Application of a set of exercises to develop coordination in equestrian sports for athletes aged 12-14

Background and purpose Equestrian sports are among the most difficult coordination sports. Due to early specialization and reduced training time, high demands are placed on equestrians in terms of coordination abilities. Therefore, coaches face a big task: how best and fastest to teach young athletes to control their movements. Goal: to identify the most effective means of developing the coordination abilities of equestrian athletes aged 12-14. Material and methods Participants of the experiment: 20 female equestrians who have been involved in equestrian sports for 1 year (age 12-14) in Kharkiv. A control and experimental group of 10 athletes each was created. The experiment lasted for 6 months from September 2021 to February 2022. Methods: analysis of literary sources, pedagogical experiment, physical fitness tests, methods of mathematical statistics. Results To develop coordination in the experimental group, a set of exercises to strengthen the muscles of the core was introduced. The set included exercises performed in static and dynamic mode, exercises on an unstable basis using a fitness ball. Testing of physical fitness of young female athletes demonstrated an improvement in coordination abilities. Conclusions The development of coordination in children aged 12–14 is a key factor in safe and effective participation in equestrian sports. Structured training programs that combine motor exercises off the horse with coordination exercises in the saddle improve balance, postural control and reaction speed, which is critically important for horse riding performance.