Canadian showjumper Eric Lamaze will compete at his seventh consecutive world championships at the Tryon World Equestrian Games (WEG) in North Carolina, next week.

Eric, who turned 50 in April this year, has been named alongside Erynn Ballard, Mario Deslauriers and his 22-year-old pupil Kara Chad to represent Canada at WEG, alongside team reserve Lisa Carlsen.

The 2008 Olympic gold medallist has chosen to ride the 12-year-old gelding Chacco Kid (Chacco Blue x Come On), with whom he won at the London leg of the Longines Global Champions Tour last month, rather than his 2016 Olympic bronze medal-winning partner Fine Lady.

“We are taking a young horse and giving him a chance,” explained Eric. “He’s a horse that I am very excited about and hope we will see great things from in the future.

“Fine Lady had her championships at the Olympics in Rio; I think the world championships would be too much for her at this stage in her career,” he said. “She is 15 this year and we carefully select our events in order to keep her fit and healthy. It was a tough choice, but the best interest of the horse is our number one priority.”

The current world number three rider made his world championship debut in 1994 and won individual bronze in 2010, where his mount Hickstead was named best horse after jumping clear rounds with every rider in the final four.

Continued below…

Meet the banana-loving horse from Colombia — who’s turning into a superstar

‘He can be fast, scopey, he’s everything. And he’s such a great guy — a super friendly horse who just

Showjumping rocked by death of Eric Lamaze’s Hickstead

Eric Lamaze's mighty horse Hickstead collapsed and died after jumping in the World Cup in Verona

Eric Lamaze unveils statue of Hickstead at Spruce Meadows

A memorial statue of Olympic gold medal-winning showjumper Hickstead has been unveiled at Spruce Meadows

Based in Brussels, Belgium, Eric is the most decorated Canadian equestrian athlete in Olympic sport having earned individual gold, team silver, and individual bronze medals.

His pupil Kara will be making her world championship debut riding Carona, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare (Untouchable x Silverstone) owned by Eric Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable.

“I’m very proud that Kara made the team,” he added. “She paid her dues and was a very gracious alternate for us at the Rio Olympics. Now, she has the opportunity to be a part of the team.”

Keep up to date with the latest news from Tyron, here on HorseandHound.co.uk, plus don’t miss our extensive analysis and reports in the magazine, on sale Thursday 20 & 27 September.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A year’s worth of reporting by Horse & Hound garners some memorable quotes from our top riders, whether in Rio or on home soil

Gems from Rio…

“I never want anyone to compare any horse I ride to Valegro — there will never be another like him” — Charlotte Dujardin, having taken individual gold at Rio

“It’s a bloody nightmare — we have to share a room and she’s always telling me off for leaving the floor wet or something. I’d like to draw a line down the middle of the room” — Tim Price on being on a Rio team with wife Jonelle

“Big Star should have been on that podium too — without him, I wouldn’t have been there” — Nick Skelton after taking the individual gold medal

“I’m really pleased with his brain and that he put in a solid test considering he was being a bit of a village idiot outside” — Pippa Funnell on Billy The Biz’s Olympic dressage test

“Everything started draining through my body. I thought of all the work we’ve done with Big Star — it’s all paid off” — Big Star’s groom Mark Beever on his experience in Rio

“It was definitely a clenching with the buttocks moment” — Jonty Evans on Cooley Rorkes Drift being held at the final trot-up in Rio

“We all had the horror that we might be on the first team not to win gold” — Paralympian Anne Dunham on Britain’s pressure to keep up its golden record

… and the rest of the year

“The Queen tapped me on the arm and said, ‘It’s all going rather well, isn’t it?’” — Her Majesty’s racing adviser John Warren on Dartmouth’s win at Royal Ascot

“If I was the judge at C, I’d have run for the hills” — Sarah Bullimore on Reve Du Rouet bolting down the centreline in the dressage at Badminton

“We say thank you to everybody who has supported us and him but, in a funny way, I think this was Sprinter’s own way of saying thanks” — trainer Nicky Henderson after (the now retired) Sprinter Sacre’s win in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival

“I’ve been milking cows for 25 years and now I’m training Thistlecrack and Cue Card, it’s unbelievable” — trainer Colin Tizzard after Thistlecrack won his chasing debut at Chepstow

“You get to Saturday morning and think you could be a retired middle-aged mother-of-two watching this on TV, but when it goes like that, that’s why you keep going” — Tina Cook on a clear in the time at Badminton on Star Witness

“It felt like he’d looked at the course plan and just did it for me” — Andrew Nicholson on riding Nereo cross-country at Burghley, his first British four-star since his serious fall in August 2015

“I remember someone looking at a lovely mare I showed — who went on to be coloured champion at Horse of the Year Show — and asking why I had a cow on the yard” — columnist Katie Jerram on the days before coloured classes went mainstream.

“I hate to see a cob that you need a chainsaw to take its ergots off and a dock like an oak tree” — producer Simon Reynolds likes a show cob with real quality, not an agricultural animal in disguise

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

A fear of blackthorns — and 24 other signs you’re addicted to hunting

7 things people say when you have a horse-related injury

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

“Everyone cheered him when he came off the lorry – he jumped off the ramp like a raging bull!” said Mark Beever, who has been Nick Skelton’s groom for the past 31 years and has looked after Big Star, or Henry as he is known at home, since the stallion arrived on the yard as a five-year-old.

The large entourage who welcomed Big Star home included Nick’s family, friends and the extended Skelton team, and the attention being lavished on the 13-year-old stallion has not stopped since, with social media buzzing with pictures of the stallion – and his rider, of course.

There were balloons on the gate to welcome Big Star back from Rio — but not in his stable.

“He’s a bit sharp like that — he wouldn’t be too impressed if we decorated his stable,” said Nick.

“He’s very placid but anything out of his normal routine and he gets a bit highly strung.”

But despite his new status as an A-list equine, Big Star is now back in his daily routine of spa treatments, grazing and being generally pampered by his devoted groom Mark.

“He’s so easy to handle, very good to do anything with – he doesn’t think he’s a stallion,” said Mark.

“I hand-graze him for two hours every day and he goes up to the spa at Dan’s racing yard every day. He’s had his photograph taken with all the racing lads because they all backed him. Apparently he was 16-1 so they’ve won a lot of money!”

But the Olympic gold medal-winner is not without his quirks.

“He cons you a little bit sometimes – when you take him into the tacking up area and start to put his bridle on, without fail he’ll start yawning,” said Mark. “He just wants you to think he’s tired!”

Related articles:

• Olympic champion Nick Skelton eyes Rolex Grand Slam
• Nick Skelton ‘amazed’ by calls for him to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• Big Star: the ‘runaway train’ who neighs at jumps

But it’s not all rock star treatment for Big Star, he waits his turn for his dinner like everyone else.

“A lot of people say he must get fed first but no, we go along the line and he’ll wait patiently until whenever it’s his turn, he’s brilliant,” says Mark.

Read the full interview with Nick Skelton’s groom Mark Beever in the 15 September issue of Horse & Hound.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

I don’t think a single one of us wasn’t in tears watching Nick Skelton on that podium. It’s one of the greatest things to ever happen in showjumping, and we’ve waited long enough. Great Britain’s last individual medal went to Ann Moore and Psalm, who won silver in 1972 — and we’d never won gold. So what Nick achieved in Rio is phenomenal.

But as big a job as Nick did during the Olympics, bringing that horse back from two serious injuries, and more or less two years off is a gold medal in training. And you can’t stress enough how much credit should go to his whole team in achieving that feat.

Nick is probably one of the best riders we will ever see, but a lack of match fitness meant he and Big Star were slightly rusty on day one and the two of them benefited from every round. Outside in the warm-up on day one, Nick said to me, “I’m not sure if Big Star’s kidding me because he’s really quiet.” But when they went into the ring Big Star was unbelievably fresh.

By the individual final, any rustiness had gone and we saw the Big Star of old. Everyone involved with horses knows you need a touch of luck, but actually I don’t think Nick needed any. For showjumping, for Nick, for everyone, that gold medal means so much.

Produced for glory

Like Big Star, Peder Fredricson’s silver medal-winning ride All In was discovered as a youngster and both Nick and the Swede have produced the horses themselves to become the best in the world. But this is why

we also need investment from people like Gary and Beverley Widdowson, who own both Big Star and Michael Whitaker’s Cassionato, and we’re very lucky that they’re such enthusiasts. Owners get so little out of an Olympic Games, but Gary’s ridden himself and he breathes the sport, and above all, he supports his country.

Camera never lies

The team result was not what we’d hoped for. Without Nick and Michael’s faults at the water jump on the first team round, Great Britain could have finished on four penalties and progressed to round two, even vying for medals. In hindsight, both riders say they would have ridden the water differently.

I watched the replay and was adamant Nick wasn’t in the water but, to be fair to the FEI, they provided three different camera angles during the appeal. Watching the replay in slow motion wasn’t conclusive, but in reverse it became clear that the horse did in fact touch the tape. So all credit to them for having these facilities in place — at the time we felt cheated, but in fact we weren’t and everyone was happy with that.

On top of the world

This week’s column could so nearly have been me bemoaning the state of the sport and asking why we have no younger riders — after all, we sent Ben Maher and three old men, two of whom are granddads, to compete at the Olympics. But Nick and Big Star saved the day.

To get three medals across the equestrian disciplines meant the 2016 Olympics really was a great event. Big Star and Valegro: they were both big stars. To feel part of GB’s record-breaking medal haul makes us all feel on top of the world.

Ref Horse & Hound; 25 August 2016

In the week since Nick Skelton was crowned Olympic champion in Rio, he’s hurtled through a whirlwind of interviews, television appearances and Skelfies — he even earned a round of applause on the flight back from Rio when the pilot announced his presence on the plane.

So with the gold medal apparently now neatly tucked in Nick’s sock drawer alongside the team accolade from 2012, has there been time to reflect on what happens next?

“I’ll keep going as long as Big Star keeps going,” says Nick. “But it was amazing to get there – to execute something you’ve planned for so many years.”

After a well-deserved holiday, the short-term plan for Big Star is to jump a few smaller classes in Europe as a sweetener after the rigours of Rio, but one very big prize could be in the Warwickshire rider’s sights.

“I think I’ll probably try to tackle the [Rolex] Grand Slam,” he told H&H — something Big Star’s owners Gary and Beverley Widdowson would fully support.

In 2013 Nick and Big Star became the first grand slam contenders when they won the Aachen grand prix. But shortly afterwards, the stallion was hit by injury and the pair were unable to chase the title at the remaining legs in Spruce Meadows and Geneva.

One of the many benefits of winning an Olympic gold medal in showjumping is that it automatically qualifies you to compete in any CSIO or CSI grand prix. As Nick is currently ranked 309 in the Longines world rankings, this opens up a whole host of opportunities not normally afforded to someone outside the top 30 or 40.

Related articles:

• Big Star: the ‘runaway train’ who neighs at jumps
• Nick Skelton ‘amazed’ by calls for him to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year
• 9 things you need to know about Olympic champion Nick Skelton

So as Nick rides this golden wave, there’s only one question to ask our new national hero – will we ever see him foxtrotting his way on to Strictly Come Dancing?

“No you will not — not a chance!”

Sequins or not, it’s great to have this brilliant pair back to their very best.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

On the day of the individual final I was at David Simpson and Louise Pavitt’s wedding. Luckily they postponed the speeches so we could watch Nick Skelton win gold. There was plenty of celebrating afterwards, as I’m sure you can imagine.

Nick has spent four years preparing especially for the Olympics. According to the rider, the last time he tried to win was the Aachen grand prix in 2013 — everything else has been preparation for Rio.

I spoke to Nick afterwards and he was on cloud nine. His performance was purely Nick doing what I’ve watched him do for the past 40 years — plan, prepare and deliver.

It was no fluke him winning gold — he’s a man who plans to perfection and his round was calculated to a tee. I remember him winning the junior European Championships in 1975 and he was the same — you could call it precision engineering.

Jack Whitaker won the pony European Championships in the same week, which shows we do have a promising next generation coming though the ranks.

There is no mention of Nick hanging up his boots as far as I’ve heard and with a horse like Big Star in top condition, it would be a crime to stop now. On Friday, Big Star proved he’s best in the world, but also showed that he has the best man in the driver’s seat.

Big heat

The heat appeared to get to some horses but Big Star can cope with most conditions. He has plenty of blood and the heat didn’t bother him.

The Brits had an unlucky time in the team rounds and Nick made his only mistake of the year in the initial round on Sunday (14 August) — adding an extra stride to the last fence — which resulted in one down. But it looked to sharpen Big Star up perfectly for the team and individual rounds.

I’ve always felt that the showjumping format should see riders carry their faults forward, which would result in the most consistent combination winning — however I am obviously pleased this wasn’t the case in Rio, otherwise Nick wouldn’t have picked up gold.

