Special Olympics athletes who compete in the equestrian events learn to ride, develop sports skills and gain the self-confidence to direct and control a horse.

Athletes are able to compete in a variety of individual English and Western-style events and drill teams.

Athletes also can participate in Unified Sports® drill teams. Unified Sports® is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. During an equestrian competition, Unified Sports® drill teams would be made up of two athletes and two partners.

As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level and age (equestrian athletes are not separated by gender).  

• At the 1987 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Indiana, USA, 38 athletes competed in the equestrian sports competition; one year later equestrian was added as an official Special Olympics sport.
• The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games hosted 137 athletes representing 23 countries in the sport.
• Today there are at least 10,877 athletes from 73 Special Olympics Programs competing in equestrian.
• Fifteen Minnesota delegations offer athletes the opportunity to train and compete in equestrian sports. To find a delegation offering equestrian in your area, click here.
• Participation in the equestrian competition at the state level has grown from 20 athletes in 1995 to a peak of 78 athletes in 2002 with 47 athletes competing in 2006. For more information about the equestrian competition at Fall Games, contact Pam Bergerson.