Mary King, the “queen” of equestrian Eventing, will ride for Britain in the 2012 Olympic Games. I watched a video about this charming woman and wanted to call her—and Olympic equestrian events--to your attention. As Anglophiles, we should understand the importance of horses in British culture. In fact, the British Museum currently offers a free exhibit entitled The Horse: From Arabia to Royal Ascot. If you’re in London, be sure to check it out! If you’re not in London, you can get highlights online by watching this short VIDEO and reading this ARTICLE about the exhibit, both presented by the British Museum.
Now, back to Mary and the Olympics… Mary has had a stellar 30-year career. While many female equestrians leave the sport after marrying and having children, Mary did not. She says she found a way to balance motherhood, marriage, and her equestrian pursuits. She broke her neck a few years back, but that didn’t deter her either—as soon as she was able, she was right back atop her horse!
Mary has won six Team World and European Championship golds and four British Open titles, and has appeared at the Olympics five times, winning one silver and one bronze in Team Eventing. (Interesting note: The equestrian competition and sailing are the only two Olympic events in which men and women compete against each other.) The Olympic equestrian competition is divided into three categories:
Dressage (team and individual) – The rider must guide a horse through a set of particular movements, which test the horse’s strength and obedience and the rider’s ability to control the horse with cues.
Show jumping (individual) – The horse and rider must jump over obstacles, such as fences, within a specific timeframe. Penalty points are acquired if obstacles are knocked over, the horse bulks, and/or either the horse or rider falls.
Eventing (team and individual) – A combination of dressage, jumping, and cross-country riding. The most grueling of the equestrian events.
To watch a video of the very charming and demure Mary King, click HERE
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Go to: WHAT IS AN ANGLOPHILE?
Go to: VISIT BRITAIN
Go to: HOMEPAGE
Now, back to Mary and the Olympics… Mary has had a stellar 30-year career. While many female equestrians leave the sport after marrying and having children, Mary did not. She says she found a way to balance motherhood, marriage, and her equestrian pursuits. She broke her neck a few years back, but that didn’t deter her either—as soon as she was able, she was right back atop her horse!
Mary has won six Team World and European Championship golds and four British Open titles, and has appeared at the Olympics five times, winning one silver and one bronze in Team Eventing. (Interesting note: The equestrian competition and sailing are the only two Olympic events in which men and women compete against each other.) The Olympic equestrian competition is divided into three categories:
Dressage (team and individual) – The rider must guide a horse through a set of particular movements, which test the horse’s strength and obedience and the rider’s ability to control the horse with cues.
Show jumping (individual) – The horse and rider must jump over obstacles, such as fences, within a specific timeframe. Penalty points are acquired if obstacles are knocked over, the horse bulks, and/or either the horse or rider falls.
Eventing (team and individual) – A combination of dressage, jumping, and cross-country riding. The most grueling of the equestrian events.
To watch a video of the very charming and demure Mary King, click HERE
*****************************************************
Go to: WHAT IS AN ANGLOPHILE?
Go to: VISIT BRITAIN
Go to: HOMEPAGE
