Mary
Well, I have not been able to see any similarity between the two events. There is no "racing" in Equestrian events. And horses are not one-design. The horses do all the work. The riders need more skill than strength. The events are all individual. I haven't been able to find the results of the Equestrian events, but I would bet that not many women win in those "Open" events either. (But at least quite a few women are able to qualify to get to the Olympics in Equestrian, unlike "Open" sailing events.)
Done a little but of digging around the Equestrian results and they make some interesting reading :
Details are
Link to BBC website Individual EventsIndividual Eventing (female in bold)
18/08/2004 LAW Leslie SHEAR L' EAU GBR
18/08/2004 SEVERSON Kimberly WINSOME ADANTE USA
18/08/2004 FUNNELL Philippa PRIMMORE'S PRIDE GBR Individual Dressage (female in bold)
25/08/2004 van GRUNSVEN Anky SALINERO NED
25/08/2004 SALZGEBER Ulla RUSTY GER
25/08/2004 FERRER-SALAT Beatriz BEAUVALAIS ESP Individual Jumping (all male)
27/08/2004 O'CONNOR Cian WATERFORD CRYSTAL IRL
27/08/2004 PESSOA Rodrigo BALOUBET DU ROUET BRA
27/08/2004 KAPPLER Chris ROYAL KALIBER USA
The fact that all the Dressage medals went to female and the Jumping to male suggests there is still a physical aspect to the equestrian events.
Team events The team dressage and eventing are more mixed (maybe the eventing needs the lady’s skills at dressage ?
The team Show jumping is all male except one (Beezie MADDEN)
