What a lovely man to take the time to explain things so carefully. Thoroughly deserved his Olympic Gold Medal for the team, and a shame he missed out - narrowly- on an individual medal yesterday.
I thought Carl Hester was stunning in the Olympic dressage to music. What a shock he didn't get a medal but what do I know about dressage (just an occasional rider). He seems a very charming and caring man. I cheered the gold he won earlier.
Also, Annaliese, you might be watching the wrong video to get a full appreciation of the "end result" of dressage competition. Here, they just show training. Look up the words: "ANDREAS HELGSTRAND - WEG2006 Freestyle Final" (I can't post links here, so please copy and paste words without ") to see what it actually looks like at show. If you still find it boring, i understand. =)
an sa wasn't saying that he/she believes dressage isn't difficult, an sa actually says the complete opposite. an sa just doesn't see the sport of it or the enjoyment (his/her own opinion), but true, an sa has probably never tried it! some people don't see a sport without a ball or teammates as a legit sport. some people don't see dance or gymnastics as sports for that matter as well. however, some of us know they are!!
Damn I can't even get my Quarter-horse to canter anywhere near that nicely on the right. He has an irritating habit of picking up his left lead when we're tracking right which puts him off balance. Trying to control an animal that weighs about a thousand pounds is no walk in the park. Riding, especially at the competitive level is difficult because everything has to be so precise. I've been riding since I was sixteen. It's great but it requires so much time, effort, and patience.
In all fairness, watching a bunch of people lifting heavy things or beating another's face in or running from one spot to another or chasing a weirdly shaped pigskin ball can be boring too. As in all things, "exciting" is in the eye of the beholder, but insofar as "sport" is defined, it would definitely involve: sweating, precision and physical exertion. Dressage qualifies without a doubt, possibly more than some other less precise sport (run fast from one place to the other).
I can understand Dressage, Wrestling, and Women's Softball all being Olympic Sports...what I don't understand is why Dressage is ok, but wrestling and softball have been discontinued
It is extremely hard - I come out of a lesson drenched with sweat....try something before you form an opinion...don't just watch it. the reason it looks easy is because these are elite athletes.
You just don't have a clue, do you? You probably think it's not a sport cuz it looks so easy, but that's the point. It looks boring to you because you don't understand it and as a result you don't appreciate it...which is ok, just don't come here with negative comments about someone else's/MY sport.
i dare you to take one dressage lesson and then tell us if you still think it's not a sport. I have been riding for 15years and have been showing national for 5years. Let me tell you, one 5minute dressage test or freestyle drenches you in sweat. the amount of muscles needed to perfectly balance a horse (which usually weight well over 650kg) is astounding. And FYI, a horse would NEVER move like that if he wasn't completely relaxed and enjoying himself. Don't diss what you've never tried.
If ever a sport should not be called sport it's motor racing, but not dressage. Motor racing has more to do with the designer of the cars, they should get on the podium, not the drivers!
u have at least 5 teammates. i have 1. u can shout out commands and they listen. I have to communicate with a 2000 pound animal that doesnt understand words.when u fall u fall a couple inches . when we fall we fall 5 feet or more n at good speeds.u have 4 quarters to try and beat you enemy we have 5 mins. you play for 60 mins we go for 3 days. your sport is one season r is all year even in bitter cold.boring to watch?watchin guys spit n itch there balls in baseball. this is asport avery hard one
What a lovely man to take the time to explain things so carefully. Thoroughly deserved his Olympic Gold Medal for the team, and a shame he missed out - narrowly- on an individual medal yesterday.
I am very impressed that you would explain this so simply for us with perfect visuals.
I thought Carl Hester was stunning in the Olympic dressage to music. What a shock he didn't get a medal but what do I know about dressage (just an occasional rider). He seems a very charming and caring man. I cheered the gold he won earlier.
That horse has no TOPLINE whatsover - just a big bar of muscle on the side of the neck!
Also, Annaliese, you might be watching the wrong video to get a full appreciation of the "end result" of dressage competition. Here, they just show training. Look up the words: "ANDREAS HELGSTRAND - WEG2006 Freestyle Final" (I can't post links here, so please copy and paste words without ") to see what it actually looks like at show. If you still find it boring, i understand. =)
Great information...
Can I use a small clip of this please xx
an sa wasn't saying that he/she believes dressage isn't difficult, an sa actually says the complete opposite. an sa just doesn't see the sport of it or the enjoyment (his/her own opinion), but true, an sa has probably never tried it! some people don't see a sport without a ball or teammates as a legit sport. some people don't see dance or gymnastics as sports for that matter as well. however, some of us know they are!!
Damn I can't even get my Quarter-horse to canter anywhere near that nicely on the right. He has an irritating habit of picking up his left lead when we're tracking right which puts him off balance. Trying to control an animal that weighs about a thousand pounds is no walk in the park. Riding, especially at the competitive level is difficult because everything has to be so precise. I've been riding since I was sixteen. It's great but it requires so much time, effort, and patience.
and don't forget....... MONEY!!!!!!
How tucked is that horse's head, behind the vertical. makes it harder to breathe.
what do you mean by "difficult game" exactly?
In all fairness, watching a bunch of people lifting heavy things or beating another's face in or running from one spot to another or chasing a weirdly shaped pigskin ball can be boring too. As in all things, "exciting" is in the eye of the beholder, but insofar as "sport" is defined, it would definitely involve: sweating, precision and physical exertion. Dressage qualifies without a doubt, possibly more than some other less precise sport (run fast from one place to the other).
I can understand Dressage, Wrestling, and Women's Softball all being Olympic Sports...what I don't understand is why Dressage is ok, but wrestling and softball have been discontinued
dressage is hard work though i m not a big fan of atually doing test it is amzing 2 watch a good horse and rider 2 perf4m a dresag test!!
It is extremely hard - I come out of a lesson drenched with sweat....try something before you form an opinion...don't just watch it. the reason it looks easy is because these are elite athletes.
You just don't have a clue, do you? You probably think it's not a sport cuz it looks so easy, but that's the point. It looks boring to you because you don't understand it and as a result you don't appreciate it...which is ok, just don't come here with negative comments about someone else's/MY sport.
i dare you to take one dressage lesson and then tell us if you still think it's not a sport. I have been riding for 15years and have been showing national for 5years. Let me tell you, one 5minute dressage test or freestyle drenches you in sweat. the amount of muscles needed to perfectly balance a horse (which usually weight well over 650kg) is astounding. And FYI, a horse would NEVER move like that if he wasn't completely relaxed and enjoying himself. Don't diss what you've never tried.
Then you might as well take shooting off the list as well. That seems to take even less effort, it should be the first one to go.
all sports have games..
If ever a sport should not be called sport it's motor racing, but not dressage. Motor racing has more to do with the designer of the cars, they should get on the podium, not the drivers!
u have at least 5 teammates. i have 1. u can shout out commands and they listen. I have to communicate with a 2000 pound animal that doesnt understand words.when u fall u fall a couple inches . when we fall we fall 5 feet or more n at good speeds.u have 4 quarters to try and beat you enemy we have 5 mins. you play for 60 mins we go for 3 days. your sport is one season r is all year even in bitter cold.boring to watch?watchin guys spit n itch there balls in baseball. this is asport avery hard one