Some 20 years ago the French Equestrian Federation were looking for something to develop riding skills that could be used in a Manége, would be fun to do and easy to learn.

Jean Paul Depons, a riding instructor and a rugby player came up with the concept of HORSEBALL which despite it's English name was invented at Castillion near Bordeaux.

Horseball has become an integral part of the riding instruction in France, and the federation is energetically promoting it at home and, more recently, abroad. The country now boasts some 450 horseball clubs, which compete in national and regional leagues. France has won the European Cup on each of the occasions it has been contested so far, including this year.

Elsewhere, progress has been slower, although it is now gathering pace. Portugal and Belgium have the strongest teams after the French and the most players. The game has grown in England during the last five years since the French introduced it in an exhibition tournament at the Horse of the Year Show in 1990 and it is also starting to win converts outside Europe, including Australia, parts of the Middle East and the Americas.

The game has now been recognised by the International Equestrian Federation, which is considering including it as a core discipline. Leading horseballers reckon this could pave the way for eventual Olympic recognition.