The Equestrian Olympics
65Most horse enthusiasts love to watch the equestrian events of the Summer Olympics whether they ride a backyard horse on the trails or compete in high-level horse shows. We love to watch the ultimate horses and riders of the world perform in this the ultimate competition. Horse have not always held the honor of being a part of the games, but it was horses that started the ball rolling.
History Notes
Legend has it that the origin of the games was because of a chariot race, a contest to win King Oenomaus' daughter, Hippodameia for a wife. That name makes one wonder, since hippo means horse, if this woman resembled a horse? The King challenged each suitor to a chariot race, believing himself to be invincible. All lost the race and their lives until on the scene comes a Phrygian prince named Pelops. The King was thrown from his chariot in a sharp turn around the Hippodome and trampled to death by Pelops' horses and chariot.
Pelops married the princess and ordered that in his honor games should be played at Olympia every four years forevermore. This legend is accepted by many as the origin of the Olympic Games.
But it seems in the years to come horses were not always part of the Olympic Games. Instead, they held foot races for the first century of the Olympics. Perhaps the early Greeks did not want a violent repeat of the first contest. History tells us the first equestrian event was at the Twenty-Fifth Olympic Games in 680 BC. The event was horse racing.
In 1900 at the Paris, France Summer Olympics show jumping, high jump and long jump were added to the games. Only army officers were allowed to compete. It was 1952 before civilians and all military levels were allowed to ride in the Olympics. This year women were also allowed to compete, but only in dressage. In the early half of the twentieth century the courses for jumping and cross-country were so rigorous that many contestants did not finish. Others were in accidents, some of which were fatal. Today's courses are easier than those of the early modern games.
The equestrian events as we know them today began in 1988. Three disciplines now comprise the Equestrian Olympic Events - dressage, jumping and eventing. Team and individual contests are held.
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CommentsLoading...
I must admit to my great temptation to make a reference to an old nag but let's assume Hippomedeia was a delightful young lady with "Good Teeeth". Oops, I couldn't help myself.
Thanks again, you make the equestrian world alive and interesting. NEIL
Deborah, I guess you are right. Some of them I suppose travel internationally to other shows. They used to ship them by boat, but now I think they fly them, and they go far enough ahead of time to have some "adapt time." I am sure they experience some stress. But, these horses are extremely well conditioned and have sports medicine experts available just as the humans do.
I bet the horses are much more talented and induring than the rider. If they made it that far, they don't know the difference between the last show they were at and the Olumpics.
i watched some of the jumping events-- very interesting to learn that though the riders can walk the course before the contest-- the horses have never seen it before. Quite amazing-- and there was one rider --I think they said he was 67?-- or well into his 60's ,that did well.
It is hard enough for human atheletes to deal with the travel and strees. i wonder how these remarkable horses manage to adapt.
Yes, it is fun finding those tidbits of information!
very good article - always good to learn something you didn't know
GREAT Work!
Sally's Trove 3 years ago
Donna, thanks for this Hub. I had no idea that the origin of the Olympic games came from the horse.
Proudgrandpa, the word "toothsome" comes to mind. To think that it might all have started from Hippomedeia. (Let's think of Eleanor Roosevelt.)
There is a mythical and historical relationship between human and horse. Some say that the horse is the knowing soulmate in the relationship between the two, the horse being the leader rather than the follower.
When it comes to pairing horse and human in a venue like the Olympics, the best of the partnership shines. Today, unlike 100 years ago, or in antiquarian times, the horse is considered a partner to the human, not a tool or a slave. Today, the best results are achieved by humans learning the horse's ways and encouraging the horse to do what it wants to and can do. This is a far cry from traditional methods of "breaking" a horse, where a horse is made a slave instead of a partner. In this small way, perhaps humanity has evolved one step higher on the ladder to cosmic understanding.