A young rider who “adored her sport” has died after an accident in competition.

The British Horseball Association announced with the “deepest regret” that Victoria Percy had died on 13 April, as a result of injuries she sustained in a fall on 10 April.

Victoria was competing in a league event at Onley Equestrian Centre in Warwickshire when her horse tripped and she fell.

“She was attended to immediately by the on-site medical team until the arrival of the county ambulance when she was transferred to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire,” said a British Equestrian (BEF) spokesman. “The horse is under veterinary treatment for a minor trauma injury.

“Once in hospital, Victoria’s condition did stabilise but then deteriorated rapidly and the difficult decision was made by her family to let her go.”

In a statement, the British Horseball Association said: “On behalf of the sport of horseball, we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Victoria’s family at this sad time. The thoughts and prayers of our community are with them.”

Victoria was selected for British horseball squads, including for the under-16 European Championships held at Bishop Burton in 2018. In 2017, she won an end-of-season British Horseball Association award for the most improved under-16 player .

BEF chairman Malcolm Wharton said: “Everyone at British Equestrian joins together to offer our sincere condolences to Victoria’s family, friends and the entire horseball community.

“I understand she was a determined young lady, a fierce competitor and adored her sport. Her loss will be felt by many, but they’ll be united by the memories she leaves.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Described as a mixture of mounted rugby and basketball, horseball is a relatively new team sport which is fast gaining in popularity in the UK.

It involves a special ball fitted with handles, and mounted players lean down to pick up the ball, pass it to each other and attempt to put it through the goal hoops without being tackled by the opposing team. It’s fast, furious, and — according to players — tremendous fun.

British Horseball Association coach Hayley Garner (pictured on the grey below) has been riding since she was 11 and has competed in dressage and showjumping as well as horseball. She’s been playing since she was 12 and has competed in the first (pro elite) division as well as representing Great Britain.

“Picking up the ball is actually a lot easier than it looks — once you have the initial confidence to slide down the side of the horse, it soon becomes second nature and before you know it, you’re picking the ball up in canter,” says Hayley. “Over the years I’ve trained a lot of riders who have lost their confidence, and playing horseball has in fact really helped and encouraged them to keep riding.”

Sarah Hudgins has ridden since childhood and competed in multiple disciplines. She was always heavily involved with ex-racehorses and first discovered horseball at a Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) ‘have a go’ day. Four years later, she now plays in the second division with The Nottingham Knights. She agrees with Hayley that initially horseball can take a bit of getting used to!

“Many people find the hardest thing is letting go of the reins completely to throw and catch the ball, my coach can still often be heard shouting ‘two hands’ at us,” she laughs. “Also, the first time you see the huge, inflatable barrier you wonder how on earth your horse is going to cope but somehow, they just do!

“The key skill you need is balance and it’s actually surprisingly easy to get the hang of. The strap that goes from stirrup to stirrup under the horse is what makes collecting the ball from the floor possible and you’re pulling against yourself rather than the horse. Once you feel how secure the strap is, pick ups aren’t nearly as scary as they sound! Tackling is great fun, and even the quietest rider gets competitive when they try to snatch a ball from an opponent.

“The best horseball horses tend to be forward thinking, brave and receptive to the rider’s aids. It makes a fantastic second career for ex-racehorses, but you will see absolutely every type of horse and rider combination. In our team alone we have thoroughbreds, a coloured cob, a Connemara and an Irish Draught. You’ll also see children of only four or five years old playing on Shetlands and Welsh section As! Horseball is so much easier and enjoyable on a well-schooled horse so often the more different disciplines your horse has done the better. From a personal point of view, the improved balance, flexibility and bond from playing horseball has improved my dressage enormously, and my horse and I competed at the RoR National championships at Aintree last year.”

Hayley agrees: “It’s great for improving dressage, as it’s definitely an advantage to be able to manoeuvre your horse around the pitch while constantly changing pace. You don’t always have contact on the reins so you soon learn to ride with your seat!

“I love that it’s such a great spectator sport as well as team sport. I’ve made a lot of friends over the years and am still in touch with many of them now.”

Sarah adds: “If anyone thinks it’s too hard, I would simply tell them that if I can do it, anyone can! I’m short, round, fast approaching 40 and the horse I ride is a 17.2hh ex- racehorse who stopped racing due to severe tendon injuries. Three years ago I had a bad arm injury (not horseball related!) and lost all my riding confidence, yet horseball with my team mates was the one thing that I could still do. When you’re concentrating on trying to go in the right direction and catch a ball, there’s no room for being scared! It’s also incredibly good fun.”

