The fight over the Irish dressage team’s place at the Tokyo Olympics continues with just over three weeks to go until the competition starts.
In a situation that has had seen many twists and turns, a fresh appeal has been launched over the ruling by an independent arbitrator to uphold Horse Sport Ireland’s (HSI) decision not to send an Olympic dressage team to the Games.
But HSI announced on 21 June that dressage high performance director Johann Hinnemann had taken the decision not to nominate a dressage team to the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) for the Tokyo Games.
“We are fit, our horses are fit and prepared – we are eligible and qualified and want to go,” Dane told H&H last week.
The “lengthy” hearing was held via video link on Monday (28 June) before independent arbitrator Dermot Kelly SC, who upheld HSI’s decision not to send a team.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“The [dressage high performance director] gave very full and careful consideration to all the factors set out in the nomination policy,” stated Mr Kelly in his decision.
However the outcome was not entirely straightforward.
Dane told H&H that the arbitrator ruled in the riders’ favour over a dispute surrounding minimum eligibility (MER) criteria, meaning that they could be entered. This arose as the riders have all achieved the MERs in order to compete at Tokyo, but HSI had extra selection criteria on top of this that not all combinations have reached.
But the arbitrator’s decision to uphold the HSI decision not to send a dressage team remains a major stumbling block in combinations’ hopes of a team place at Tokyo. Mr Rawlins said he is appealing this decision.
As it currently stands, Ireland retains one individual spot, with Heike Holstein and Sambuca named on the FEI’s nominated entries list, dated 29 June.The team place moves instead to Belgium, who last sent a dressage team to an Olympics in 1928.
“After Ireland renounces team participation in the Olympic Games, and first reserve Luxembourg cannot present the necessary qualifications, Belgium still gets the chance for the second time in history,” said a statement from the Belgian equestrian federation.
Olympic dressage horses are set to go into quarantine next week and fly on 14 July, with the first day of grand prix held on 24 July.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.
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
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