At London 2012, wiping the slate clean worked against Nick; however, it worked in his favour in Rio. In the jump-off, Nick really put the pressure on — it forced speed demons Kent Farrington and Eric Lamaze to make costly mistakes.

Got the ticket

It was disappointing to see low ticket sales and empty grandstands for the eventing and dressage, but great to see how popular the showjumping was. The Qatari riders put in good performances — although you would expect it, as they are under the management umbrella of Jan Tops — he’s as good at planning as Nick Skelton.

It will also be sad if Jeroen Dubbeldam loses the ride on the brilliant Zenith, who is being sold at auction in September. Jeroen has done a fantastic job with that horse. With any horse and rider picked for an Olympic Games it is because of the partnership they have together, and that is certainly the case with Jeroen and Zenith.

Ref Horse & Hound; 25 August 2016

Nick Skelton has told H&H he is “amazed” by the support he’s received after his gold medal-winning performance at Rio 2016, especially by the calls for him to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

A SPOTY campaign has quickly gathered on social media, with equestrian fans and supporters posting “#skelfies” with Nick.

Even 20-time champion jump jockey Sir AP McCoy is backing Nick for the accolade.

Nick told H&H: “It’s fantastic the support I’m getting from people young and old; and even from Sir AP. It would be an honour for showjumping.”

At 58 years old Nick became Britain’s second-oldest Olympic gold medallist when he won the individual showjumping at Rio last week (Friday 19 August). The only person older was Joshua Millner, who was 61 when he took shooting gold in 1908. Nick’s victory was also Team GB’s first individual showjumping medal since 1972 when Anne Moore won silver.

“Nick is as good a showjumper as there’s ever been,” said AP in his William Hill blog today (Tuesday 23 August).

“To go to seven Olympic Games and win gold with possibly his last chance is an incredible feat. If I could pick one person, I would love to see Nick Skelton win Sports Personality of the Year. I’ve known him a long time and have always thought he’s a brilliant rider. I have great respect for him. He’s very gifted.”

Nick made his Olympic debut in 1988 and missed only one, Sydney 2000, after he broke his neck. He was forced to retire from showjumping in 2001, but after recovering he returned to the sport in 2002.

Forty-two-year-old AP, who retired in April 2015, joked: “With Nick winning a gold medal at the age of 58, I was thinking maybe I retired too early. Could I go for a career switch? I wouldn’t mind riding Big Star.”

But it’s a tough year for SPOTY. Brits won 67 medals in 15 different sports at Rio, finishing second in the medal table behind the USA.

AP, who was crowned SPOTY in 2010, thinks that tennis star Andy Murray is likely to take the award, for a third time.

“I’d like to see Nick win Sports Personality, but who do I think will win it? Andy Murray is favourite and if he hadn’t already won it twice, I’d say he was a good thing,” he continued.

“Maybe he deserves to win it again though, winning Wimbledon and Olympic gold in the same year.”

Nick is currently a 50/1 shot with the bookmakers. Andy Murray is favourite at 11/10 and Mo Farah is 2/1.

Gold medal-winning dressage star Charlotte Dujardin also has a slot in the bookmakers’ odds at 100/1.

Related articles:

• 9 things you need to know about Olympic champion Nick Skelton
• Nick Skelton and Big Star win gold in Olympic showjumping showdown
• Big Star: the runaway train who neighs at jumps

AP is one of just four riders to have won a SPOTY, alongside David Broome in 1960, Princess Anne in 1971 and Zara Phillips in 2006.

Charlotte Dujardin finished fourth in 2014, despite a huge push by the equestrian industry and an army of dressage fans.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Germany’s Christian Ahlmann is a regular face on the international showjumping scene. He was in Rio with the magnificent Dutch warmblood (KWPN) horse Taloubet Z.

But far from being a fire-breathing stallion, Christian says he is “really quiet, almost too quiet”.

“Just walking around, you wouldn’t think he had so much blood [energy and fiestiness] in the ring. He is a breeding stallion, but the most brave breeding stallion in the world. You could take him in to your bed if you wanted. He’s such a nice horse.

“To start, in the ring, he is on the border of almost too much blood; but in the stable you can’t see it. In the ring he comes alive.”

Now 41, Christian has been riding Taloubet for seven years — although as a youngster Christian’s first love was for football before he found riding.

Although Taloubet was always talented, the son of Galoubet A used ot have a fear of water jumps.

“I took him home from a show and he didn’t want to jump the water and he didn’t want to jump the fences around the water,” says Christian. “So we had a hard time with that. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to jump it, but he was a bit scared and didn’t want to get close.

They worked long and hard to overcome the horse’s fear, starting with baby steps.

“We started from 20cm onwards, and from the moment he felt safe it was OK. It took a while, and luckily we got on the team.”

The German equestrian teams are some of the most successful medal-producers for their nation across all sports. And in Rio they were sniffing out medals too.

“Taloubet’s in great shape, really concentrated, really fresh,” he goes on.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Tales from Rio: A million reasons to love this rider

Tales from Rio: ‘I was on 21 painkillers, but I had to qualify for the Olympics’

Tales from Rio: Why it was ‘wee wee’ rather than ‘oui oui’ for the French yesterday

Christian is in the mix zone in Rio, talking to journalists under the punishing sun after jumping in the main arena. How does he feel about the courses?

“The first day was a very good course,” says the lanky German. “We had no big problems in the course and I really hope I can keep it like that. But I didn’t expect so many clears — lots of horses jumped it very well.

As everyone knows, it’s millimetres that makes or breaks a combination in showjumping.

“One fault can make a huge difference,” he continues. “Talou is an amazing horse, with so much power and a lot — a lot — of scope. It is my job to get the power out of him in sport. Now we have the control and the confidence for a lot of years, but we had a hard time to start, so that makes it more special now.”

The German team went on to take bronze after a jump-off with Canada.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Olympics can do funny things to the most stoic of people. You find yourself welling up watching the taekwondo medal ceremony and the Brownlee brothers lying on the ground post-triathlon triumph can make your bottom lip quiver. And so it’s no surprise, that when it comes the equestrian sport, we’re an emotional wreck.

With soaring highs and crashing lows, here are some of the brilliant horse sport quotes from Rio 2016 that have got us going…

Charlotte Dujardin, only the second female British Olympian to win three gold medals, on it being unlikely that superstar Valegro will contest another championship

Dutch dressage rider Adelinde Cornelissen, on retiring Parzival from the grand prix, after he was suffering from a toxic fever

Spencer Wilton on a blip in the special

Charlotte Dujardin on pre-freestyle nerves, and Valegro’s helping hand

Strong praise from Richard Davison for the gold medal-winning Valegro

Chef d’equipe Michel Asseray on the French team’s reaction to their gold medal

William Fox-Pitt sums up the British eventing team’s disappointment on missing out on a medal

William Fox-Pitt on retiring Chilli Morning to stud

Like this? You might also enjoy reading these:

Tales from Rio: ‘We had no money; I did Polly Pocket commercials to pay for lessons’

Tales from Rio: A million reasons to love this rider

Ben Maher on Britain’s failure to clinch a team showjumping medal as the defending champions

Kevin Staut after taking showjumping team gold for France

Nick Skelton, after taking individual gold in the showjumping with Big Star

Don’t miss the full report from the Olympic dressage in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (18 August 2016), and the full showjumping report in next week’s issue (25 August)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Today Nick Skelton won Olympic gold, becoming Team GB’s oldest Olympic medallist since 1912. It was absolutely epic.

He’s nearly 60 and the pair of them have come back from a whole raft of potentially career-ending injuries (read all about that in the magazine report in next week’s issue).

Nick is nearly 60 and whenever my own mother tries to use age and infirmity as an excuse for not doing things she doesn’t fancy, I remind her of Nick.

And now he’s the Olympic champion.

The story is unbelievable. I was emotional when Charlotte Dujardin won, but because I had more belief that she would — dressage is the most form-driven of the three equestrian Olympic disciplines — I managed to hold it together a bit better.

For the showjumping final, I was sitting in the press stands meticulously noting down who had faulted where and what the rounds looked like, while my colleague Pippa was in the nearby mix zone — where the riders are all interviewed after their rounds — getting quotes.

Big Star jumped 39 gigantic fences in the Olympic stadium today and didn’t touch a single one.

Over the three rounds, the British press got more and more twitchy.

Big Star gives so much to Nick and looked feisty and full of running.

Sitting in the press tribunes by myself I began to shake with nerves. This partnership came so agonizingly close to gold in London and I really, really wanted them to win a medal in Rio. When I realised Nick had definitely won a medal, I let out an involuntary squawk of excitement. My heart was beating so frantically I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It was trying to climb out of my throat. Reckon I’d lost about half a stone trembling, sweating and pushing blood round my body at supersonic speed by this point.

I was shaking so much at this point that my notes about the rounds before Big Star’s are illegible.

Pulling like a train

Was it too much to hope that he could win a medal? In the six-strong jump-off, Nick was first to go.

He rode the tightest of lines, Big Star still pulling like the big-hearted brown train that he is, then exploding off the ground. Nick dared him and trusted him all at once.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Nick Skelton and Big Star win GOLD in Rio showjumping showdown

Big Star’s ‘a bit rusty’ but Nick Skelton is in gold medal position in Rio

Tales from Rio: A million reasons to love this rider

One by one, the challengers fell by the wayside. The last rider to jump, Eric Lamaze, was the only one who could deny Nick this blockbusting gold. Eric’s quick, and his horse hadn’t touched a pole all week. But when a rail landed — thud — on the wet arena surface, I leapt out of my seat manically shaking and crying, sprinted to the nearby mix zone and celebrated with Pippa. I’m sorry to the foreign journalists I scattered in my excitement.

Nick had done it. I was grateful to be able to hide behind my sunglasses as my eyes leaked.

This gold means so much to so many — not least of all Nick, who shed a manly little tear on the podium.

Some partnerships are more than the sum of their parts and I am so grateful and lucky to have witnessed two such British combinations — Nick and Big Star, Charlotte and Valegro — winning individual medals at the Rio Olympics.

Now I need to sit down, let my heart get back to normal, and try to decipher those notes.

Thank you Nick.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Listen carefully before Team GB’s Nick Skelton and Big Star enter the arena and you will hear a distinctive — and very distinguished — neigh. For such is the 13-year-old stallion’s enthusiasm for the job that he whinnies as soon as he spots a fence.

“We’ve talked about it so many times – Big Star’s almost saying ‘OK, let’s get it on with it!’” says his proud owner Gary Widdowson.

“Every time he goes in the tunnel to the arena, as soon as he sees the jumps, he gives this full stallion-like neigh. It shows there’s a bit more to Big Star – he just loves what he does. You can tell – he’s always got his ears pricked, too.”

Another of Big Star’s unique attributes, reveals Gary, is the way he moves.

“If you watch him in the ring, he really pounds the ground,” he says.

“He comes round the corner, Nick’s holding back this runaway train, he’s striking the ground as he goes to the fences, then he throws himself in to the ground as he jumps. The vets have said the amount of pressure he puts down as he moves is way more than any other horse.”

Gary, his wife Beverley, daughter Hayley and grandson Oliver were all in Rio to cheer on Big Star, who they call “part of the family”, alongside their second Team GB horse Cassionato, who is ridden by Michael Whitaker.

Nick and Big Star were part of the British team that won Olympic gold in London 2012 and fulfilled their ambition of adding an individual medal to their bustling trophy cabinet in Rio.

“Nick said that he didn’t think Big Star had ever felt better,” says Gary.

“So many riders have said to us ‘If I can’t win the Olympics, I hope Nick and Big Star do’ – it just shows the esteem in which he’s held among them.”

The full interview with Gary Widdowson was published in Horse & Hound (Friday 12 August, 2016).

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain’s Nick Skelton and Big Star won gold in the individual showjumping competition at the Rio Olympics today.

They were first to jump in the six-strong medals jump-off and set a blistering pace with a clear round that none of his rivals — a Who’s Who of showjumping talent — could catch.

Fifty-eight-year-old Nick is at his seventh Games, making his debut in 1988. He has missed only one Olympics, Sydney 2000, after he broke his neck.

Big Star was on the team that clinched gold in London 2012 but was denied an individual medal in Greenwich.

The 13-year-old stallion by Quick Star x Nimmerdor (owned by Gary and Beverley Widdowson and Oliver Robertson) has since returned from a career-threatening injury.

“I’m so pleased with him today — we’ve done a lot of work with him, bringing him back slowly,” said Nick. “We’ve nursed him and nursed him and nursed him and he’s come good for me.”

Continued below…

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In our Olympics pull-out special issue, we asked: Could they add the individual title this

time around? Now we know the answer.

The individual contest went down to the wire, with six horses jumping double clears, forcing the jump-off for medals.

Sweden’s Peder Fredricson took the silver on All In, with bronze going to Canada’s Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady 5. Only Peder and Nick jumped clear in the jump-off, and Eric won his medal by being faster than Switzerland’s London 2012 champions Steve Guerdat and Nino Des Buissonnets, who also had four faults.

