Horseball was played at Honnington during 2004 and 2005. We're not playing horseball at the moment.
Horseball Mania at Honnington
Horseball has recently become a regular feature at Honnington with a weekly 2 hour training session. We're slowly building up our skills with the aim to play our first match - so we can find out how good (or bad) we are. We are fortunate to have Richard Pannett, a British Horseball Association instructor and referee, to help boost our skills and generally knock us into some sort of shape.
The sport has been described as a cross between netball and rugby on horseback.
The going can be fast and furious - with tackling included. Horseball is a good test of the rider's balance and control, especially when throwing and catching the ball. Both hands must be used for throwing - using one hand constitutes a foul and is known as a 'handbag' throw. But the most important aspect of horseball is that - it's great fun.
Horseball started in France where it has become an important equine sport with some 450 horseball clubs. The game has started to grow in Britain over the last 5 years. Horseball can now claim a famous proponent - in the shape
of Shania Twain.
There are 6 players in each team with just 4 on the pitch at any one time. There are two 10 minute halves in each match, with half time of 3 minutes. It is umpired by 2 referees, one on horseback and the other on a chair at the side of the pitch.
The game has now been recognised by the International Equestrian Federation. This has led some horseballers to believe that this could pave the way for eventual Olympic recognition. In Britain, the governing body is the British Horseball Association (click on the logo on the left to see its website).
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