The lowdown

Olympic berths

Total quota: 200 riders and 225 horses

Jumping: 75 riders and 75 horses with the addition of 15

reserve horses/ 1 per team

Dressage: 50 riders and 50 horses with the addition of 10

reserve horses/ 1 per team

Eventing: 75 riders and 75 horses (no reserve horses)

Horses

Age: The age being counted from January 1 of year of birth

Jumping: Horses of any origin and a minimum of 9 years of age are eligible to compete.

Dressage and Eventing: Horses must be at least 8 years old.

Ownership:

Horses entered for the equestrian events at the Olympic Games must have been registered with FEI as property of owners of the same nationality as the competitor.

1912 Stockholm Games

The first equestrian competition at the Olympics saw 62 competitors (all officers) from 10 nations with 70 horses involved.

Obstacle

In show jumping and the three-day event, horses must clear fences, gates or water jumps to complete the course.

Fence

1. In jumping, a vertical obstacle usually no higher than 1.6 m but involving substantial width, constructed with colorful poles, planks, hedges, fake stone or brick, or flowers.

2. In the three-day event, a vertical obstacle usually less than 1.2 m high and constructed with natural materials designed to fit with the terrain.

Gate

A vertical fence made with planks, balustrades, gates or other items to present a solid obstacle.

Spread

A show jumping obstacle with an element of width, which is generally higher and wider than the other spread jumps.

Vertical

An obstacle which is difficult to jump because of its height.

Water jump

An obstacle requiring a horse to jump over a wide expanse of water, usually with a low hedge or fence at the leading edge.