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Aerial equestrian is a competitive flying sport that blends traditional wizarding horsemanship with aerial racing and obstacle work. Instead of brooms, riders compete on living mountsβflying horses and hippogriffsβrequiring not just speed and nerve, but genuine partnership between witch/wizard and creature.
It is considered one of the most prestigious (and dangerous) school-level sports in the wizarding world.
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To keep competition fair, events are divided by mount type. At the school circuit level, the main divisions are:
Abraxan Division: Huge, powerful, heavy-winged flying horses. Slower to accelerate but incredibly strong and steady in rough conditions. Events favor long-distance endurance, heavy-lift challenges, and steady obstacle courses.
Aethonan Division: Chestnut, all-rounder fliers. Agile, dependable, good for mixed obstacle and endurance courses. Popular among newer riders and those who prefer technical precision over raw risk.
Granian Division: Fast, silver, highly maneuverable mounts. Known for sharp turns and sprint bursts, but have a tendency to be easily spooked. Courses here emphasize slaloms, tight banking turns, and time trials.
Thestral Division: Swift, eerie, and unnervingly precise. Their sensitivity makes them excellent in technical courses, but they require experienced riders. Their division focuses on complex, three-dimensional courses and advanced control work. Not everyone can even see their mount, which adds⦠flavor.
Hippogriff Division: Widely considered the most dangerous and elite division. Hippogriffs are faster off the mark than most winged horses, with sharper dives and more aggressive instincts. Events are built around explosive acceleration, steep climbs, combat-style maneuvers (mock grabs, evasive rolls), and extreme agility. Only experienced riders with proven respect and bond are allowed here.
Each rider competes only within their mountβs division. Cross-division matchups are for exhibition only and are heavily regulated.
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Standard competitions usually include a mix of:
Sprint Courses: Short, high-speed aerial tracks with sharp turns and tight gate markers. Emphasis on speed, precision, and clean lines.
Time Trials: Solo runs through a marked aerial course: rings, flags, climbs, dives. Fastest clean run wins; penalties added for missed markers or unsafe flying.
Obstacle Courses: Precision-focused events with floating platforms, tight arches, sudden altitude changes, and sometimes mild environmental charms (wind gusts, light rain). Judges score on accuracy, control, and fluidity.
Endurance Flights: Longer circuits with varied terrain, requiring pacing, stamina, and good judgment from both rider and mount.
Points are awarded for time, cleanliness (no missed markers, no collisions, no panicked refusals), and overall form.
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Because the sport involves talons, hooves, and terminal velocity, Hogwarts has strict-ish rules:
Only students who pass a competency and care exam (both flying and creature-handling) may enroll.
All riders wear enchanted protective gear (impact-dampening vests, braced boots, reinforced gloves, and discreet cushioning charms).
Safety wards line the course boundaries: fall-slowing charms, impact-reduction charms, and an emergency levitation net keyed to the judgesβ wands.
A team of healers and creature handlers is always on standby during competitions.
Magic-enhanced interference with other riders or mounts (jinxes, hexes, distractions) is strictly banned and grounds for immediate disqualification and formal disciplinary action.
Riders must demonstrate a respectful bond with their mount; hippogriffs in particular must accept a rider willingly.
Mounts must pass a temperament and health check before competition. Creatures showing distress or aggression unrelated to standard species behavior are pulled from the event.
Unsportsmanlike conduct toward a mountβoveruse of force, cruel enchantments, or reckless handlingβis grounds for immediate disqualification and potential ban.
That said, accidents still happen. Bruises, sprains, and dramatic near-misses are practically part of the culture. The winged horse divisions see more technical mistakes; the hippogriff and thestral divisions see more βI swear it wasnβt trying to kill me, it was just excited!β
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Unlike quidditch, the aerial equestrian team at Hogwarts isn't divided by house. There's only one school team, representing Hogwarts as a whole against other institutions (Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, smaller regional academies, etc.).
The roster is small and brutally selective:
There's only one rider per division:
A couple of reserve riders may be kept for certain divisions, but the primary competition team is tinyβusually no more than 7β8 students total.
Spots rarely open upβmost riders hold their position for years once theyβre established.
