Yet another reason to love Equestrian

This question was part of CTV`s trivia on their website during the Olympics:

                         is the only Olympic event in which men and women compete against each other on equal terms.

Yes the answer is equestrian. 

Whether you like horses or not, you can appreciate that women have had a level playing field against men since the 1950s when equestrian sports were open to civilians (previously open to military only) and women competed.

This blog (http://www.horse-canada.com/horses-and-history/unique-bizarre-and-memorable-olympic-equestrian-moments-p1/) has some fun facts on equestrian in the Olympics, and a lot of them are in relation to women.  Here are some excerpts:

1952 Helsinki
For the first time women and non-commissioned offers were allowed to compete. Danish dressage rider Lis Hartel was the first women to compete in Olympic equestrian events.

1956 Stockholm
Eleven women competed and Lis Hartel from Sweden won silver despite being paralysed from the knees down due to polio. Liselott Linsenhoff from Germany won bronze in the individual competition. In the team event the all-woman team placed. However, once again the judges were faulted for their nationalistic partiality and two judges were removed by the FEI.

Linsenhoff made history in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics as a member of the gold medal individual dressage team. In the 1972 Munich Olympics Linsenhoff again earned an individual gold and a team silver medal. 

1964 Tokyo
The surprise fourth place finish was by the all women American team.  

From Part 2:  (http://www.horse-canada.com/horses-and-history/unique-bizarre-and-memorable-olympic-equestrian-moments-part-ii/) 

1976 Bromont
The combined eventing competition was held at Bromont, Quebec about an hour from Montreal. Designed by the late Canadian judge and horsewoman Barbara Kemp, the course received high praise for its challenges, safe jumps and its variety and thoughtful lay out asking technical questions spaced evenly along the route and not all in one place as with some previous Olympic cross-country courses.

Hmmm, not only a woman, but a Canadian was the first to design an Olympic cross country course that was both challenging but also SAFE (well from a x perspective!)