Summer Olympic Sports: Equestrian
May 20, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
Filed under Sports Rumors
The Equestrian judging is based on a points system; the lowest score wins.
There are two equestrian venues for the Beijing Olympics: Double Hong Kong Equestrian Olympic venue (jumping, dressage) and Baes River (cross-country). The cross-country event spans three days and three events, using one horse: dressage, cross- country and show-jumping. There are also individual and team competitions for dressage and show-jumping.
Dates for the 2008 Summer Games are August 12, 14, 18, 19, 21, and there are six gold medals at stake (an individual and a team medal for each of the three categories).
Equestrian is the only Olympic event involving animals, and the only event where men and women compete against each other in the same category.
The equestrian events have been part of the Olympics every year since 1912. Women were allowed to compete beginning in 1952.
(Source: Bocog/IOC/ICF 230408 Equestrian BEIJING SUMMER OLYMPICS 2008/ Newscom)
THE MEDIA DOES NOT GIVE ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THE EQUESTRIAN EVENTS, YOU RARELY IF ANY HEAR ABOUT ANY OF THE COMPETITORS OR THIER HORSES. I FEEL THIS IS THE HARDEST OLYMPIC EVENT BECAUSE THEY NOT ONLY HAVE TO MASTER THEMSELVES BUT THEIR HORSES AS WELL. MORE VIEWER FRIENDLY TIMES AND CHANNELS SHOULD DISPLAY THE EVENTS.
Ditto what Michelle said. I think it is wonderful that this sport allows men and women to compete on common ground. In the US Equestrian was only shown on one channel, that some cable companies don’t even carry!! I was lucky enough to have a friend with DirectTV that could record it for me… and what did I get? About 20 minutes. Thank goodness NBC is running raw coverage on their website- but they should really think about upping the ante on coverage. I think equestrian sports will be the next big tennis or golf.
I love equestrian too, but men and women also compete against each other in some of the sailing classes and the doubles mixed luge.
Also there are mixed doubles in badminton!