If you thought reporting on equestrian sport at an Olympics sounds like a dream job, you would be right, and my eleven days in Paris covering all equestrian sport has felt more like a ‘busman’s holiday’ than work. To witness Team GB win eventing team gold and an individual bronze is probably up there with some of my greatest experiences. The riders and horses from all nations showcased just how thrilling and noble eventing really is.
The Palace of Versailles was the perfect back drop to present all the drama of our sport. But it was the right kind of drama: record-breaking dressage scores, a challenging cross-country track and an eventful showjumping phase.
The new format of three riders with the opportunity for teams to make changes in their team but picking up penalties for doing so takes a bit of getting your head around and was necessary for some nations. It does make you realise what a serious achievement it was for the Brits to win gold with three horses - there is no room for error. In addition, the two rounds of showjumping, with the second round deciding the individual winner, adds a whole new dimension to eventing.
It was great to see the so many enthusiastic spectators in Versailles and it just goes to show how much focus those horses and riders really are. Speaking to riders after the cross-country, most mentioned the crowds and the atmosphere that created. It must have been an incredibly sensory experience as they approached each fence and with it a sea of people and a wall of sound - cheering before, during and after each jumping effort. I spoke to some British supporters who said it was the greatest experience of watching cross-country they had ever had.
The showjumping on the final day was always going to be nail-biting - according to EquiRatings this was this the strongest field of riders since 2015. The finale was played out to packed stands despite 28 to 30 degree heat. Given we had had torrential rain on dressage day and blazing sunshine by the end, you realise how die-hard equestrian fans really are. The facilities for keeping horses cool and hydrated were definitely better than those for humans. Apparently, they had completely run out of drinking water for the public one day.
It would have been lovely to see Laura win gold - and she was unlucky to rub the final fence in the first round of showjumping, just as she was unlucky to lose a shoe on the cross country which meant she had to take it a little slower. That being said Michael Jung did once again give us a masterclass in eventing with Chipmunk. He is a consummate horseman who builds incredible relationships with his horses and deserved his third Olympic gold medal. Plus, we all know with eventing and in fact horses generally, there’s a bit of luck involved beyond great horsemanship.