The other pairs in the jump-off were the USA’s Kent Farrington (Voyeur) and Qatar’s Sheikh Ali Al Thani (First Devision). They both had two fences down.

Britain’s other rider still in the competition today, Ben Maher, had faults with Tic Tac during the second round as well as the first and did not make it through to the final jump-off.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Follow the jumping action from the individual final at the Rio Olympic Games via our live and interactive written commentary service

Welcome to H&H Live – Horse & Hound’s live and interactive written commentary service – as we prepare for the exciting individual final of the showjumping team competition at the Rio Olympic Games. Action is due to get underway at 2pm UK time on Friday 19 August, so make sure you’re logged on so you don’t miss a moment. You can register below to receive an email reminder if you’d like to do so.

H&H’s website editor Carol Phillips and online journalist Gemma Redrup will be on hand throughout the session to bring you the ups and downs of every rider’s round, which will see the individual medals being awarded at the end of this session. If you’d like to understand what each of the riders have had to achieve in order to reach the individual final, why not check out our guide to Olympic showjumping?

What is H&H Live?

For those who aren’t familar with H&H Live, it is an up-to-the-minute written commentary service enhanced with still images, which also gives you the opportunity to take part in live interactive polls, pose questions to our team and post your comments.

You can follow on your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone, so you can get live updates whereever you are, without having to be in front of your TV. NB: This is NOT a live video stream.

Can I watch on TV?

All action from the Olympic Games is going to be available via the BBC’s red button services as well as the BBC sports website. We hope that you will join us as well for the insight the H&H team can provide, and take part in our interactive options. Find out what’s happening when ».

H&H Live will run throughout the Games covering all the action across all three equestrian disciplines. We look forward to you joining us for two fantastic weeks of equestrian sport.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Nick Skelton and Big Star jumped a superb clear in the first of two rounds to determine the individual showjumping medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Thirteen combinations jumped clear and inside the time over Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge’s testing track.

All of them — plus the all the four-faulters — progress into this afternoon’s class, where the individual medals will be decided. Two riders jumped clear but with a single time fault, and they have also qualified. All penalties are carried forward. A total of 27 horses have qualified, as those tied for qualifying spots all progress.

Ben Maher and Tic Tac are the only other Brits left in the running after Michael Whitaker withdrew Cassionato as he was suffering with colic symptoms. They had one fence down this morning, the first part of the triple combination that took many scalps. He is through to the deciding round.

Nick, who had a foot in the water and a rail down in earlier rounds, said: “Big Star’s got his act together now. I think he was a bit rusty — he hasn’t jumped anything as big as the other day since the grand prix in Aachen. The course rode a lot bigger than it walked.”

Ben was pleased with Tic Tac’s performance.

“He’s jumped great today again,” he said. “I think he’s improved every day. I don’t know that I’d do a lot differently if I went again to be honest. It’s a little bit disappointing [to have a fence down] but things can change a lot in the second round — we saw that in London and Beijing — so we’ll stay positive and try to go clear in the second round.

Continued below…

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Eric Lamaze, who jumped last and produced a clear round from Fine Lady 5, said: “There was no room for a little mistake at this point if you want to have a chance at a medal.”

In the final round, riders jump in reverse order and carry forward their penalties from this morning. It is not against the clock (though there is a maximum time allowed). Any riders tied for any medal positions then progress to a jump-off against the clock.

Follow all the action with H&H’s live and interactive text commentary.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Today is the individual final of the Rio Olympics showjumping and Britain has two riders in the running, Ben Maher and Nick Skelton.

Riders start in reverse order of merit according to their penalties from the earlier rounds, although their earlier faults do not actually count towards the individual medals — everyone starts on a clean slate today.

The British combinations’ approximate times for the first round are:

• Nick Skelton on Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star — fourth into the arena, approximately 10.06am local time (2.06pm British time)
• Ben Maher on Jane Forbes Clark’s Tic Tac — ninth into the arena, approximately 10.16am local time (2.16pm British time)

The second round is open to the top 20 riders after the first barrage, including those with equality of penalties for 20th place. The second round begins at 1.30pm local time (5.30pm British time).

Follow all the action today with H&H Live.

Only the leading 35 riders from the earlier rounds of competition have the opportunity to start today, with a maximum of three pairs for each nation coming forward. This means Switzerland’s Jannika Sprunger (Bonne Chance CW) and Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum (Casello) have missed out as they qualified on merit, but so did three others from their countries. Ludger announced his retirement from riding at championships yesterday after he collected team bronze on Wednesday.

Continued below…

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The horses still in the competition all underwent an inspection last night in front of ground jury president Stephan Ellenbruch (GER), and foreign veterinary delegate Tim Randle (GBR) to ensure their fitness to continue and all passed. Emerald, ridden by Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands, was sent to the holding box but was accepted when he was re-presented.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Four-time Olympic gold medallist Ludger Beerbaum has jumped in his last Games for Germany.

The 52-year-old, who helped his team secure bronze in Rio this week on Casello (17 August), has announced his retirement from the national team.

Ludger, who has also won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze at world championships and six gold, three silver and two bronze at European championships, “had always planned to stop with a success”, said a spokesman.

“It was a tough decision,” said Ludger, adding that he is not completely quitting the sport.

“I do have a lot of projects going. I will focus on my stable at home and training and selling young horses.”

FEI jumping director John Roche described Ludger as “a legend in his own lifetime, a complete horseman and a man who is deeply involved in the development of the sport“.

Ludger will still compete as an individual, the spokesman confirmed, adding that as president of the Longines World Equestrian Academy, the rider will “support the development of the showjumping market in Asia”.

Ludger will also be kept busy with Riesenbeck International Equestrian Centre, a joint venture with Baron Constantin Heereman and his son Philipp, which offers national competitions, clinics and international seminars.

“I won’t get bored,” Ludger said.

“I’m grateful that I was able to represent Germany as a rider. Now this job is for my younger colleagues.”

Related articles:

• Britain’s Nick Skelton and Ben Maher both qualify for Rio showjumping individual final
• British combination withdraw from Olympics
• Further disqualification under blood rules and an official protest in Rio showjumping

Ludger had qualified for today’s (19 August) individual Olympic final but the rules only allow the top three riders from each country to take part, and as he was the lowest-placed German rider, he will not jump.

Ludger’s first appearance on a senior championship team for Germany was in 1987. Next month’s Nations Cup final in Barcelona (22-25 September) will be his last appearance in the red German team jacket.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tiffany Foster might be jumping round huge tracks on Tripple X III now, but the Canadian Olympic showjumper didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in her mouth. When she was a kid, she acted in ads to earn cash.

“When I was a little girl, we didn’t have any money, so my mum made me do commercials to pay for my riding lessons,” she says. Then she reels off a whole list of brands she worked for — at lightning speed.

“They were little girl toy commercials,” she says. “Polly Pocket, Littlest Petshop, Little Petshop Zoo, Shampoodle, Puppy Surprise, Pony Surprise, Kitty Surprise — all of those. I’m multi-faceted over here!” she jokes.

Tiffany is so engaging and bright; the only tough job for a journalist is writing fast enough to keep up with her supersonic talking speed.

She’s now competing at the Olympics in Rio on Ben Maher’s London 2012 gold medal-winning horse, Tripple X.

“I’m telling you; anybody could go in the ring on Tripple X and feel confident,” says Tiffany, as she bounces up and down with enthusiasm under Rio’s punishing sun.

Is it strange for her to be riding Tripple X at a show, knowing Ben is here too?

“No,” she says brightly. “Ben and I are pretty good friends and we’ve been to a lot of shows together. I’m used to him being around. All I’m thinking as I’m cantering round is if he’s thinking he’s wishing he was riding ‘Hugo’ — though maybe not!”

She giggles in her charming, chirpy way.

How does it feel to be riding an Olympic gold medalist?

“He’s a double gold medalist — he won gold at the Pan-Ams too,” she admonishes, quick to praise the British-bred son of Namelus R.

“You honestly don’t think there’s a jump he can’t jump. When you feel that at the Olympic Games and you walk the course and you don’t even register how big the jumps are. It’s a great feeling and I don’t think everybody gets that. I feel really fortunate to have that.

“I’ve come here with a ton of confidence in my horse — I can’t imagine being here on any other horse.”

Continued below…

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Tiffany Foster to keep ride on Tripple X III

In the first round, Tripple X nudged out a single brick on top of the gigantic wall.

“He jumped unbelievably,” she says with her customary enthusiasm. “He felt like he was having a good time.

“He has a little bit of a left drift which I have to use to my advantage. I couldn’t be happier with him though, he tried his heart out.

“I can’t believe I had the stupid wall down, just the top brick flicked off! I’ve never had a wall down with him. What a time to do it!”

Decked out support crew

Tiffany’s mother Lynne is in Rio to support her.

“My mum is my number one fan — she’s totally decked out and I just hope I get a clear so I can go and give them a wave.”

And that precious clear came today. She and Hugo jumped a cracking round in temperatures touching 30 degrees. Canada was then tied in third with Germany and had to jump again. The pair put in another astonishing clear, with Hugo eating up the ground with his huge canter and Tiffany daring him on. It might not have been good enough for the team bronze, but the horse jumped his socks off, and Tiffany rode beautifully.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

France added yet another team gold to their tally today, winning the team showjumping competition at the Rio Olympics after their eventing victory last week. The USA took silver, with Germany narrowly claiming the bronze after a jump-off with Canada.

France started the day in fifth with one time-fault on their scorecard after yesterday’s first round, but Philllippe Rozier (Rahotep De Toscane), Kevin Staut (Reveur De Hurtebise) and Roger Yves Bost (Sydney Une Prince) all left all the coloured poles intact today. A single time-fault each for Phillippe and Roger didn’t matter and they secured the gold on three faults without final ride Penelope Leprovost (Flora De Mariposa) having to jump.

“I’m so proud of him today, he did an amazing job,” said Kevin. “He’s 15 but feels as young as ever.”

The USA were down to three riders today as Beezie Madden’s Cortes ‘C’ sustained a tendon injury yesterday, but Kent Farrington (Voyeur) had just one time-fault, McClain Ward (Azur) jumped clear and Lucy Davis (Barron) had four faults. This left them on five faults with second place.

“I saw a lot of horses struggle to jump the treble clear and we knew every rail down would count today, so I really set him up for that,” said Kent. “I wanted to secure that before I took risks on the time.”

Continued below…

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The Netherlands and Brazil started the day in equal first with the USA and Germany, but faults dropped them out of the reckoning. Canada came up the rankings to end up in a jump-off with Germany for the bronze medal, with both teams sitting on eight faults.

All four riders can come forward in an Olympic jump-off, but in the event Germany secured the medal after their first three riders, Christian Ahlmann (Taloubet Z), Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Fibonacci) and Daniel Deusser (First Class), jumped clear. Ludger Beerbaum (Casello) did not need to come forward.

Canada’s Yann Candele (First Choice 15) and Amy Millar (Heros) both had a fence down, so although Tiffany Foster (Triple X III) went clear, Germany had the medal in the bag.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain’s Nick Skelton and Ben Maher have both qualified for the Rio Olympic individual showjumping final on Friday.

The top 35 riders start on a clean slate in the individual medal decider, so faults from the competition so far do not count — which is advantageous for the Brits, who have both had some penalties through the week so far, but will hope for clean sheets on Friday to give them a chance of individual medals.

Ben Maher jumped a clear round today to secure his spot with Jane Forbes Clark’s Tic Tac. The pair incurred just one time-fault — the clock was a major factor in today’s competition.

“We’re getting better as the days go on, ” said Ben. “We’ve had a rough week — we really believed we could come here and put in a good performance with the team and things just didn’t go our way yesterday.

“Michael’s horse couldn’t jump today anyway and it just wasn’t meant to be, so myself and Nick had to try to redeem ourselves and keep ourselves in there for Friday. I feel my horse is jumping better every day so if he keeps progressing from this with a day off tomorrow I’ll be quietly confident on Friday.”

Nick Skelton just had the vertical middle element of the treble at fence 11abc down with Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star.

“The horse is jumping really good and he didn’t do a lot wrong,” said Nick.

Continued below…

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Riders had an option of six or seven strides in the distance between the oxer at fence five and the double of planks at fence 6ab and Nick opted for seven with Big Star.

“I was always going to go on seven with him — it’s a short inside distance [the two strides in the double]. You didn’t want to be getting in too quick and he does take the strides quite quickly,” he said.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Follow the jumping action from the second team round at the Rio Olympic Games via our live and interactive written commentary service

Welcome to H&H Live – Horse & Hound’s live and interactive written commentary service – as we prepare for round two of the showjumping team competition at the Rio Olympic Games. Action is due to get underway at 2pm UK time on Wednesday 17 August, so make sure you’re logged on so you don’t miss a moment. You can register below to receive an email reminder if you’d like to do so.

