Horse-ball

History of the play

The modern horse-ball is the French adaptation of old a equestrian sport Afghan, the Bouzkachi . The riders disputed a carcass of goat then.

Another source of inspiration for the horse-ball: the Argentinian pato . This play of Gaucho S very dangerous was interdict in Argentine in 1882 then started again in a less dangerous version in the years 1930. The Argentinian pato is introduced in France as of the years 1930 pennies the impulse of the Capitaine Clave. This last adapts the rules of the pato and created the horse-ball. It is necessary to await the end of the year 1970 to see the French federation of horsemanship starting again this " play équestre" vacuum-cleaned by the brothers De Pons installed in Castillon the Battle (33).

The first championship of France takes place as of 1979. The first Coupe of Europe is held in 1992. In 2002, the horse-ball makes a demonstration at the time of the world equestrian Jeux of Jerez. The first world cup is organized by Argentina in 2006, where clash within the framework of a mixed horse-ball - Pato the European and American teams.

Rules of the game

The horse-ball puts at the catches two teams of six riders, two substitutes and four players, but actually, a team is composed of twelve members, by including the Chevaux which play a fundamental role in the play. A team counts to the maximum six players, but only four of them are at the same time on the ground. The replacements are carried out at the time of the stops of play.

The players dispute a ball provided with six leather straps in order to go to mark goals in the opposing side by making a minimum of three master keys. The ball measures 65 cm of circumference. According to the category of the players, this size can vary.

The ground is a plane extent, generally out of sand, from 60 to 75 meters length on 20 to 30 meters of width. At the end of the ground, the goals are which consist of a metal arch one meter in diameter placed at 3,50 meters height. Contrary to the Basketball where the arch is parallel on the ground, the arch of horse-ball is perpendicular on the ground. Rolls, long pipes in caoutchoux which one fills of air, are installed on the sides of the ground. Behind these rolls are placed the trainers, the substitutes and the engineering team. They delimit to some extent the " surface réparation".

The horses are equipped with protections to the four members, a fixed martingale, and a saddle equipped with a special strap connecting the clamps: the strap of collecting. Indeed, this strap makes it possible the rider to lean on the side while being literally suspended by one of the clamps and to collect the ball on the ground, while being with horse. These movements of collecting are often spectacular. The riders are equipped with a helmet, spurs, and sometimes of knuckles.

At the time of the practice of this discipline, the contacts are very frequent, and the riders often encourage their horses to go vigorously in contact with the others to mark them, in order to make it possible the rider to subtilize the unfavourable balloon, to even deviate the trajectory of the adversary. The horses are launched in unrestrained gallops. These operations nevertheless are very regulated (for obvious safety reasons), in particular on the level of the angle of the impact, and formal prohibition to mark a player in situation of collecting, therefore vulnerable.

The horse-ball is a discipline which stresses the collective play. Indeed, each team must carry out a minimum of three master keys between three different players (on a team including/understanding four members) before if required being able to mark a goal. It is also a sport where, being given the low number of players, the versatility is of setting. Only specializations which one really observes are those in the event of situation of stopped ball: keys and penalties, like at the station of " mouche" , which is voluntarily a rider being placed in very high defensive position in order to disturb the construction of the attack of the opposing team.

The riders having often the two hands occupied by the play of ball, the horse has a great liberty of action, and its raising (in addition to traditional raising aiming at increasing its mobility) will incluera the integration of automatisms, in particular on markings and the trajectories. Moreover, the horses often appreciate this discipline because of the relative freedom which is granted to them, as well as contact with congénaires, which makes it possible to satisfy their gregarious instinct.

For more precise details: Complete official international French payment

Prize list

Championship of France elite

All champions of France, D1, D2, D3…, female, juniors…

Championship of Europe Mixed

Championship of Europe Female

See too

International federation of horse-ball

External bonds

International federation of Horse-Ball (FIHB)
Site of reference: Horse-ball.org
the horseball in photographs: horseball.fr
the horseball in Belgium
the horseball in Belgium (Flemish)