Event Title
Emergence of Women in Equestrian Sports & Challenges They Encountered
Session
Session 4: Horses and Conflict
Location
Mary Tefft White Cultural Center, University Library
Start Date
29-9-2023 1:50 PM
End Date
29-9-2023 2:30 PM
Description
The emergence of women in the Equestrian Olympics and Horse Racing industry did not appear until after the 1950’s. Why were women restricted from competing? The history on this including more detail and information on how this transpired will be presented. Women were not allowed to ride astride until the 1950’s. Although records show one woman named Elvira Guerra competed side saddle in the 1900 Paris Olympics in the Horse and Hound competition, but women were not allowed to compete again until the 1950’s. Equestrian events in the Olympics were restricted to only Military men officers until 1951when the ban was lifted.
Liz Hartel from Denmark was the first woman to compete in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in Dressage. Pat Smythe from England was the first woman to compete in the Olympics in Show Jumping in 1956 in Stockholm Sweden. Kathy Kusner was one of the first American women to compete in Show Jumping in 1962. This opened up many more opportunities for women.
In 1964 the Civil Rights Act came into law, but there was still a prohibition on female jockeys. Only male Jockeys in the race horse industry were allowed until Kathy Kusner won a court battle saying women could ride in races in 1968. Although the first time a race was posted with a women jockey the race was boycotted and the male jockeys did not show up. This was another challenge. Diane Crump was another important figure in the progress of women jockey’s and equestrians.
Today women and men compete against each other in the Equestrian Olympics and racing.
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Crystal, "Emergence of Women in Equestrian Sports & Challenges They Encountered" (2023). Equine History Collective Conference. 10.
https://docs.rwu.edu/equinehistory-conference/2023/friday/10
Emergence of Women in Equestrian Sports & Challenges They Encountered
Mary Tefft White Cultural Center, University Library
The emergence of women in the Equestrian Olympics and Horse Racing industry did not appear until after the 1950’s. Why were women restricted from competing? The history on this including more detail and information on how this transpired will be presented. Women were not allowed to ride astride until the 1950’s. Although records show one woman named Elvira Guerra competed side saddle in the 1900 Paris Olympics in the Horse and Hound competition, but women were not allowed to compete again until the 1950’s. Equestrian events in the Olympics were restricted to only Military men officers until 1951when the ban was lifted.
Liz Hartel from Denmark was the first woman to compete in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in Dressage. Pat Smythe from England was the first woman to compete in the Olympics in Show Jumping in 1956 in Stockholm Sweden. Kathy Kusner was one of the first American women to compete in Show Jumping in 1962. This opened up many more opportunities for women.
In 1964 the Civil Rights Act came into law, but there was still a prohibition on female jockeys. Only male Jockeys in the race horse industry were allowed until Kathy Kusner won a court battle saying women could ride in races in 1968. Although the first time a race was posted with a women jockey the race was boycotted and the male jockeys did not show up. This was another challenge. Diane Crump was another important figure in the progress of women jockey’s and equestrians.
Today women and men compete against each other in the Equestrian Olympics and racing.