If you’d like to have a go at horseball, a number of coaches now host ‘have a go’ days as well as working with the Pony Club to do taster sessions.

“We have a number of riding schools that offer horseball taster sessions and would like more on board,” says Hayley. “We’ve also linked up with the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) to offer all their members the opportunity to introduce horseball into their schools. For more information, visit the British Horseball Assocation website.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

You might also be interested in:

Try something new in 2019 — polocrosse

Find out how you can get involved with this exciting, fast-paced game

Fancy trying your hand at horse agility? Here’s what you need to know first…

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

As well as displaying their talents in the worlds of dressage, showing and eventing, many former racehorses are now finding a new career playing horseball.

The thoroughbreds have become particularly prized in the top echelons of the sport, with 13 out of the 16 current British team horses having retired from the track.

To showcase their talents, the British Horseball Association and Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) held an exhibition match at the 32Red Newmarket open weekend.

Eleven ex-racehorses took part in the event (17 September), at which jockeys also got to try their hand at the sport.

“The RoR have become quite heavily involved with us and sponsored a contribution towards our teams this year and last year. We do a lot of parades each year at UK racecourses,” said first division horseball player Jenny Hughes.

“A lot of players would rather have an ex-racehorse than anything else. More and more of them are coming into horseball and they’ve been brilliant at it. People are now actively going out and buying them for the job.”

The Horseball Association describes the sport as “a mix of polo, rugby and basketball”, with teams of six (four allowed on the pitch at any one time) competing to shoot a ball through a high net (measuring 1.5×1.5m).

A horseball horse requires some of the same attributes as a polo pony — although size is not as much of a critical issue.

“Even though we pick a ball up off the floor, we have the equipment to do that, so there is no height limit. While polo ponies are usually small, we have a whole team who play on 17.2hh ex-racehorses,” Jenny said.

“There are similarities in that it’s a similar kind of ball game and a similar kind of retraining — there are horses close together touching each other and the rider does a lot with their seat and leg and not much contact.

“We can take horses who are considered ‘too hot’ for polo though, because we play in an arena and we want that responsiveness. A hot horse who won’t stand still or is pacing might not suit polo but for us the anticipation works quite well in such a fast paced game.

“In higher divisions everything is quite quick and you can be galloping for 20 minutes. If you have a horse that has got that energy, for experienced players that works really well in your favour.”

The speed and agility of thoroughbreds make them an ideal choice for the sport and former racehorses have also proved straightforward to retrain.

“One thing that I think is really important is their attitude. I have an ex-racehorse I play on and he’s really trainable and willing to learn new things. From the environment they’ve been in they’re also usually really good with other horses, Jenny added.

Expert advice on how to train an ex-racehorse

We ask the experts what steps you should

Painting ex-racehorse Metro Meteor signs his own book

Thoroughbred Metro Meteor has made an impact in

9 things ex-racehorse owners get sick of hearing

“They pick it up so quickly as it’s a relaxed environment where they can trot round with other horses, so they feel comfortable.

“Once they’ve played a while they soon understand their job. My ex-racehorse definitely switches on when he’s playing and he loves it.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

It's competition season, but if you fancy trying your hand at something other than the usual suspects, check out these activities…

1. Side Saddle

This is enjoying something of a revival since it virtually died out in the 1920s, when it was no longer deemed unladylike to ride astride. The National Side Saddle Show takes place from 31 July-2 August at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in Buckinghamshire. With over 70 classes, it’s free for spectators. Why not see if it tickles your fancy? Visit The Side Saddle Association website at www.sidesaddleassociation.co.uk for more information and to discover how to get involved with the sport.

2. Horseboarding

Not for the faint-hearted, horseboarding is an up-and-coming sport in which a horse rider tows a board rider along on a mountain board. It’s a multi-discipline sport that tests the skills of both the rider and the boarder – not to mention the horse! There are two disciplines — horseboarding drag race, in which teams compete to be the fastest, and arena horseboarding, in which competitors negotiate a series of obstacles. You’ll find details of how to get involved at www.horseboardinguk.org.

Continued below…

21 signs you’re a horse nut

3. Jousting

Mediaeval re-enactment is perennially popular and horses are often involved in battle re-enactments or tournaments. If this floats your boat, visit The Mediaeval Combat Society at www.themcs.org to see how you can get involved. If you just fancy trying your hand at the jousting (and frankly, who wouldn’t), then The Knights of Middle England, near Warwick, offer jousting experience days for people with any level of riding experience. Check out their website www.knightsofmiddleengland.com.

