Looking for adrenalin? Team spirit? National championship? Competition in a relaxed environent? Want to cheer on other competing LARS riders?
Yes, the list is long for everything that competing with LARS implies. There is something for everyone! We arrange LARS cups, national competitions with all of Sweden's student riders and send a Swedish team to international student competitions around the world. No matter the size of the competition, the aim is still the same: to have fun and ride a bit!
"How do student rider competitions work? "
Student rider competitions do not follow the same concept as traditional competitions, but have their own concept and even their own Competition Regulations. The competitions have been designed to be what they are, partly because the majority of students do not have their own horse, and so everyone should compete on equal terms.
For the student competitions, horses are borrowed, so you don't need your own horse to compete, and you ride horses you haven't ridden before. This means that no rider has an advantage, everyone sits on brand new horses! Before the competition, 2-3 riders are drawn on a horse and these riders compete against each other. Then it is important to get the best assessment on "your" horse (jumping is judged by style, so called "inverkansbedömning"), i.e. you need to achieve the best score out of the 1-2 other riders who also ride the same horse as you. The riders with the best results on "their" horse in the preliminary round then go on to a quarter-/ semi-final where they are again raffled off 2-3 riders on one horse. Again, it is important to achieve the best score on "your" horse. Finally, three riders meet in the final.
Before the start, you have five minutes to get to know your horse, and in jumping you get to jump two jumps during these five minutes. Then you have to enter the arena. This is so that everyone competes on equal terms - and it really puts the rider's skill to the test. And it is an incredibly educational to be able to see the same horse with several riders!
It is important to know that these competitions are never bloody serious, the days are filled with nervousness, pep, laughter and fun. No matter the outcome of your ride, you leave with a smile on your face!
The LARS Cup is organized twice a year, jumping in the spring and dressage in the autumn. These are organized at the partner club LCR with their horses, as well as private horses and are used as qualifiers for the student championships. So if you want to ride the Swedish student Championships, you also need to participate in the LARS Cup!
Do you not feel like competing but still want to experience a student rider competition? Volunteer, it's always needed! Or just swing by as an audience, it's incredibly fun!
Next in line is the jumping cup that takes place in March, of course you should join!
Every year, the Swedish National Student Championships (student-SM) are held, which gathers Sweden's best student riders to determine who is Sweden's best student rider association. The competition takes place over a weekend, Friday-Sunday with dressage one day and jumping the other. In addition, the annual meeting for SAR is arranged and of course a fine sitting, perfect opportunity to make friendships with other student riders!
The student rider associations take turns arranging the Swedish Championships, in 2025 LARS was the host. This year, the student-SM will take place in Linköping!
Whether you are competing, or just want to come along as a supporter and cheer on all the riders, it is an incredibly fast-paced and fun weekend - so make sure to join us next time!
Last, but not least, we have of course the Student Rider Nation Cup, SRNC, on the list. There are international student equestrian competitions that are arranged all over the world, from a Thursday to Sunday. These competitions are generally at a higher level than the Swedish Championships and gather incredibly talented student riders from all over the world. But the majority of participants do not actually go there to ride but as supporters, as an SRNC is much more than competition. You meet students interested in horses from all over the world and there are lots of festivities, always with imaginative themes, as well as a gala.
Generally speaking, several SRNCs take place during a year and over New Year's World Finals are arranged where the best riders from that year's SRNC fight for the title of the world's best student rider, not bad huh!
Lunds Akademiska Ryttarsällskap
Sandgatan 2
223 50 Lund