Tryouts are intense. Prospective riders are evaluated on:
seat, balance, and handling
understanding of creature behavior
emotional control under pressure
ability to form a working bond quickly and respectfully
The Hogwarts mounts are stabled on the grounds and cared for in cooperation with the Care of Magical Creatures staff. Riders are expected to help with grooming, feeding, and flight conditioningβthis is not a sport where you show up, compete, and leave. It's a year-round commitment.
Most riders use school-owned mounts; but others may be approved to compete on a family-owned mount if they meet temperament and safety standards.
Because positions are so limited, making the Hogwarts team is a huge honor. Students from all houses ride side-by-side, and rivalries are less βGryffindor vs Slytherinβ and more βGranian vs Hippogriffsβ
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From a distance, Aerial Equestrian looks like the posh cousin of Quidditch:
old family names sponsoring events
But if you actually go down to the stables or hang around the warm-up rings, the real culture feels a bit closer to something like a rodeo:
Riders in half-unbuttoned shirts, sleeves rolled up, laughing with straw in their hair.
Someone sitting on a hay bale wrapping a sprained wrist while arguing about course times.
A kid from Durmstrang trading tack-cleaning charms with a Beauxbatons rider in exchange for a tip on how to keep wind out of your teeth on a steep dive.
Riders sharing water bottles and snacks on overturned feed buckets.
People loudly cheering in support when someone nails a particularly brutal turn, then groaning in sympathy when someone else nearly eats dirt.
People from wildly different backgrounds bonding over the universal experience of getting dumped in the dirt by a creature with many, many opinions.
Itβs loud, dusty, and smells like leather, sweat, and creature feed. Someone always has a bewitched wireless speaker, and there's usually at least one pair of "rivals" making out behind the tents. There''s also many, many inside jokes and friendly rivalries that go back generations:
βAbraxan kids are built like tanks.β
βGranians are all speed freaks.β
βIf you date a Thestral rider, youβre just signing up for trauma.β
βHippogriff riders? Danger kink.β
The older purebloods like to pretend itβs a terribly refined, aristocratic pursuit. Horse culture, lineage, breeding records, formal bloodlines, and all that bullshit.
But the actual riders? Theyβre the ones:
shoveling out stalls before a meet
getting grass stains on their βperfectβ breeches
swearing under their breath when a mount spooks or decides it wants absolutely nothing to do with a particular obstacle.
After the formal rounds are over, thereβs this whole after-hours vibe:
Bonfires or lantern-lit corners near the stables.
People trading stories about worst falls and best saves.
Loud laughter, stolen food from the hospitality tents, someone demonstrating how not to mount a hippogriff while three friends heckle in the background.
From the stands itβs elegant as hell. But up close, itβs chaotic, muddy, hilarious, and very βhold my butterbeer and watch this.β
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Aerial equestrian sits at the perfect intersection of wizarding traditionalism and βwe would prefer our students not die falling off a hippogriffβ, so the uniforms reflect both.
They have the clean, tailored lines of classic equestrian wearβbut with shorter, safer cuts and discreet enchantments hidden in every seam.
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β§ like this but our shirts under the jacket arenβt all fancy like the middle image, theyβre high collared, but still practical.
Formal, sharp, traditionalβwith just enough modification to survive high-speed flight:
Deep, solid color (usually black, very dark navy, or charcoal) with subtle trim in gold along the lapels and cuffs.
Single or double-breasted front with brass buttons.
Cut to hip length, not long with tails like a dressage coatβshorter for safety so nothing catches on saddles, harnesses, or creature feathers.
Lightly reinforced at shoulders, elbows, and spine with discreet padding and impact-dampening enchantments stitched into the lining.
A small Hogwarts aerial crest on the left breast; a tiny pin or embroidered symbol near the collar indicating the riderβs division.
Crisp white or cream button-up with a high collar.
Slightly stretch-enchanted for ease of movement.
Some riders wear a close-fitted waistcoat under the coat.
Fitted, mid or high-rise breeches in white, cream, dove grey, or charcoal.
Reinforced inner leg and knee panels for grip.
Subtle anti-slip charms woven into the fabric so riders can keep their seat even in sharp dives or sudden bursts.
Tall black or dark brown leather boots, enchantment-treated to be water-resistant and slightly cushioning on impact if they hit the ground hard.
Buckles or laces are kept minimal/flat so nothing catches on tack mid-flight.
Discreet βspurβ charms rather than metal spursβgentle amplifications of leg pressure rather than anything that can truly jab the mount.
