Equestrian Sports
Horse related sporting and leisure activities with brief comment and stick style graphic illustrations.
Dressage
Dressage is the skill of sitting on a horse and getting it to do tricks.
Many of these horses are especially trained and can dance and juggle.
It is not the most exciting thing to watch on the television but for people who love horses it is one of the best Olympic events.
New laws have been introduced in order to make the sport more inclusive. Fat horses are eligible to compete in their own special section.
The Royal Family are keen on this sport and they are ridden by specially trained horsemen.
Many of these horses are especially trained and can dance and juggle.
It is not the most exciting thing to watch on the television but for people who love horses it is one of the best Olympic events.
New laws have been introduced in order to make the sport more inclusive. Fat horses are eligible to compete in their own special section.
The Royal Family are keen on this sport and they are ridden by specially trained horsemen.
Equestrian
See also Dressage above.
There are other events - the main one being to jump over things hopefully bringing the horse along with you.
To be fair to the horse riding contingent it is scary enough to sit on a horse. You are high off the ground, the animal has a mind of its own. It is big heavy and capable of speed and unpredictable behaviour.
Add to that obstacles such as jumps and water and you have some brave people who take this fairly low-paid sport to extremes.
There are other events - the main one being to jump over things hopefully bringing the horse along with you.
To be fair to the horse riding contingent it is scary enough to sit on a horse. You are high off the ground, the animal has a mind of its own. It is big heavy and capable of speed and unpredictable behaviour.
Add to that obstacles such as jumps and water and you have some brave people who take this fairly low-paid sport to extremes.
Horse Racing
A sport that comes from history and our relationship with this noble animal.
The idea is to ride over a flat or jump course and be the first to complete the distance with the jockey still on the back of the horse.
This is dangerous and exciting with the added 'fun' of being able to gamble huge sums of money on the events.
The riders wear the colours of the stable and don't eat a whole lot to keep their weight down. The picture shows the winner of a race with nose past the winning post.
The idea is to ride over a flat or jump course and be the first to complete the distance with the jockey still on the back of the horse.
This is dangerous and exciting with the added 'fun' of being able to gamble huge sums of money on the events.
The riders wear the colours of the stable and don't eat a whole lot to keep their weight down. The picture shows the winner of a race with nose past the winning post.
Jousting
This sport is making a comeback and there is talk of including it in the Olympics.
It requires skills such as horse-riding, swordsmanship and courage.
Riding a horse, keeping your balance and hitting a target - especially if it is another jouster - would seem a task worthy of any knight!
Sometimes described as a chivalric martial art.
It requires skills such as horse-riding, swordsmanship and courage.
Riding a horse, keeping your balance and hitting a target - especially if it is another jouster - would seem a task worthy of any knight!
Sometimes described as a chivalric martial art.
Polo
Polo is an elitist exclusive sport for very rich people.
It is a favorite of royalty and celebrity hangers-on.
You need a massive space, a horse obviously, and an exceptional upbringing to belong.
It is a favorite of royalty and celebrity hangers-on.
You need a massive space, a horse obviously, and an exceptional upbringing to belong.