Equestrian Sport Gallops Into the Rio Limelight

The Olympic dressage, eventing, and jumping competitions will feature 200 horses and riders from 43 countries.
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Equestrian sport arrives in Rio with its head held high, the bit between its teeth, and on the crest of a wave of expansion across the globe.

The Rio 2016 entries are all in, and a total of 200 horse and rider combinations from 43 countries will compete for Gold in three separate disciplines: dressage, eventing, and jumping.

“Since 2007 there has been an 83% increase in the number of international competitions, and young people are being drawn into equestrian sport in greater numbers than ever before” said Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez. “Our sport really appeals to the youth culture. The Brazilian Dressage team is a good example, with all four members below the age of 25, and one of them holding the distinction of being the youngest equestrian athlete at these games.”

Olympic Equestrian Facts and Figures

  • Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic Games since 1912.
  • Team and individual medals are awarded in three disciplines: dressage, eventing, and jumping.
  • Team USA holds the record for the greatest level of participation, with 236 horse and rider combinations competing throughout the history of the games.
  • Team Germany has won the most medals, collecting 75 to date.
  • The equestrian events of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be staged in the Deodoro Olympic Park alongside basketball, BMX, canoe slalom, fencing, hockey, modern pentathlon, mountain biking, rugby sevens, and shooting.
  • The Deodoro Olympic Park is the second largest Olympic cluster of the Rio 2016 Games venues.
  • Jumping: 27 countries, 15 teams, 75 horse/rider combinations
  • Eventing: 24 countries, 13 teams, 65 horse/rider combinations
  • Dressage: 25 countries, 11 teams, 60 horse/rider combinations
  • The Rio 2016 sport entries also include 34 reserve horses and 33 reserve riders.
  • The countries represented are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Poland, Peru, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of South Africa, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, the United States, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe

At just 18 years of age, Giovana Prada Pass will be competing against 62-year-old Julie Brougham from New Zealand, highlighting another of the exceptional qualities of equestrian sport in which athletes of all ages—and both genders—compete together on a level playing field

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