Close-fitting gloves with grip charms on palms and fingers, often in black or dark brown, with a thin line of gold trim at the wrist.
Tiny runes on the back for temperature regulation (so your fingers still work at altitude).
Wizards being wizards, they compromise between aesthetics and safety:
Instead of bulky muggle helmet, riders often wear an enchanted headband, hair pin, or some other hair accessory that creates a magical shield around the wearerβs head.
Enchanted to be near-unbreakable, with cushioning spells that activate on impact.
For safety, if riders have long hair, it must be pulled back in some way.
Overall, the effect is: old-world equestrian elegance sharpened for aerial combat and creature partnership. From the stands, they look very βproper.β Up close, you can see the careful stitching of runes and the way the coat is cut to move with a rider who expects to lean, duck, and cling at speed.
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Practice is⦠much less glamorous and much more honest. Most riders opt for:
Knit sweaters, fitted long-sleeve shirts, or lightweight training robes that wonβt flap excessively in the wind.
Often in house colors or just dark neutrals that hide grass and mud stains.
In colder weather: zip-up enchanted jackets, less structured than the competition coat, with lots of pockets for treats, small tools, tape, and emergency salve.
Stretch riding pants or dragon-hideβpatched trousers that can handle both falling on their ass and getting swooped by talons.
Same grip and reinforcement charmwork as competition breeches, just less pretty.
Boots might be scuffed, slightly more broken-in, with heavier enchantments for stability and weather resistance.
Some riders wear leather forearm bracers to guard against wingbeats, beaks, or rough landings.
Not mandatory, but heavily encouragedβquilted or leather vests with impact-dampening enchantments.
These are often handed out by the school and come in dark Hogwarts colors, a little scuffed from generations of riders.
Most riders wear aviator-style goggles with anti-fog and anti-debris charms, some are tinted for bright sun.
They protect against wind, dust, feathers, and the occasional stray twig when skimming treetops.
Straps can be charmed to adjust themselves mid-flight.
They're only worn for practice, not for competitions.
Personally, I won't need these, bc I'm a changeling and can just shift and have a nictitating membrane slide over my eyes instead.
Neck warmers, ear-covering headbands, fingerless gloves for riders who prefer more tactile contact with reins, etc.
Some riders charm small warming runes into the linings for winter flights.
The overall look: like a cross between a broom team in the off-season and a young professional beast-handler who expects to be thrown, bitten, or dragged at least once a week.
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β§ I used this image as a huge reference when designing tack for hippogriffs
Because hippogriffs are half eagle, half horse, their tack is a weird, brilliant hybrid:
A traditional bit canβt be usedβno lips, only beak, and a beak is way too sensitive to clamp metal inβso the bridle uses a smooth metal ring that sits snugly at the base of the beak, padded on the inside.
This ring is custom-fitted to the hippogriff so it doesnβt pinch or slip.
Four slim straps radiate from that ring and attach to the reins, so the rider can cue up, down, and roll as well as left/right when flying. Itβs about guidance, not brute force.
A crownpiece (headstrap) runs behind the head and over the feather line, padded so it doesnβt rub where the feathers meet skin.
A throatlatch keeps the bridle from sliding backward in flight.
A snug but padded noseband helps stabilize the beak ring so it doesnβt twist
A martingale keeps the reins from flying up over the hippogriffβs head if the rider loses their grip mid-dive and gives finer directional control in the air.
It also gives extra directional stability: when I ask for a turn, the pressure is distributed along the chest instead of raw torque at the beak.
The saddle sits slightly back from where a horseβs would, so the riderβs weight doesnβt interfere with wing strokes.
The saddle is tilted in a way that pushes the riderβs weight forward, keeping them near the hippogriffβs center of gravity,
Panels are shaped to avoid pressure on flight muscles and allow the hippogriff to fold her wings without pinching.
A rigid tree shaped for hippogriff anatomy, not a horseβsβnarrower in front, slightly broader where the back transitions into the hindquarters.
A deep, secure seat with a moderate pommel and higher cantle to help hold the rider in on climbs and dives.
Thick padding beneath, often layered leather and cushioning charms to avoid pressure points, especially over the spine.
A girth runs under the belly to hold the saddle down.
A breastplate runs from the front of the saddle down across the chest to stop the saddle sliding backward during sudden pulls or climbs.
