Kostroma Hippodrome

People and horses - together for a very long time. Horses became faithful friends of people in 9000-10000 years ago. It’s even hard to imagine.

Horses were helpers in both work and war. This went on almost to the present day. Even today, the horse remains an important element of human life from a practical point of view, but this is happening to a lesser and lesser extent.

In cities, the horse has become an element of exoticism. You can see a horse on the street only in some strange circumstances. It can be a retro-style walking crew, it can be mounted police. It is unlikely that you will find a horse harnessed to a cart that carries firewood.

But there is such a thing - a racetrack. Hippodrome is the kingdom of horses and riders. We have a racetrack in the city of Kostroma. Sometimes there are races.

This is always a very interesting sight.

Kostroma Hippodrome was established in 1945. This was due to the need to breed horses for agricultural purposes. After World War II, the country needed to rebuild the economy and needed more horses.

In addition to agricultural tasks, sports breeding began.

Since 1967, regular competitions in all types of equestrian sports began at the Kostroma hippodrome. Competitions were large-scale. Teams came from all over the Soviet Union. The competition was attended by more than 300 horses.

The Russian Championship is still held at the Kostroma Hippodrome. Sometimes I manage to attend these competitions.

Most often I get into show jumping competitions. It is very interesting to watch how riders and horses perform jumps and overcome obstacles.

Interestingly, most riders are very small. Uniform white clothing looks spectacular on them.

Young riders look especially beautiful. Something very interesting is that young girls deftly handle large, strong animals.

The horse turns out to be much larger and stronger than the young girl - the rider, but the horse clearly fulfills all the commands and this amazing tandem acts as a whole.

When I find myself on the field of a hippodrome, I always want to be very close to the place of the jump. But strangers are not allowed to. I always think that it’s worth agreeing with the organizers of the tournament, getting registered and taking those pictures that I want, but for some reason the routine of everyday affairs does not allow me to fulfill my plan.

One has only to observe the competition from the side.

This is no less interesting.