Soccer is Huge

But on Horseback?

May 2006
Working Horse World

It started out as a small idea with big balls.  Using a 50 inch inflatable sphere as a training tool, to de-sensitize horses.  Who would believe they would want to kick it? 

But they did, and Horse Soccer was born!

It was 2 years ago when horse trainer Renee' Miller decided to introduce the ball into her daily teaching routine, and as word spread about this new technique, more and more people showed up at Renee's Kansas ranch to see horses of all breeds, ages, and physical ability play Horse Soccer!  

Renee' soon discovered that the horses not only could kick and advance the ball, but they LOVED doing it!   And that any horse could learn to do it in as little as 10 minutes!  Soon after, Horse Soccer leagues were formed, and teams of riders were competing with strange names such as the Chuck Norris Roundhouse Kickers, the Villa Ventura Ball Busters, the Ottawa Odd Balls, and the Norbern CowBalls!

Renee', along with husband Randy, decided to make the game available to everyone.  They ordered a shipment of the 50 inch inflatable balls, produced a short instructional DVD, which shows you step-by-step how to train your horse to play, and packaged everything together on a website at www.horsesoccer.com

You can also log on there to watch video of Horse Soccer, which some will just NOT believe until they see it!

Since the press release announcement in early May, 2006, Renee' has been interviewed by radio and TV stations around the world, including Ireland and Australia!  There have also been calls from  David Letterman and Jay Leno's Tonight Show!  It's almost like people have never seen horses playing soccer before!

As for the game in general, there are very few rules, except that the rider cannot kick the ball with his or her feet.  Games are played mostly at a trot, with lots of passing, blocking, and of course, fast breaks down the field! 

Horse Soccer games can be played on any level, from slow beginner games, to fast-paced, very competitive matches!  It all depends on the physical condition, and competitive nature of the horses and the riders!  Horse Soccer can be played outdoors, or indoor arenas, and a good sized game will involve anywhere from 4-8 horses, depending on the amount of space available.  Most games last about an hour, which amounts to a great workout for both horse and rider!

Horse Soccer also serves as an excellent training method for both horse and rider, since the players are so focused upon the game, they are actually working in harmony, and may not even realize it!

Horse Soccer can also be used in therapeutic riding, giving the riders another way to enjoy their horse experience.

In short, Horse Soccer is all about fun.....and BIG BALLS!    As the official T-shirts at www.horsesoccer.com say,

"We Encourage Horseplay!"

www.HorseSoccer.com

Thanks to Randy Miller for contributing this article and Purina as a sponsor.