| Equestrian sport :
As per the data from the year 2002, horse-racing is witnessing an unprecedented boom. Horse racing has become a well developed industry. Classical types of equestrian sports - Dressage (Graduate School of Riding, Dressage), jumping (overcoming obstacles, Show Jumping) and triathlon (Millitary, Three day event). Other disciplines include horse racing on horses, speed or distance competitions, team relay (pair or four, driving).
For improving the speed and developing the sportiveness, trotters are always engaged in competitions or testing. Initially, solitary competitions were held with "reserve" horses for riders (the reserve horse galloping beside the shaft bow with the purpose of exciting him to run swiftly – with its presence, it encouraged the spirit of competition). Subsequently, there appeared the race courses with special tracks in the form of parallel lines, on which two or three horses could run simultaneously. Later, even more horses started participating in the race that ran on an elliptical circle.
In Moscow, World Cup and Mayor's Cup in dressage and show jumping are held annually with prize money of 200 thousand dollars. During these competitions, you can see the world's best riders, such as many time world champion Willi Melliger of Switzerland and Franke Sloothaak from Germany, Olympic champion Jeroen Dubbeldam from the Netherlands, and many more.
Equestrian sport for children has undergone extensive development throughout the world.
Exhibitions and Shows :
Horse shows are very popular in the US. About 10-15 thousand horses are gathered that take part in events such as the World Equestrian Festival show or rodeo - Western riding.
Horse keeping:
Horses in culture:
Eastern khans, the owners of thoroughbred horses, never sold their horses, but only presented them to distinguished guests and friends. The thoroughbred horse nowadays is considered to be a very valuable gift. The price of an outstanding thoroughbred horse can exceed millions and even tens of millions of dollars. Horses are sold during auctions.
In many countries, horses are not just a luxury, but a tradition. Spectacular parades of cavalry and carriage outings are an integral part of national celebrations in many countries (for example, in Britain, which is home to many excellent horse breeds). In the East, the horse is still often the subject of a special cult. In the 4th-3rd millennium BC, the cult of these animals was common in many countries.
Horses have been an integral part of human culture. They are found in many sayings, myths, legends and fairy tales, folk songs, poetry, paintings, sculptures, and films. It is also fashionable to have a horse of your own, and even family horses. But, the majority of Russian children can see horses only in the zoo and circus (like their peers in other countries, they love very small horses - in Russia, as a rule, the Shetland pony).
Horses are considered to be noble animals.
In heraldry, it is considered that the horse is the owner of symbolic qualities of many animals: the courage of a lion, an eagle’s eyesight, the strength of a bull, the deer’s swiftness, the craftiness of a fox, and the horse is always used in its emblem. The following names are given to the emblem as per different positions: the horse is called wild (Fr. gai), if it is without a bridle; bridle (Fr. bridé), saddled (Fr. sellé), covered with armor (Fr. bardé), horse cloth (Fr. caparaçonné ); it means exactly what color the ornament, or harness or cover of the horse is. The horse is supposed to be angry, furious (Fr. effaré, cabré), when it rises up on its hind legs, and only playing (Fr. animé), when the color of its eyes is different from its body color.
The horse harness has not only been given the utility role, but also a magical one. Amulets, pieces of paper and talismans are kept in the harness, so as to protect horses from evil spirits. |
This year's biggest horse racing event is this Saturday - Kentucky Derby.
Betters are scratching their heads more than usual because this Derby includes a new element - synthetic surfaces. Since 2005 U.S. horse racing tracks started switching to synthetic surfaces to minimize the risk of horse injuries. Synthetic surfaces make betting even more complicated since horses respond differently to switching from dirt to synthetic surfaces. The real chances become so puzzling that one professional gambler said it would only be easier to predict the Derby winner if all horses wore running shoes.
Obama already made his top three picks and advises to bet on
Colonel John, Pyro, and Big Brown. Hillary is betting only on Eight Belles.
