Equestrian is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete on equal terms.There are no separate events for men and women in the three different disciplines -- dressage, jumping and eventing.However, women were only allowed to compete in the sport in 1952 when the competition stopped being restricted to active-duty officers on military horses.Riders must avoid accumulating penalty points for errors and to do that they rely on harmony with their horses.---CINDERELLA STORYLaura Graves of the United States will be aiming to write the perfect ending to her fairytale in Rio at her first Olympic Games.The former hairdresser burst onto the scene in 2014, when she and her horse Verdades (Diddy for short) finished fifth in the World Equestrian Games Grand Prix Freestyle and were also second at the Grand Prix National Championship, behind three-time Olympian Steffen Peters and Legolas.Graves love of horses began when her parents traded their washer and dryer for two ponies. She always dreamed of competing but was unable to due to a lack of funds.Her parents bought her a horse on a modest budget from a sales video but Diddy was temperamental and would refuse to be ridden many days.One of many falls resulted in Graves breaking her back, but she did not give up, and they rose from obscurity to one of the worlds best dressage duos.---CAPTAIN CANADAKnown as Captain Canada, Ian Millar etched his name into sporting history at London 2012, setting a new record for the most appearances in Olympic Games.Having surpassed Austrian sailor Hubert Raudaschls nine, the 69-year-old is hoping to make it 11 in Rio, where he could also compete with his children, Jonathon and Amy, who are also hoping to qualify.Millars total would already be 11 had Canada not joined the boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.Millars first Olympic Games were Munich 1972 and he won his only Olympic medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing, becoming the oldest show jumper to stand on the podium, at the age of 61.He dedicated the medal to his wife of 39 years, who had died months earlier from cancer.---PAMPERED HORSESIn equestrian, its not just the athletes who receive top treatement and training, but the horses too.Between events, horses run on treadmills and have massages, as well as physiotherapy and acupuncture sessions.Top horses also fly around the world on specially designed aeroplanes and have passports containing detailed physical descriptions and lists of vaccines taken.Problems can arise, however, especially with riders from Australia, which has strict quarantine laws. Many riders from Australia and New Zealand live in Europe or the United States.Phillip Dutton, who won gold at three successive Olympics from 1996-2004 as part of the Australian eventing team, moved to the United States in 1991 and started to compete for his adoptive country after officially becoming a U.S. citizen in 2006.---GERMAN DOMINANCEGermany has dominated the sport, specifically dressage where it has an impressive haul of 19 gold medals, 11 silver and nine bronze.The top three athletes in the history of equestrian are also German: Reiner Klimke won six gold and two bronze medals in dressage, Isabell Werth five golds and three silvers in the same event, while Hans Gunter Winkler won five gold, one silver and a bronze in show jumping.Germany won seven successive dressage team gold medals at the Olympics, until its run was interrupted in London by a Great Britain team, including Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro and Laura Bechtolsheimer on Mistral Hojris -- the individual gold and bronze medalists.Valegro has been the best horse for the past four years and the individual medal will likely be a battle between Dujardin and Werth, who did not compete four years ago.One of the best riders in the United States is originally German. Born in Wesel, Germany, Steffen Peters emigrated to America in 1985, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1992. He rode in the first of three Olympic Games four years later, helping his new nation to the team bronze medal in Atlanta.The U.S., with one silver and seven bronze, and Canada, one bronze, are the only non-European countries with dressage medals.Nike Odyssey React Cheap . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Nike Shox Clearance . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. http://www.nikereactsale.com/epic-react-flyknit-shoes.html . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. Nike React Element 87 Trainer . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Nike React Element 87 For Sale . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft.CLEVELAND -- One game off and few days of rest refreshed the Cavaliers Big 3.LeBron James scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, Kyrie Irving matched a career high with 12 assists, Kevin Love scored 27 with 17 rebounds and Cleveland finally put away Los Angeles in the fourth quarter, beating the young Lakers 119-108 on Saturday night.The Cavs were back at full strength after coach Tyronn Lue left James, Love and Irving behind earlier this week for a game in Memphis, a decision that sparked some criticism as fans were denied a chance to see the three stars and Cleveland lost.Irving, who complained of tired legs before a game last week, looked more like himself in his first game since Dec. 10, finishing with 21 points as the Cavs improved to 19-6.It was just a needed rest for me, said Irving, who didnt get a break after Cleveland won the NBA title in June because he played for the U.S. Olympic team. For me, its just about being smart and not running into that wall completely. Im able to push through anything and my mind commands my body at the same time, its still about being smart.James, Irving and Love combined for 74 points, 30 rebounds and 25 assists.James, who missed the end of pregame warmups, national anthem and player introductions before running onto the floor just before the opening tip, took over in the fourth and needs just two points to move past Moses Malone (27,409) for eighth place on the career scoring list.Nick Young made eight 3-pointers and scored a season-high 32 for the Lakers, who snapped an eight-game losing streak on Friday in Philadelphia and were a headache for the defending NBA champions all night.The Lakers were still within 110-105 when James hit a 3-pointer in transition as the Cavs closed with a 10-3 run.Even though we lost, I liked the way we played and what we did, said Julius Randle, who added 16 points. Theyre a championship team, and we were right there with them until the end.Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points and Los Angeles rookie Brandon Ingram missed a triple-double by one point and an assist.Channing Frye and James each hit a 3 to help Cleveland to a 95-86 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers refused to give in and were right there when James pulled up and knocked down his crucial 3 with 2:32 left.I was just in rhythm in the fourth quarter, James said before explaining his reason for taking a risky shot. Thatts the time when a defense is at its relaxed point, bringing the ball up in transition and they really dont think youre going to take that shot.dddddddddddd I was in a great groove and I felt good when I let it go and I was able to knock it down.RING TIMEBefore receiving his NBA championship ring, Lakers center Timofey Mozgov, who spent 1 1/2 seasons with Cleveland, was mobbed by the Cavaliers at mid-court.I was really proud to be with this team, it was everything I could ask for, said Mozgov, who received a nice ovation from Cleveland fans and visited the Cavs locker room postgame. It was a happy memory, and I was excited all night.HOMECOMINGLakers forward Larry Nance Jr., who grew up outside Cleveland, played in his first regular-season game in his home state. His father, longtime Cavaliers forward Larry Nance, had his No. 22 retired by the franchise.It was really cool playing underneath my dads jersey, said Nance Jr., who scored two points in 27 minutes. I tried to approach it as a regular game, but anytime you play at home, it means a little more.Nance Sr. attended the game.J.R.S SHIRTJ.R. Smith -- known more for the shirts he hasnt worn -- drew attention for his postgame attire. The Cavs guard wore a black T-shirt that read, Cleveland. Its not that bad. Have a beer!TIP-INSLakers: G DAngelo Russell was inactive with a sore left knee that has bothered him most of the season. He scored 15 in Fridays win. ... Coach Luke Walton was an assistant with Golden State last season and said he has yet to watch Clevelands Game 7 win in the NBA Finals. You dont get over losing Game 7, he said. Youre happy for the guys here, but it sticks with you for the rest of your life.Cavaliers: Cleveland has won five straight over the Lakers. ... The Cavs have won 25 of their last 29 at home against Western Conference teams. ... Lue said he and general manager David Griffin are still discussing roster options after C Chris Birdman Andersen sustained a season-ending -- and likely career-ending -- knee injury in practice Friday. The Cavs have been looking to add a backup point guard, but may now also be in the market for a big.UP NEXTLakers: Continue their six-game trip at Charlotte on Tuesday.Cavaliers: At Milwaukee on Tuesday before hosting the Bucks on Wednesday. ' ' '