H&H’s website editor Carol Phillips and online journalist Gemma Redrup will be on hand throughout the session to bring you the ups and downs of every rider’s round, which will see the team medals being awarded at the end of this session. If you’d like to understand how today’s action fits in to the competition as a whole, why not check out our guide to Olympic showjumping?

What is H&H Live?

For those who aren’t familar with H&H Live, it is an up-to-the-minute written commentary service enhanced with still images, which also gives you the opportunity to take part in live interactive polls, pose questions to our team and post your comments.

You can follow on your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone, so you can get live updates whereever you are, without having to be in front of your TV. NB: This is NOT a live video stream.

Can I watch on TV?

All action from the Olympic Games is going to be available via the BBC’s red button services as well as the BBC sports website. We hope that you will join us as well for the insight the H&H team can provide, and take part in our interactive options. Find out what’s happening when ».

H&H Live will run throughout the Games covering all the action across all three equestrian disciplines. We look forward to you joining us for two fantastic weeks of equestrian sport.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain has two riders still in the Rio Olympic showjumping competition. Today (Wednesday, 17 August) they will jump in the hope of securing a place in Friday’s individual final.

The British hopes and their times are:

• Nick Skelton on Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star — eighth into the arena, approximately 10.16am local time (2.16pm British time)
• Ben Maher on Jane Forbes Clark’s Tic Tac — ninth into the arena, approximately 10.18am local time (2.18pm British time)

The other British riders are out of the running and will not compete today. John Whitaker had 23 faults yesterday with Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia and so did not qualify for today, while Michael Whitaker has withdrawn Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato.

Nick and Ben have a running total of eight faults each going into this round and they need to finish in the top 35 after today in order to win a place in Friday’s contest, which decides the individual medals. On Friday, all the riders start on a clean slate. Fifty riders compete today.

While it is impossible to say at this stage exactly what Ben and Nick need to do to make it through to the final, it is likely they will have to put in clear rounds in order to stay in the running.

While Britain is out of the team contest, today is a crucial day for other nations as they battle it out for the team medals.

The nations in the running are Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, the USA (all on zero faults), France (on one fault), Canada (on four faults), Sweden and Switzerland (on eight faults).

Today’s session is due to finish at 12.45pm local time (4.45pm British time), so by then we will know who has won the Rio Olympic showjumping team medals.

Follow all the action today with H&H Live.

Ireland is no longer in the contest for any showjumping medals as their sole individual rider Greg Broderick and his mount Going Global failed to qualify for today’s round.

Continued below…

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Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Michael Whitaker has withdrawn from the remainder of the Rio Olympics after his ride Cassionato showed signs of colic.

The 11-year-old grey stallion put a foot in the water to incur four faults and picked up one time fault in yesterday’s first team qualifier, leaving them in 42nd place.

Together with Ben Maher and Nick Skelton, the combination had qualified for today’s (17 August) showjumping round as individuals.

The decision to withdraw Cassionato was made after the horse showed signs of discomfort after yesterday’s round.

“Obviously we’re all very, very disappointed for Michael and owners Gary and Beverley Widdowson,” said team manager Di Lampard last night.

“Cassionato is being treated in the veterinary clinic this evening and is in very good hands. It just shows the effort the horse put into today’s round.”

The withdrawal does not affect Britain’s position as a team — faults from all members yesterday left the Brits on a total of 13 faults and in 12th place.

As only the top eight teams progress through to the next round, the London 2012 team gold medallists are unable to defend their title.

An unfortunate stop together with several rails down and time faults left John Whitaker and Ornellaia on 23 faults and out of the rest of the Games.

However Ben, Nick and Michael had all qualified as individuals.

Related articles:

• Irish showjumper Greg Broderick’s Rio journey over as he fails to qualify for next round
• No team showjumping medal for Britain: defending champions out of the Rio Olympics
• Further disqualifications under blood rules and an official protest in Rio showjumping

The two remaining Brits will jump today with the aim of reaching the top 35 to qualify for the individual final on Friday, when all combinations will start on clean slates.

Jumping begins at 10am (2pm BST) today, with Nick and Ben eighth and ninth respectively in the starting order.

The USA, Germany, Brazil and the Netherlands are leading the team competition with scores of zero.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Two team riders were disqualified from the showjumping competition today at the Deodoro venue at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Home competitor, Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha (pictured, top) and the Ukraine’s Cassio Rivetti were both disqualified for over use of spurs.

They were both disqualified from the competition following the post-jumping FEI stewards; inspection, under art 242.3.1 of the FEI Jumping Rules, which concern the presence of blood on the horse.

It states:

Stephan was riding Landpeter Do Feroleto, a 13-year-old bay gelding by Landritter x Wangmix. The pair had eight faults today before their exclusion.

Cassio’s mount was the 11-year-old grey mare, Fine Fleur Du Marais (Toulon x Cento). She is owned by the rider and Paul Schockemöhle. They jumped for four faults today before their disqualification.

As today’s round was officially part of the team competition at the Rio Olympics, neither rider may progress any further individually, nor may they jump for their teams again.

Brazil have qualified for the next team round as the three other team riders all produced clear rounds. They have lodged a protest over Stephan’s exclusion from the next team round.

Continued below…

Related articles:

Irish showjumper Greg Broderick’s Rio journey over as he fails to qualify for next round

No team showjumping medal for Britain: defending champions out of the Rio Olympics

Rio showjumping: riders disqualified for excessive use of whip and spurs

Ukraine, like Britain, did not make the cut and are out of the team competition.

This follows two disqualifications — also under the same blood rule — in the opening (speed) round of the Rio showjumping.

Disqualifications are distinct from eliminations. Riders who are eliminated but form part of a team qualified for the next round may jump again for their team. However, they are no longer in the running individually.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Irish rider Greg Broderick will take no further part in the Rio Olympics showjumping competition after finishing equal 50th after today’s round. Only the top 45 make the cut to go through to tomorrow.

Greg had eight faults in Sunday’s first qualifier with Going Global, but a clear today would have left him equal 30th and in a position to progress to the next stage.

But the Irish pair had four faults at the difficult water jump at fence eight today as well as a time-fault.

“He was very good bar the foot in the water — he jumped out of his skin,” said the rider after his round. “The water was off a nice seven strides so it was hard to get a good gallop to it. He did all the rest so easy.”

Greg was still hopeful at that stage that he would make the cut for tomorrow. After that round, the top 35 riders move on to the individual final on Friday, when they start on clean slates.

“We just need a bit of luck now to get us through, he’s a horse who can jump clear in the individual final,” said Greg.

But it wasn’t to be.

Asked about how Going Global has coped with the atmosphere in Rio, Greg said jumping in the Aga Khan (the Nations Cup) in Dublin is good preparation.

“After jumping in front of 30,000 people, an Irish horses can cope with this — he has the brain for it,” said Greg. “You don’t find the same kind of pressure here, team jumping means more pressure.”

Continued below…

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No team showjumping medal for Britain: defending champions out of the Rio Olympics

Defending Olympic team champions Britain also had a bad day today and will take no further part in the team contest in Rio, although three Team GB riders (Nick Skelton, Ben Maher and Michael Whitaker) have made it through to tomorrow as individuals.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

He’s a graphic designer. He competed at two Olympics, one of those as an eventer. He has three kids. And he’s gorgeous. There are a million reasons to love H&H’s new Games crush, Swedish Rio showjumper Peder Fredricson.

“I did my first Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona in three-day-eventing,” he coos.

Why did you change disciplines, we want to know.

“Well, it happened because I got a sponsorship with H&M, but they wanted a showjumper.”

So they liked Peder, but not his sport.

“They wanted another jumper and it wasn’t difficult to persuade me. It was the other way round really — I was wondering why they wanted me, why I got the call.

“My brother and my wife [Lisen, also an Olympian] were doing showjumping and it was also something I thought was interesting to get into and I could travel around with them, doing the same thing.”

Peder adapted easily to his new discipline, playing down the sheer talent required to do both (and either!) at top level.

“It’s not so different really,” he shrugs. “You do showjumping in three-day eventing. It’s just that I don’t have to do that dressage and I’m really happy about that. But I do miss the cross-country sometimes.”

Was he sad about missing out watching the cross-country in Rio?

“Not really,” he laughs. “You have to have a very good horse and be trained for it.”

As if riding at two different disciplines at different Olympics is not enough of a skill, Peder is also a graphic designer.

He created the memorable FEI pictograms, depicting the various horse sports in one easy-to-digest bite.

“I didn’t do the Olympic rings,” he jokes. “But I did do some logos for Stockholm international horse show. I’ve taken a break from that for the last three months though.”

That’s allowed in the run-up to an Olympics, we tell him. So with all this going on in his life, how does he look so remarkably fresh-faced for a 44-year-old?

He smiles at us through his gold Olympics sunglasses and explains: “I’ve got three kids and the youngest one just turned three two days ago. But he’s at home, so being here is like a holiday for me!”

This time round he’s jumping a gelding called All In, a 10-year-old by Kashmir Van Schuttershof. They bought the horse from Ludo Philippaerts as a seven-year-old and at home he’s called — somewhat uninspiringly — Alan.

Continued below…

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“We looked at many horses,” continues Peder. “I saw this one, but he’s really small, and I thought he was too small, about 165m. But when I took the first jump, I just knew it was the horse for me.”

The little horse’s talent belies his name.

“I don’t think I’ll ever go the Olympics with a horse that good ever again, so I’m very happy,” he reasons. “But we’ll take one round at a time ands see how far we can go.”

Full report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain will definitely not win a team showjumping medal at the Rio Olympics — the team has failed to qualify for the final round of the team contest tomorrow. This is a bitter disappointment after Team GB won showjumping team gold at the London Games.

Britain finished today on 13 faults in 12th place. Only the top eight teams qualify for the team final tomorrow.

Nick Skelton led off for Britain again today and the team appealed after Big Star, owned by Beverley Widdowson, was penalised with four faults at the water jump in an otherwise spectacular round.

“He’s never been in a water jump in his life and I didn’t think he was in that one, his heel just touched the tape,” he said. “The horse jumped amazing, I felt he couldn’t have jumped any better.”

Even if the appeal had been successful, the team would have finished in equal ninth — still outside the qualification zone for tomorrow.

Ben Maher’s ride, Jane Forbes Clark’s Tic Tac, took the back bar off the blue oxer at fence seven with his back legs.

“I didn’t think we did much wrong, we’re a bit short of luck on our team right now,” said Ben.

Michael Whitaker and Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato also fell foul of the water at fence eight. They also had a time-fault.

“My horse and Nick’s are both normally brilliant water jumpers. It was on a bad distance, but we knew that,” said the rider, who also dropped his whip in the combination at fence four. “He was really spooking and I had to give him one and I dropped it, but it didn’t affect me — he was over-jumping if anything. The second half of the round was actually better apart from the water.”

The pressure was on John Whitaker to improve Britain’s position, but Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia refused at the treble at fence four. Several rails down and time-faults meant they finished with 23 faults.

“Sometimes she looks at the first fence, but once she gets going she’s usually all right,” he said, somewhat at a loss to explain the problem. “I had to put a lot of pressure on her to jump it a second time and I knew I couldn’t improve the team position, so I just wanted to get her home.”

The only bright spot for Britain now is that Ben, Michael and Nick are all still contenders in the individual competition because they finished in the top 45 today. They will jump again tomorrow, after which the top 35 pairs go through to the individual final on Friday, where they start on clean slates to challenge for individual medals.

Who is leading?

Four teams are on a zero score going into tomorrow’s team decider. They are the USA, the Netherlands, Brazil and Germany.

Of these, the USA and Germany look in the best shape as their discard riders also performed reasonably today — Beezie Madden (Cortes ‘C’) had eight faults for the US and Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum (Casello) had four faults.

Continued below…

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Brazil’s second rider out, Stephan de Freitas Barcha on Landpeter Do Feroleto, has been disqualified for over-use of the spurs. He will not be allowed to jump tomorrow, so Brazil will not have the opportunity to discard a score as they will field only a three-man team.

The final Dutch rider, Jur Vrieling, was eliminated today after Zirocco Blue had two refusals at the treble at fence four — this is not proving a successful Games for the rider, who was also disqualified on Sunday for using his whip excessively. He is allowed to jump again tomorrow, but as the horse has now had two refusals both times he has entered the ring, the Dutch will hope they do not need to rely on his performance.

The other teams through to tomorrow are France (one fault), Canada (four faults), Sweden and Switzerland (eight faults).

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

“It’s not that amazing a story, really.” says Australian showjumper Scott Keach, modestly. In fact it is an amazing story. And it includes a decade-long gap where he didn’t ride at all.

Twenty-eight years ago, he contested his first Games. But not in showjumping. Back then, in Seoul, he rode on the eventing team that finish fifth on a horse called Trade Commissioner.

He has set an Australian record for the longest gap between two Olympic appearances — across all sports.

