United States Eventing Association

The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has released the list of nations who are qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This summer, Equestrianism can celebrate 104 years in the Olympic Movement. Eventing with be the first discipline to compete with dressage on August 6-7, cross-country August 8, and show jumping August 9, 2016. The competition will take place at the National Equestrian Centere in Deodoro, which was built for the 2007 Pan American Games.

Six nations will make their Equestrian Olympic debut this summer including Zimbabwe, which is sending an individual to compete for the first time.

43 nations will compete in equestrian disciplines, 24 of those will take part in the eventing competition. 14 countries will vie for the team medals and 10 countries will send representatives for individual competition.

Countries sending teams include: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and United States.

Individuals hail from Belarus, Belgium, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, Japan, Puerto Rico, Spain and Zimbabwe.

Aerial view of the future Olympic cross-country course. Renato Sette Camara/ City Hall of Rio de Janeiro Photo. Used with permission from the FEI.

Teams who qualified included the host country [BRA] the six best ranked teams from the 2014 World Equestrian Games [GER, GBR, NED, AUS, IRL, CAN], the two best teams from the 2015 European Championship [FRA, SWE], the best ranked team at the 2015 Pan American Games [USA], the best ranked team from the 2015 Asia Pacific Eventing Championship [NZL] and three composite nations [RUS, AUS, ITA].

“We are thrilled to be welcoming new nations to the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian family and to have 43 flags at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and 30 for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games”, said FEI President Ingmar De Vos.

“It’s a testament to the increasing global appeal and universality of our sport to see equestrianism represented at the top level in so many countries. The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the pinnacle of our sport and we are looking forward to absolutely top class equestrian action during both Games.”

Want to catch your non-horsey friends up about eventing before the Olympics? Check out this interactive infographic courtesy of The 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

To review all the documents and information about qualification, click here.