4. Horseback archery

Historically originating from the people of the Steppe region — the Mongols, Turks, Sythians, Samartians and Huns — this military art was turned into an equestrian sport, but really only practiced in Japan and Korea where the Steppe traditions live on. The Horseback Combat Centre, in Hertfordshire, is the first and only dedicated horseback archery training and competition centre in the UK. They offer courses from beginners’ weekends, to a half day course at £95 per person. Visit the website at www.horsebackcombat.co.uk.

5. Horseball

A fast and furious game played on horseback where points are scored by shooting a ball through a hoop, horseball is a combination of polo, rugby and basketball. It’s rapidly growing in popularity in the UK and is one of the ten disciplines officially recognized by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. There are a number of demos you can go along to this summer if you’re interested in getting involved – you’ll find details on the British Horseball Association’s website at www.britishhorseball.co.uk

6. Rodeo riding

‘Get off your horse and drink your milk!’ You too can make like John Wayne and try your hand at being a Western cowgirl or cowboy, right here in the UK. The British Rodeo Cowboys Association in Fawkham, Kent, offers training and competitions in all Western riding disciplines from neck-reining to working with cattle. More laidback riders can simply enjoy trail riders. Upcoming events include a rodeo on 1-2 Aug and a cattle clinic on 5 Sept. Visit their website at www.rodeocowboys.org.uk for more information.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Horse & Hound’s Madeleine Pitt joined the North London Horseball Club under the guidance of trainer Jim Copeland, to but her ball skills to the test — on horseback. If you’ve always fancied giving horseball a try, take a look at her top tips for first-time success before you take to the pitch.

Madeleine’s 7 tips for first-time horseball players

1. Swot up on the rules — having a rough idea about the rules of the game before you start will mean you feel marginally less useless once the game kicks off. Knowing that you can only hold the ball for 10 seconds, that three consecutive passes have to be made between team members before you can shoot and that giving the ball from hand-to-hand doesn’t count as pass is a good start. Visit www.britishhorseball.co.uk to get the full details.

2. Dig out a ball and practise throwing — it may well have been a long time since you graced a netball court or rugby pitch, but digging out a ball and having a throw around before your lesson will get your eye in. There’s the added bonus that the ball used for horseball — which is a junior size football — has a harness with six leather straps on it, reducing the chances of you being labelled a butterfingers.

3. Try ditching the reins — getting a feel for riding without relying on your reins will give you an advantage once you’re concentrating on trying to throw and catch at the same time.

4. Get flexible — leaning out of the side door to pick up the ball doesn’t come as easily in reality as it does in your head. However tall you may be and however small your mount is, it feels like a long way to stretch down, so it might be wise working on your flexibility/ reach before you start.

5. Keep your eyes on the ball — picking up the ball can be frustratingly difficult. Just when you think you have a grip on it, you seem to sail past without it. Jim Copeland’s top tip is to keep your eyes on the ball until you’ve almost passed it — it’s tempting to look up too early.

6. Don’t linger at the back — don’t be hesitant about getting involved. It might be tempting to linger at the back, keeping a wide berth of the ball. But the more you’re involved in catching and throwing, the better you get a feel for the flow of the game.

7. Stock up on bubble bath — a long, hot bath is the only answer to recovering after your first attempt at horseball. Be prepared for aching muscles (and thigh bruises) like you’ve never had before. But as you soak in your bath, you can enjoy basking in the glory of the goal you scored and start planning your next lesson.

Keen to give horseball a try?

Visit www.northlondonhorseball.org.uk to find out more. Members have their own horses and training sessions cost around £5.

Don’t miss the full article about trying horseball for the first time in the 1 January 2015 issue of Horse & Hound

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Jodhpurs are not my first choice of get-up for a Sunday morning on the underground. But the drunk/asleep revellers making their way home from the night before were in no place to judge.

It was a different story four hours later, post-horseball initiation, nestling my way among the Christmas shoppers, with hat hair plus a flushed face and hands that looked like they’d been digging without gloves.

Founder of the North London Horseball Club, Jim Copeland‘s base at Arkley Lane Stables, is a short drive from High Barnet tube station — and within minutes you’ve forgotton you’re anywhere near London and the tube is a distant memory.

The yard is under renovation, but already in place is a full-size horseball pitch. As I arrive, members of the club who’ve kindly turned out on a Sunday morning to give me a taste for the game are warming up. And suddenly it dawns on me that it is not just Jim that will be witnessing what is sure to be some mild humiliation — but also two teams of players.

