To think that equestrian events are ridiculous

@HandforthParishCouncilClerk thank you, that does make sense, in terms of direction I think I'd assumed that to an extent. What about the way they pick their feet up high and take tiny steps? How would you get them to do it the first time? So they then understand the future cues? I mean does a trainer literally pick their foot up to the required angle while someone else gives them what will become the cue? Or do horses naturally step like that when their head is at a certain angle anyway?

Ok, quite a few people with interesting thoughts...

1. Horses live up to around 30 years and it takes years of training to reach the Olympics. Of course the horse who competed in the 90s is no longer competing.

2. The horses do not get "left behind". They've spent years training them. They are flown home and continue their competition career.

3. If the horses don't make the grade, they go to lower level homes. Dressage competitions start at a much more basic level and a horse that can't reach the Olympics would still be very much sought after.

4. The horses are very well looked after when they travel, and they travel internationally quite often for competitions. If they were stressed by it, they wouldn't be able to compete effectively, so the horses' temperament is part of why they are chosen.

5. Dressage moves are not unnatural. When horses are excited, they prance around the field. Some horses also jump over things for fun.

@ElvenDreamer ok, at its most basic explanation- dressage is a communication exercise. The rider is using their hands, feet, knees, seat to give the horse a series of tiny messages, which the horse then answers with the corresponding movement.

You can teach these in a variety of ways - you start with simple commands and by guiding the horse, and by giving the signal when the horse does something naturally and then praising. So for example - the most very basic of commands is to ‘walk on’. Before a horse is even ridden for the first time, you lead it on a rope. When the horse moves forward, you say walk on. You praise the horse for listening and following. When you start riding the horse, you give the vocal command it already knows for walk on, and also apply pressure to the flanks with your heels and the horse starts to associate the two signals and then you stop using the verbal one.

Or to get a horse to walk sideways - you are using your feet and your seat in such a way that you are creating a direction of motion the horse can then follow.

Does that make sense?

No rider can fully impose their will on a horse. If it wants to bolt it will and you literally can pull on the reins for all you are worth and it's not much good. The horses learn those movements and want to please their rider. Horses aren't hurt by these routines. There are very precise movements and the horses have to co-operate to learn these. These horses aren't mistreated and have great lives.

Some species of animals enjoy killing other animals - dog fighting is banned rightly. We don’t encourage every natural behaviour. So just to say it’s a natural behaviour so we can exploit it for our entertainment doesn’t wash. Teaching your child to say please and thank you isn’t the same. I’m not particularly for or against dressage btw, just wondered why the horse doesn’t get a mention, and why it’s ok to say a horse is the same as a boat.

@gerispringer the horse’s name is listed alongside the riders whenever they are announced. There are champion horses and people who are interested in equestrian events do know their names.

I would venture to suggest that people don’t remember most names, not just horses - without looking it up, name me the individual members of the British women’s relay team. Or one of the divers from the last olympics who wasn’t Tom Daley. Or any of the members of the women’s football team.

Not to mention, the horse doesn’t care. The reward for the horse is taking part in activity they enjoy, and the praise from their rider and grooms. They couldn’t care less about whether they’ve won or not, whereas humans do.

Wow, all the replies on here are unlikely to have helped the OP understand, all you've all done is effectively yelled at them and slammed other sports instead. Calling someone ignorant is pointless, horseriding, particularly dressage is hardly something the majority get to experience so how could we understand it? I grew up on a farm and I still could afford to horse ride even though we had space for a horse! So EXPLAIN the dressage, you say it's natural movements etc, ok, how does that work? To the uninitiated onlooker it seems as though the rider is holding the horses head at a terribly awkward angle to make them take small steps, I have never seen a horse out in a field choose to walk like that. So HOW do they train them? And don't yell please, I'm genuinely trying to understand, because yes, honestly, it seems cruel, so help me understand. (And to all who compare it with other animal welfare issues, I don't think it's one or the other few, eg, most people should not have dogs, the dogs shut in houses is astoundingly cruel and unnatural.)

@gerispringer I can't comment on the Olympics but most shows say x person won on x horse.

Horses are most definitely not the same as an inanimate bike or boat, as my many injuries from them will tell you.

Animals shouldn’t be coerced into learning things?

Just wait til you hear about guide dogs.

I teach my child table manners and road safety - am I coercing him into learning tricks?

The one very important thing that a lot of you are either forgetting or ignorant of is that there are species of animal that like to learn. Horses in the wild will play race each other, jump over things, gallop around. These are behaviours they enjoy. The foundations of show jumping and cross country are built around that, in the same way as dog agility for example. Horses also enjoy their relationships with humans. Dressage is rewarding for both horse and human because it’s about an almost imperceptible exchange of communication between horse and rider.

Parrots love to learn to mimic sounds and words. They do this with other species in the wild also. Should we ban that as it’s a trick?

People teach their dogs to sit, to wait, to not bark at the postman. What about that?

People send their children to all sorts of hobbies. They might win medals - should we ban all of those?

Just because you are not interested in something or don’t understand it doesn’t make it stupid.

Modern technology could ensure each faced exactly the same course (other than ambient temperature)

How do you think a 3 or 4 mile long cross country course could be exactly replicated in multiple locations?

So if a rider has a relationship with a particular horse then why isn’t the horse mentioned as a winner.? Oh no, some of you believe a horse is the same as a bike or boat.

Don't watch it then , I'm sure your tv has an off button if you look hard enough

My only concern is the distance horses travel. This seems an event where each competitor should be a venue local to them, with someone there to ensure a level playing field as it were. Modern technology could ensure each faced exactly the same course (other than ambient temperature) and it would offer more people the chance to see one Olympic event.

Dogs and cats don't belong inside home then. Just because it has a long history.

Lock a dog up in a house and walk it twice a day and that's ok?

Honestly have you got nothing else to worry you.

I don't agree @Ifailed my family are far from rich but I grew up horse riding every other weekend. When you do these things you meet people who compete, and you get to see what dedication it takes.

I have a friend from Eastern Europe and she didn't understand it. She said gypsies have horses in her homeland and you only have them if you can't afford a car.