To think horses do not belong in the Olympics

[StunningCunt]

They've got this horse prancing sideways with a toff in a top hat on the top, and they are devoting hours of TV coverage because we might get a gold medal in this nonsense?

Why don't they just have a dog show there and be done with it?

Competitive sheep herding?

Motor racing?

( Ryan's Son anyone?)

I didn't watch, I went out immediately when it came on because it's so ridiculous.

It's not a sport, it's a horse prancing around a ring.

I'm sure it has it's place, and I wouldn't knock anyone who wants to watch and/or take part in it, any more than I would say that they need to stop doing/filming the World Series of Poker, I just don't see that place as being in the Olympics.

At least dogs jumping through hoops/rounding up sheep is entertaining.

Why did you start this thread then Cunty? Because it seems like a huge waste of your time

Have you ever sat on a horse? It takes skill to make it do what you want it to do.

I'm sure it does. It takes skill to make a souffle too.

And who said you can't play snooker at 52, Steve Davis played in the Worlds last year and he most be getting on for 50. He might not of done very well but he still played and gave it a shot

Steve Davis won his last World Title aged 32. He hasn't be competitive in many years.

This thread has me in stitches with whores and horses with astonishing memories while the rider tries not to fall off and others looking like demented frogs with nonplussed horses. It's brilliant

StunningCunt As i said in my previous comment, Come and 'sit on' my horse and 'ponce around' if it's that simple and requires so little skill than 'even a 52 year old can do it'.

Assuming you're younger, You should have him going nicely in no time.

'A horse prancing about a ring'
Quite the most ridiculous and ignorant comment I have read on MN, against some stiff competition. If you don't like it, you did the right thing, but who are you to say it shouldn't be in the Olympics?

Why did you start this thread then Cunty? Because it seems like a huge waste of your time

Hardly, I started the thread and then went out. Was quite surprised to see so many replies, but then I guess there are lots of horsey types.

I wonder if they could introduce fishing, that's popular too. I've seen fishing competitions, and they are really quite entertaining. Lots of skill there, man vs. fish.

It's not sport, it's a man riding a bike around a track.

It's not a sport, it's a woman doing some back flips on a mat.

It's not a sport, it's just someone running and doing a hop, skip and jump.

Honestly cunt, you're really not doing yourself any favours by appearing so ignorant.

That's fine OP, you carry on believing there's nothing to it and we'll carry on believing you're a prejudiced idiot.

The men riding the bikes round the track are quite clearly honed and at the peak of human performance. Likewise those doing the back flips, hop skip and jump, etc.

With the horse prancing, the thing that stands out is that the horses are magnificent beasts from noble blood lines worth hundreds of thousands if not millions of pounds, and there's a place for that, but it's not in the Olympics.

Yes he did OP he enters most years, he might not have won but he still enters, I wonder why, probably because he enjoys playing and wants another stab at it and he doesn't see age as a barrier.
People have different views on what is entertaining I get that but then some have idiotic views and then start a thread.

twooter Yes Ryans Son and MIlton brings back fond memories

Stunningcunt The riders are in the peak of performance. Twice now i've offered you the chance to prove us all wrong but you keep ignoring it.

Who cares what op thinks, it's an Olympic sport, so in words of my kids

'tough'

There are 1 million horse owners in this country plus many more millions who ride,... Biggotted opinions like those demonstrated by op can be cheerfully ignored.

Why should the horses value matter? I should imagine Usain Bolt is now worth a bob or two?

While horses leave me cold I think YABU because we have won some medals in horsey events.

I was obviously being facetious. I love watching all Olympic sports, even ones where I don't have a natural affinity. To find out more about a sport and its competitors can be fascinating; to understand the sacrifices they have made and the work they have put in over the last 4 years to compete on just one day, or over several days, and for it all to go perfectly or for it to go horribly wrong, with all dreams shattered in moments.

As I said earlier, for both horse and rider to be at their absolute peak is an amazing feat. Both horse and rider are athletes.

There are two things I want to say in response to the OP. Firstly, I really wish I had the skill of some of the 50+ year old horse riders in the Olympics, but I don't, despite 20 years or so riding experience. Secondly, I am glad that the OP doesn't get to decide what has a place in the Olympics!!

I'm sure the horse riders are highly skilled, but they are not athletes.

And why do you think the horses are worth so much money, OP? Because they've been trained to the peak it's possible to train a horse to, by an Olympic-level sportsman, and competed at the Olympics.

If you don't believe me, have a look through a few horse magazines or websites. You can buy a foal by some of these "multi-million pound" (unlikely except for Totilas, but it's a nice thought) for about half the cost of Victoria Pendleton's racing bike.

The best-bred horse in the world is worthless if its rider doesn't have the skill, dedication, knowledge and, yes, fitness to train and ride it properly. Bloodlines are only an indication that it might have a predisposition towards one discipline over another.

But hey, why let the facts get in the way of your ignorant posturing?

Equestrian sport is one of the oldest sports in the world. Horses were central to the development of the human race into the modern era, exploration, warfare, agriculture, transport, and the skills needed are the ones that are tested in the Olympics. Its much more ancient than, for example, cycling.

The partnership between horse and rider is often forgotten in modern times when everyone seems to rely on their car and live far removed from the natural world. I think thats why its got the perception as a posh sport in the UK, doesn't have that reputation in other countries.

And of course, in a country which celebrates footballers earnings tens of thousands a week, posh is to be vilified and car crash culture celebrated.

Its also a massively popular sport and the Olympics is central to its competitive programme.

Stunningcunt

ath·lete (thlt)
n.
A person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility, and endurance, that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contexts.