Should horse jumping (Equestrian) be an Olympic sport? Aren't we suppose to test the strength of people, not horses?
by 
QuinnFan
ANSWERS: 10
-
I fully agree and just had this discussion today with my brother, and with someone on this site a couple days ago. The Olympics are to test the training, ability, and endurance of human beings. Equestrian events bring in another animal and the competition relies just as much on the animals genetics and training as it does the riders. Drop it and bring back baseball and softball.
-
Have you ever jumped a horse? Are you aware of how much training, skill, talent, strength and shear guts it takes to jump a horse? They don't just do it all by themselves.
-
A horse is no different than other equipment in the Olympics like a bobsled, or a ski or a pole, a pommel horse or the rings. Yes, ti's alive and so adds it's own nuance but it's just the tool of the athlete. If you've never ridden on a high level, you have no idea how much training and skill and strength, the long hours it takes to get even at the lower levels of these sports, especially eventing and showjumping, plus the risk of serious injury and death. How many swimmers risk life altering injuries and death?
-
I takes a lot of strength, skill, timing, courage and leadership to jump horses. But remember too, the Olympics was founded as a way to bring nations together in friendly competition as a way of averting wars. Much of the early olympic competition showcased military skill. The horse competition is all about cavalry skills. Dressage showcases the skills needed for close-order march on horseback, while cross country and jumping show battlefield skills. Much of track and field shows off primitive weaponry. Skiing was used by spies in WWII to get messages over the Alps. The one I don't get is beach volleyball. I'm sure that would make an enemy pause before invading our country.
-
why not? Compeition tests strength and skill...there is plenty of human strength and skill involved in equestrian...if you've ridden horses, you would know this...
-
We are testing skill. The rider in the equestrian events is highly skilled. In the dressage you cannot even see their commands to the horse...they are so subtle. The horse or rider couldn't do these events alone...it is a partnership, as in tennis doubles...or double sculling...or synchronized diving......
-
Equestrian is a very popular sport in which men and women can compete against each other on a level playing field.
-
If Equestrian didn't deserve to be an Olympic sport it wouldn't have lasted as such for over a century (since 1900). Humans are tested just as much as the horses. It takes a lifetime of training and pain to jump between 1.4 and 1.6 meters! Equestrian is just as much of a sport as anything else in the Olympics. What does a Pentathalon include? Shooting, swimming, running, fencing, and RIDING.
-
Ever been on a jumping horse? Think sitting on a powerful motorcycle with just reins to steer, cranking the engine up, an popping the clutch. That's a fairly good analogy. Now imagine having to do it as many times as THEY do. AND, to get the horse to go WHERE you need it to, to jump ALL you need it to, from 4' or so high walls to about 7' walls (tall as the horse). AND stay in the saddle. It takes a LOT more strength and agility than the experts make it look like it does!
-
woah..you try it- they train for years
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC