Equestrian sports are among those contested at the Summer Olympic Games. Equine events began at the Olympics in 1900, when competitions in polo (considered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be a separate sport from the other equestrian events), vaulting, four-in-hand driving, mail coach driving, mixed hacks and hunters and three types of jumping (high jump, long jump and show-jumping) were held.[1][2] Most of these events were later discontinued, although equestrian events have continued through the 2016 Summer Olympics, and now include team and individual dressage, three-day eventing and show-jumping.[3] Competitors in the modern pentathlon event also have to complete an equestrian show-jumping course, but this is not part of the equestrian events.[4]
Modern-day Olympic equestrian events are rooted in cavalry skills and classical horsemanship,[5] and through 1948, competition was restricted to active-duty officers on military horses.[6] Only after 1952, as mechanization of warfare reduced the number of military riders, were civilian riders allowed to compete.[7][8] Equestrian is the only Olympic sport in which animals compete with humans, and is one of four sports in which the genders compete against each other,[9] the others being some sailing divisions, mixed doubles division in tennis and the mixed doubles division of badminton.[10][11] The rules for Olympic equestrian competition are set by the Fédération Équestre Internationale, the international governing body for equestrian sports.[3]
In two instances, the equestrian portion of the Olympics has been held in a different location from the rest of the games. The first was during the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia when, due to Australian quarantine laws, the equestrian portion was held in Stockholm, Sweden. At the next IOC meeting, it was decided to hold a special Equestrian Olympic Games several months before the actual Olympics, complete with its own opening and closing ceremonies.[12] This meant that Switzerland, which had officially boycotted the 1956 Games because of the Soviet Union's recent invasion of Hungary, still brought home a medal because of its participation in the equestrian portion several months earlier.[12][13] The second instance was during the 2008 Summer Olympics, when the equestrian events were held in Hong Kong rather than Beijing. This decision was made when, in 2005, international veterinary groups refused to certify the main Olympic city as free of equine diseases. This would have resulted in horses leaving Beijing after the games and having to go through lengthy quarantine processes before being allowed to re-enter their home countries. Hong Kong also had the benefit of having better facilities, including a top equine hospital and one of only a few equine drug-testing labs in the world.[14]
The Summer Olympics have included 2,129 equestrian participants, including 1,751 men and 378 women, from 69 countries.[1][note 1], of which 564 won a medal. As of the 2008 Olympics, 395 medals have been awarded to 31 NOCs. The oldest rider was 72-year-old Arthur von Pongracz of Austria at the 1936 Summer Olympics, while the youngest was 16-year-old Luiza Almeida of Brazil at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[1] The leading medalist is Isabell Werth of Germany (10, 6 gold), followed by Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands (9, 3 gold) and Reiner Klimke of Germany (8, 6 gold). Germany leads the country medalist rankings with 25 gold medals (52 overall),[note 2] followed by Sweden with 17 (43 overall) and France with 14 (37 overall).[1] Canadian rider Ian Millar holds the record for the most Olympic equestrian appearances and matches the record for athletes in any sport, having competed in ten Olympics as of 2012.[15]
Dressage
editDressage, individual
edit
Dressage, team
edit
Discontinued events
editMixed hacks and hunters combined
editThis event was contested only at the 1900 Summer Games. The IOC website currently has affirmed a total of 95 medal events, after accepting, as it appears, the recommendation of Olympic historian Bill Mallon regarding events that should be considered "Olympic".[16]
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 Paris |
Napoléon Murat France
|
Victor Archenoul France
|
Robert de Montesquiou-Fézensac France
|
Medal table
editafter 2024 Summer Olympics
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Germany | 16 | 9 | 5 | 30 |
| 2 |  Sweden | 7 | 5 | 7 | 19 |
| 3 | West Germany | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| 4 |  France | 4 | 6 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 |  Soviet Union | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 6 |  Switzerland | 3 | 6 | 4 | 13 |
| 7 |  Netherlands | 3 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| 8 |  Great Britain | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 9 |  United Team of Germany | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 |  Austria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 |  Denmark | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 12 |  United States | 0 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| 13 |  Spain | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 14 |  Bulgaria | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 |  Canada | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Portugal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Romania | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (17 entries) | 49 | 49 | 49 | 147 | |
Eventing
editEventing, individual
edit
Eventing, team
edit
Medal table
edit| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 9 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
| 2 | Great Britain | 7 | 8 | 8 | 23 |
| 3 | Sweden | 7 | 4 | 3 | 14 |
| 4 | United States | 6 | 11 | 8 | 25 |
| 5 |  Australia | 6 | 5 | 4 | 15 |
