Dopey horses

A couple of amusing things about horses have surfaced at the Olympics.

First, some of them tested positive for performance enhancing drugs at the equestrian drugs. The drug in question was capsiacin - the same stuff found in chillies - and its effect on the horses is similar to that of mentholated muscle creams in humans. It relieves aches and pains, and is applied topically. Strange that it's banned for horses and not for humans.

Second, in the modern pentathlon, the competitors need to ride an unfamiliar horse in the equestrian leg of the event. They are paired with the horse in a draw just before the event kicks off. Some of the horses in the Olympics were practically donkeys, refusing to jump fences, falling over and throwing their riders. Much fun for the viewer.