A five-minute primer on an issue making headlines
Hong Kong's going to host the Olympic equestrian event. That's something to do with prancing horses and posh riders, right?
Yes, indeed. Horses with shiny coats and beautifully braided manes, and riders seated with perfect posture and elegant grace in jodhpurs and smart jackets. The word originates from the Latin 'equus', meaning horse and relates to knights.
Knights, eh? Don't see many of them at Happy Valley. I guess there'll be no beer in plastic cups or horses thundering down the track with jockeys clinging to their backs?
Equestrian sports are about as different from a night at the races as you can get. They both feature our four-legged equine friends but that's where the similarity ends. It would be like comparing rugby to floor gymnastics.
Start from the top. What is it?
The Olympic equestrian sport includes dressage, jumping and eventing. It also strikes a blow for equality as it's one of the few sports where men and women compete on an equal basis.
