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Original poster

To think horses do not belong in the Olympics

759 replies

StunningCunt · 07/08/2012 15:31

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?

OP posts:
theodorakis · 08/08/2012 09:01

Toffs riding horses? Do you think the majority of people in other sports who are competing went to state school? It's all bollocks and to call a bloke who rides a bike a hero is ridiculous.

And yes yes yes to an olympic dog show!!!

Lucyellensmum99 · 08/08/2012 09:19

I can't even believe this is an argument. You see, whilst i have every respect for our atheletes, i could, if i were a stupid cunt, take the view that all they do is run in a straight line, they are only taking advantage of their biology. They don't really have to think very much, its not so much of a skill is it. Horse riders on the other hand, have to gain the trust of a not especially bright animal and make it do exactly what they want it to do, subtly, whilst looking graceful and quiet in the saddle. An animal strong and heavy enough to be extremely dangerous if the rider upsets or confuses it with incorrect signals. So really, maybe they have more of a place in the olympics than someone running in a straight line - i mean, ANYONE can do that!

HellonHeels · 08/08/2012 09:27

Hmm about the top hats, did you notice one of the GB riders was actually wearing a crash helmet, not a topper? I hope someone's reported her to the toff police.

slartybartfast · 08/08/2012 09:32

they dont sound like toffs.
have just wtched the you tube someone linked to but i dont understand, the commentator is szying the music was written for the horse and the horse is really knowing gthe beat. or something. however i understood from this thread that the rider tells the horse what to do.
or is the music dressage different? Confused

BlueMoon74 · 08/08/2012 09:38

I don't see how it's a sport - yes, it's incredible to be able to train your horse like that, but surely being an Olympic 'athlete' is about YOU getting sweaty and showing YOUR physical skill? Dressage is like Ashleigh and Pudsey on BGT!!!

Fireandashes · 08/08/2012 09:38

slarty In freestyle dressage to music, the rider chooses the music to suit his or her horse's paces and the movements they plan to do. Each pace (walk, trot, canter) has a different 'beat' so different pieces of music are put together to suit the different beats at each stage of the test.

If it looks as if the horse is skipping along in perfect time to the music, that is testimony to the rider's skill in matching the music to his/her horse. The rider is still giving the horse all of the tiny subtle signals to make it turn, speed up, change pace, lengthen its stride etc. The horse is paying more attention to its rider than it is to the music.

theodorakis · 08/08/2012 09:41

This isn't an argument it is just another snobbish mn thread to bash anyone who doesn't fit in with the ops norms and ideals.

Justme23 · 08/08/2012 09:47

Grrr

OP, you try making a horse move with just the muscles in your arse...

Horse riders are just as athletic as the men's gymnastics team, except they manage it with subtlety.

Grrrr.

Lucyellensmum99 · 08/08/2012 09:49

"Blue moon" I don't see how it's a sport - yes, it's incredible to be able to train your horse like that, but surely being an Olympic 'athlete' is about YOU getting sweaty and showing YOUR physical skill?

Err, Blue - you get on a horse and do dressage for half an hour then? Because unless you are extremely fit, you are going to be KNACKERED!! It is probabl physically easier to showjump (well maybe not, but i found it easier to jump - but im a rubbish horse rider who used to ride once a week for an hour)

Lucyellensmum99 · 08/08/2012 09:54

The thing is, dressage is just part of it, it is showing off a SET of skills. Yes, its elitest at the high levels but all sports are. My DD has just started riding lessons, watching the olympics the other day, my DP said to her, look DD if you work really hard you could be in the horse olympics - i thought :( no she wont. But that doesn't stop me having massive respect for these people. It is like saying, "oh the olympics is shit because you can only do sport if you are rich" yes, to degree that is true, but it doesn't take away from the amazing achievements we are seeing every day. I didn't even want the fecking olympics but i have had a lump in my throat every day since it started, i thouht it was indegestion, but its not, its pride!! We watched the opening ceremony last night with DD as it was on too late for her to watch and w have only just got around to watching it - on second watch, all i can say is wow - danny boyle is a fecking genius. Sorry, i digress.

theodorakis · 08/08/2012 10:00

justme, getting a horse to do anything is hard unless my childhood pony was just a right bastard.

