Mounted orienteering
Encyclopedia
Mounted orienteering is the practice of orienteering
while riding a horse
or other riding animal.
units and today remains an important skill for mounted search and rescue
.
. The rules between governing bodies vary widely, although all require horsemanship
and the ability to read a map
and use a compass
.
There are significant differences between mounted orienteering rules and those set down for foot orienteering by the International Orienteering Federation
. Differences concern the map
, course
, route choice
, and control point
s. Both sports use available maps, usually but not necessarily topographic maps. These maps generally are not appropriate for teaching beginning competitors to use the more advanced skills of field navigation. Hence, the required navigational skills are kept simple.
in that courses are long and competitors choose the order in which to seek control points, and resemble treasure hunting
or fox Oring
in that once in the vicinity of a control point the task is to search for (rather than navigate to) a landmark and from there follow a compass heading to the control point. The landmark is described on a clue sheet, and often is not a feature on the map; e.g., the landmark might be a tree of a noted species and size, perhaps marked in some way for the competition. There will be several landmarks in the vicinity of the control point, usually on trails. The intent is to permit competitors who find more than one landmark to use them to triangulate
the location of the control point on their map, then ride by the most efficient route directly to the control point.
and as a specific event in the multi-discipline sport of Trec
.
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
while riding a horse
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
or other riding animal.
History
Mounted orienteering was an important function of cavalryCavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
units and today remains an important skill for mounted search and rescue
Mounted search and rescue
Mounted search and rescue is a specialty within search and rescue , using horses as search partners and for transportation to search for missing persons. SAR responders on horseback are primarily a search resource, but also can provide off-road logistics support and transportation...
.
Competitive sport
Mounted orienteering can be completed competitively, either as a discipline in its own right, or as part of a multi-discipline sport such as TrecTechniques de Randonnée Équestre de Compétition
Trec or Le Trec, short for the French Techniques de Randonnée Équestre de Compétition is a equestrian discipline designed to test horse and rider. With origins in France, the sport has spread through Europe, and was introduced to the UK by the British Horse Society in 1998...
. The rules between governing bodies vary widely, although all require horsemanship
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
and the ability to read a map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
and use a compass
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
.
There are significant differences between mounted orienteering rules and those set down for foot orienteering by the International Orienteering Federation
International Orienteering Federation
The International Orienteering Federation is the international governing body of the sport of orienteering. The IOF head office is located in Helsinki, Finland....
. Differences concern the map
Orienteering map
An orienteering map is a map specially prepared for use in orienteering competitions. It is a topographic map with extra details to help the competitor navigate through the competition area....
, course
Course (orienteering)
An orienteering course is composed of a start point, a series of control points, and a finish point. Controls are marked with a white and orange flag in the terrain, and corresponding purple symbols on an orienteering map...
, route choice
Route choice (orienteering)
Route choice is a tactic in orienteering and related sports such as rogaining and adventure racing. These sports involve navigation from one control point to the next and, in most cases, the choice of route is left to the competitor. This is provided the rules permit route choice and the course...
, and control point
Control point (orienteering)
A control point is a marked waypoint used in orienteering and related sports such as rogaining and adventure racing. It is located in the competition area; marked both on an orienteering map and in the terrain; and described on a control description sheet...
s. Both sports use available maps, usually but not necessarily topographic maps. These maps generally are not appropriate for teaching beginning competitors to use the more advanced skills of field navigation. Hence, the required navigational skills are kept simple.
North America
American (NACMO) mounted orienteering competitions resemble rogainingRogaining
Rogaining is a sport of long distance cross-country navigation, involving both route planning and navigation between checkpoints using a variety of map types. In a rogaine, teams of 2-5 people choose which checkpoints to visit within a time limit with the intent of maximizing their score...
in that courses are long and competitors choose the order in which to seek control points, and resemble treasure hunting
Treasure hunt (game)
A treasure hunt is one of many different types of games which can have one or more players who try to find hidden articles, locations or places by using a series of clues. This is a fictional activity; treasure hunting can also be a real life activity. Treasure hunt games may be an indoor or...
or fox Oring
Fox Oring
Fox Oring is a variation of the sport of Amateur Radio Direction Finding. Fox Oring is a timed race in which individual competitors use a topographic map and a magnetic compass to navigate through diverse, wooded terrain while searching for radio transmitters...
in that once in the vicinity of a control point the task is to search for (rather than navigate to) a landmark and from there follow a compass heading to the control point. The landmark is described on a clue sheet, and often is not a feature on the map; e.g., the landmark might be a tree of a noted species and size, perhaps marked in some way for the competition. There will be several landmarks in the vicinity of the control point, usually on trails. The intent is to permit competitors who find more than one landmark to use them to triangulate
Triangulation
In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points at either end of a fixed baseline, rather than measuring distances to the point directly...
the location of the control point on their map, then ride by the most efficient route directly to the control point.
Europe
In Europe, there is little mounted orienteering as a stand alone sport, although there are signficant elements present in endurance ridingEndurance riding
Endurance riding is an equestrian sport based on controlled long-distance races. It is one of the international competitions recognized by the FEI. There are endurance rides worldwide....
and as a specific event in the multi-discipline sport of Trec
Techniques de Randonnée Équestre de Compétition
Trec or Le Trec, short for the French Techniques de Randonnée Équestre de Compétition is a equestrian discipline designed to test horse and rider. With origins in France, the sport has spread through Europe, and was introduced to the UK by the British Horse Society in 1998...
.