Olympic Equestrians Complain A “Sumo” Statue Causing Their Horses To Shy Fence Jump – IOTW Report

Olympic Equestrians Complain A “Sumo” Statue Causing Their Horses To Shy Fence Jump

ESPN

The equestrian show jumpers have been raising their eyebrows at a life-size statue of a sumo wrestler on the course at the Tokyo Games, with one rider saying they believe the horses might be “taking a spook” at the poised rikishi (wrestler).

The statue at fence No. 10 might have messed up a few show jumpers’ hopes of making the final on Wednesday. Housed in the corner of the arena, a sumo tower and rikishi make up one of the Japan-themed fences.

The Associated Press delved into the subject and found the sumo wrestler had caught the eye of a number of riders. Great Britain’s Harry Charles said he “did notice four or five horses taking a spook” at the statue. He added: “As you come around, you see a big guy’s [butt].” Ireland’s Cian O’Connor said: “There’s a lot to look at”. More

12 Comments on Olympic Equestrians Complain A “Sumo” Statue Causing Their Horses To Shy Fence Jump

  1. Help me try to understand. A statue of a fat man/person disrupts you and your horse, but not others. I cannot fathom how you would practice ignoring that. A 300 LB person in a sudo-terry cloth wrap. Yup, I would be disturbed and probably run away screaming, but I am not an Olympic athlete.

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  2. Anything that looks like a person standing stock still would spook a horse. Horses are a little nutty to begin with. I watched a Mustang Makeover (I’m into these things) where there was a metal cut out of a cowboy as part of the arena decor. None of the horses would go near it. Those sneaky Japanese probably trained using the sumo wrester thing.

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  3. I past years I would participate in the daily parades through the fairgrounds in Topsfield, MA towing a 25 foot long submarine model behind my Jeep. Most years the RCMP (Canadian Mounties) Musical Ride team were also part of the parade, and more than once it was requested I move the submarine away from the staging area where the horses were brought out because many refused to approach or pass the float. Horses can take a dislike to something they have never encountered before and nothing will convince them to go near it!

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