Jim hooks me up with 18-year-old Mister Motivator — bred by Jim and an old-hand at the game, I’m assured I’m in safe hands.

We start off with some casual throwing to warm-up, at walk, trot and then canter. This is OK, I think to myself. Throwing and catching — especially when there’s a leather harness on the ball — is doable.

But then comes the bombshell. Picking-up. There’s getting down there — again, feasible. Then there’s trying to get a grip on the ball at a canter — imagine reaching full stretch for the final jar of chutney at the back of the supermarket shelf, at speed.

And just when you’re at breaking point, there’s the soul-destroying moment when you have to heave your body back into the saddle as your mount heads off at speed in quest of the goal.

But it is not long before the mild humiliation passes, and I am concentrating so hard on defending, chasing the ball, mastering penalty protocol, knowing when you’re allowed to attempt a shot (after the ball has passed through the hands of at least three team members consecutively), and how long you can hold the ball for (10sec) that when the final whistle blows, that whale-like sensation of getting back in the saddle is a distant memory. Instead, I’m basking in the glory of scoring a goal.

Unattractive thigh bruises aside, this game is addictive. If you have called time on your days of team sports — think again.

You need one horse, one ball and the only piece of specialist kit is a “pick-up strap”, which connects the stirrups together and allows you to stretch down to the floor without hitting the deck.

My lesson was proof that the horses used are a diverse bunch — Jim points out that many of them are ex-racehorses, with the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) working closely with the sport.

The team spirit quickly reminds you why you signed up to all those wet afternoons of games at school. And if nothing else, scoring from horseback is the ultimate ego boost.

Don’t miss the full article about trying horseball for the first time in the 1 January issue of Horse & Hound magazine

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

See pictures of Europe's best horse-ball competitors doing battle as the sport seeks official recognition from the FEI

France proved unbeatable in the exciting Horse-Ball European Championships at the Normandy Horse Show (13-17 August, 2013).

The home team claimed gold in all 3 categories: pro-elite, ladies and cadet (under 16s).

Spain collected 2 silver (pro-elite/ladies) and 1 bronze medal (cadets), while Portugal won a silver (cadets) and a bronze (pro-elite). Belgium collected a single bronze in the ladies championship.

The best rider in the pro elite category was France’s Michael Legal, while Spain’s Gerard Garcia was the top scorer with 16 goals.

Photos by HorseBall M3

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The European Horseball Pony Championships 2010 will be held at Bishop Burton College this summer, as part of the FEI European Pony Championships (27 July -1 August).

Horseball is a fast and furious combination of rugby and netball on horseback. It is played widely in France and has been growing in popularity in the UK in recent years.

It is the third time the Federation of International Horseball (FIH) has held its European championships at the European Pony Championships.

David Pettifor, of the British Horseball Association, said: “It really raises the profile of horseball when it is included alongside the Olympic disciplines.

“It gives our junior players something to aim for and the spectators something different to see.”

The event organisers hope to welcome sides from Italy, France, Belgium, Spain and Portugal as well as GB to the competition and the matches will be divided between the four days of the championships.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A team from Melton, Leicestershire, took top honours at the British Horseball Association’s (BHA) Open Championships last weekend.

More than 100 horses and riders took part in the championships at Arena UK on 10 and 11 October — the final event in the BHA’s calendar.

In second place, in the open division, was Nottingham Red, followed by London Firsts.

Winning the novice senior division was South Causey, second Derby and third placed-team was London.

Derby was victorious in the junior division (player Christie Morgan, pictured), followed in second place by Newnham on Severn, and in third, South Causey.

Event sponsor PolyPads donated prizes for the division winners, and individual prizes, too.

Samantham Coulman of London Firsts won 2009’s most improved player, while Kaitlyn Gregory of Newnham Juniors won player of the tournament.

Matty Fawcett of South Causey Juniors won the best goal award and

Emma McGriskin of London Extras took home the best turned out prize for the weekend.

The Retraining of Racehorses Charity Trophy was awarded to Mikey Barton of Newnham seniors.

In an effort to step up welfare, prizes were also awarded to the best horses of the weekend and Newnham Juniors took home the prizes for the best presented at vetting each morning — courtesy of British Horse Feeds.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In the fourth running of the European Ladies Horseball Championships, in Rennes on Sunday 16 September, the British team beat Belgium 12-2 to bring home bronze, out of six nations.

