The summer Olympics hosts a myriad of sports that range from a high familiarity (basketball, gymnastics, etc) to little-known or little-understood. Today, we are going to highlight a sport that is highly entertaining, very technical, and that people are not well versed in: Equestrian! Although it may not be a sport people are avidly tuning in to, over 65 years our US Equestrian team has won 41 Olympic medals (75 gold, 68 silver and 63 bronze), 91 Pan-American Games medals, and 78 World Championships medals (www.uset.org).
August 5-15: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/what-you-need-know-2016-rio-olympic-games-equestrian
The Sport
Olympic equestrian is divided into 3 sports: Three-day eventing (dressage, cross country, and show jumping), Dressage, and Show Jumping.
- Three-Day Eventing: this is the equestrian version of a triathlon, and originates based on the skills required of a military mount. The first day is Dressage, which features the communication between horse and rider, precision, and grace. It is performed in a ring with markers spaced throughout, and a test consisting of various movements must be performed at each marker. The horse-rider team is able to highlight their power, athleticism, balance, and rhythm. Day two brings us Cross-Country, which is a feat of endurance and course navigation throughout various terrains with obstacles (jumps, water features, etc) spaced throughout. Finally, Show Jumping highlights accuracy, suppleness and stamina after the previous days of competition, and takes place inside a large ring.
- Dressage: As previously mentioned, dressage stems from military training, and requires precision and communication between horse and rider. Although the riders look still while performing the tests, they are communicating with their horses with minute weight shifts of their seat, pressure changes through the reins (connected to the metal bit in the horse’s mouth, and adjustments in position and pressure through their heels in order to control the horse’s movements. Not only must the rider remember the test order, they must take into account the personality of the horse, how the horse will react to the crowd, lights, and noise, and be effective in translating their desires. video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyU7z73ddMY
- Show Jumping: Similar to the final even in eventing, show jumping occurs in a ring with obstacles (jumps) of various structures, heights, and widths, and must be taken in a specific order without accumulating any faults. A “fault” is a time-penalty and/or a penalty for knocking a pole down.
Although, it may seem there would be a high-crossover between these three events, the riders and horses are trained very differently. Specifically if they are specializing in one versus going for the three-day eventing, as well as the obstacles and tests vary accordingly.
The United States Olympic Equestrian Team
Unlike most other sports, equestrian sports feature two athletes – the horse and rider. Below is a summary on a few of the horses and riders to keep an eye out for.
- Chef d’Equipe (team manager): David O’Connor. No stranger to the Olympic games, O’Connor and his wife Karen were members of mutiple USAET’s winning numerous medals individually and as a team for the United States. In an interview with the Chronicle of the Horse (www.chronofhorse.com), he expressed his enthusiasm for the quality of competitors as well as their dynamic as a team.
- Three Day Eventing: Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice. At 52 years old, Dutton is the eldest US olympian in Rio, and will be competing with his 12 year old Irish Sport Horse, Mighty Nice. This is Duttons sixth olympic games.
- Three Day Eventing: Lauren Kieffer (29 years old) and Veronica (14 year old Dutch Warmblood) from Middleburg Va. This will be Kieffer’s first Olympic Games, however she has been a fast-rising consistent star on the international level.
- Dressage: Steffan Peters and Legolas 92. Steffan is a well-known competitor on the international stage, and has notable medals in Dressage at the elite level.
- Dressage: Allison Brock and Rosevelt. No, this is not the Alison Brock of Set Physical Therapy, unfortunately! Brock is relatively new to the international elite level of riding, however she has proven herself among incredible competition. She will be one to track long after these games are over.
- Show Jumping: this year, the Show Jumping team is stacked from top to bottom. Familiar names such as McLain Ward, Todd Minikus, Reed Kessler, Margie Engle, Kent Farrington and Beezie Madden will be gracing the ring with their mounts.
