Glorious or Tarnished Olympic Gold

(c) Tom McEwan

It has been an amazing equestrian Olympics for Team GB. The eventing team won Gold (their second consecutive one and fifth gold) and Laura Collet Bronze. Team GB  dressage earned a Bronze and with a further individual Bronze for Lottie Fry and the stallion Glamourdale. The showjumpers too were in the team medals with another amazing gold but sadly did not feature in the medals in the exciting individual finale. Overall no other nation can match this amazing medal haul of glorious Golds.

Yet equestrian sport has been under immense scrutiny after the whistleblowing allegations against Charlotte Du Jardin just days before the Olympics. Charlotte immediately issued a statement and an apology and she has been suspended by UK Sport and by the equestrian governing body the FEI. Their judgment on her is awaited and there is much talk of a significant ban or even a lifelong one. Social media has gone viral with views of the whip video and comments abound with keyboard trolling unmatched with its deprecation of Charlotte’s actions some 4 years ago.

It is speculated that the International Olympic Committee may have not yet decided whether equestrian sports will be part of Los Angles 2028 at Galway Downs. In Paris 2024 there will be the last use of horses in the Pentathlon before the event is realigned to use bikes, after the controversy surrounding the trainer of the German athlete Annika Schleu when she was in the lead and ran into issues with the horse Saint Boy napping and refusing to move. The coach Kim Raisner was disqualified from the 2020 Olympics. The 2024 Olympic horses have been selected from the Cadre Noire (French cavalry) and the number and height of fences has been reduced for this final presentation.

Admist the wider controversy there have been several high profile horse welfare interventions as the FEI have a zero tolerance blood policy. When an Italian event horse had blood in its mouth in the dressage, it was checked to ascertain if this was fresh blood or due to a bitten lip or tongue. A Team USA dressage horse was observed to have a small area of redness on a white sock, it was thought the horse had shied going into the arena and knocked itself. Both of these had had a significant impact on the new three person team format, once one horse been eliminate the entire team is also eliminated. After years of work and training  this has altered fundamentally the way in which the sport has been delivered, but the rules in eventing and show jumping have allowed for a substitution with additional penalties. Team Japan’s Cekatinka (aged 17) didn’t pass the final horse inspection and Ryuzo Kitajima had to be replaced and activated a 20 substitution penalty. A new era in eventing has arrived with Team Japan, winning the bronze medal just behind France and the Silver. who Yoshi Oiwas with MGH Grafton Street  aka “squirrel”.

The Olympic winner was Miki Young on the amazing Fisher Chipmunk aged 16, who managed the time cross country and went ahead of London 52  (15) and Laura Collect who were just 2 seconds over the time having  pulled off a shoe earlier in the course.

With so many able to watch up close and comment on social media there is a need to explain and educate on these decisions and transparency is a must. PETA has also provided footage of a Brazilian rider alleged to have his horse in Roll Kur. The Ground Jury acted immediately and awarded a Yellow Card to the rider, marking the deprecation of this practice as it is considered contrary to horse welfare.

Kevin McNabb mid round cross country realised something was amiss with his horse Don Quidam. He jumped off immediately and was assisted by stewards and full veterinary team. Happily a full recovery is expected.

Meanwhile the most impressive aspect of equestrianism is that men and women compete on equal terms. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact equestrian riders’ careers can span many decades.  Isabella Werth first represented GER in 1992 and in six further Olympics  and still won a Gold in 2024 aged 55 riding Wendy. Isabella  has won eight Golds and fourteen medals). She is not the oldest, Ronald Zabala is 57 and he was riding the oldest competing horse in the  eventing aged 21 years old. Forever Young -aptly-  named was representing Ecuador, sadly the rider came off in the water towards the end of the course. This speaks volumes for the care and training regime that keeps Patch happy, he swims and only jumps once a month.

Dalera ,17 years young won the individual Olympic Dressage gold with Jessica  von Bredow-Werndl scoring an amazing 90.093% This too is testament to the care and long standing of these top equine athletes.

A 19 year old horses represented Spain in showjumping, but  Eduardo Alvarez (retired) in the ring after three rails again evidencing that  the welfare of Rokfella de Pleville was his prime concern.

The final of the individual showjumping medals was nail-biting with just three clear rounds over the 1m 65 track. Harry Charles did not present his horse Romeo 88 as he had suffered a minor injury (an overreach) – once gain evidencing that the desire for a win is always subsumed by equine welfare. But more drama was to come as the world number 1, Henrik von Eckerman and the amazing King Edward parted company the ring! Neither was injured but it is testament to the importance of horse welfare  that immediately King Edward was surrounded by his support team and vet.

Finally, and last is not least, much praise must go to the unsung heroes and heroines the grooms working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure their equine athletes are fresh sound and beautifully presented, providing them all with wrap round 24 hour care.