DE PERE, Wis. (NBC 26) -- There are 33 different sports on display at the summer Olympic Games, but only one involves animals. We're talking about equestrian events, and for horse riders across Wisconsin, they are well aware that it takes more than a prize horse to be the best at the sport.
At the Cornerstone Farm in De Pere, a group of young riders continually learn what it takes to master the art of horseback riding.
"Everybody thinks you have control when you're up here because it's supposed to look like that. It's supposed to look effortless and easy," says Layne Vandenberg a rider.
Layne and her sister Grace have been riding ever since they can remember and while they both enjoy a bit of competition, even if it's just to improve their personal skills, they know they need an ample amount of courage, control, and established trust with their animals to hit their desired mark. The sisters both agree that an understanding between horse and rider is key to successful riding.
"It is a lot of rider and horse combination, working together. There is no such thing as being able to be any good with just a perfect 100-thousand-dollar horse," says Grace Vandenberg.
And while the sisters can appreciate an equestrian competition more than the average viewer, they hope everyone can appreciate the complexity of what these athletes and their horses have achieved.
"It's a beautiful sport. Whether you ride or you don't. It's really nice to see the connection people have with their horses and how they take it so far," adds Layne.
