Hold Your Horses! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Grand National

The Grand National is an annual steeplechase race which officially started in 1839. It covers a total of four miles and three and a half furlongs; this is just over two circuits of Aintree Racecourse in the north-east of England where the race is held. The course includes jumping over thirty fences that includes Bechers Brook, The Chair and Valentine's Brook. The winner of the first race was called Lottery, and notable winners since have included Red Rum (1973/74), Aldaniti (1981) and Ballabriggs (2011).

The Melbourne Cup started in 1861, the Kentucky Derby in 1875, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1920.

Answer: 4

Otherwise known as "The Game of Kings", polo is believed to have been played for well over 2,500 years, starting first in Persia before spreading worldwide. This equestrian sport comprises of four riders and their mounts in each team, playing against each other on a field 300 yards long, by 160 yards wide.

The aim of each team is to score as many goals as possible in each period of play, otherwise known as a chukkha. Four chukkas are usually played in each match, with each chukka seven minutes long. An additional 30 seconds extra time can be played at the end of each chukkha.

The rider has a mallet and this is used to hit a small ball towards the goal with the help of his or her team mates.

Answer: Plie

Dressage is an equestrian sport where the rider guides his or her horse through set maneuvers by using their hands, legs and body weight. The riders are tested within an arena and judged a score from zero to ten, with ten being an excellent rating. The sport is also known as 'Horse Ballet' which is why you often hear terms associated with that type of dance.

A pirouette is usually a full 360 (or 180) degree turn made by rider and horse. A piaffe is a trot, ideally on the same spot with no backward movement.

A passage is a slow collected trot where the horse seems to pause in suspension before putting their feet back down. A plie is a ballet term but not used in equestrian dressage.

Answer: Show jumping

Coffin, oxer and arrowhead are all names of obstacles used in equestrian show jumping. The coffin is normally a combination jump where the horse jumps over a set of rails, down and over a ditch or trench, then uphill before jumping over another rail. An oxer is a type of jump with one, two or three rails, either ascending or descending.

A hogsback is a typical oxer which is sometimes made to look like the roof of a house, with three poles, the middle pole being higher that the two others. An arrowhead, or chevron, is a narrow fence in the shape of a triangle with the point facing the ground.

Answer: Cross country

Horse eventing is where a single rider and horse competes against others in three different disciplines. These disciplines are dressage, show jumping and cross country, and can be run over one day, or three days. The first phase is dressage which involves the horse and rider being judged on high discipline maneuvers including piaffe and passage.

The show jumping phase shows off the technical skill of both horse and rider, with a ring set up with between twelve and twenty different fences. Penalties are incurred for several reasons, including if an obstacle is knocked down.

The cross country stage requires horse and rider to be capable of long distance equestrian skills. Apart from an arduous outdoor circuit, cross country also includes between twelve to twenty obstacles with time penalties for failing to achieve certain targets.

Answer: Ireland

The steeplechase is an equestrian distance race where the horse and rider competes against others in the same race. The race also involves jumping over fences and ditches. The first steeplechase was believed to have taken place during the late 18th century in Cork, Ireland, as a result of a wager between two men called Edmund Blake and Cornelius O'Callaghan. The name "steeplechase" was used because most races took place between two landmarks, especially church steeples. Notable steeplechases include the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Irish Grand National and the Maryland Hunt Cup.

Answer: Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts were first established as a team in 1944, initially playing under the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) until this merged with the NFL in 1950. The Colts play their games at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis which has a capacity for seating over 67,000 people.

Their team colours are blue and white, which includes a helmet with a blue horseshoe on a white background. Notable players have included Johnny Unitas (1956-1972) and Peyton Manning (1988-2011). The correct names for the other options given are the Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings.

Answer: Pato

Pato has been the national sport of Argentina since 1953. The name "pato" is Spanish for "duck", and live ducks inside a basket were originally used in the game until they were replaced with balls. The game has similarities to polo and basketball. Each team of four horse riders jostle for a soccer-sized ball with six handles with the aim of throwing it at their team mates, all the while trying to score it through a hoop goal at the end of the playing field. Pato was the forerunner for the equestrian game horseball which has been recognized by the FEI (International Federation for Equestrian Sports).

Answer: Sulky

Harness racing is a worldwide sport which involves a horse pulling a driver in a two-wheeled cart around a race track. The cart is called a sulky and is usually made from lightweight fiberglass or aluminium. The horses generally used are standardbred, a horse bred specifically for harness racing due too its muscular body ideally suited to speed racing and pulling strength.

There are two types of gait used in harness racing. Pacing is a fast gait in which the horse moves its legs on the same side together. Trotting is a diagonal gait where the right front and left rear legs move almost simultaneously.

Answer: Lee Pearson

Lee Pearson was born on 4th February 1974 with arthrogryposis multiplex congenital which is where a joint stays in a contracted position, causing impaired mobility of the affected limbs. When he was young, Pearson was given a donkey by his parents, and it was years later when he pursued a career in equestrianism.

He won three gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, 2004 Athens Paralympics and 2008 Beijing Paralympics in Dressage, Freestyle dressage and Team dressage. He then went on to win a gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics in the Mixed Team Championship. Peter Wilson, Greg Rutherford and Alistair Brownlee all won gold medals in the 2012 London Olympic games in shooting, long jump and men's triathlon.