The legs of two young girls sit astride their beloved ponies at a gymkhana in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Wearing a smart herringbone patterned jacket, regulation jodhpurs, short polished boots and holding a crop to encourage the horse to perform a series of trick and races, the rider nearest the viewer sits calmly awaiting the next event. The word gymkhana is an Indian Raj term that referred to a place where sporting events took place to test the skill of the competitors. In the UK and east coast of the US, the term gymkhana now almost always refers to an equestrian event for riders on horses, often with the emphasis on children's participation (such as those organised here by the Pony Club). Gymkhana classes include timed speed events such as barrel racing, keyhole, keg race (also known as "down and back"), flag race, and pole bending.
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