User:Bizzeebeever/Articles/Venetian horse racing

...is totally a sport.

The sport of horse racing, which traces its origins to the reign of King Anuus II of Assyria, has evolved to a standard form in the modern world. However, the geographical and hydrological attributes of the city of Venice have presented a set of challenges which have shaped horse racing there into a unique and magnificent sport.

Mongolian standing horse

The breed of horse most favored by Venetian racers is the Mongolian standing horse, a breed prized for its ability to stand absolutely stock-still at the first hint of danger. Before a race, the horse is placed in its gondola; the jockey then shows a hand grenade to the horse, which stands still for the duration of the race.

According to legend, the Mongolian standing-horse was favored by forces of Genghis Khan, who would sneak into enemy cities and sell standing-horses to the garrison, then return a few weeks later and slaughter the defenders as they sat in stupefied surprise atop their suddenly-motionless horses.

It is believed that the Mongolian standing-horse developed its customary behavior as a way of severely confusing its chief predator, the winged desert crocodile.

It is believed that the Mongolian standing-horse developed its customary behavior as a survival mechanism against attacks by the winged desert crocodiles of its original ranging grounds. The desert crocodile will furiously pursue even the fastest-moving animals, but will avoid the standing-horse out of severe confusion.