They are only the second British team to win bronze. Leading horseball nation France took gold, with Spain in silver.

The British team was captained by Zoe Kerry (Hopeful Mission), with Sarah Whitby (Murfy), Rochelle Plumb (Loreena), Caz Parrett (Takouta Spirit), Jenny Lowther, (So Independent), Jodie Wise (Royal Origin), Donna Allen (Starbuck Charger) and Emma Lowther (Siglavy Kyra).

Emma Lowther, pictured above with Rochelle Plumb, told H&H : “We went in to the final game knowing what we had to do and we did it. We played the best horseball any of us have ever played.

“The whole team would like to thank the national coach Matthew Worthington.”

www.britishhorseball.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

With the rain finally easing across the country, the British Horseball Association headed to Solihull Riding Club on 5 August to host a ladies one-day tournament.

Eight teams entered with two novice and six more experienced teams. Newnham, Chepstow and Yorkley were unable to attend due to the recent bad weather.

The day included a couple of upsets of form as Nottingham were beaten by Rutland, who went on to win Group A, and South Causey pulled back a poor display in their first game to win group B.

The day also gave the mixed team of Kevin Burton, Jamie Gibson, Ben Berry, David Gardener, Mark Brennan, Adam Maycock, Chris Radley and Kevin Brown a chance to train for a final time before they left to contest the European Cup in St. Lo.

The BHA will be returning to Solihull for a league weekend in September before the ladies team of Zoe Kerry (captain), Sarah Whitby, Donna Allen, Emma Lowther, Jenny Lowther, Rochelle Plumb, Jodi Wise and Caz Parret head to the Ladies European Championships in Rennes.

Find out more about the sport of horseball

Results

Group A

1. Rutland Horseball Club

2. Nottingham Horseball Club

3. London A

Group B

1. South Causey Horseball Club

2. London B

3. London C

Novice division

1. Nottingham Horseball Club

2. North London Novices

Visit: www.horseball.org.uk and www.midlands-horseball.btik.com

• Send us your comments about this show
• Interested in reporting for us?
• Spotted an error?

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A taster clinic for those new to the sport of horseball is taking place at South Causey Equestrian Centre in Durham on Saturday, 23 June.

The two-hour sessions, which are organised by the British Horseball Association, start from 2pm and cost £10.

Normal riding gear is required for riders, but the equine participants will need a leadrope, martingale and boots to take part.

For further information, visit www.horseball.org.uk or contact Emma Lowther emmalowther22@hotmail.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The first ever Midlands Region Horseball Challenge will take place at Moorhouse Equestrian Centre in Doncaster on 6 May.

The one-day tournament will see the top senior and junior players in Great Britain battling it out.

A taster session for those interested in playing horseball is also being held at the centre on the same day. Those interested in taking part should contact Emma (tel: 07894 682561).

The 2007 horseball season got underway on 1 April when the Newark and Cotgrave clubs contested the Grantham Cup at the Belton Horse Trials. Newark won by one goal.

British Horseball Association

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain will host an international horseball event for the first time next month.

Players from France, Belgium and Germany will play three British teams in the ladies’ international at Booksby Agricultural in Leicester from 16-18 November.

Horseball is played by two teams of between four and six riders, who pick up a ball from the ground without dismounting and score goals.

The sport originated in France and came to the UK in 1991. Now, the British Horseball Association has 212 members, and became an associate member of the British Equestrian Federation in June.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Horseball is a relatively new equestrian sport, first played in France 20 years ago, and introduced to Britain in 1991 at the Horse of the Year Show. Invented by French riding instructor and rugby player Jean-Paul Dupont, horseball has been described as a cross between rugby and basketball on horseback. It was developed initially as an exercise to improve the skill and discipline of horse and rider, but it soon evolved into an exciting spectator sport.

How big is the sport in Britain?

After horseball was introduced to the UK, a group of riders got together to form the British Horseball Association (BHA), which now has 200 playing members and a loyal band of supporters. There are teams countrywide, and the sport is being rapidly taken up by riding schools and universities.

The BHA sent teams to the European Cup in Portugal in September, and the European Horseball Pony Championships in France in the summer. With the sport growing in popularity in countries such as Brazil, Israel and Argentina, it is hoped that next year there will be a world championships in horseball.

How does the game work?

A match consists of two halves, each 10min long, with a three-minute half-time period. There are two referees – one mounted and one on the ground at the side of the arena.

