Bonjour! The sport of eventing kicks off equestrian competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games tomorrow. We have rounded up everything you need to know from schedules (and time conversions!), competitor information, livestream details, and so much more in this week’s very special edition of Fast Facts.
Only three riders will compete for a team and there is no drop score. However, there is an opportunity to substitute a horse and rider.
The traveling reserve must pass both horse inspections, and they can be subbed into the competition up to two hours before the dressage phase begins, with no penalty to the team. The horse that the reserve replaces then becomes the new team reserve. So, what happens next?
At this point, the team has a few choices:
Only one substitution can be made per team, and it must be both horse AND rider. Substitutes made overnight between phases will only inquire 20 penalties. Only riders that compete in all three phases are eligible for individual medals.
The livestream for the Olympics this year is offered through NBC and its streaming service Peacock. According to NBC's website:
Every day during the Summer Olympics, NBC will offer fans at least nine hours of daytime coverage of the Games’ most exciting events, including live finals coverage of swimming, gymnastics, track and field, and more. Considering the time difference (Paris is six hours ahead of the U.S.’s eastern time zone), fans will be able to watch the day’s most popular events live on NBC in the morning and afternoon. NBC will also deliver an enhanced Olympics primetime show each night, providing three hours of must-see entertainment.
In addition, every event from the Summer Olympics will be broadcast live on Peacock, which will be home to an innovative Olympics hub that will include "curated rails of live and upcoming events, dedicated in-depth hubs for nearly 40 sports, medal standings and an interactive schedule."
You can sign up for a Peacock account for $7.99 a month or $79.99 annually.
Saturday, July 27
3:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 a.m. CT / 12:30 a.m. PT: Eventing: Dressage Team & Individual, Part 1
8:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. CT / 5:00 a.m. PT: Eventing: Dressage Team & Individual, Part 2
Sunday, July 28
4:30 a.m. ET / 3:30 a.m. CT / 1:30 a.m. PT: Eventing: Cross-Country Team & Individual
Monday, July 29
5:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 a.m. CT / 2:00 a.m. PT: Eventing: Jumping Team & Individual (Final)
Follow the USEA event coverage on social media!
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Eventers who are new to the sport may feel a little overwhelmed by the often-misunderstood world of saddle fitting. Riders are often bombarded with information from peers online or self-described experts, putting them at risk of following bad advice related to equipment that impacts horse welfare perhaps more than any other piece of tack. Finding a qualified expert to answer these questions is crucial. Who better to turn to than both a qualified Master Saddle Fitter and a fourth-generation saddle designer to answer some of these questions?
Did you know that the USEA Foundation awards over 150 grants each year to deserving individuals who are involved in the sport of eventing? With grants that assist riders with accomplishing their competition goals, grants geared toward licensed officials, grants that are specific to continuing education for coaches, grants that assist competitions with obtaining frangible technology, and so much more, there really is a grant opportunity available to almost anyone!
With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.
Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.