"Qualifications Loisirs"

"Qualifications Loisirs" are a quality label intended for equines suitable amateur sport. This label is a benchmark for users and buyers who prioritize pleasure, comfort and safety.

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A quality label for recreational equines

The objective of “qualifications loisirs” is to highlight the qualities required of a horse intended for recreational use, whether for trekking or for amateur sport. It is a question of giving benchmarks to users and buyers who wish to practice in confidence, with comfort, pleasure and safety.

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These tests are aimed at :

• For breeders who wish to promote their production, as well as the work of education and then training

• To future owners who wish to acquire a tested frame

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They are open to all equines from 1 to 18 years old, divided into the following groups :

• Juniors : horses from 1 to 2 years old, presented in hand

• Seniors : horses from 3 to 18 years old, mounted or harnessed

• Donkeys and mules : presented in hand and packaged

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Course of the tests

The tests include :

• A series of 12 behavioral tests, which takes place in an outdoor environment. The twelve exercises proposed aim to measure the horse's education (immobility, set foot, boarding a van) and the horse's reactions to common outdoor situations (visual or auditory surprise, crossing a ditch, up or down, passage of a gate, a ford, animal park, etc.) ;

• An emergency stop by gradually changing from the sustained trot to the stop, in order to measure the speed control of the presented horse ;

• A presentation with three gaits, intended to appreciate the regularity, the balance and the commitment of the equine. It also makes it possible to judge the "social" behavior of animals and their attitude towards other horses ;

• A presentation in hand for the judgment of the model. The equine is not judged on the basis of its breed or its aesthetics ; the judges observe in particular the orientation of the neckline, the quality of its back or the accuracy of its legs.

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To find out the dates in your region and register : www.equides-excellence.fr

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Long reins - Work on foot

The FFE has developed a number of official tests to promote these disciplines.

 

The work on foot is declined through work in the lunge and work in the long reins.

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This is a practice mode allowing future riders to discover equestrian activities while remaining on the ground, or to approach contact with the horse in a different way for initiated riders.

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It is also a working method to contribute to the progress of riders and ponies/horses. The long reins in particular are a horse training tool. The trainer uses these reins to give him directions without being on his back or in a team. We can act more easily on the hind legs than on the back.

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• They make it possible to soften the horse thanks in particular to all the work of the lateral movements

• If an overlay is used, it is possible to let the horse go on double tethers. Useful for relaxing, lengthening, passing gear like obstacles

• They are an excellent way to prepare the young horse for his breaking out, in career as in walk

• They allow initiation into harnessing, ski-roller joëring and skidding.

 

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​​Equifeel

Stallion are prohibited in this discipline.

 

Fun tests on foot where the rider chooses contract difficulty levels to highlight his bond with his horse.

 

The purpose of the Equifeel is to give the rider more understanding of the pony or horse, thinking and feeling in his interactions with him. ​

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Mountain trail

Originally indoors for winter practice, the Mountain Trail appeared in 2001 in the USA.

 

The Mountain Trail, which can be translated as mountain obstacle course, highlights the perfect outdoor horse ; a confident horse,  which moves with a natural pace, in a safe and secure way for its rider, on natural obstacle courses that could be encountered outdoors.

 

It demonstrates the quality of the man/horse relationship, the true "Horsemanship" which aims to show the confidence, courage and sporting performance of all breeds of equines and all equestrian disciplines.

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Rules and standardization of devices to make them safe for riders and horses have been put in place.

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Each Mountain Trail route has its own identity, playing with the relief of the terrain and the variation in the series of difficulties to be overcome. Each structure chooses the devices it wishes to build and set up, from a list of more than 25 basic devices. Each rider/horse pair can evolve there, and find real sporting pleasure whatever their level and riding.

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Mountain Trail is practiced on foot or in the saddle, solo or in duo, one person on foot and one on horseback.

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In Mountain Trail, novice riders and horses will progress in step between and on the devices with simple execution contracts. Then the higher gaits and more complex maneuvers will be introduced as they progress.

In competition, the rider is judged on his relationship quality with his horse, the discretion of his requests and use of his aids, the quality of each  device crossing, trajectories, etc.

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The horse is judged on its frankness, its ability to trust its rider but also its ability to assess for itself the obstacle to be overcome.

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The rider presents himself in the clothes and equipment related to his riding (Classic, Camargue, Doma vaquera, Western, etc.).

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Driving

This discipline where a car is harnessed behind one or more horses has up to 3 tests : dressage, marathon and maneuverability.

 

These tests validate the competency and the skill of the driver and make it possible to test the good physical condition, the frankness, the submission and the flexibility of the horses.

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One of the peculiarities of this discipline is the fact that you can practice driving with several people, with family or friends. In addition to the leader, one or more teammates can be on the car next to him.

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Driving is practiced in competition with 1, 2, 4 horses. The flagship category is that of 4 horse teams, which can also be found at the World Equestrian Games every 4 years.

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The different tests :

• Dressage : this is a series of compulsory figures to be performed from memory. The beauty of the team, the precision of the figures and the gait of the horses are evaluated by judges ;

• Marathon : this is a course over varied terrain where the teams have a series of technical difficulties called "obstacles". These are composed of narrow and winding passages materialized by posts and natural passages such as fords, hillocks and slopes. This test is very spectacular ;

• Maneuverability : this is a point test and at a free pace presenting a succession of doors materialized by cones called obstacles, to be passed successively in the order of the numbers. Balls placed on the cones generate penalties when the coupling lacks precision and causes them to fall.

 

Different levels of competition comprising the tests presented above or those listed below allow everyone to discover and progress in driving and this whatever the age, experience and technical level.

 

• Skill tests : they allow you to start the team with playful situations. The leader will have to be precise to cross and succeed in the various contracts. The teammate picks up rings with a sword, places balloons in drums;

• Combined dressage : combines a maneuverability course with compulsory dressage figures which are evaluated by judges;

• Combined Maneuverability : This test combines a maniability course with marathon obstacles.