Body Image Issues In Equine Sports

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How do equine-based sports affect equestrians with body image issues? Equine sports include but are not limited to the following disciplines: show jumping, dressage, mounted games, tent pegging, western, hunter, eventing, equitation, showing and racing. As with all athletes, body image and weight issues are problems that come with being a competing sportsman or sportswoman. This research is important in providing relevant information about equine sports and the competitors suffering from unhealthy body images. Competitive equestrian sport consists of both objectively and subjectively judged events. In subjectively judged events, there exists the possibility that rider appearance may influence the judge’s evaluation and final placement or …show more content…

Privette who is studying her masters in science. This source is useful because it provides direction for further research and guidance as to the questions to ask in a survey. The source shows that body image does affect riders due to the demands of their equine sport. Source B: “The ideal body shape for riding” "There is an ideal body shape for riding but no one actually possesses it (or would want to - as you will soon see!). The ‘ideal’ shape is very long in the leg and very short in the body (in order to keep the centre of gravity low), wide in the hips (for a wide base of support), flat chested (because excess weight in the chest is superfluous to a rider and raises their centre of gravity) and to top it all this ‘ideal rider’ would have a very small head (to keep the weight down)." (Horseridersmechanic.com, 2017). "This body shape, as well as being ‘ideal’ for riding, is also one that many women aspire to. Next a heavier version of the same body shape (still a good shape for riding) and lastly, on the right, a more challenging body shape because the legs are relatively shorter and heavier, and the upper body relatively longer and heavier. This type of rider will tend to experience balance problems more often than her less ‘physically challenged’ sisters. …show more content…

Two important distinctions for equestrians of all disciplines are that because we have another living being depending upon us to be smart, conscientious, and kind, there is an additional layer of responsibility that comes with true excess weight when we ride. The second thing is a bit wigglier and subjective. It is hard to break through the layers of what we think and get to what really is. For riders, extremes of behavior range from giving up horses altogether to a dangerous dance with eating disorders to stay ‘show ring

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