Olympic Horses May Have Been Startled By Sumo Wrestler Obstacle

Horses and riders at the equestrian course in Tokyo, trying to qualify in a jumping event, took a sharp turn to the 10th obstacle. There, was a life-sized statue of a sumo wrestler ready to pounce.

Transcript

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Good morning. I'm A Martinez. Jumping and galloping - easy for most horses, but the sight of a sumo wrestler's behind, that'll startle even an Olympic-trained horse. As the ponies took a sharp turn to the 10th obstacle on the equestrian course in Tokyo this week, some stopped short of a sumo wrestler's wedgied mawashi. The life-sized statue squats, ready to pounce, and spooked a few horses by appearing in their vision. New Olympic event - sumo horse wrestling. Maybe not. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.