From the Trail of Painted Ponies: Festival of Champions
Artist: Janee Hughes
Made of ceramic; Measures 6" tall
The history of equestrian sports dates back 2,000 years, to when Greeks held chariot races and introduced dressage training to prepare their horses for war. Today, it is the Olympic sport in which men and women compete against each other on equal terms. It is also the only one in which humans and animals compete together.
At the highest level of equestrian sports, there are six international competitions: show jumping, eventing, combined driving, endurance riding, dressage and reining. The best American horses and rideers work hard to qualify for a position on international teams. "Festival of Champions" salutes the skill and dedication of these riders and their horses.