This time round, he’s riding an 11-year-old called Fedor (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Orkaan).

Scott admits he evented “some time ago”. His longevity is staggering.

“I used to showjump as a young person before I evented, and it was always in the back of my mind,” he says. “I stopped eventing in the 90s, then I didn’t ride for nearly 10 years. Then I just started again.”

What made him pick up the reins again? It’d take all day to tell the full story, he says, but the short version is this.

“Someone convinced me to go to the States. I had an opportunity to get into the jumping and grabbed that opportunity,” he explains somewhat vaguely.

“I was going to produce couple of horses to sell to put some money together and go back to uni and study chiropractic in the US. I just ran into a curve and ended up living in riding in the US.”

So how is he finding his second Games, nearly three decades after the first?

“This time I knew what I was in for,” he grins. “I was a lot more able to focus and be cool about it.

“I’m fairly happy with my riding and very happy with the horse,” he adds, after jumping for four faults in the first round in Rio, also known as the speed class. “I cut it a shade too much on a direct line. The horse read my body language and did what he was told to do — just a little bit too much.”

Continued below…

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Off the pitch, Scott is chuffed with his stay so far in the Athletes’ Village.

“The Australian building has the swimming pool right outside our building in the village; we’re very lucky. I get to swim every day.

“It’s beautiful weather, I’ve got a pool outside — this is a cool place to have a good time!”

Full report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Follow the showjumping action from the first round of the team competition at the Rio Olympic Games via our live and interactive written commentary service

Welcome to H&H Live – Horse & Hound’s live and interactive written commentary service – as we prepare for round one of the showjumping team competition at the Rio Olympic Games. Action is due to get underway at 2pm UK time on Tuesday 16 August, so make sure you’re logged on so you don’t miss a moment. You can register below to receive an email reminder if you’d like to do so.

H&H’s website editor Carol Phillips and online journalist Gemma Redrup will be on hand throughout the session to bring you the ups and downs of every rider’s round. In the meantime, why not check out our guide to Olympic showjumping to see how today’s action fits in to the competition as a whole?

What is H&H Live?

For those who aren’t familar with H&H Live, it is an up-to-the-minute written commentary service enhanced with still images, which also gives you the opportunity to take part in live interactive polls, pose questions to our team and post your comments.

You can follow on your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone, so you can get live updates whereever you are, without having to be in front of your TV. NB: This is NOT a live video stream.

Can I watch on TV?

All action from the Olympic Games is going to be available via the BBC’s red button services as well as the BBC sports website. We hope that you will join us as well for the insight the H&H team can provide, and take part in our interactive options. Find out what’s happening when ».

H&H Live will run throughout the Games covering all the action across all three equestrian disciplines. We look forward to you joining us for two fantastic weeks of equestrian sport.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The start list for Tuesday’s important team round in the Rio Olympics showjumping competition has been revealed, allowing us to work out approximately what time the British competitors will ride.

Britain finished equal eighth with three other teams in the first competition on Sunday, which determines Tuesday’s starting order.

The nine riders who are only competing as individuals will be first into the arena, with Ireland’s Greg Broderick (Going Global) the third rider in at about 10.04am local time (2.04pm British time).

The bottom four teams from Sunday (Ukraine, Japan, Argentina, Australia) then jump all their riders. The remaining 11 teams then jump, with Britain’s rider always first in the rotation and the Brazilian and German riders last as those two teams finished on a zero score on Sunday.

There is a 15-minute break for the arena to be rolled after every 23 horses.

With the class starting at 10am local time, the British competitors’ approximate times (working on the basis of two minutes per round and factoring in the breaks) are:

• Nick Skelton on Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star — 26th into the arena, 11.07am local time (3.07pm British time)
• Ben Maher on Jane Forbes Clark’s Tic Tac — 37th into the arena, 11.29am local time (3.29pm British time)
• Michael Whitaker on Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato — 48th into the arena, 12.06pm local time (4.06pm British time)
• John Whitaker on Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia — 59th into the arena, 12.28pm local time (4.28pm British time)

Follow all the action here with H&H Live.

Continued below…

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The top eight teams after tomorrow make the cut to go through to Wednesday’s competition, after which the team medals will be awarded (on the basis of faults tomorrow and on Wednesday, with a jump-off if it is needed). Any individuals placed in the top 45 after tomorrow who are not part of a team (or whose team is not in the top eight) will also qualify for Wednesday’s class.

Full report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The French showjumping team are hoping they have now had their full dose of bad luck for the Rio Olympics.

World number two Simon Delestre had to pull out last Wednesday when his horse Ryan Des Hayettes was found to have a micro-fracture of his hock and reserve Phillippe Rozier was called in with Rahotep De Toscane.

“I’m sure in one month my horse is ready for the Olympic Games,” jokes Phillippe today after jumping a clear in the first individual qualifier. “The trainer said would I accept the reserve position and I said yes, my horse is ready, we’re not just coming for a holiday.”

Further problems befell the team when Penelope Leprovost’s Flora De Mariposa suffered a mild colic episode on Friday night. The rider ended up sleeping a night on the floor of the veterinary clinic.

“All the hard times we went through made our team bond even closer,” says Phillippe. “The last three days were really hard for us. We’ve had a lot of hardships, so now we’re done [with our bad luck].”

Phillippe says his 11-year-old stallion by Quidam De Revel is “my friend, not my horse”.

“I first rode him at five and he wasn’t super crack at five, six or seven — he was a normal horse,” he says. “At eight he was much better and now he’s super crack for me.

“We have a great bond together and I think that makes us really strong. It’s really the kinship we have that makes us better — I think the cross-country riders have that too with their horses and that takes them further. It’s not so much the training and all the work that we do, it’s really that bond we have with the horses.”

Phillipe, who is based in Fontainebleau, says he does a lot of training with “Toto” in the big forest there and that the stallion has a pony-like character.

Continued below…

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The French team had a four-day training camp at Deauville before flying out to Rio and they sit equal third as a team after today’s competition. However, faults from today do not influence the team medals, the results simply determine the starting order for the team competition on Tuesday and Wednesday. Today’s scores also count for the individual rankings, which will determine who qualifies for the individual final next Friday.

Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Two riders were disqualified in the first round of showjumping at the Rio Olympics today. One was for overuse of the whip and the other for using his spurs excessively.

Belgian individual competitor Nicola Philippaerts was riding Zilverstar T — a 12-year-old KWPN stallion by Berlin. The horse refused twice at 11b, the second part of the difficult double on the final line of fences. Nicola, 23, was then disqualified by the ground jury for the rider’s excessive use of the spurs.

The Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling was riding Zirocco Blue and had two refusals, one at 4b — the second part of the treble — and one at 11a.

He and the 12-year-old stallion by Mr Blue were disqualified after the ground jury deemed the rider to have used his whip excessively.

Both disqualifications came under the FEI jumping rules article 242.3.1, which states:

The disqualification marks the end of Nicola’s campaign, as riders competing as individuals only qualify through to the next round on Tuesday (16 August) if they are placed in the top 60 (out of 75 starters today).

The FEI has confirmed to H&H that the Dutch rider Jur Vrieling is permitted to ride as part of his team in the next round despite today’s disqualification.

Continued below…

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Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Ireland’s sole rider in the Olympic showjumping, Greg Broderick, just made the cut for the next round of the competition after a poor start in Rio today.

Greg had both parts of the double at fence 11ab down with Going Global.

“It’s very frustrating — he jumped as good a round as I felt he’s jumped since he’s been at 1.60m level,” said Greg. “He just had a little look at it, backed off and chipped the back rail. That left him a long way off part b.

“If the horse had jumped badly you’d have to deal with that, but he’s as good as any horse in the competition. I’m sure he’s going to be in the top 60 but I’ll have to jump clear on Tuesday to scape into Wednesday.”

All the team riders progress from today to the first proper team round on Tuesday, but only individuals placed in the top 60 so Greg just qualified by being placed equal 53rd. After Tuesday, individual riders have to be in the top 45 to go through to Wednesday, which is the final team competition and the last individual qualifier. The top 35 individuals after Wednesday make Friday’s individual contest, when they start again on a clean slate of faults.

The final line of fences where the Irish rider faulted caught out a lot of riders today. It consisted of a set of unusual planks at fence 10 standing at 1.60m, then a bending line on seven or eight strides to the one-stride double at 11ab, which again was visually distracting for the horses. Then it was a long four strides or a short five to the final oxer, which was square and set at 1.55m high.

Temperatures were touching 30ºC today, but Greg said this didn’t affect his 10-year-old son of Quidam Junior I.

“He felt 100% and there’s no excuse,” said Greg. “The horse is good enough to be clear. I’ve got to get stuck in on Tuesday and make it happen.”

Continued below…

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Full report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round and expert comment from Geoff Billington.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

John Whitaker jumped Britain’s only clear round in the opening barrage of the Rio Olympics showjumping today.

The course proved much tougher than most riders expected and although 24 did jump clear, eight did not finish the course. Among the stars who were caught out were the Netherlands’ Jur Vrieling, who had two refusals with Zirocco Blue and was disqualified from the individual competition for excessive use of the whip, and France’s Penelope Leprovost, who fell off after a dramatic build-up to today for her and her ride Flora De Mariposa. France had already had to call in a reserve rider when Simon Delestre’s Ryan Des Hayetttes suffered an injury.

John was Britain’s anchorman with Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia and had seen the problems Guilherme Jorge’s course was causing, particularly at the double at fence 11ab.

“I was a bit worried because she’s not got a lot of experience at this level, but she didn’t look at it,” he said. “I was happy with the round, she felt fresh and was listening. I wanted to go clear and have a confidence-giving round for her as much as for me.”

Britain’s other riders all had one fence down, so the team’s total for today was eight faults. Faults today do not count towards the team results, but they do determine the team starting order for tomorrow. Today’s results also count for the individual rankings — only the top 35 riders at the conclusion of the team competition on Wednesday will go through to the individual showdown on Friday.

Nick Skelton was Britain’s pathfinder riding Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star and the pair had the final fence, the 1.55m square oxer at 12, down.

“It was my fault,” he said. “He jumped out of the double so well that I saw four strides, but I knew it should be a holding five, then I ended up on six and was too deep. That’s what happens sometimes when you hold too fast.”

Ben Maher and Jane Forbes Clark’s Tic Tac took down the back bar of the oxer at fence nine.

“I don’t know him terribly well and he caught me by surprise after the water [fence seven] by getting strong,” he said. “I over-corrected him in trying to give him a gap [before the fence] to compensate for the forward motion. But I got him down the last line, which has been causing dramatic scenes. The course was bigger than we expected and I think we’re in for a tough run.”

Michael Whitaker was unlucky to have the top plank at fence 10 off when Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato just touched it with his left toe.

“He just caught it on the way down,” he said. “Everything else went as it should have done so I’m very happy.”

How did Britain measure up?

There are no official team results today because the rounds do not count towards team medals, but according to H&H’s calculations Brazil and Germany were the only teams to record a zero score so they will be the last two teams to start on Tuesday, the first proper round of the team contest. Switzerland, the Netherlands, Qatar, Canada and France all finished on four faults. The Brits recorded eight faults, as did the USA, Sweden and Spain.

With 15 teams in the running, this puts Team GBR very much in the middle of the pack at this early stage and the riders agreed that although not perfect, today’s rounds were a good starting point.

“If you are going to have a fence down, today is the day to do it,” said Ben Maher.

Continued below…

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The team competition continues on Tuesday, when all team riders, plus individuals placed in the top 60 today, jump again. After that, the top eight teams and individuals in the top 45 progress to Wednesday, which is the team final.

Full report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round and expert comment from Geoff Billington.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

It’s the call-up you always dream of. But you never envisage having only a couple of hours to prepare to ride at an Olympic Games. That was exactly what happened to Germany’s reserve rider, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum when team member Marcus Ehning and his horse Cornado NRW were withdrawn this morning.

“I was on the way to the stadium this morning and I had my training outfit on,” she explains. “I was going to take a day off from riding today and just watch everything — give my horse Fibonacci some grass.

“Then I got a message on my phone: ‘Do you have your white riding breeches with you?‘ I was like ‘Oh my gosh!’ I had lots of emotions and tears came to my eyes, but I had to quickly turn the emotions down low. I really wanted this [to ride in Rio] and I thought I would have to give it up as a reserve rider.

“It was a shock and a surprise and thank my lucky stars that I’m able to compete on this fabulous horse.

“We had to rush around to get ready for this class at 10am. But it was fun rushing and here I am.”

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Meredith nearly didn’t even make the trip to Rio when she and the 11-year-old Fibonacci were selected as the reserve combinations, rather than stright onto the team.

“The owner was reluctant to go as the reserve, but we slept on it. This is sport and we didn’t want to be bad sports. I’m delighted I came – can you imagine if I was sitting at home?”

Talented but fragile

Fibonacci is nicknamed Nacho at home. The horse is “an incredible talent but mentally fragile“, says Meredith.

