Equestrian in the olympics

Question

Why is equestrian an olympic event?

I mean I always thought the olympics were about feats of HUMAN strength and endurance.

Don't get me wrong I don't mind equestrian and am roooting for our Aussie riders

, just i don't see why this is in the olympics.

To me its would be a bit like having the super cars, or the motorbikes

Answer 1

You ask a very good question, one of which I have asked myself! I gave this some thought when my son said "what does the horse get? I bet the horse doesnt get a medal!" To which I responded with "maybe an extra carrot or apple!"



You are right that the Olympics should be a test of human strength and ability, not that of an animal. People will argue that the rider is actually controlling the horse but we dont see motorsport in the Olympics, yet people are in control of cars and motorbikes!



The looks on the faces of these animals says it all to me. Its all good for people to say that they are "bred for this" or that they "love it" but when did a horse actually speak up and say "yes I love having a human on my back squeezing my gut and giving me a whack"?



I cringe at the possibility of any horse becoming hurt during jumping and other events but like you, I am also hoping that the Aussies win, which probably makes me a hypocrite.

Answer 2

It is clear from your question, you don't ride horses.

If you put a horse infront of a dressage arena, it's first instinct isn't going to be "Wow I think I'll turn down the centre line then proceed to medium canter then do a half pass right... "

Anyone who has ever ridden a horse without being at a walk knows that riding a horse is difficult and dangerous. Add to that the factor of the knowledge and skill involved in training the animal to the skill and level you want, which can be very detailed and complicated, and I think you have a high degree of not only sport, but but art.

While it may be more suttle(it's supposed to look like the rider's not doing anything), the rider does much more than a car racer would do or a moterbiker.



Also, you seem to think that equestrian isn't a physical sport for the human, it IS very physical (more so than alot of sports at the olympics) and burns alot of calories. The human has to react to the horse’s movements to avoid becoming off balance, so the deep postural muscles of the trunk and pelvis and the adductor muscles of the thighs are being worked very hard. Step into the saddle and an hour later I can promise you'll be so sore you'll be hardly able to move!

Answer 3

The idea of including equestrian sport was raised when the first Olympic Games were being planned for 1896 in Athens.



Riding is one of humanity's oldest sports in existents if you so want, and the sportive skill of a rider to successful ride a horse in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines is immense. You have to realize that riding at that level requires both rider and horse to become one being. In a sense you can compare equestrian sports to Archery or Fencing, in both those other sports the bow or the fencing weapon become an extension of the sportsman/woman's own body. In the same way in the horse in equestrian becomes part of the riders body. But in equestrian you have to add additionally the fact that that extension has a mind of its own, which makes it even a more difficult sport requiring further expertise from the rider.



And the three Olympic Equestrian disciplines are in tune with that fusion of rider and horse. Unlike to a plain horse race in which the main athlete really is the horse, in eventing, dressage and show jumping it is clear that rider and horse have to contribute equally to the sporting activity.

Answer 4

Have you ever been on a horse? Why is BMX bike riding at the olympics? At least the bike will do what it is told unlike a horse. It takes years to TRAIN a horse to get to this level. The horse is the athlete here and the rider is the trainer and partnership.



Human strengh - how does half a ton of mussel sound chugging along at 40kms, and endurance - most of these olympic horses are around 12-15 years old so a few years of training there!



Go the Aussies and their nags!! Incidentally its the only sport where men and woman compete against each other on an even keel

Answer 5

I see what you are getting at...I suppose it takes a lot of skill by the rider to control the horse and make it do the fabulous things it does. I find it amazing that a horse is capable of doing all those different jumps and turns and differents steps. And im guessing (dont know much about equestrian sports) but the rider has to instruct the horse without being obvious that he/she is doing so. A discreet tap her and there and the horse does amazing things.



I think its worthy of an olympic sport since the rider/trainer has to have as much skill as the horse.



And lets face it, the Aussies are good at it, so im happy to watch it!

Answer 6

Steve, Steve Steve

No, it isn't like greyhound racing at all. The horse is simply a puppet to the rider. It's all the rider.

They train the horse, and it's all the riders grace and ability.



That's like telling me, I am not a farmer, the sheep do all the work. Or how about my Dogs - They round up the sheep, but it's my calls and whistles that guide and direct them.



Oh dear oh dear Steve. What am I going to do with you??

Going to have to send you to the Launceston Show.

Answer 7

Oooh, Steve, Steve, Steve . . . . . . . !!!!!!



I am a horse rider, I used to compete in shows.



The horse does NOT do all the work. Both horse and rider work together. The rider does not just sit on the horse and let it do it's thing. Equestrian's spend hours upon hours of practice, they deserve a medal just as much as any other athlete does.

You seriously can not compare equestrian to greyhound racing!!



Stick to your footy!!! Tut tut. . . . . . lol.

Answer 8

Riding a horse takes serious skill. Quick thinking, subtle changes in weight, balance, control.



You need to be in control of every. single. stride. You have to be able to lengthen or shorten a stride to get the correct distance in showjumping. You need to maintain bend, impulsion, balance, and impulsion in dressage - NOT an easy feat by all means, and that's not even adding special movements like piaffe, halfpass, pirouette, etc.

Answer 9

allyaffliction, can you teach me how to ride ? i have had some dressage training but i need more. i'm in sydney.