Each game consists of two mixed teams of six riders, who play to gain possession of a ball (the size of a junior football) specially fitted with leather handles, and to score in the goals at each end of the arena. The goals are hoops one metre in diameter, suspended on 3.5m poles. Only four riders are allowed on the pitch at a time, but substitutions can be made during the match.

The game is fast-moving, with a minimum of three consecutive passes before a goal can be scored, and the ball must not be held by any player for longer than 10 seconds. If the ball goes out of play, the game restarts with a line-out.

The opposing players may intercept, tackle or retrieve the ball if it falls to the ground. This is done while the riders are connected to the horse only by their stirrups, which are joined together by a strap under the horse’s stomach.

Can anyone play?

The minimum age for players is eight years old, and children play at cadet level, for 8- to13-year-olds. Junior level is for players under 16, and senior for those aged 16 and over. Competitions for ladies only have recently been introduced, and the British ladies’ team is enjoying considerable international success.

Despite the fast-moving nature of the game, there is a strong emphasis on child protection, rider safety and horse welfare. Any type of horse or pony can take part, and the majority of those used also compete in other disciplines, such as hunting, dressage, show jumping and even racing.

Mary Pettifor, chairman of the BHA, says the association encourages riders to use their horses in other sports, especially dressage: “Dressage training is particularly important to develop turns and obedience,” she says. “Speed is essential, particularly at the higher levels, so it is vital to combine this pace with control through flatwork.”

How can I start playing?

Many riding schools offer lessons and clinics, and the association has a list of registered trainers who are available to come out to groups of riders who want

to learn the sport.

If you don’t have a horse or would prefer not to use your own, contact the BHA through the website, and it will put you in touch with riding schools that offer lessons on hired horses. The association also runs clinics throughout the year; prices vary, but the average cost is £15.

Where can I find out more?

For more information, visit: www.horseball.org.uk or contact the chairman, Mary Pettifor, tel: (0115) 966 4574, or email: arkenfield_racingservices@btinternet.com

This feature was first published in HORSE magazine (January ’05)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Originally developed to improve riding skills in a manège, horseball was dreamed up 20 years ago by a French rugby-playing riding instructor, and caught on in England in the 1990s.

Teams of four play two 10min chukkas, aiming to make three consecutive passes using a football-sized ball with leather handles, before shooting it through a hoop.

Players retrieve a dropped ball using the precarious-looking technique of sliding from the saddle and scooping it up by hand, helped by a strap connecting the stirrups.

The game is played in an indoor or outdoor manège the size of an international dressage arena, key elements being accurate rugby-style passing, good tackling, team tactics and athleticism. Although the sport played by equal numbers of men and women, the physical demands mean that men dominate at international level.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you’re looking to try out an exciting equestrian sport with a difference, horseball could be the answer

Horseball is a fast and furious team sport that is said to be a cross between rugby and basketball on horseback.

The sport was developed 20 years ago by the French Equestrian Federation who were looking for something to help develop riding skills The format was devised by Jean Paul Depons, a riding instructor and rugby player.

Since its inception, the sport has grown worldwide and Britain now boasts eight senior teams including the Trent Valley and Cobham Manor.There are also several associated junior teams.

Rules of the game

Each team comprises four players competing in halves of 10 minutes. The pitch is no more than 70m x 30m, which ensures a close contact game.

The game is played with a junior-sized football with six leather handles.This “ball” must be won during a line up and then passed to a minimum of three team members at least three times without dropping it, or allowing the opposition to gain possession.

The ball is then passed through a hoop 1m in diameter and 3.5m from the ground to score.

If the ball is dropped, the player must slide from the saddle and sweep it up secured only by the stirrups, which are attached to a belly strap around the horse. The riders must also contend with his fair share of “barging” from the opposing team. The idea is to throw the opposing player off balance and use this opportunity to take the ball.

Physical contact is essential when tackling, although “grabbing” players is against the rules.

Horseball demands good horsemanship and is open to riders aged eight and over. According to Kevin Smith, Horseball’s sponsorship liaison manager, a suitable candidate would be “the typical riding club rider”

Horse suitable for this sport should be fit and have considerable stamina. Ex-polo and racehorses are ideal, although the horse must remain controllable even when in close proximity of other horses and not become upset by the rider moving around in the saddle.

Horses should wear over-reach boots and bandages for protection, while the rider must wear a hat of recognised safety standards, sturdy footwear and knee boots.

To find out more about horseball visit www.horseball.org.uk

Read about other unusual equine sports:

• All about polocrosse
• Jump into 2001 with JumpCross
• How to get started in Western riding

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now