I have to disagree. Speaking for myself, try shooting a bow with a 50lb draw weight several times a day and let's just see how in shape you are?

WHAT? no way! any kind of sports is good. things you wrote just makes no sense. though the only thing that i didnt like in olympics 2010 is that they showed curling instead of ice hockey ALL THE TIME. but thats not sports fault, its because here in France they dont appriciate hockey. and i missed it. i come from an ice hockey country god damn :D

Horseback riding is way harder and is in every way a sport. Sure the little pony rides most people think of and have actually taken part in aren't, and they don't require any physical effort. But, this is jumping, and dressage. That is in no way an easy thing to compete in competitively. Try riding a horse like that with perfect form, for 10 minutes. Most people can't do that, and they say its so easy untill they fall, or get bashed against a wall, or when they get off and their back, legs, and arms hurt so bad they have to take advil. It belongs in the olympics just as much as anything else.

I compete in equestrian games, and I think it was offending what you said about it, as well as other sports. I've dedicated my life to the equestrian sport. It is not just sitting on a horse, those horses and riders have trained their whole lives, and are the best of the best. Yes, there is a World Equestrian Games, but doesn't every sport in the olympics already have there own large sompetitions? And also, if you knew anything about what the equestrian is, its 3 day eventing. Composed of Grand Prox Dressage, Show Jumping, and Cross Country, which was originally a test for war horses, to prove they were worthy. Those horses, are worth more than your car, and probably your house. I think some research should be done before you create a post full of critisism of sports you truly do not know anything about, or understand. Educate yourself first.

What do you mean by sport? These are not childs play which you have mentioned here as "non-sports". If they were so easy I believe I could atleast got some gold medals in each.

All I can do is laughter at the Equestrian one! You think it's easy trusting an unpredictable animal ten times your weight, schooling 7 days a week, hours on end. Not only are not you training yourself to the best of your abilities, you arec training an animal which takes twice the effort and time it does any other sport! It makes us mad that people under estimate the power of horse riding, the fact that you are putting your life on the line, knowing that any minute you could fall and break your neck or even worse death. It is a risk we are willing to take. Now you know what it should be like running? Try doing approx 5 kilometers non stop at a galloping pace and over jumps taller than you, while the hoReese runs the marathon, the rider giving the horsecthe compulsion and ability to do it. So no, horse riding isn't just sitting on top of a horse and yes it damn should be and will be an olympic sport.

As a horse gal, I personally think that equestrians have a right to be there. Those athletes are probably more in shape than some Olympic sports. And besides there is also the same if not higher risk of being hurt. You are dealing with a 1300 lbs animal.