The lowdown
Olympic berths
Total quota: 200 riders and 225 horses
Jumping: 75 riders and 75 horses with the addition of 15
reserve horses/ 1 per team
Dressage: 50 riders and 50 horses with the addition of 10
reserve horses/ 1 per team
Eventing: 75 riders and 75 horses (no reserve horses)
Horses
Age: The age being counted from January 1 of year of birth
Jumping: Horses of any origin and a minimum of 9 years of age are eligible to compete.
Dressage and Eventing: Horses must be at least 8 years old.
Ownership:
Horses entered for the equestrian events at the Olympic Games must have been registered with FEI as property of owners of the same nationality as the competitor.
1912 Stockholm Games
The first equestrian competition at the Olympics saw 62 competitors (all officers) from 10 nations with 70 horses involved.
Obstacle
In show jumping and the three-day event, horses must clear fences, gates or water jumps to complete the course.
Fence
1. In jumping, a vertical obstacle usually no higher than 1.6 m but involving substantial width, constructed with colorful poles, planks, hedges, fake stone or brick, or flowers.
2. In the three-day event, a vertical obstacle usually less than 1.2 m high and constructed with natural materials designed to fit with the terrain.
Gate
A vertical fence made with planks, balustrades, gates or other items to present a solid obstacle.
Spread
A show jumping obstacle with an element of width, which is generally higher and wider than the other spread jumps.
Vertical
An obstacle which is difficult to jump because of its height.
Water jump
An obstacle requiring a horse to jump over a wide expanse of water, usually with a low hedge or fence at the leading edge.
