MAIN Sports 2012 Summer Olympic Games Equestrian

Olympic fun fact: equestrian is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete against each other. Equestrian is also the only event in which humans and members of the animal kingdom compete together.

Olympic equestrian is not your usual weekend horseback riding stroll through the park. Nor is it anything like professional horse race where speed is all. It is a test of performance skills and the intelligence of both man and beast as they are put through their paces in three separate events.

2012 Olympic equestrian fast facts Venue: Greenwich Park Gold medals in contention: 6 Athletes in competition: 200 Dressage: August 2 - August 8, 2012 Eventing: July 28 – July 31, 2012 Jumping: August 4 – August 9, 2012

These include jumping and eventing, in which horses are often tested to the limit through various obstacles and varying terrain.

In dressage competitions (also known as "horse ballet") highly disciplined animals trot, canter, as well as pirouette to the delight of appreciative spectators.

Thrills, chills, and spills await as as top riders and the sturdiest steeds take the world stage at the Summer Olympics taking place in Greenwich Park in London's woodsy outer boroughs in 2012 ...

More about Olympic equestrian events around the Web:

Horse Sport - FEI - The official equestrian events site for the Summer Olympics, FEI covers much more than Olympics riding with highlights of events and competitions worldwide.

International Olympic Committee - Equestrian - Brief history of the Olympic event plus information on dressage, eventing and jumping competitions, profiles of outstanding Olympic equestrians.

British Equestrian Federation - The official site with news & updates, related links, and a preview of the London 2012 games.

BBC Olympics - Equestrian - The latest updates, who to watch, feature video reports and related resources.

NBC Olympics - Equestrian - Features stories, updates & major news headlines, photos and video, who to watch, fan forum postings.

United States Equestrian Foundation - Official home of Team USA and definitely focused on US issues and team results, but the selection of non-competition articles cover a wide range of equestrian news topics.

Event Riders - Follow the international teams and events with full coverage of Olympics news. Otherwise the site is very UK-oriented, but with plenty of good advice and information for anyone interested in eventing.

Horse Web - The news feed on the main page will let you know what the latest goings in qualifying competitions, but the strength of this site is the collection of sites on anything to do with horsing around the Internet.