Olympics 2016

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The horse jumping was on the tv at the doctor's office this morning.  It occurred to me that even if the rider gets the medal, the horse has done all the work.

Comments

fourkid said…
It is true, the horse is a partner in the event and must be in top physical condition, but the rider is just as much an athlete. It takes a lot of physical strength to train the horse (years and years of training for both rider and horse) whether it be event jumping or dressage. It looks easy - but it also takes a lot of strength to even stay on the horse during the event, and during the course the rider has to have intimate knowledge of his horse (that is why they don't just jump on any horse to ride the course), its abilities and thought patterns. The rider has to judge how to approach each jump. Did you know they even count the number of steps the horse takes between jumps and must decide if they want the animal to take more or fewer strides? There isn't a move the horse takes on the course that the rider isn't controlling. It is a beautiful partnership of trust and dedication by both participants, horse and rider.
6:24 AM
fourkid said…
And also - many times if the horse messes up and hits a rail or refuses a jump, it isn't the horses fault, but rather an error in judgment on the rider's part. Those horses can jump anything on the course (assuming they are in top condition). A miss often means the rider let the horse down with incorrect directives or improper preparation.
6:32 AM
Barbara G. Tucker said…
Yes, I stand corrected. I was trying to be funny, but out of semi-ignorance. Horseback riding in general is more difficult than it looks, the jumping even more, since falls are possible and dangerous.
1:35 PM
fourkid said…
Haha! I was telling my husband about what I wrote - he said that my lack of a sense of humor kicked in and that you were probably trying to make a joke. I ruined it. Sorry :) Hugs...
5:35 PM
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