Main image: Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera, by FEI/Christophe Taniére.
Inside Paris | Presented by International Horse Breeders
The trot up is complete and the draw is out for the Dressage field (including start times for the Aussies) at the Paris Olympics.
The dressage action begins with the Grand Prix test, which takes place over two days:
Tuesday 30 July, 7pm AEST – Groups A, B & C (30 competitors)
Tuesday 31 July, 6pm AEST – Groups E, F & G (competitors)
(We’re wondering what happened to Group D as well, maybe an Olympic draw typo!)
The 60 combinations are split into the six Groups based on FEI dressage world rankings on the date of the definite entries.
The Grand Prix is both a Team and Individual qualifier
The three combined Grand Prix scores of the team riders go towards an overall ranking, with the top ten teams out of fifteen progressing to the Grand Prix Special. None of the 15 individual riders qualified will be eligible to compete in the Grand Prix Special as this event is only for deciding the team medals.
Additionally, the top two combinations from each of the six Groups in the Grand Prix will be granted a spot in the Freestyle along with the next six highest overall ranked combinations. Therefore, there’s a tiny bit of luck involved in that you could find yourself in an ‘easier’ group with a better chance of a top two position and sneaking through with a score that’s actually outside of the best 18.
So, whilst the Grand Prix is not a medal-gaining phase it is certainly important!
Grand Prix Special: Saturday 3 August 6pm AEST
The Grand Prix Special is run in three groups of ten combinations with one combination starting from each country in each group. The chef d’equipe chooses the order in which the combinations for their team will go and that is hand delivered to the technical delegate no later than 30 minutes after the end of the Grand Prix qualifier.
The combinations chosen for each group will ride in reverse order based on the team’s overall results from the Grand Prix. The highest combined team scores will determine gold, silver and bronze and the medal ceremony will be at 10:30pm AEST.
Grand Prix Freestyle: Sunday 4 August 6pm AEST
There will be 18 starters vying for their individual medal in the Freestyle. As explained earlier, this field will be made up of the top two from each of the six Grand Prix groups, as well as the next six best Grand Prix scores. The Special has no weight on entry into the Freestyle.
This is a spectator favourite as we get to watch the harmony and elegance of the dressage riders with their own spin on choreography accompanied by music designed to showcase their horse.
The individual medal ceremony will commence at the end of the event at 11:30pm AEST.
