In article <
[email protected]>,
hippy <
[email protected]> wrote:
> I've ridden a horse. I might not have jumped it
> over stuff or sat on it while it dances to music in a pen though.
Right, and everyone once rode a bike so they know exactly what's
involved in, say, a team persuit. I mean, they just sit on a bike and
turn the pedals.
>
> >Think about the skill in riding a bike, and then consider what it
> would be like
> >if the bike had a mind of its own.
>
> Think about the human energy needed to power the bike, think about the
> lack of human energy to power the horse.
To control a horse takes quite a lot, actually. Are you also going to
ban sailing because it's really just wind power? And diving -- that's
just gravity. And I suppose you'll also then ban skiing from the winter
games? Perhaps slip-streaming in bike events?
>
> Jumping motorbikes over stuff takes a lot of physical energy but I
> don't
> think it really fits in with the Olympics, just like horse riding
> doesn't.
There's a big difference between the two.
> I'm
> talking about the jumping here too.. not that ridiculous dressage(?)
> event
> where the horses 'shake some booty' for the appreciation of the crowd.
One of the great things about the Olympics is that it gives people the
chance to learn about sports they might never see otherwise. It also
gives them the chance to parade their ignorance -- I don't understand
it, so it must be ****.
I guess you're throwing out the gymnastics here, too, BTW...
>
> >The horses are important, but the riders are extroardinarily fit and
> >talented athletes.
>
> "Extroardinarily fit and talented athletes" that sit on the back of a
> horse
> while it runs over stuff. Would it not be possible for a fatty to win
> the sport?
> Something that is highly unlikely in cycling or running or high jump or
> etc, etc..
And as unlikely in equestrian events. But I presume you've also just
thrown the weigth-lifters out of the games. And the shot-putters,
probably the discus-throwers...
>
> >> How many people can even afford to get into a horse-related
> "sport"???
> >
> >Get out of the city some time and into the country.
>
> I spent 17 years in the country.. thanks.. try again.
>
> >Go to a pony club meeting on a Sunday morning and you'll see a lot
> >less flash gear than you'll see hanging around some popular cafes.
> It's >probably one of the the most popular participation sport outside
>
> >metropolitan areas.
>
> No, that would be football or rugby or cricket or netball or hockey.
If you want to hunt up club membership stats, especially among girls,
you might get a bit of a surprise.
> Most
> of my friends come from country areas and none of them ride horses but
> quite a few of them play squash, netball, ride bikes, play footy,
> soccer, etc.
It's a big country.
>
> >In fact, one of our Olympic mounts probably cost less than your fixie
> >($300).
>
> I find that VERY hard to believe!
It's the exception; it's also a fact. It was a failed racehorse,
destined for the nackers.
Some of the riders don't actually own the horses -- the horse that
(briefly) won the eventing gold medal for the German rider, for example,
is actually owned by a Victorian. It's just another form of sponsorship.
But you'll find that most of the Australians end up selling their horses
because they can't afford to bring them home.
> I would imagine most saddles would cost
> quite a bit more than that, let alone the horse, the feeding of the
> horse,
> the grounds to run the horse on, the trainers, etc, etc.
No, it's not cheap -- being a full-time athlete in any sport isn't.
Unless you're rich, to compete at the top level is always going to
require some form of sponsorship.
But at the basic level, it's not necessarily that much more expensive
than a lot of other sports. It's probably a lot cheaper than, say,
alpine sports. The biggest thing it takes, again like most other sports,
is enormous amounts of time.
There are two very good reasons for keeping equestrian events, IMO: the
historical connection, and the fact that it's the only Olympic sport in
which men and women compete as equals.
--
Shane Stanley
