Olympics: Equestrian

Three equestrian disciplines are featured at the Rio Olympics in both team and individual events: dressage, jumping, and eventing (the equine triathlon). Each discipline has its roots in the military. In fact, until 1948 only military officers were allowed to compete in equestrian Olympic events.

Dressage began in the 16th century and was added to the Olympics in 1912. It focuses on the harmony between the rider and the horse. Each competing horse is required to complete predetermined moves and is judged on a scale of 0 to 10 by seven judges over three rounds. The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) says that the horse should give “the impression of doing of his own account what is required of him.” In equestrian jumping, horses attempt to clear between 10 and 13 obstacles with the fastest time and the fewest penalties. Jumping competitions consist of three elimination rounds and two final rounds. Eventing is considered the most difficult and intense equestrian event, combining jumping, dressage, and cross-country. Cross-country consists of about 40 obstacles, which can include steeplechase, swamp roads, steep hills, and sharp turns. Notably, these three equestrian disciplines are mixed events, which means that there are not separate men’s and women’s competitions.

Equestrian sports have been under scrutiny for the danger they pose to the rider and the horse. Horses are regularly injured in jumping and eventing, although their injuries often go unreported by their owners, who worry about decreasing the horse’s value. The most commonly fatal accident for humans and horses is a rotational fall, where the horse flips and lands on its back—or its rider—after completing a jump. Injured horses who are unable to compete are often euthanized or sold to ill-equipped owners.

Animal rights activists have accused equestrian sports of being cruel to animals because of the frequent injuries and deaths of horses during training and competition. Neither the FEI nor any national equestrian federation has reliable statistics on horse and human deaths or injuries from professional events. The FEI has been stubborn about changing its course models for eventing. Frangible structures that easily break down when a horse hits them have been developed, which reduces the chance of injury to the horse. The FEI has refused to mandate (or even voice support for) such structures.