| 6 | Netherlands | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 7 | France | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 8 |  Italy | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 9 |  New Zealand | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| 10 | West Germany | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 11 | Soviet Union | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 12 | United Team of Germany | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 13 | Denmark | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Poland | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Switzerland | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 16 |  Argentina | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Norway | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 18 |  Mexico | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 19 |  Belgium | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Canada | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Japan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (21 entries) | 52 | 52 | 51 | 155 | |
Jumping
editJumping, individual
edit
Jumping, team
edit
Discontinued events
editHigh jump
edit| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 Paris |
Dominique Gardères France
|
none awarded[note 4] | Georges Van Der Poele Belgium
|
Gian Giorgio Trissino Italy
|
Long jump
edit| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 Paris |
Constant van Langhendonck Belgium
|
Gian Giorgio Trissino Italy
|
Jacques de Prunelé[19] France
|
Medal table
edit| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 7 | 4 | 6 | 17 |
| 2 | Germany | 6 | 1 | 5 | 12 |
| 3 | United States | 5 | 10 | 4 | 19 |
| 4 | Italy | 4 | 6 | 5 | 15 |
| 5 | Sweden | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 6 | Great Britain | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| 7 | United Team of Germany | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | West Germany | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| 10 | Switzerland | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 11 | Belgium | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| 12 | Canada | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 | Mexico | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 14 | Poland | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 | Soviet Union | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 17 |  Brazil | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 |  Czechoslovakia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 20 |  Chile | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 | Austria | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Romania | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 23 | Portugal | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 Saudi Arabia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 25 |  Hungary | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Ireland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (26 entries) | 53 | 51 | 52 | 156 | |
Discontinued disciplines
editDriving
edit
Mail coach
editThis event was also known as the "Mixed four-in-hand", and appears that way in some references. The event was contested only at the 1900 Summer Games. The IOC website currently has affirmed a total of 95 medal events, after accepting, as it appears, the recommendation of Olympic historian Bill Mallon regarding events that should be considered "Olympic".[16]
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 Paris |
Georges Nagelmackers Belgium
|
Léon Thome France
|
Jean de Neuflize France
|
Vaulting
edit
Individual
edit| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 Antwerp |
Daniel Bouckaert Belgium
|
Field France
|
Louis Finet Belgium
|
Team
edit| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 Antwerp |
Belgium Daniel Bouckaert Louis Finet Maurice Van Ranst [note 5] |
France Field Salins Cauchy |
Sweden Carl Green Anders Mårtensson Oskar Nilsson |
Medal table for discontinued disciplines
edit| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | France | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Sweden | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (3 entries) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | |
Statistics
editAthlete medal leaders
editAthletes who have won at least five medals are listed below.
| Athlete | Nation | Gender | Olympics | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isabell Werth | Germany
|
Female | 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2016, 2020, 2024 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 14 |
| Reiner Klimke | Germany
|
Male | 1960, 1964, 1968, 1976, 1984, 1988 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Hans Günter Winkler | Germany
|
Male | 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Charles Pahud de Mortanges | Netherlands
|
Male | 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Michael Jung | Germany
|
Male | 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Anky van Grunsven | Netherlands
|
Female | 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 9 |
| Andrew Hoy | Australia
|
Male | 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2012, 2020 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Charlotte Dujardin | Great Britain
|
Female | 2012, 2016, 2020 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Michael Plumb | United States
|
Male | 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1992 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Earl Foster Thomson | United States
|
Male | 1932, 1936, 1948 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Josef Neckermann | Germany
|
Male | 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| André Jousseaume | France
|
Male | 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Liselott Linsenhoff | Germany
|
Female | 1956, 1968, 1972 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Mark Todd | New Zealand
|
Male | 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2008, 2012 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Christine Stückelberger | Switzerland
|
Female | 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Raimondo D'Inzeo | Italy
|
Male | 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Henri Chammartin | Switzerland
|
Male | 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Gustav Fischer | Switzerland
|
Male | 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Piero D'Inzeo | Italy
|
Male | 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
Notes
edit- ^ This number is approximate, because the number of competitors in early games is uncertain in many cases.
