Horses and riders initially appeared to have emerged unscathed from yesterday’s eventing cross-country competition, but later it was learned that Keymaster, a Swedish team horse under Magnus Gallerdal, pulled up lame in his right foreleg.

Keymaster was iced and wrapped. Back at the stable, radiographs revealed that the 15-year-old gelding of unspecified breeding had sustained a hairline fracture of the pastern bone. He was to be transported to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s veterinary clinic by equine ambulance and will undergo surgery today, Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Keymaster

In dressage, which begins tomorrow, Aug. 13, one horse will not start. The 14-year-old Lusitano stallion Nilo VO was held after the first horse inspection on August 10 and, on re-presentation to the veterinarians yesterday, was declared not sound enough to compete.

The decision was a blow to Brazilian rider Rogerio Clementino, 26, who had hoped to become the first African-Brazilian to ride in an Olympic Games. Clementino is a former Sao Paulo stable boy.

“It is a shame that we are missing a team coming from South America,” said FEI dressage delegate Mariette Withages of Belgium. “It would have been great for the globalization of the sport.”

Clementino’s two teammates will now compete as individuals because dressage teams at these Games must consist of three horse-rider combinations.

Don’t miss the Olympic Equestrian blog by award-winning equestrian journalist Jennifer Bryant. She will be giving us behind-the-scenes looks at what’s happening at the Olympic equestrian events