Swatching

[Liz E.]

Does anyone here do swatching? I think it's really exciting!

[floppy]

what is swatching?

[Liz E.]

It's a game, like musical chairs, the word sounds like 'switching' and I think where it came from. I'm pretty sure it originated somewhere in Africa. A group of 7 horses and riders all stand in a line. In front of them are 6 X's made my sticks ste up in a circle. You stand in front of an 'X' after the spectators stop chanting abruptly. In other words, switch your 'seats' or horses ... but one person is out so they are watching. Get it? SWATCHING.

I hadn't ever heard of it before my sister traveled there last summer. She had never ridden before, but had a great time. I did some research, and realized that it began becoming popular in Canada, and the northern US, but somehow died out. It's really an amazing sport, and very popular in Bojemia (where they speak English).

[Edited by Liz E. on 12th May 2001 at 02:22 AM]

[Liz E.]

Swatching is a gymkhana favorite. The NSWAOA (standing for : National SWatching Assosiation of America) has their own horse show in Louisiana (a VERY exotic and diverse state). This also includes English and Western events, in hope to increase popularity of Swatching.