Post #213385 by ZebraTiki on Wed, Feb 8, 2006 12:29 AM

Adding to PapeToaTane's equestrian points, one cannot imagine the balance and strength and flexibility needed to guide a 1000+ lb. horse over jumps, or even through dressage moves. This is also an animal that can go from 35 mph to a dead stop in seconds if it thinks it cannot make the turn or jump, so if the rider's spacial awareness is off, they will not be successful.

If it appears that it's easy for the horse to just "carry" the rider through a course, try putting a kid on your shoulders and go out running and jump over at least five hurdles... you'd have to work hard to keep the kid balanced on your shoulders even if the kid has good balance.

In any sport, a true athlete makes all their combined skills look seamless and sometimes perhaps a little too easy with spectacular results.

Have y'all heard that there's a group trying to get ballroom dancing accepted as an Olympic sport? That really confounds me!