Gymkhana Girl And Pony

A young girl sits on her pony, waiting for the beginning of her race at a local gymkhana, on 17th September 1999, in Cheltenham, England. Wearing a smart herringbone patterned jacket, regulation jodhpurs and holding a crop to encourage the horse to perform a series of trick and races, she 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.(Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)