Paris Olympics 2024: Equestrian - history, rules, defending champions

Horses have served as the fastest mode of transport for more than a millennium ever since humans began domesticating animals at the dawn of civilisation. They’ve also played an important role militarily with cavalry being an important unit of armed forces for centuries in kingdoms and empires across the world.

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The use of horses in the army would later give birth to Equestrian sports, the origins of which go as far back as the 16th century. The focus of the sport is on the harmony between the horse and its rider as it goes about performing a set of pre-determined moves.

What makes equestrianism unique is the fact that men and women directly compete against one another. What also sets equestrian apart is the fact that horses have passports when it comes to transporting them from one country to another!

What is equestrian’s history at Olympics?

Equestrian sports were first introduced in the Olympic Games in Paris 1900, becoming a permanent fixture in the Olympics from London 1908 onwards. Five different events were held on the sport’s debut in Paris, with polo also included.

Only military officers were allowed to compete in equestrian events until 1948. Men serving in the military but not holding officers’ commissions were also allowed to compete. The sport would expand to men from non-military backgrounds as well as to women from the 1952 Games in Helsinki. Women were initially allowed to compete only in Dressage, and later made their debuts in Jumping in 1956 and Eventing in 1964.

Germany is the most successful nation in equestrian sports with a total of 56 medals — 28 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze. Sweden’s second in the list with 45 medals including 18 gold while France is ranked third with 43 medals, of which 15 are gold.

What are the rules?

Olympic equestrian events are divided into three categories — Jumping, Dressage and Eventing.

Jumping involves riders and hoses jumping over obstacles aiming to knock as few of them over as possible. Agility, technique as well as harmony between the horse and its rider are ultimately what set competitors apart in this competition. The jumping competition takes place over the course of four days and involves three events — individual qualifying competition, team jumping competition and final individual jumping competition.

Dressage is where the horse and the rider perform artistically to music, with the ease and fluidity of their movements being judged. Dressage, which is the oldest of equestrian events, takes place over the course of two days and comprises three events — Grand Prix (team competition and first individual qualifier), Grand Prix Special (second individual qualifier) and Grand Prix Level Freestyle Test (Individual Final).

Eventing is the equestrian equivalent of a triathlon, combining jumping and dressage with cross country — an event comprising a long course consisting of solid and natural obstacles. Eventing takes place across four days starting with Dressage, followed by Cross country, First jumping event for team placings and second jumping event for individual placings.

Who are the reigning champions?

Dressage Individual: Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Germany.

Dressage Team: Germany.

Eventing Individual: Julia Krajewski, Germany.

Eventing Team: Britain.

Jumping Individual: Ben Maher, Britain.

Jumping Team: Sweden.

How many athletes have qualified in equestrian?

A total of 200 competitors from 49 nations will be participating in the Paris Olympics. Anush Agarwalla is India’s sole representative in the equestrian event in the upcoming event, and will be competing in the dressage event.

Who are the athletes to watch in equestrian?

Laura Collett, Britain: Collett almost died in a fall while competing in 2013. She was resuscitated five times and suffered a fractured shoulder, two broken ribs, a punctured lung, a lacerated liver, and kidney damage. Eight years after being placed in an induced coma, Collett rode to glory as an Olympic champion in team eventing.

Kent Farrington, United States: Farrington was previously ranked No. 1 in jumping and looks to clinch his first Olympic gold medal after winning silver in team jumping at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Amre Hamcho, Syria: Hamcho is the second Syrian to compete in an Olympic jumping competition, joining his brother. Twelve years after watching Ahmad at the London Games, Amre flies the Syrian flag as he rides Vagabon Des Forets.

Ben Maher, Britain: Maher is looking to defend his gold medal in individual jumping and secure a third Olympic title overall, having won gold in team jumping in London. Maher is currently second in the jumping rankings behind Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Germany: Von Bredow-Werndl is the defending champion and top-ranked competitor in individual dressage. A double Olympic champion at the Tokyo Games, the 38-year-old Von Bredow-Werndl hopes to repeat that feat with another gold in team dressage, likely once again riding with seven-time Olympic gold medalist Isabell Werth.

When and where will equestrian take place at Paris Olympics?

Equestrian is an 11-day event featuring three disciplines and six events, with medals given in individual and team categories. Action begins on 27 July in the resplendent gardens of Château de Versailles, the royal palace where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette once held lavish banquets.

The first medals are decided 29 July in team and individual eventing. The team jumping final is 2 August, and the next two days decide medals in team and individual dressage. The individual jumping final concludes competition on 6 August.

With inputs from AP