In its origin, dressage riding was a systematic way of training horses for combat, today it’s an international sport. The most referenced division of the sport is the Kur, which is a musical freestyle, also known as horse ballet, and commonly seen at the Olympics. The Kur is also the main cause for much of the ridicule the sport receives. Dressage commonly has three main stereotypes: it is a hobby reserved for the upper-class, it’s a female sport, and the simple belief that it’s easy, since the horse does all the work.
Horses are expensive animals, but to excel in this sport, one doesn’t have to be rich or blue-blooded. Many now famous riders started out as mere stable hands or grooms. Karl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, two members of the British dressage team, are both prime examples of people that made a name for themselves through talent and a lot of hard work (Blackman). Hester began working as a groom in a therapeutic riding center at the age of 16; thereafter he received a position riding for Dr. Rudolf Bechtolsheimer, a member of the 1995 British dressage team in the European championships (Briggs). Dujardin, 2012 Olympic Gold medalist, is from a middle class family, buying her first horse after inheriting money from her deceased grandmother, she officially began her career working as a groom for the aforementioned Hester (Moss). Although these people started out very small in the dressage world, with no name or money to claim, today they belong to the top riders globally.
The dressage scene is mainly dominated by female riders; but in its origin, being a military sport, only men were allowed to participate in this discipline. After cavalries began to disband many officers who no longer had jobs in the militia began to...
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...ing” Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.
Moss, Stephen. “London 2013: Charlotte Dujardin strikes second dressage Olympic gold.” Guardian. Guardian, 9 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.
Works Cited
Blackman, Helen. “ London 2012 Olympics: In Defense of Dressage.” Guardian. Guardian, 10 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2012
Briggs, Simon. “London 2012 Olympics: forget class - hard work and dedication won dressage gold.” The Telegraph. The Telegraph, 10 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.
“Dressage - FEI World Individual Dressage Ranking” Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.
Moss, Stephen. “London 2013: Charlotte Dujardin strikes second dressage Olympic gold.” Guardian. Guardian, 9 Aug. 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.
Ballet has been an art form since the late fifteenth century, but society did not truly see the impact of ballet until the nineteenth century. Modern day thinkers possess the idea that ballet began with tutus and pointe shoes, but it wasn’t until the nineteenth century that this opinion was observed. Ballet has come a long way. It has survived the turmoil of many wars and has changed itself by accepting new ideas and impressing the audience with its unique stylistic views.
Once you get them to settle down and get there mind focused on just walking and the rider then you know the bond with the rider and horse are strong. When it is time for the second run of the night you want to warm them up again but not as hard this time because he or she has already been warmed up once before this, so just a little warming up won’t hurt. When it is that time for the second run the rider will bring the horse him a set him or her up for their first barrel and make the most of the race. If you see the rider smiling then everyone knows she has done her job with this horse. The rider can make an automatic barrel horse where that horse know his job and she barely has to ask the horse for a turn or touch his face to go around that barrel. When the rider gets a horse to be like that everyone can tell they spent hours and days together. The rider worked with that horse but never made him sour or hate coming into the arena. They spent time working on flexing the horse and making sure he knew when to tuck his nose and leave it for an extra second. They will all see when they are running home how much they spend time they spend together if they are fast and smooth through the pattern and don’t have any blow ups before or after coming in and out of the arena. After the race is over and the announcer say who
The Kentucky Derby has over 160,000 people come from around the world to attend the Kentucky Derby annually, and tens of millions watch on television. The Kentucky Derby is our state’s signature event, filled with traditions, legends, and celebrities. On May 2nd, of every year, is the Kentucky Derby and my birthday. The Kentucky Derby is an athletic event, because you get to understand the roles of the jockey and thoroughbred as athletes, as well as the scientific basis for their performance, it helps provide insights and comparisons into human training, nutrition, and health. “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved” was hailed as a triumph and brought rabid attention to Scanlan’s. (McKeen 149) The Kentucky Derby is a horse race that
The racing of horses in Ireland is as old as the nation itself. In the pre-Christian era we have evidence that the Red Branch Knights raced among themselves, matching their horses against each other, as did the Fianna warriors in the third century A.D. Racing today is huge in the country for our employment and for our economy. Racing in the early days struggled without a governing body and without a proper structure. This all seemed to change once the Jockey Club was formed on the idea of the English Jockey in Newmarket. However, the Jockey failed as money issues and other problems led to its demise. This essay aims to examine firstly the impact of the English Jockey Club in Ireland, secondly why the Jockey Club failed, and third the rise of the Turf Club and the procedures taken to make it a success.
Young, Rhoria Lee, and Maggie Bracher. "Horsemastership part 2: Physical, psychological, educational and social benefits." International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation 12.3 (2005): 120-125. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
It goes without saying that a person's gender, racial and social origins influence their participation in sports. Particular races and genders often dominate certain sports. African Americans, for example, tend to dominate football and basketball, while Caucasians tend to dominate ice hockey. The same holds true for gender as well. Football is an entirely male dominated sport, while horseback riding, gymnastics and figure skating are much more female oriented. How and why did these divisions come about? Determining the origin of gender goes beyond the scope of this paper, however one can speculate about how gender classifications and stereotypes affect one's role in the sports arena.
Kindersly, Dorling. The Olympic Games: Athens 1896-Sydney 2000 Chronicle of the Games, 1 July 2000
Day to day horses are abused, people start a long downward spiral into horse racing gambling addiction, and less and less people are watching horse racing. But we can stop it all, by one simple step. Shutting down all horse racing. You can get involved by telling more and more people about this, or with “Horse Racing Week” and let’s stop all the horses that are born and have nowhere to go but the slaughterhouse. All the people’s families who are worried sick all the time. Let’s help. We cannot let one more horse die while running a race for the greedy, selfish horse racing industry.
Print. The. Jane Laing, ed., pp. 113-117. Chronicle of the Olympics, 1896-1996. New York: DK Pub., 1996.
4.)"Rodeo Facts: The Case Against Rodeos." Winning the Case Against Cruelty. Animal Legal Defense Fund, 1979. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. .
Neporent, Liz. ‘Olympian Douglas’ Hard Times.” ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014
Donnelly, Michele, and Peter Donnelly. "Play the Game: The London 2012 Olympics - a Gender Equality Audit." Play the Game: The London 2012 Olympics - a Gender Equality Audit. Play The Game, 3 Apr. 2013. Web. 03 June 2014.
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Jockeys and Workers: Examining On-Track Injury Insurance and Other Health and Welfare Issues : Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, October 18, 2005. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 2005. Print.
When I first purchased my horse it was my goal to be able to compete under the lights and banners and in the arenas that make up the World Show. I know that the competition is stiff and that every competitor wants the same thing, to take home the World Champion title. Every time I receive my new APHA journal I flip through the pages in awe of all of the horses and riders that compete at this level each year setting my sights on obtaining that goal myself. In the 2012 issues I read of a new opportunity, the world games. I knew as soon as I had read about the opportunity I would be applying for the 2014 games for my last year as a youth. I am very passionate about the American Paint Horse and love to share my experiences with this animal. It would be an honor to be able to represent this sport at this prestigious of a level.
Completion of at least 100 hours of continuing educations in the horse profession and equine science. To