U.S. Eventing Team: Chef d’Equipe Erik Duvander, Tamra Smith, Doug Payne, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton. Photo by Kim and Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography Tamra Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Kim and Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
As the dressage contingent packs to leave for home, the eventing competition got under way today at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 with the first horse inspection. Seventy-six horses were presented to the eventing ground jury, including four from the U.S.A. and one from Canada. The reserve horses are also inspected and are included in that number.
Two horses were held for re-inspection, Pawel Spisak’s Banderas from Poland who unfortunately did not pass on re-inspection, and Lauren Billy’s Castle Larchfield Purdy from Puerto Rico, who was accepted upon re-inspection. Phillip Dutton and Z. Photo by Kim and Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
Canada’s Jessica Phoenix regrettably had to pull her veteran equine partner Pavarotti due to “a minor training injury sustained in a gallop on Tuesday,” and she therefore did not present him for inspection. Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Kim and Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
On Friday, July 30, the first section of eventing dressage starts at 8:30 a.m. Japanese Standard Time, or JST (7:30 p.m. EDT Thursday) and runs until 11 a.m JST (10 p.m. EDT Thursday). Then, there is a second session of eventing dressage tomorrow evening from 5:30 to 9 p.m JST (4:30 to 8 a.m. EDT Friday). The third and final section of eventing dressage begins on Saturday, July 31, from 8:30-11 a.m. JST (7:30-10 p.m. EDT on Friday) Then, cross-country runs Sunday, August 1, beginning at 7:45 a.m. (6:45 p.m. Saturday), and finally, show jumping takes place on Monday, August 2. There will be two rounds of show jumping since there is an Olympic rule that no athlete is able to earn both an individual and team medal for the same athletic effort.
A quick perusal of the cross-country course in the media tour on Wednesday showed a technically challenging course with many options for those who don’t want to try the direct routes through an obstacle. The cross-country course designer is Derek di Grazia from the U.S.A., and the course builder is David Evans from Great Britain. Now that the first horse inspection has happened, we’ll have more about the eventing course at the Tokyo Olympics before the start of cross-country. Check the orders of go here. Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg TSF. Photo by Kim and Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
Complete Tokyo Olympics Coverage
Kim MacMillan graduated from Purdue University where she majored in agriculture communications and animal science. She has been reporting on equestrian sports, agriculture, science, travel and history for over 35 years. She and her husband Allen, who is a professional photographer, have covered several World Equestrian, Olympic and Pan American Games. The MacMillans share their Northeastern Indiana farm with several much-loved horses, dogs and cats.
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