EQUIPMENT and VENUES
Dressage Olympic dressage is held in a flat 20 X 60 metre arena. The horses wear minimal tack usually black in color. At the Olympic level bridles will be a curb bit with a bridoon (sometimes called a double bridle). A plain cavesson, flash, figure-eight or drop nose band may be used. Saddles will be dressage style with a straight flap and a white square saddle pad. No boots or wraps may be used.
The riders wear a shadbelly tail coat, yellow vest, top hat, white gloves, white breeches and black tall boots.
Horses will have their manes braided and may be banded with white tape. Tails may be braided, but are usually left flowing to encourage natural tail carriage.
Three Day Eventing Rules for tack and clothing and arena for dressage and jumping are similar to these individual sports. The cross country course consists of jumps made of very solid natural type obstacles. During the cross country phase, riders will be seen wearing jerseys and helmet covers in their team colors, an ASTM/SEI helmet, gloves and body protector. Riders wear eventing watches with a large read-out that allows them to keep track of their time and alert them when 'optimum time' has been reached.
Horse's tack will be similar to jumping, but boots are secured with tape and shoes may have studs for extra grip on tight corners. White colored 'leg grease' is also seen on some horse's front legs to help them slide over fences they may hit.
Olympic Show Jumping
Olympic show jumping courses will be colorful with many technical twists and turns. Course designers will include spread jumps, verticals, and combinations. The spaces between obstacles will be set up so that riders must control the length of each stride to set up properly for the next jump.
Tack includes a forward seat saddle that allows support and security for riding over fences. At the Olympic level white square saddle pads are used. There are few restriction on the types of bridles, bits and martingales. Some horses may wear hackamores and bitless bridles. Boots, wraps and other protective gear can be worn.
Riders must wear ASTM/SEI approved helmets, buff, tan or white breeches, and will most likely be seen wearing a team jacket.
Horses are well groomed. Tails may be braided and manes will be pulled and may be braided.
GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE
Each country may have a maximum of 3 riders competing for individual medals in the dressage competition. There may be 4 riders from each country in jumping and 5 in eventing competing for individual medals.
Show jumping placings are determined by the fewest knock-downs, penalties and fastest times if there is a jump-off. Dressage placings are determined by the highest scores with 100% being the ideal score.
Eventing medals are determined by the combined scores for all phases. In all cases the combined scores of all team members are calculated to find the winning team in each event.
Read more about Olympic Equestrian Rules and Scoring.
Back to Main Olympic Equestrian page.
