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Photographs courtesy of Bob Metzger
The Equestrian Events are the only Olympic sports where women and men athletes compete on equal terms. They are also
the only Olympic sports that include animal athletes.
FEI Qualifiers attract international participants and attention.
Riders from England, France, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, to name a few, travel to compete
at these venues for the chance to represent their countries in the World Cup, Pan American and Olympic Games.
National
and international events in which riders compete and are sanctioned by the respective governing bodies of the sport can be
viable outlets for marketing enterprises and sponsorships.
The Three-Day Event is the triathlon of equestrian events. Sometimes
called combined training, horse trials and three phase, eventing comprises of dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping.
This discipline is the most demanding physically on both horses and riders. The stamina and bravery of the noble horse is
unsurpassed in any other equestrian event. This discipline has military roots in training the horse, when soldiers needed
brave and fit horses to be victorious in battle.
The Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event attracts over 70,000 people over the four day weekend extravaganza (dressage is held over
two days) and is broadcast nationally on NBC with viewer audience estimated at 5 Million in 2004. Please visit Events Schedule
for more statistics on attendance and TV broadcasting at other major events.
Show Jumping is one of the most popular sports with the general
public. Competitions where horses jump technical and challenging courses against the clock are a favorite to watch. The athleticism
of the horse and the abilities of the rider come together to create precision and timing that is breathtaking to watch.
The American Grand Prix Association (AGA) has created a tour of Olympic caliber show jumping in the US. The tour, beginning
in April, is a $3 million dollar series consisting of 33 events. OLN will air one of these events. The AGA series is considered
by USET to be US team qualifiers in preparation for the Pan American Games, the World Cup, the World Equestrian Games and
the Olympics.
Dressage
Dressage, a French term
meaning training, is the ballet of the equestrian events. Devised for military training of mounts for the purpose of war,
the intricacy of the movements once defined life or death. Performed in a 20 x 60 meter arena, dressage tests obedience and
submission of the horse to its rider. The artistic value has been refined and Grand Prix events hold Freestyles where man
and horse unite in balance and harmony with music. The classical art of Dressage is still practiced today and performed with
regularity by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.
Dressage Unlimited produces 'Dressage Connection', which covers footage on international dressage events including the World
Equestrian Games and other Olympic caliber events. Airing on Rural and Farm network four times a week, the program informs
viewers on the intricacy and grandeur of the art of dressage.
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