The 2016 Olympic Games for dressage began on Monday 8 August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the mandatory horse inspection in which the panel of judges and the overseeing FEI veterinarian assessed the fitness of each individual horse. All horses passed the inspection except for two who were referred to the holding box and will be represented on Tuesday morning 7.30 AM.
While Olympic cross country was in full swing, dressage riders were allowed to familiarize their horses with the main show arena on Monday morning. Each country took the opportunity to either train and walk their horses in the main stadium. The horse inspection took place on Monday afternoon.
The majority of the horses passed with flying colours, yet several had to be trotted up twice before they received the relieving words of being "accepted". Horse and Hound reported that Danish horses Atterupgaards Cassidy and Jojo AZ were amongst those that had to do the stretch twice, as well as Dong Seon Kim's Bukowski and Ludovic Henry's After You
Three horses in total were sent to the holding box on Monday: Pierre Volla's Badinda Altena, Valentina Truppa's Chablis and Therese Nilshagen's Dante Weltino. Volla's 10-year old Dutch warmblood mare Badinda Altena (by Tolando) was re-presented a bit later and jogged twice, but the panel accepted her for competition.
Two horses failed the trot-up and will be re-presented for inspection on Tuesday morning 9 August 2016 at 7.30 AM. They are the youngest and oldest horse competing at the Games: Therese Nilshagen's 9-year old Dante Weltino (by Danone I x Welt Hit II) and Valentina Truppa's 19-year old Chablis (by Castro x Leonardo II).
Adelinde Cornelissen's 19-year old Dutch warmblood Parzival (by Jazz x Ulft) passed the jog without problems but the horse had his tongue hanging out of his mouth during the trot-up.
Several horses take the opportunity to show they cheeky side when presented in hand. Anna Kasprzak's Donnperignon is known to be unruly. He kicked his rider last year at the 2015 European Championships right after the inspection. In Rio coach Andreas Helgstrand trotted the Finnish warmblood. Also British Spencer Wilton had his hands ful with Super Nova who jumped around.
Each country's team alternate was also presented at the jog as countries can still swap combinations until two hours before the start of the Grand Prix on Wednesday 10 August.
The draw for the Grand Prix was supposed to take place after the horse inspection, but the order of go still has not yet been announced.
Photo © Dirk Caremans
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2016 Olympic Games