Riding Star - Horse Championship!

I distinctly remember playing this game in it's original CD-rom format back when it was "new" and I cannot remember the controls being this horrid. For whatever reason they've changed it to be almost fully mouse controlled except for during dressage where you need to use WS for gait adjustments and the arrow keys for rhythm and collection/extension while steering with the mouse, horrid layout and makes you wish you had three hands. Not to mention how oversensitive the response of the horse is to the mouse, it is nigh impossible to ride in a straight line or move your mouse correctly for the different special moves during the dressage. I didn't bother trying cross country before requesting a refund but I assume it works with the same controls as the show jumping, which are manageable. Gait is still controlled with WS but you still steer with mouse and have to use the left click to spur your horse into jumping. If you are like me and considering buying the game for the nostalgia, be aware that the nostalgia might be ruined by the sheer frustration the controls will instill in you.

Riding Star - Horse Championship!, developed by Sproing and published by familyplay, is a focused equestrian simulation that strips away most of the broader life-sim elements typically associated with horse games and instead centers almost entirely on competitive riding. It presents a structured progression through various equestrian disciplines, asking players to refine technique and timing rather than manage a sprawling stable or narrative-driven journey. The result is a game that feels narrowly defined but purposeful, aiming to capture the discipline and rhythm of horseback competition rather than the lifestyle surrounding it. The gameplay is built around three primary event types—show jumping, cross-country, and dressage—each offering a distinct interpretation of riding mechanics. Show jumping emphasizes accuracy and timing, requiring players to judge distances carefully and execute jumps with precision. Cross-country expands the scale, introducing longer courses with varied terrain that test consistency over time rather than moment-to-moment perfection. Dressage, perhaps the most methodical of the three, focuses on executing sequences of movements with controlled pacing, rewa…

This is a great game! Even though the game itself is old, like over ten years old, the riding style from both jumping and dressage horses comes from real-life training and experiences. I don't find many horse games with this level of experience, and the sunset graphics are very beautiful. Like every dressage or jumping rider in the real world, it does take time to get used to the dressage moves or the jumping course, and it's not handed to you so easily, and I like that! I enjoy the game even though it's older and it runs well on my laptop

I was so impressed by dressage in this game, it was made really educational. Maybe it doesn’t look good, but if you love dressage, you definitely must live it.

You are required to be pixel perfect to be able to complete the jump, I have no idea how anyone could play this game to be quite honest. I've asked for a refund because it quite literally sucks.

I really loved this game when I first played it on the PS2. Then got it on PC eventually. Now most people in the reviews all say the controls in this game are unplayable...the controls are exceedingly challenging, but that makes this game so satisfying when you beat the game. I have beaten this game several times, with all gold metals in every competition. I loved how the game does NOT hold your hand and helps you along to let you beat the game, it makes you work for it, just like all the games of the past where they were actually challenging, and you had to figure everything out yourself instead of relying on the game to give you hints or tips, or have a neatly packaged wiki page that is 100% fool proof. This game is one I always come back to play when I need a challenge. I strongly recommend this game. I played it on my PS2 till the game disk died. Its a challenging game, but one that is satisfying to the end due to the game not holding your hand, so your success is all on you and to me that makes this game worth it!