Wizards Watch Olympic Sports: Equestrian
I recently attended the Muggle Olympic Games events with a complimentary ticket provided by the Muggle Liaison Office of the Ministry of Magic. Being a hobby breeder of Abraxan horses myself, one of the disciplines I decided to watch was equestrian, specifically the jumping event.
Paris Olympics Equestrian 2024 Pictogram
While watching the jumping event, I could not help but be astounded at the effort being put in for these horses to jump over the obstacles set in their tracks. It is clear to me that these horses are highly trained and extremely obedient animals, but it did give me a laugh at times. One of my Abraxans could have simply stepped over such an obstacle without much thought. One might even put on a show and dramatically soar over an obstacle if it thought effort was expected.
I have one Abraxan who is particularly proud, and I would be rather wary of putting such a small obstacle in front of him and expecting him to jump over it. He might see it as an insult and either trample the barrier or kick over his barrel of whiskey – which is not cheap, mind you.
On the topic of whiskey, I managed to get a moment to inquire with one of the trainers about the diet of the horses. I was told that they indulge in a highly personalized diet of hay, grains, and water to ensure top-tier performance. This, I must say, is a stark contrast to the preference for single malt whiskey enjoyed by my Abraxans. Even though I have taken a liking to these horses, I must admit that their taste for whiskey does contribute to the slight superiority complex of the Abraxan breed. Of course, I wouldn’t mention that to them; it might feed too much into their superiority complex.
Returning to the ability of the Muggle horses, it is my opinion that they move with a touch more grace and precision than an Abraxan. Perhaps this is simply due to their smaller stature and lack of impressive wings, which lend them a slightly more streamlined appearance. However, this does not take away from the sheer formidable appearance and highly impressive abilities of the Abraxan horse.
Overall, I must say that I enjoyed my experience at the Olympics and plan to inquire about potentially adding one of these Muggle horses to my stables.
