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Equestrian
Equestrian (say it like this: ek-west-ree-un) events are horse riding events. Men and women compete in the same kinds of riding events. Rider and horse work together.
Jumping
This is an equestrian event for teams of four riders and their horses, and also a jumping event for single riders. Each rider must must make their horse jump over about 14 or 15 sets of rails. They must do this in a set time. They lose points if the horse knocks any of the rails, or if the horse will not jump, or if the horse takes too long to complete the course.
Dressage (say it like this: dress-arj )
The riders make their horses do about thirty six different moves. Some moves are very slow. The moves test the horse's strength and balance as well as how well horse and rider work together. The horse looks like it is dancing.
Eventing
Eventing has three parts. The first part is dressage. The second is cross country, when riders have to ride their horses along a track in a set time. The cross country, which requires speed and strength as the horses gallop along a track in a set time. As well as this there are a number of walls, logs and fences they jump over, and ride through water. 
The third part of the contest is jumping, which shows how fit and strong the horses are after a cross country race. Individual riders and teams of four compete in this event.
photograph © [2007] Jupiterimages Corporation
Go here to read about equestrian events at the London 2012 Olympics
http://www.london2012.com/equestrian-eventing
http://www.london2012.com/equestrian-dressage
http://www.london2012.com/equestrian-jumping
Go here to read more about this sport
http://www.olympic.org/sports
If you use any part of this in your own work, acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
Thomas, Ron. & Sydenham, Shirley. Equestrian. [On-line] www.kidcyber.com.au (2011)
Updated March 2012 copyright © kidcyber
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