CakeBump · 08/08/2012 10:07

Christ, I wouldn't waste my breath arguing about English grammar with someone who only speaks Swahili, and I'm not going to waste my time arguing about dressage with people who quite obviously cannot tell one end of a horse from the other.

All the naysayers are doing is highlighting their own crashing ignorance....

WhitegoldWielder · 08/08/2012 10:08

Christ Hoy has backed up my post - all the validation I need!

RindersGoesForGold · 08/08/2012 10:10

theodorakis, they don't have to be mutually exclusive Grin Getting a horse to do anything is hard, you're right and my childhood pony was a right bastard! If he was going to throw me off, it'd never be in the middle of a nice big field...no, instead it'd be in a ditch, a barbed wire fence or a muckheap! Of course I had absolutely no say in the matter at all! Grin

Lucyellensmum99 · 08/08/2012 10:11

is that a typo or a grammar fail white gold?

Christ, Hoy has backed up my post

or

Chris Hoy has backed up my post?

I know he's brilliant but hes not God quite

geegee888 · 08/08/2012 10:12

I think its a shame when people have had so little contact with animals in their life, that they have no appreciation of the skills involved in training and keeping them fit and healthy.

WhitegoldWielder · 08/08/2012 10:14

Lol - typo as on phone!

WhitegoldWielder · 08/08/2012 10:15

Divine intervention?

HeathRobinson · 08/08/2012 10:21

TheDreadedFoosa

This is how the horses get into the pool. Wink

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 10:25

I haven't read this thing as it's massively long, but I do find myself getting impatient with the equestrian events, for several reasons.

Firstly I think if it is dependant on the training and skills of an animal, it is not partcularly a measure of the human. And how well you can train an animal isn't something I really think qualifies you for a medal in sport.

I don't object to show jumping though dressage looks bloody unnatural for the horse, and incredibly pointless as well. To me it is like a dog show.

The other thing that bothers me - and I admit I know nothing about this, so it is purely a lay person's view - is the way that so many of the competitors have clearly got huge amounts of money and that is somehow required in order to 'make it' in this 'sport', which seems very elitist and very much a small world of its own.

Somehow I care far more about the success or failure of an athlete who has worked their way to excellence through sheer physical effort, whatever their background, than that of someone whose background and financial/social connections have enabled them to take part in something that frankly appears to offer very little competition, or range of competitors simply because most people have no way into it.

I will now go and scroll down for answers to these questions, which are probably here somewhere...

CakeBump · 08/08/2012 10:25

Jesus Heath that looks terrifying! I can't believe they could get the horses to jump off!!

CakeBump · 08/08/2012 10:26

Somehow I care far more about the success or failure of an athlete who has worked their way to excellence through sheer physical effort, whatever their background, than that of someone whose background and financial/social connections have enabled them to take part in something that frankly appears to offer very little competition, or range of competitors simply because most people have no way into it.

I think that applies to EVERY type of sport at Olympic level Emilie

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 10:33

Yes indeed but what I mean is, horse riding is something it's very difficult to get anywhere in unless you can afford it. As far as I know. And many, many other sports appear to be accessible to almost anyone with the wherewithal to find a funded training centre or get into it through school or other schemes...

how many of these are around for those who are serious about show jumping? Why is the field composed of so many people from the aristocracy/wealthy classes? Or am I wrong about that? They all look super rich and super pally with each other. It gives the impression that only a select crowd is able to participate.

EmilieFloge · 08/08/2012 10:35

Most families can afford a football or some running shoes, or can get help with this if it's truly desperate.

How many families can afford riding lessons, or even a pony or horse for their child to rise seriously, with the intensity that it would take to get really good at it?

I don't have any knowledged in this area so please don't shoot me down - just an explanation would be good.

Butkin · 08/08/2012 10:36

Emilie, For a start off Carl Hester said this morning that Charlotte's horse cost 4,500 pounds as a 2 1/2 year old. You buy them quite cheapily and then it takes years of training and dedication to get them to the required standard. I would suggest that is less initial outlay than on a "Hoy" bike.

Charlotte grew up riding ponies and went to Carl's yard as a pupil. He has put her on Valegro (Blueberry!) and togther - with Charlotte - they have won Olympic Gold.

Dressage is a fantastic sport and has mass participation - admittedly mostly at low levels - all over the country.