Breeching straps keep the saddle from sliding forward on steep dives or hard stops.
A broad strap crosses the riderβs lap, anchored to both sides of the saddle.
It buckles with a quick-release mechanism (mechanical + magical), so in an emergency the rider can get free fast.
Itβs enchanted to tighten slightly during extreme G-force (dives, sharp turns) and relax when level.
Hanging stirrups + flailing legs + primary wing feathers = disaster. So instead, leg braces are used. They keep the rider streamlined against the hippogriffβs body, protect legs from wingbeats, and maintain a low drag profile.
The rider sits with legs folded to the side or slightly forward, tucked close to the saddle and body.
Leg braces / thigh supports extend from the saddle, cradling the riderβs thighs and shins. They act like padded hooks or cups to slot the legs into, and spread force across more surface area, making it less likely for a riderβs leg to get yanked painfully by sudden movement.
Some designs add a small foot shelfβnot full stirrups, but a place to brace the ball of the foot for extra stability.
Talon & Pastern Wraps (optional):
Padded wraps around the lower leg and pastern area, just above the talons/hooves.
Protect against brushes with branches or rock outcroppings and impact if they misjudge a landing.
Prevent overreaching injuries (hind feet clipping front feet) and protects the joint during hard landings.
Usually made of enchanted leather or layered fabric that hardens slightly on impact, and stays light and flexible otherwise.
Quick-grab strap (optional):
A sturdy loop of leather or rope attached to the front of the saddle or the base of the neck yoke.
Gives the rider an emergency βgrab here, not feathersβ option in case of sudden dives, or bucking / wing-flaring tantrums
Also used for training younger students to hold on correctly.
Self-adjusting tension: tack subtly adjusts fit during flight to stay snug but not constricting.
Impact-dampening: in the saddle, seatbelt, and leg braces, spreading sudden shocks so neither rider nor mount takes full force.
Anti-chafe & cooling/ warming: prevents rubbing at the beak ring, girth, and under the saddle; keeps straps from overheating or freezing.
Panic-release failsafe: if a certain combination of triggers occurs (mount panicking + rider unconscious + seatbelt locked), the tack can auto-release the rider in a safer, shielded drop.
For the Hippogriff Itself:
Pressure is always distributed across broad surfaces, never focused on sharp edges.
The tack is custom-fitted to each animalβs build, feather thickness, and beak shape.
Many ethical handlers use charmed padding that gently warms/cools and flexes with muscle movement.
ok so aerial equestrian is a suprisingly huge thing at hogwarts in my dr, and omg its SOOOOO competitive to get in. I of course, get in as the hippogriff rider by default, bc my dad's Elliot Reverie, who's like THE guy for hippogriffs, and also bc I've been riding since I could walk.
But anyways, be a part of the team is a bit of a status symbol, kinda like being on the quidditch team is, but even a little more so bc there's only ONE team in hogwarts, rather than four. also because the other students think its pretty cool that you get to travel all over the world to compete with other schools, and occasionally miss class for it lol.
but there's also a huge rivalry between the quidditch teams and the aerial teams, bc somehow the quidditch players think their sport is harder??? when we have to actually fly on and control living beings that can just decide they want to buck us off, or tear us to pieces in the case of hippogriffs and thestrals. meanwhile they're just on brooms. there's also the fact that races between quidditch players and aerial riders are pretty common, and I'm sorry, but a good hippogriff , thestral, or granian will win almost every time against 90% of brooms.
idk it's a friendly rivalry for the most part, but still a rivalry. which is especially funny, bc I'm like the star of the aerial team, and my boyfriend's the top slytherin chaser (and tbh, the best player on the team by far). so there's def gonna be some competitiveness there, but also it's gonna be really fun when that cocky asshole says some shit about quidditch being harder, and then looks up and sees me doing a some crazy flip and dive while bareback on a hippogriff. he'd probably have a heart attack on the spot but oh well. payback for finding him in wayyyyy too many semi-illegal duels I guess. I swear I love this man, he's just... a lot π
anyways, random shit aside, yeah hogwarts deserves more sports than quidditch bc wtf do you mean there's only ONE SPORT IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL AND NO CLUBS?????
@lalalian @reyaint @mindscapeofthedivine @wyldeshifts @notoriouslyshifting @shiftingamour