“He’s a little particular about his surroundings,” adds Meredith.

Luckily her groom, Anu Harrita, knows exactly how to keep the horse — and Meredith — happy.

“She is the best braider [plaiter] on the face of the earth,” grins Meredith. “She used to do Shutterfly too and has been working for me for 18 years.”

In the first days’ jumping, Meredith and Nacho put in a spectacular clear round and are cleanly through to the next round.

Her team-mate Ludger Beerbaum — who is her husband Markus’ brother — adds: “Having Meredith as your reserve is a luxury.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Follow the jumping action from the first qualifying competition at the Rio Olympic Games via our live and interactive written commentary service

Welcome to H&H Live – Horse & Hound’s live and interactive written commentary service – as we prepare for the start of the showjumping competition at the Rio Olympic Games. Action is due to get underway at 2pm UK time on Sunday 14 August, so make sure you’re logged on so you don’t miss a moment. You can register below to receive an email reminder if you’d like to do so.

H&H’s website editor Carol Phillips and online journalist Gemma Redrup will be on hand throughout the session to bring you the ups and downs of every rider’s round. In the meantime, why not check out our guide to Olympic showjumping to see how today’s action fits in to the competition as a whole?

What is H&H Live?

For those who aren’t familar with H&H Live, it is an up-to-the-minute written commentary service enhanced with still images, which also gives you the opportunity to take part in live interactive polls, pose questions to our team and post your comments.

You can follow on your computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone, so you can get live updates whereever you are, without having to be in front of your TV. NB: This is NOT a live video stream.

Can I watch on TV?

All action from the Olympic Games is going to be available via the BBC’s red button services as well as the BBC sports website. We hope that you will join us as well for the insight the H&H team can provide, and take part in our interactive options. Find out what’s happening when ».

H&H Live will run throughout the Games covering all the action across all three equestrian disciplines. We look forward to you joining us for two fantastic weeks of equestrian sport.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The team order for the British showjumping riders at the Rio Olympics has been revealed, allowing us to make a good estimation of what time they will jump today in the first competition.

The team order is as follows: Nick Skelton, Ben Maher, Michael Whitaker, John Whitkaer.

With the class starting today at 10am local time, their approximate times (working on the basis of two-and-a-half minutes per round) are:

• Nick Skelton on Beverley Widdowson’s Big Star — third into the arena, approximately 10.05am local time (2.05pm British time)
• Ben Maher on Jane Forbes Clark’s Tic Tac — 21st into the arena, approximately 10.50am local time (2.50pm British time)
• Michael Whitaker on Beverley Widdowson’s Cassionato — 42nd into the arena, approximately 11.42am local time (3.42pm British time)
• John Whitaker on Team Harmony Management Co Ltd’s Ornellaia — 60th into the arena, approximately 12.27m local time (4.27pm British time)

Every rider in the competition jumps one round today – discuss the action as it happens with the H&H Live team here – and the results (calculated on jumping faults) determine the starting order for the team competition, with teams starting in reverse order of merit on today’s results.

Teams start on a clean slate of faults tomorrow, so today’s faults do not actually count towards the team medals.

Continued below…

Related articles:

• Beginner’s guide to Olympic showjumping
• Who is competing in the Olympic showjumping?
• Defending champion held at first trot-up of Olympic showjumping

Today’s results will count towards individual qualification — only 35 riders go through to the individual final on Friday (19 August). Individuals ranked outside the top 60 after today do not progress any further in the competition (although all team riders do jump again tomorrow).

Full report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round and expert comment from Geoff Billington.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

It’s hard to remember life before social media but, once upon a time, it would have taken hours, even days, for news to filter out of the Olympic venues.

Nowadays, of course, we can enjoy instant access to all the goings on at the Games – we can scroll through countless pictures of patriotic Olympic stabling, enjoy rider selfies in the Olympic village or even discover what Nino Des Buissonnets had for breakfast.

To make sure you don’t miss a thing from Rio, here are some of the most entertaining, informative and social-savvy showjumpers to follow.

ARGENTINA

Matias Albarracin

twitter.com/albarracinmat

Bruno Passaro

twitter.com/bruno_passaro

Ramiro Quintana

twitter.com/rachuq

AUSTRALIA

Edwina Tops-Alexander

facebook.com/Edwina-Tops-Alexander-Showjumper

twitter.com/EdwinaAlexander

Instagram @edwinatopsalexander

Matt Williams

www.facebook.com/MattWilliamsShowjumper

BELGIUM

Nicola Philippaerts

www.facebook.com/NicolaPhilippaerts

twitter.com/nphilippaerts

instagram @nicolaphilippaerts

BRAZIL

Doda De Miranda

www.facebook.com/dodamirandaoficial

instagram: @dodamiranda

CANADA

Tiffany Foster

www.facebook.com/tiffany.foster.92123

instagram @tiffanyfoster18

Eric Lamaze

www.facebook.com/E.Lamaze

instagram @ericlamaze

Amy Millar

twitter.com/TeamMillar

instagram @team_millar

COLOMBIA

Daniel Bluman

www.facebook.com/blumandaniel

twitter.com/danielblumand

instagram @danielbluman

EGYPT

Karim Elzoghby

twitter.com/KarimZoghby

FRANCE

Roger Yves Bost

facebook.com/rogeryvesbosty

twitter.com/ryBost

instagram @rogeryvesbost

Simon Delestre

facebook.com/DelestreSimon

twitter.com/SimonDelestre

instagram @simondelestre

Penelope Leprevost

facebook.com/PenelopeLeprevost

instagram @penelopeleprevost

Kevin Staut

twitter.com/kevinstaut

www.facebook.com/kevinstautofficial

instagram @kevin_staut_officiel

GREAT BRITAIN

Ben Maher

www.facebook.com/Ben-Maher

twitter.com/BenMaher1

instagram @benmaherofficial

John Whitaker

facebook.com/john.whitakerinternational

GERMANY

Ludger Beerbaum

facebook.com/Ludger-Beerbaum-Stables

instagram @lbstables

Daniel Deusser

facebook.com/danieldeusserofficial

IRELAND

Greg Broderick

twitter.com/gregbrodericks

ITALY

Emanuele Gaudiano

twitter.com/elegau86

instagram @e_gaudiano

MOROCCO

Abdelkebir Ouaddar

facebook.com/Abdelkebir-Ouaddar-officiel

instagram @kebirouaddar

NETHERLANDS

Jeroen Dubbeldam

facebook.com/StalDeSjiem

twitter.com/StalDeSjiem

Harrie Smolders

facebook.com/harrie.smolders

Maikel Van Der Vleuten

facebook.com/maikelvandervleutenofficial

twitter.com/maikelvdvleuten

instagram @maikelvandervleuten

Jur Vrieling

facebook.com/jur.vrieling

PORTUGAL

Luciana Diniz

facebook.com/Luciana.Diniz

instagram @luciana_diniz11

SWITZERLAND

Romain Duguet

facebook.com/EcurieDuguet

Martin Fuchs

facebook.com/martin.fuchs92

Steve Guerdat

facebook.com/steveguerdat

twitter.com/steveguerdat

instagram @steveguerdat

Janika Sprunger

facebook.com/Janika-Sprunger

SWEDEN

Malin Baryard-Johnsson

twitter.com/MalinBaryard

instagram @malinbaryard

Rolf-Goran Bengtsson

facebook.com/Rolf-Goran-Bengtsson

twitter.com/RGBengtsson

Peder Fredricson

twitter.com/pederfredricson

instagram @pederfredricson

TURKEY

Omer Karaevli

twitter.com/omerkaraevli

UKRAINE

Cassio Rivetti

facebook.com/cassiorivetti

instagram @cassiorivetti

Ferenc Szentirmai

facebook.com/ferenc.szentirmai

USA

Lucy Davis

facebook.com/Lucy-Davis

instagram @gooseydavis

Kent Farrington

facebook.com/KentFarringtonLLC

instagram @teamkpf

Beezie Madden

facebook.com/beeziemadden

twitter.com/JohnMaddenSales

instagram @johnmaddensales

VENEZUELA

Emanuel Andrade

twitter.com/emanuelatleta

instagram @emanuelhorses

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Defending champion Nino Des Buissonnets was among three horses sent to the holding box at the horse inspection for the Rio Olympics showjumping this morning.

The 15-year-old horse was passed fit to compete when Swiss rider Steve Guerdat re-presented him. The pair were the individual gold medallists at London 2012 four years ago.

The other horses who were held were Amarillo, ridden by Australia’s James Paterson-Robinson, Zeremonie, the US reserve horse ridden by Laura Kraut, and Eliot DWS, the reserve horse for Argentina and the mount of José María Larocca.

Amarillo and Zeremonie were also passed on re-inspection, but Eliot DWS will be re-inspected tomorrow.

Eighty-seven horses came before the ground jury — president Stephan Ellenbruch (GER) and members Elaine Zander (BRA), David Distler (USA) and Alfred Boll (SUI) — and the foreign veterinary delegate Tim Randle (GBR) in total. Only 75 will compete, but nations are able to trot up their reserve horses and swap them in up to two hours before the action starts.

The British horses passed without problems. The team consists of Nick Skelton riding Gary and Beverley Widdowson and Oliver Robertson’s Big Star, John Whitaker on Team Harmony Management Co’s Ornellaia, Michael Whitaker with Gary & Beverley Widdowson & Hayley Robertson’s Cassionato and Ben Maher with his own and Jane Clark’s Tic Tac. The reserve is Jessica Mendoza with her mother Sarah’s Spirit T. Nick and Michael’s horses were trotted up by their grooms rather than the riders.

Continued below…

Related articles:

H&H Live: Rio Olympics showjumping first qualifier

Beginners’ guide to Olympic showjumping at Rio 2016

Rio Olympics showjumping teams: confirmed riders

The jumping competition kicks off on Sunday (14 August) at 10am local time (2pm British time) with the first qualifier. This is a one-round class which counts for qualification for the individual final and decides the jumping order for the team competition. Reserves can be swapped in until 8am on Sunday.

Full report on the Olympic showjumping in the issue of H&H dated 25 August, including full analysis of the team and individual competitions and comment from Geoff Billington.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Simon Delestre is out of the Olympics due to an injury to his selected ride.

The world number two revealed the disappointing news on his Facebook page this afternoon (10 August).

“It’s with deepest regret that I announce the forfeit of Ryan for the Olympic Games,” he said.

“Last exams have revealed a micro-fracture of the hock. An unfortunate injury that ends all my Olympic dreams, and those of Ryan’s family but our priority is his health.

“All team will take prior care of him so that he comes back in perfect shape for the next major events.

“I’ll support my teammates of the France team along their way through these Olympic Games.”

The combination would have been among the favourites to win a medal.

They won individual bronze at the European championships in Aachen last year and have had two runner-up spots on the Longines Global Champions Tour this season.

The horse had arrived safely in Rio, but is believed to have picked up the injury in the stable.

“Ryan had a wrong move yesterday in his stable,” Simon said today.

“He is closely followed by the vet team. His condition has already well improved during the last 24 hours.

“We will do more exams today, but we sure won’t take any risk for his health. Thank you for the support you show me and Ryan.”

Related articles:

• French Rio showjumping team announced
• 9 Olympic showjumping facts to impress your friends with
• British Olympic team rider taken to hospital following fall

Simon and the 11-year-old gelding will be replaced by France’s travelling reserve Philippe Rozier, riding Rahotep De Toscane.

This will be Philippe’s third Olympics and his first for 16 years, having previously ridden at Los Angeles 1984 and Sydney 2000. Rio 2016 will be the 11-year-old grey stallion’s first senior championship.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Barely a fortnight before the start of the Olympic showjumping in Rio, Great Britain team member Michael Whitaker has ended up in hospital after a fall from a horse at home.

“It was just one of those freak accidents,” Michael told H&H from the Royal International Horse Show, Hickstead, where he was supposed to be competing this week.

“I was riding a horse at home along the railings when he spooked at something and lost his footing.

I came down with him and ended up between him and the railing.

“Luckily the railing gave way, or I’d have been in a right mess.”

The incident happened on Monday (25 July) and the Nottinghamshire-based showjumper who is due to ride the Widdowsons’ stallion Cassionato at the Games in Rio next month, was also due to be on Nations Cup team duties at Hickstead tomorrow (29 July).

“I thought it [the injury] would come right, but when it didn’t I went to hospital as I needed to know, not only for the Olympics but for this week at Hickstead, too,” said Michael, who is due to compete at his sixth Games.

“I’ve cracked one rib and there’s bruising and it’s pretty painful. But I’ll definitely be back riding at Hickstead on Saturday.

“It’s just not very good timing!”

