Paris 2024: history, practice, athletes, program of events, horseback riding at the Olympic Games

This summer, the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will welcome an exceptional discipline: equestrian sports. A symbol of elegance, power and symbiosis between man and animal, these disciplines will find a majestic stage in Versailles to demonstrate their excellence and rich history.

The history of riding :

In the annals of history, equestrian sports are written in gold letters as far back asantiquity, when the Greeks, aware of the importance of equine mastery in ensuring victory on the battlefield, devoted themselves to cultivating a perfect symbiosis between rider and mount. Thus was born dressage, an elaborate art designed to prepare steeds for the effervescence of conflict. At the ancient Olympic Games, horseback riding was the equivalent of chariot racing, a spectacular event that captivated audiences of the time. After falling into oblivion, the equestrian art re-emerged during the Renaissance, at the heart of royal courts and jousting tournaments.

Equestrianism at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games:

• Château de Versailles (78)
• individual and team
• July 27 to August 6

Riding in the History of the Olympic Games :

The beginnings of equestrian sports at the Olympic Games date back to the dawn of the 20th century, with their first introduction in 1900. However, it wasn't until the Stockholm Games in 1912 that they were given a permanent place on the Olympic program. The 1952 Helsinki Games marked a major turning point for the discipline, as women were finally allowed to take part in the dressage event, which was now open to mixed competition. Then, in 1964, women finally had access to all equestrian disciplines, and equestrian became the only truly fully mixed sport at the Olympic Games.

Riding at the Paris Olympic Games, its rules :

Equestrian sports at the Olympic Games encompass three disciplines in which men and women compete in the same mixed category, individually and as a team.

• Show jumping requires riders to clear a timed course while avoiding knocking over the obstacle bars.
• Dressage showcases the perfect symbiosis between horse and rider through a series of gracefully executed figures.
• Eventing, a veritable equestrian triathlon, combines show jumping, dressage and cross-country (a route dotted with natural or fixed obstacles), testing the endurance and polivalence of horse and rider.

Equestrianism at the Paris 2024 Olympics, French athletes :

For these Paris 2024 Olympic Games, several French riders are worth keeping a close eye on, including François-Xavier Boudant or Pénélope Leprévost in show jumping, Thomas Carlile or Camille Lejeune in eventing, and Alexandre Ayache or Pauline Basquin in dressage.

Where to go horse-riding in Paris and the Ile-de-France region?

Horse-riding: where to practice equestrian sports in Paris and the Île-de-France region
Do you dream of discovering horse riding in Paris and the Ile-de-France region? Let yourself be seduced by this ancient discipline, combining sport, passion and communion with nature. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned rider, the Paris region is home to numerous equestrian clubs where you can experience memorable moments on horseback. [Read more]

The program at the Paris Olympics

Saturday, July 27