Horse Sports

Few people are exposed to the wonderful world of horse sports. Many people respect the beauty of the animals, and every little girl wants a pony. But equestrian, polo, and racing are amazing spectacles to behold.

Equestrian is the proper name for horseback riding. The rider takes the horse around a track, sometimes lined with fences or gaps to jump over. The trial is timed, and points are deducted for hitting the horse's hooves on an obstacle while jumping.

Polo is a field game invented long ago. Riders on teams of 4 pilot horses in pursuit of a ball they hit with hand-held mallets. A score is made when a rider hits the ball into the goal. Naturally, the team with the most goals wins.

Horse racing is as exciting as it is controversial, these days. Sometimes the horses carry nothing but a jockey while other times call for them to pull a small carriage, also called a harness. After the death of a horse last year, the racing community was forced to consider the stress this sport can put on the animals. Certain strides have been made to improve the safety for the horses, including making a more comfortable horseshoe for their hooves.

Sports are a part of our world, as are animals. When both of these soul-connecting forces are combines, the results are impressive, fun, and beautiful.