Related articles:

• Rio Olympics showjumping teams: confirmed riders
• 6 (very good) reasons to visit the Royal International this year
• Michael Whitaker’s showjumping star to retire

The remaining Great Britain team members for tomorrow’s Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at the Royal International Horse Show are Scott Brash (Hello Guv’nor), Ben Maher (Diva II), Tim Stockdale (Fleur De L’Aube) and Olympic reserve combination Jess Mendoza and Spirit T.

Michael had been selected with the 14-year-old gelding Viking V, his team gold medal-winning ride at the 2013 European Championships.

Don’t miss the full in-depth reports from the Royal International Horse Show in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out Thursday 4 August, and online at horseandhound.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Keep this handy guide close to make sure you don’t miss a moment of the action. All times shown are British time (which is four hours ahead of Rio). Rio times are shown in brackets.

All the equestrian action will be shown on the BBC red button and on the BBC sport website. The following sessions may also appear on the main BBC TV channels: cross-country, eventing showjumping, showjumping team round two (team final) and individual final, dressage grand prix special (team final) and grand prix freestyle (individual final).

Friday 5 August

• Eventing first horse inspection: 12.30-1.55pm (8.30-9.55am)
• Opening ceremony: 11.30pm (7.30pm)

Saturday 6 August

• Eventing dressage: 2-8pm (10am-4pm) H&H Live with Matt Hicks

Sunday 7 August

• Eventing dressage: 2-8pm (10am-4pm) H&H Live with Matt Hicks

Monday 8 August

• Eventing cross-country: 2-7pm (10am-3pm) H&H Live
• Dressage horse inspection: 7.45-8.55pm (3.45-4.55pm)

Tuesday 9 August

• Eventing second horse inspection: Noon-1pm (8-9am)
• Eventing team showjumping, eventing individual showumping, eventing team and individual medal ceremonies: 2-7.30pm (10am-3.30pm) H&H Live

Wednesday 10 August

• Dressage grand prix: 2-8pm (10am-4pm) H&H Live with Emile Faurie

Thursday 11 August

• Dressage grand prix: 2-8pm (10am-4pm) H&H Live with Emile Faurie

Friday 12 August

• Showjumping horse inspection: 11.30am-1pm (7.30-9am)
• Dressage grand prix special team final and team medal ceremony: 2-8.30pm (10am-4.30pm) H&H Live with Richard Barrett

Saturday 13 August

• Showjumping training session: 2-6.50pm (10am-2.50pm)

Sunday 14 August

• Showjumping first qualifier (team and individual): 2-5.45pm (10am-1.45pm) H&H Live

Monday 15 August

• Dressage grand prix freestyle and individual medal ceremony: 2-6pm (10am-2pm) H&H Live with Hayley Watson-Greaves

Tuesday 16 August

• Showjumping team round one: 2-5.30pm (10am-1.30pm) H&H Live

Wednesday 17 August

• Showjumping team round two and team medal ceremony: 2-4.45pm (10am-12.45pm) H&H Live

Thursday 18 August

• Showjumping horse inspection: 8-8.30pm (4-4.30pm)

Friday 19 August

• Showjumping individual final and individual medal ceremony: 2-6.45pm (10am-2.45pm) H&H Live

Sunday 21 August

• Closing ceremony: 11.30pm (7.30pm)

Get all the action from H&H

H&H is sending two journalists and a photographer to Rio so that we can provide the best possible coverage of the Games both on our dedicated Olympics microsite and in the magazine.

• H&H Live (up-to-the-minute interactive written commentary, find links above) from every session of sport, including expert analysis from celebrity guests including Emile Faurie, Hayley Watson-Greaves, Matt Hicks and Richard Barrett
• Reports on all the action
• Interviews featuring fascinating competitor stories
• Daily video round-up of the competition
• Blogs from our journalists on the ground in Rio

Magazine issues

• 4 August: Olympic pull-out form guide — including every rider and horse, plus scorecards to fill in
• 12 August (H&H is published on Friday this week to allow us to report the full Olympic eventing, which finishes on Tuesday, 9 August): Olympic eventing report
• 18 August: Olympic dressage report
• 25 August: Olympic showjumping report
• 1 September: Olympic commemorative issue
• Our bumper magazine reports will feature full analysis, beautiful pictures, exclusive columns from the likes of Mark Phillips, Ruth Edge, Tina Cook, and many more plus special features, such as photos of every cross-country fence, showjumping course plans, thrills and spills, and dressage test sheets.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Below is the list of the confirmed horse and rider combinations that will representing their countries in Rio, including reserve riders where appropriate. This list will be kept up to date with any changes in the run-up to the Games as they happen.

Useful information

• Beginners’ guide to Olympic showjumping
• British showjumping team announcement

Rio Olympics: confirmed showjumping riders and horses

Argentina

• Matias Albarracin with Cannavaro 9
• José María Larocca with Cornet du Lys
• Bruno Passaro with Chicago Z
• Ramiro Quintana with Appy Cara
• Reserve: José María Larocca with Eliot DWS

Australia

• Scott Keach on Fedor
• James Paterson-Robinson on Amarillo
• Edwina Tops-Alexander on Lintea Tequila
• Matt Williams on Valinski S

Belgium

• Jérôme Guery with Grand Cru van de Rozenberg
• Nicola Philippaerts with Zilverstar T

Brazil

• Alvaro Doda de Miranda on Cornetto K
• Eduardo Menezes on Quintol
• Pedro Veniss on Quabri de l’Isle
• Stephan de Freitas Barcha on Landpeter do Feroleto
• Reserve: Rodrigo Pessoa on Cadjadine Z

Canada

• Yann Candele on First Choice 15
• Tiffany Foster on Tripple X III
• Eric Lamaze on Fine Lady 5
• Amy Millar on Heros
• Reserve: Kara Chad on Bellinda

Columbia

• Daniel Bluman riding Sancha LS
• Rene Lopez riding Con Dios III

Egypt

• Karim Elzoghby on Amelia

France

• Roger Yves Bost with Sydney Une Prince
• Simon Delestre with Ryan
• Pénélope Leprevost with Flora de Mariposa
• Kevin Staut with Reveur de Hurtebise
• Reserve: Philippe Rozier with Rahotep de Toscane

Germany

• Christian Ahlman on Taloubet Z
• Ludger Beerbaum on Chiara
• Daniel Deußer on First Class van Eeckelghem
• Marcus Ehning on Cornado NRW
• Reserve: Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum with Fibonacci

Great Britain

• Nick Skelton and Big Star
• Ben Maher and Tic Tac
• Michael Whitaker and Cassionato
• John Whitaker and Ornellaia
• Reserve: Jessica Mendoza and Spirit T

Ireland

• Greg Broderick with MHS Going Global
• Reserve: Bertram Allen with Molly Malone V
• Reserve: Cian O’Connor with Good Luck

Italy

• Emanuele Gaudiano on Caspar 232

Japan

• Taizo Sugitani with Imothep
• Daisuke Fukushima with Cornet 36
• Reiko Takeda riding Bardolino
• Toshiki Masui riding Taloubetdarco KZ
• Reserve: Koki Saito riding Capilot

Morocco

• Abdelkebir Ouaddar with Quickly de Kreisker

The Netherlands

• Jeroen Dubbledam riding Zenith
• Harrie Smolders riding Emerald
• Maikel van der Vleuten riding Verdi
• Jur Vrieling riding Zirocco Blue
• Reserve: Gerco Schroder riding London

Peru

• Alonso Valdez Prado on Chief

Portugal

• Luciana Diniz riding Fit For Fun 13

Qatar

• Hamad Ali Mohamed A Al Attiyah on Appagino 2
• Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi on Gunder
• Sheikh Ali Al Thani on First Devision
• Bassem Hassan Mohammed on Dejavu
• Reserve: Faleh Suwead Al Ajami on Armstrong van de Kapel

Spain

• Sergio Alvarez Moya with Carlo 273
• Eduardo Alvarez Aznar with Rokfeller de Pleville
• Pilar Lucrecia Cordon with Gribouille du Lys
• Manuel Fernandez Saro with U Watch
• Reserve: Gerardo Menendez Mieres with Cassino DC

Sweden

• Malin Baryard-Johnsson on Cue Channa
• Rolf-Göran Bengtsson on Unita
• Peder Fredricson on All In
• Henrik von Eckermann on Yajamila
• Reserve: Charlotte Mordasini on Romane du Theil

Switzerland

• Romain Duguet and Quorida de Treho
• Martin Fuchs and Clooney
• Steve Guerdat and Nino des Buissonnets
• Janika Sprunger and Bonne Chance CW
• Reserve: Paul Estermann and Castlefield Eclipse

Chinese Taipei

• Isheau Wong with Zadarijke V

Turkey

• Omer Karaevli on Roso au Crosnier

Ukraine

• Ulrich Kirchhoff and Prince de la Mare
• Cassio Rivetti and Fine Fleur du Marais
• Ferenc Szentirmai and Chadino
• René Tebbel and Zipper
• Reserve: Ferenc Szentirmai and Chaccland

Uruguay

• Nestor Nielsen van Hoff with Prince Royal Z de la Luz

United States

• Lucy Davis riding Barron
• Kent Farrington riding Voyeur
• Mclain Ward riding Azur
• Elizabeth Madden riding Cortes ‘C’
• Reserve: Laura Kraut riding Zeremonie

Venezuela

• Emanuel Andrade with Hardrock Z
• Pablo Barrios with Antares

The German dressage and showjumping teams have been announced for the Rio Olympics at a press conference held in Aachen today.

Dressage:

• Kristina Bröring-Sprehe (above) on Desperados FRH
• Sönke Rothenberger on Cosmo
• Isabell Werth on Weihegold OLD
• Dorothee Schneider on Showtime FRH
• Travelling reserve: Hubertus Schmidt on Imperio

Showjumping

• Christian Ahlmann on Taloubet Z
• Ludger Beerbaum on Casello
• Daniel Deusser on First Class Van Eeckelghem
• Marcus Ehning on Cornado NRW
• Travelling reserve: Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum on Fibonacci 17

Meredith’s listing is to be confirmed as she has to check her owners are happy for the horse to travel on the reserve basis.

The dressage team is exactly the same as the quartet which has dazzled this week in Aachen, winning the Nations Cup with three plus-80% scores in both the grand prix on Thursday and the special today. Sönke is an Olympic debutant, but the other three all have Games experience.

The showjumping team also has one Olympic first-timer in Daniel Deusser, who was the World Cup champion in 2014.

The Germans won the showjumping Nations Cup in Aachen last Thursday evening, when Meredith was in the team and Daniel was left on the bench. Casello and Fibonacci were on that Nations Cup team, with Christian riding Epleaser Van’t Heike and Marcus on Pret A Tout.

The German eventing team is expected to be announced imminently too, after the conclusion of the Aachen Nations Cup this morning. Germany finished second to Australia, but this will not cause the reigning Olympic, world and European champions any concerns as they were only fielding one of their expected Rio quartet in the team. Michael Jung won the class individually on FischerTakinou, who is his preferred mount for Rio.

Full report from Aachen in H&H this week, out Thursday, 21 July.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

France looks set to be a serious contender for an Olympic showjumping medal in Rio next month with three of the top 10 riders in the world on the team.

France’s showjumping team is as follows:

• Roger Yves Bost and Sydney Une Prince
• Simon Delestre and Hermes Ryan (formerly Ryan Des Hayettes, pictured)
• Penelope Leprevost and Flora De Mariposa
• Kevin Staut and Reveur De Hurtebise HDC

The travelling reserve will be Philippe Rozier with Rahotep De Toscane.

The quartet brings an enviable wealth of talent and experience.

World number one Simon Delestre, 35, took individual bronze at the European championships last year with the 11-year-old Selle Francais gelding Ryan and has shown form with two runner-up spots on the Longines Global Champions Tour this season.

Kevin, 35, and Penelope, who will be 36 at the time of the Olympics, and their respective horses were also members of the French squad at the Europeans last year and helped secure team silver at the world championships in 2014.

All three are competing at their second Olympics, having represented France in London 2012, where the team finished out of the running in 12th place.

“Bosty”, who turns 50 in October, is the senior member of the French team but, somewhat surprisingly, this is also only his second Olympic call-up and comes 20 years after he made his Games debut, in Atlanta 1996.

Related articles:

• British showjumping team revealed for Rio Olympics
• Nick Skelton on his Rio selection: ‘They’ll take us there on stretchers’
• Weather, flight time and facilities: what will be the conditions in Rio for our riders?

The former European champion rides a 10-year-old Selle Francais mare by Baloubet Du Rouet.

France’s showjumpers are led by chef d’equipe Philippe Guerdat, whose son Steve Guerdat is the reigning Olympic champion from London 2012.

The team will no doubt be making a bold bid for team and individual podium places in the Olympic showjumping, which kicks off in Rio on Sunday, 14 August.

Don’t miss all the showjumping action from the Games at horseandhound.co.uk and in the 25 August issue of Horse & Hound.

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Isn’t it British to be talking about the weather in Rio? But while any Olympian is focused on rivals and tactics, there’s a glut of other factors — weather included — that are far less peripheral than one may imagine.

