Team USA

In case some of you are completely out of the loop and live on another planet, the Olympic games are this summer! I am a HUGE fan of the Olympic games, and just a sports junkie in general. I am constantly inspired by the sheer determination, will-power, and hard working mentality that these Olympic athletes have. To reach such a level requires a lot of sacrifice and responsibility! Not to mention an intense drive and competitive attitude.

Out of all the Olympic sports, I have been following one in particular VERY closely ( watching it like a hawk!) and trying  to stay as up to date as possible. It's a sport that hits very close to home for me, something I'm personally involved in and quite obsessed with.....I'm sure you all have NO idea, right??

US Olympic Dressage Team Member: Steffen Peters and Legolas 92

(Image courtesy of Google,) 

The Equestrian sports. Especially Show Jumping, Dressage, Eventing , and the Equestrian Paralympics.
I feel like this year the US Equestrian teams and overall sport are finally getting some of the publicity and attention they deserve! Every year the sport seems to be growing in fan-base and awareness, and with the Olympic Games fast approaching and US team members being named, the equestrian community is blowing up with news!

USA Show Jumping Olympic Contender: Reed Kessler and Cylana

(Image Courtesy of Google)

What makes this sport different from other sports? Well for starters it's a team effort between a rider and their 1200+ lb steed, the horse,  an amazing and athletic animal. One cannot make it without the other. The bond between most Olympic level riders and their horse is incredible and has taken years of hard work, riding, and training to form. Horse and rider know each other inside and out and have formed a beautiful partnership, making a difficult  and daunting task like jumping a 5ft+ course of 14 fences or more, performing a pattern of difficult movements perfectly on cue, or galloping at top speed across miles of open fields and woods all while flying over fences, easy.

USA Olympic Eventing Contender: Allison Springer and Arthur

(Image courtesy of Google)

This is one of the only sports that men AND women compete against one another, and age difference is not a factor! Take our US Show Jumping team, for instance,  that was just recently named for the Olympics; the youngest rider of the four will be 18 soon and is on the same team as a 53 year old veteran of the sport. Incredible! They all compete for the same reason, the love of the sport and most of all, their love of horses!

US Olympic Showjumping Team: Reed Kessler: 17, Rich Fellers: 53, 

Beezie Madden: 49 ,McLain Ward: 35

(Photo Courtesy of International Jumping Riders Club)

Even Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney's wife, Ann Romney,  co-owns a horse that will be on the Olympic Dressage Team! How cool is that?!

Ann Romney's horse, Rafalca and rider Jan Ebeling 

Can you tell I'm just a tad bit excited about all of this? Even though I am not an Equestrian Olympic contender, it even has me working harder at my riding and pushing myself a little more- I am inspired and motivated! Go Team USA!!!

If you are interested in finding out more about the Equestrian sport, and keeping up to date on what's going on with the sport right now I highly recommend you check out these websites!

Horse Junkies United

I got a lot of my sources from this website, they are amazing! Loads of informative blog posts and videos!

http://www.horsejunkiesunited.com/

NBC Olympics

Find out everything you need to know about our Olympic Athletes!

http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/sport=equestrian/index.html

USEF Network

Watch live streaming and fantastic coverage on the latest equine events!

http://www.usefnetwork.com/

Enjoy and Happy Riding!