on each kilometer.

Cross-country race (the name of this horse race event shows the place of its holding) takes place in 3-8 km distances including compulsory and self-assumed routes with immobile cross-country obstacles (on the basis of three obstacles for each kilometer). Flat races history traces to epsom derby cities. They say there even existed two thousand guineas stakes connected with flat trace.

Hunt ride (French: par force riding) is a kind of field riding. It represents horse riding that includes elements of flat race but with usage of hounds searching animals (deer, wolf, wild boar, fox, hare, etc) or following the artificial foils. The distance of such kind of horse competition is up to 35km.

Horse-ski competitions consist of flat race and skiing elements. They are always held on the racecourse or flat gently snow-covered country roads. There are two variants of these difficult competitions: skier is driven by the horse controlled by this skier by means of braids or straps from the breeching; skier is driven by the horse controlled by another horseman.

Horse speed distance test based originally on flat race takes place on the 25, 50 and 100km routes that go through the highway or country roads. Horse power endurance test is always held during 24 hours or even several days.

 During the trick riding (vaulting) and stunts on horse back competitions (both compulsory and self-assumed programs) sportsmen execute gymnastic exercises. Trick riding (vaulting) includes: jolts, over swings, scissors, dismounts, prone positions, balancing on the circling galloping or trotting horse; stunts on horse back competitions consist of jolts, over swings, standing ride, rotation, picking up of different objects from the ground, and are kept on straight path longing for 200m under the horse speed of 400m/h. Stunts on horse back as a national competition is especially traditional in the following countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Georgia. But all trainings for these difficult competitions start with flat race trainings otherwise they would be useless.

Today horse ride games get more popular. The most popular of them are pushball and polo. Pushball: there are two teams consisting of 6-8 riders each; their aim is to score a goal into the rival's gates on the field sized 150?300m or 200?400m. Polo: this game is widespread in the countries of West Europe and The USA. Two teams consisting of 4 players each are engaged in this game. The riders tend to score the goal using special golf-club and wooden ball (diameter 10-12 cm). The game is divided into six terms, 15 minutes each. The polo players specially trained horses (height 160-162 cm). Polo was present on many Olympic Games.

The first record of horse race on the Olympic Games traces to 680 B.C. Special schools for horse racing appeared at the beginning of 16^th century in Italy, France, England, Spain and Austria.