Past Olympics abound with tales of flooded courses, volcanic terrain and horses dying in transit. Stifling temperatures in Barcelona 1992 provoked a four-year study into the effects of heat and humidity — leaving a lasting legacy in how we cool horses today — while in Mexico City 1968 riders collapsed due to the high altitude only a week before the event.

So what can our riders expect in Rio next month?

What is the flight time? 12 hours

What is the time difference? Four hours behind the UK

What is the temperature in August? Average 22°C, max 26°C (London 19°C, max 23°C)

What is the humidity in August? 75% (London 65%)

How far away is the rider accommodation from the equestrian site? 40 minutes

Where are the stabling facilities? On-site

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) is not envisaging challenging conditions in Rio.

“Acclimatisation will be relatively quick given that the Olympics and Paralympics are taking place during Brazil’s winter,” says the BEF’s Pippa Wade.

“The climate at its hottest is like a hot summer day in England, and can be much cooler.”

The British horses are set to travel at least five or six days before the trot-up.

“The flight time and time difference are not thought to be of much concern for the horses,” Pippa adds.

“In general they deal with these incredibly well, and after a day or two of rest will be ready to begin their final preparation for the Games.”

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The stabling, training areas, vet clinic and grooms’ accommodation are on-site, which is important to preserve biosecurity measures and safeguard the horses’ health.

However, the British riders will be based in the Olympic village, 40 minutes away, and will use the official Olympic transport.

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The six-time Olympian tells H&H why Big Star is the only horse he'll ride, what makes the stallion so special and why it won't be an easy track in Rio

“Whatever they build, he can cope with it,” is Nick Skelton’s simple summary of his spectacular Rio ride Big Star’s ability.

“I’ve jumped in Rio a fair bit, but the course-builder is Guilherme Jorge and it won’t be easy; they never are.”

This challenge doesn’t phase the six-time Olympian.

Big Star will be the first horse Nick has ever ridden at two Olympics.

He trusts the stallion son of Quick Star implicitly and it was his belief in the horse that drove him back to the saddle following multiple injuries including a hip replacement in 2011 and a broken neck just before the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

“It was this horse that kept me going,” he says, following confirmation of his selection for Rio. “When you have a horse that’s good enough — and he’s amazing — then you have to keep going.”

The horse, now 13, has had time off too.

“He injured a tendon and had time off,” he continues. “But he’s 100% now — he jumped two clears in the grand prix at the weekend.

“For a stallion, he’s so placid and intelligent. He loves to jump and rises to the occasion.”

“Skelly” and Big Star would have won individual gold at the London Olympics if the format had been different. Moving into the final phase, all the points were zeroed, meaning horses who had had fences down were on a level with Big Star, who hadn’t touched a single pole.

“He is the only horse I ride,” adds Nick. “If he had retired after his injury, I would have done too.”

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So how does he feel about being on a team chock full of experience?

“We’re old athletes, but what we’re not lacking is experience,” he says with a wry smile. “Luckily Ben [Maher] brings down the average age to 54.

“They’ll take us there on stretchers at this rate! The doctors said I’d never ride again, but it’s what I do.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

I recently had a horse based with a rider in the Netherlands. When the bill arrived, I couldn’t work out why the show expenses were half what they are in the UK. I was talking to the owner of a Dutch show centre, who said that their federation has an option that if entry fees are less than €12.50 (£10.50), you don’t have to give prize-money.

If more than 200 horses jump in a day, and he’s in profit, then he chooses to give prize-money to the first five. He says more often than not, 500 jump in a day — so the system works.

From a producer’s view, when you’re jumping 20 horses, it makes a big difference to pay £10 rather than £25 a class. If a horse is under eight years old or in between international shows then I’m usually only jumping them for training. A couple of times a year I might want to educate a horse to up the tempo, but mostly I’m not interested in ragging it round because there’s £150 at stake.

These days, if you are producing a horse to sell or for top-level grand prix, people are looking to see if it goes correctly, in balance and with its changes, not chasing winnings.

Having spoken to UK show centres, many still think prize money encourages entries but they are also keen to provide producers with what they want. Addington’s Tim Price came up with a suggestion that we could nominate on entry whether we want our horse to be eligible for prize money. It would be a good way of gauging interest in the system.

An experienced oufit

So we now know which riders are going to Rio following Tuesday’s (5 July) announcement. Looking at the team selection — Nick Skelton, John Whitaker, Michael Whitaker and Ben Maher — you might ask where the younger riders are. But when it comes down to it, experience in a championship counts — especially under the unique Olympic pressure.

John, Nick and Michael have been together for numerous championships and their experience will pay dividends. It’s Ben’s third Olympics and he can also perform under pressure. He has built up a good partnership with Tic Tac, who should be a useful new championship horse for him.

It’s great to have Nick back and if Big Star gets back to top form, he’s a banker. As the only surviving partnership from London 2012, it’s a big blow they couldn’t be joined by Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos. But, as the horse hasn’t jumped in a long time, it’s no surprise.

I think John believed Ornellaia was a little short of experience, but with the form she’s shown recently, there’s no doubt they should be going. Michael’s ride Cassionato has shown he has brilliance. Sometimes he can be a bit awkward, but this year he’s kept improving. He’s capable of jumping two clears.

Travelling reserve Jess Mendoza (Spirit T) did a good job getting us to the Olympics during the European Championships last summer. Joe Clee was unlucky to have two uncharacteristically bad rounds at the final trial in Rotterdam and therefore missed out on a team place. I feel for him — but you can only go on the last rounds.

It’s a shame not to see any younger riders included — where are the next people with Olympic experience coming from? But this year it wasn’t to be. Looking at current form, there’s no argument.

Yesterday’s Olympic rider list is the most hotly anticipated news of the year. I’ve never been to one of these live team annoucement events before as it’s all usually done via email with a fairly pedestrian press release for major championships, but the Olympics is The Big One.

It was only at the end of last week that we learned that there would be a live declaration. The BEF’s cryptic communication — which stressed that the information was for planning and not for publication — cryptically just gave “Wiltshire” as the location.

For “planning” purposes, we asked where in Wiltshire it would take place (I mean, Wiltshire is 1,346 square miles so they wouldn’t exactly be spilling the secret beans by saying which end of it we were dealing with here).

We were given short shrift and reminded that the initial communication had said the information would be shared on Monday. I mused about the lack of information over the weekend, but when I got the address on Monday morning, a quick google revealed why they didn’t want to share it earlier. It was to be at Kitty King’s base near Chippenham at 11am the following day. So she was on the list.

The showjumping team had been leaked over the weekend, so the major question marks remaining were over William Fox-Pitt’s selection and who the fourth rider would be to join Carl, Charlotte and Fiona for dressage.

Bear in mind then that all invited journalists who have google (yep, all of us) knew that Kitty had been selected since seeing the address and could have made that information public.

But there is a big dollop of trust involved with these things, and nobody squealed. It was disappointing then that @eventingstig shared a screenshot from Kitty’s sister Lucy’s Facebook account at 10.37am on Twitter, letting the Kitty out of the bag about her selection — 27 minutes before the waiting journalists were given the green light to go public.

Sometimes, in this job, we are in possession of information that it is not prudent to share. When I pulled into Kitty’s, I saw Fiona Bigwood. I could’ve blurted about it on social media, but that’s just not cricket (this is an unsubtle nod to Test Match Special’s Jonathan Agnew who, as a newly-minted equestrian journalist preparing to commentate on all the horsey sport from Rio for the BBC, was also at Kitty’s. His number plate is even TMS — perhaps he can replace it with H0R5E after the Olympics?).

Which way to turn?

Meanwhile, back at Kitty’s base. It’s 10.55am, five minutes until The Big Reveal, and we’re asked to assemble in the back garden. There’s a buzz among the journalists — about 30 of us, and a good mix of equestrian and non-equestrian media. My colleagues in the office and I had set up a Whatsapp group called The Big Announcement so that I could communicate with them and, from their desks, they could whack the stories up live online within seconds of the names being uttered.

Presumably the BEF performance director Dan Hughes is going to stand before us and read them out, I thought. Nobody is even sure which way to face. Will the riders come through the house? Or across the immaculate lawn? Or come hidden in a massive red white and blue Olympic cake? Or or or? The excitement was almost too much, even for the hackneyed old hacks.

11am came and went. The tension.

We’re all still milling about, heads swiveling to try to be the first to pick up on any signals of who might have made the cut. At 11.04am, I become aware of a lady in an official team top (there were a fair few of them about) among us with a sheaf of papers. She asks me if I’d like a press release. Sure I would.

I look at the release and my heart surges like 10 espresso shots. Bloody hell, this is it! The names! The horses! They were all there right in front of me. The Big News. And no ceremony.

In my haste to send the info to my waiting in-office colleagues (who were sending messages like ‘Eeek SO EXCITED’) on the Whatsapp group, I inadvertently send them a wild-hair selfie rather than a picture of the list. Hate it when the phone does that.

With shaking, stabbing fingers I finally get the information over to them in a modern version of short-hand (one message simply read: Ben Nick JW MW) and, by 11.08am, all three of our team announcement stories were live and shared across social media.

Then Dan appeared and announced that a number of the riders were on-site. But not Carl or Charlotte as they were preparing for Hartpury Festival of Dressage, where they are taking about a dozen horses between them.

The riders appeared and trooped over from the corner of the garden. It would be unfair on them to say it was a let-down. But it was a little anti-climactic.

They were spearheaded by John and Michael Whitaker, flanked by Nick Skelton and Ben Maher. None of them looked wildly excited, but then again they had had days for the information to sink in. We journalists were still fizzing with fresh, child-like excitement.

The eventers and two of the dressage riders stood at the back. They’d all been dressed in official blue Adidas tracksuits. In the sun, they were a bit shiny. Yes, they are all supreme “athletes” and athletes can rock the tracksuit look, but most of them looked like fish out of water. Or like people heading to the corner shop hoping not to be seen by anyone they know en route.

Unfortunate tracksuits aside, it really is a remarkable group of repaired humans (head injuries, broken neck, brain haemorrhage etc etc) that we’re fielding for Rio.

Announcement day might have been really weird, but there’s nothing odd about the stunning talent of these selected athletes. And, make no mistake, whatever injuries they have sustained and overcome, these astonishingly talented people truly are athletes at the pinnacle of the possible.

Please make sure they are kept away from all naked flames between now and their respective big days; those outfits look awfully flammable.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Irish hopes of sending a showjumping team to the Rio Olympics at the 11th hour have been raised following allegations that billionaire rider Oleksandr Onyshchenko (pictured), who bankrolls the Ukraine squad, has committed crimes against the state.

Ukraine anti-corruption department agency NABU alleges he was ringleader of a group which “re-sold” $120million worth of Ukraine-produced gas through a network of fictitious companies. He has denied the allegations.

In the latest twist, yesterday (Tuesday 5 July) the Ukraine parliament voted to waive his immunity from prosecution, to which Onyshchenko argued he was entitled as a parliamentary deputy (the equivalent of a British MP).

Today (Wednesday 6 July) Ihor Zhdanov, Ukraine’s Minister for Youth and Sport, posted on his official Facebook page that he will not sign any “order of inclusion” permitting Onyshchenko to represent Ukraine at the Rio Olympics.

“For me there can be no debate,” wrote Mr Zhdanov. “I cannot imagine a person who is under investigation of suspicion for corruption representing Ukraine at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.”

If Ukraine drops out, Ireland is first in line to take up the space. Ireland missed out on direct qualification for Rio at the 2015 European Championships (see links below).

Story continued below…

Read about Ireland’s qualification journey:

‘I tried everything possible’: no Rio Olympics place for Ireland’s showjumpers

Ireland to take Rio qualification dispute to highest level

Aachen Europeans showjumping: Britain qualifies for Rio 2016 amid Irish controversy *VIDEO*

Onyshchenko made his fortune in public utilities following the break-up of the Soviet Union. He worked within FEI rules to recruit foreign nationals to create a competitive Ukraine team, and has purchased many established grand prix horses. Ukraine finished fourth in the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen.

Despite the allegations, Onyshchenko was still included in Ukraine’s nominated entries list on Monday 18 June.

Ukraine has enough listed riders to form an Olympic team in Rio without him. They are Ullrich Kirkhoff (who won the 1996 Olympic individual gold for Germany), Rene Tebbel (also formerly of Germany), Alisa Danilova, Ferenc Szentirmai (ex-Hungary) and Cassio Rivetti (ex-Brazil).

However, their participation might be in doubt if state prosecutors freeze Onyshchenko’s assets. All 13 Ukraine horses entered for Rio are listed on the FEI database as being wholly or part-owned by Onyshchenko, while stabled outside Ukraine with their regular riders.

Other top riders previously recruited to ride for Ukraine include Gregory Wathelet (Belgium) and Katherina Offell (Germany), although neither do so currently.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now