History of Equestrian Olympic Games

History of Equestrian Olympic Games:With Prince Carl's help, Count von Rosen was
As with many sports, competition wasn't internationalsuccessful with his committee and finally his
until the invent of the Olympics in the year 1896.equestrian events made there long awaited debut at
Equestrian events did not appear in the Olympics untilthe 1912 games in Stockholm,Sweden.
1912 in Stockholm,Sweden. It was in 1906 that CountInternational competition in itself was still in baby
Clarence von Rosen, who was a well traveled andstages, and the high cost of transport prohibited
adept horseman and “Master of the Horse”much of Europe from competition in the 1932 in Los
in service to the King of Sweden, here he saw anAngeles. World War II again disrupted the games, For
Olympic equestrian competition as a well roundedyears this appeared to dismay Count von Rosen's
way to share and promote horsemanship to aefforts as failing. However after WWII, Olympic
worldwide audience.games resumed with much renewed interest. Ever
In a proper proposal sent to the International Olympicsince the 1948 Olympic Games in London, the
Committee or (IOC) in 1907. Rosen here explained hisequestrian events have grown into today with great
theories and formally requested that equestriananticipation, participation and vigor with each
events be included in the Olympiads. He in factOlympiad. Most entry's in the beginning were military
wanted the equestrian events to begin in the nextcavalry, of course today these have been replaced
Olympics that would be taking place inby highly talented civilian riders of all types. There
London,England in the 1908 Olympics. Luckily for thewas also a period of years, that only mean rode. This
sport and Rosen's persistence, The IOC agreedhowever changed in the 1952 Olympic games,
these events would be very welcome indeed to theMarjorie B. Haynes became the first female to ride
Olympics. Great news was a happening, Equestrianand compete with the United States Equestrian
event were forth coming and announcements sent.Team. She represented the US at the 1952 Olympic
To the dismay, enthusiasm was not correctlyGames in Helsinki, Finland. Today we see that men
estimated from the Committees standpoint. The IOCand women ride as teammates, They also compete
only considered around 25 to 30 horses. The actualagainst each other as equals.
amount of entrants ended up being 88 horses fromTodays modern equestrian competition consists of
eight different global locations, This was a stormthree judging points:
upon the IOC. Such an eager response was not
anticipated, There was no place to stable and1.
exercise that many horses.Dressage
Another problem would be found in the judging2.
issues, Each nation had separate ideas on how theThree-Day Eventing
competition events should be judged. With to much3.
for the IOC to handle, the committee had no choiceShow Jumping
but to cancel the equestrian competition.In each of these, medals are given and awarded for
Despite the fact that seemed to be useless for theboth individual and team achievement. Though there
horses that traveled the long trip, Count von Rosenhave been changes in formats over the years, these
saw his vision of spectators and competitors alikeare exactly the same disciplines first selected by
wanting these equestrian events. The CountCount von Rosen in 1912.
immediately went to planning a equestrianIf its only to read and study about the history and
competition to be included in the upcoming 1912love of things Equestrian.
Olympics. It was in 1909 that Count von RosenIt still holds a lot of information and learning potential
formed an International Committee to selectfor your mind to develop on something new.
equestrian events. Prince Carl of Sweden, anSee the potential and learn about things that are
important member of the committee, also an avidEquestrian today.
horseman and host to be of the upcoming games.