Olympic Games

Equestrian at the Olympics

Equestrian first appeared at the Olympics in 1900.
There are currently three disciplines in equestrian at the Olympics: Jumping, Dressage, Eventing.
There are a few events that are no longer held. In 1900 there was Horse High jump and Horse Long jump, and in 1920 there was Vaulting for teams and individuals.
The Olympic dressage competition started in 1912, and up until 1952, only commissioned officers were allowed to compete in these events. From 1952 the rules were changed to allow civilians and women to compete.

Equestrian is one of only two Olympic sports where men and women compete equally against each other. The other is sailing.
As quarantine laws don't allow the entry of foreign horses into Australia (or there is at least a 6 months quarantine requirement), equestrian events at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics were held in Stockholm in June. The rest of the Games started in late November, when it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Equestrian events (and the equestrian part of Modern Pentathlon) are the only Olympic events that involve animals.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, equestrian will be one of the few events not to be contested within the city limits. All equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong.

British Equestrian, Lorna Johnstone, was 70 years and 5 days old when she rode at the 1972 Games. She was the oldest woman ever to compete at an Olympic Games.
In Beijing 2008, equestrian rider Hiroshi Hoketsu is to become the oldest Japanese Olympic representative at age 67. Hoketsu also took part in the 1964 Tokyo Games where he finsihed 40th in the showjumping event.