- ^ Includes only the medals won by Germany as a whole country; medals won by the United Team of Germany (EUA) and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) are not included. The IOC considers these three separate National Olympic Committees and lists their results as such, but another major database combines Germany and the EUA, while leaving the FRG separate.[1]
- ^ This was because only two teams finished the competition.[17]
- ^ Two first-place prizes were awarded due to the top two competitors tying for the highest jump, at 1.8 metres (71 in)[18]
- ^ The IOC medal database shows two more team members van Schauwbroeck and van Cauwenberg,[20] however another major database shows only three medalists, although it also includes two men named Van Schauwenbroeck and Albert Van Cauwenburg in the individual vaulting category.[21]
References
editCitations
- ^ a b c d e Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Equestrianism". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
- ^ Bryant, Jennifer O. (2000). Olympic Equestrian: The Sports and the Stories from Stockholm to Sydney. Canada: The Blood-Horse, Inc. pp. 24–25. ISBN 1-58150-044-0.
- ^ a b "Equestrian". The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Archived from the original on October 6, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
- ^ "Modern Pentathlon: Inside this Sport". NBC Beijing 2008. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
- ^ Bryant, Jennifer O. (2000). Olympic Equestrian: The Sports and the Stories from Stockholm to Sydney (1st ed.). Canada: The Blood-Horse, Inc. pp. 14–15. ISBN 1-58150-044-0.
- ^ Edwards, Elwyn Hartley and Candida Geddes (editors) (1987). The Complete Horse Book. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square, Inc. p. 292. ISBN 0-943955-00-9.
{{cite book}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Edwards, Elwyn Hartley and Candida Geddes (editors) (1987). The Complete Horse Book. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square, Inc. p. 296. ISBN 0-943955-00-9.
{{cite book}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ "Factbox for Equestrianism". Reuters Website. Reuters. Reuters. August 7, 2008. Archived from the original on January 12, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
- ^ "Equestrian: Inside this Sport". NBC Beijing 2008. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
- ^ "Sailing: Inside This Sport". NBC Beijing 2008. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
- ^ "Badminton: Inside this Sport". NBC Beijing 2008. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
- ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "1956 Stockholm Equestrian Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
- ^ "Three countries boycott the Games in Melbourne". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 7, 2009. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
- ^ Bradsher, Keith (August 3, 2008). "Haze, Humidity and Horses". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
- ^ "10-time Olympian Ian Millar left off Canadian show jumping team" Archived 2016-08-21 at the Wayback Machine, NBC Olympics, July 14, 2016.
- ^ a b Mallon, Bill (1998). The 1900 Olympic Games, Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4064-1.
- ^ "Games of the X Olympiad". Fédération Equestre Internationale. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Equestrianism at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Mixed High Jump". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
- ^ "Equestrian-jumping/individual-mixed". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
- ^ "All the Medallists since 1896 - Vaulting". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Belgium Equestrianism at the 1920 Antwerpen Summer Games". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
Sources
- "All the Medallists since 1896". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on October 1, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2009.
- Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Equestrianism". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
- "Stats: Paris 1900". Beijing 2008. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on June 22, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
- Bryant, Jennifer O. (2000). Olympic Equestrian: The Sports and the Stories from Stockholm to Sydney. Canada: The Blood-Horse, Inc. ISBN 1-58150-044-0.