Snapshot
With the popularity of other sports such as cricket, football and basketball, equestrian sports got off to a slow start when the Barbados Show Jumping Federation was formed in the 1960s. However, after a brief existence, this organization was dissolved and subsequently replaced in the 1970s by the Barbados Equestrian Association (BEA). In order to ensure that they were not fated to the same outcome of the Barbados Show Jumping Federation, the BEA organized various local and regional competitions, and due to their efforts, show jumping in Barbados has reached International Standard heights.
However, show jumping is not the only equestrian sport in practice and taught in Barbados. Dressage (competitive horse training) has also become part of the BEA’s programme as well since 1992. As reflective of the steady progression of the sport under the BEA, Barbados, since 1995 has been participating at International Championships in both show jumping and dressage eventually gaining the silver at the finals of the FEI World Dressage Challenge. The BEA now organizes many major competitions each year, including the FEI World Challenge Competitions, the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) Junior Jumping Challenge and the CEA Dressage Challenge. Both dressage and show jumping events in the island are of a very high standard.
Where to learn/do it
Here is a list of some of the stables/organizations in Barbados that teach persons horseback and equestrian riding and also provide horseback riding tours:
- Cleland Equestrian Club
Tel: (246) 262-9953
- Jahworks Equestrian Centre and Nature Walk Tours
Tel: (246) 820-2667
- Ride Barbados Horseback Tours
Tel: (246) 422-7433
- Big C Stables
Contact: Di Clarke
Tel: (246) 437-4056
- Congo Road Equestrian Centre
Contact: Roberta Foster
Tel: (246) 423-8293 or (246) 230-3126
- Sandy Turf Stables
Contact: Sandra Sampson
Tel: (246) 437-4768 or (246) 233-9237
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