Olympic team showjumping: shock exit for Ireland after fall for first horse

Olympic showjumping individual qualifier: Ireland off to a great start — Irish flag Ireland

(Image credit: Steve Ford Elliott Stock Exchng)

Ireland suffered a hugely disappointing start in the Olympic team showjumping qualifier at the Tokyo Games, with Shane Sweetnam and the 12-year-old gelding Alejandro being eliminated after a fall during their opening round.

Pathfinder Shane was drafted in after Cian O’Connor’s mount Kilkenny suffered a nosebleed in the individual final on Wednesday and elected not to continue jumping in the Olympic team showjumping. The lovely grey Alejandro looked fresh and full of enthusiasm, throwing in a buck after the first fence as they made their competitive debut in the main arena.

“But he overreached or he pulled a shoe going in to the triple combination and I don’t know whether that hurt him but it definitely rattled him. And after that, you could see he was very unsettled and he wasn’t himself. He’s a very sensitive horse, so whatever happened going into the combination really flustered him and he forgot what he was doing. I felt like I was in shock myself, but hopefully he’ll be okay and we can bounce back from it.”

“Obviously with this new format everything counts,” he added. “So it’s very hard for the team. We are out now. And that’s the negativity of having just a three-man team that there’s no drop score. These things happen as you‘ve seen – there’s couple of other teams that are falling out of bed as well, and you know, it’s hard to follow it really and see if it can be the future of our 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

TOPICS

Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.

‘With this new format everything counts’: shock exit for Ireland in Olympic team showjumping

“I’m okay and the horse seems to be OK,” said Shane shortly afterwards. “He started off okay – he’s an experienced horse who is normally very good.

“With no chance of them making the top 10, you’re just risking injury to the horses who also already jumped earlier in the week,” said Shane.

You may also be interested in…

Sushi, calligraphy and Shibuya Crossing: walk the course for today’s Olympic team showjumping qualifier

Find out what time Britain’s showjumpers will start at the Olympics today – start list released for team qualifier

Latest horse and rider changes ahead of Olympic showjumping team qualifier