The topic of whether equestrian sports can remain in the Olympics has come up frequently in recent years. Along with a crowded schedule and new sports lobbying for inclusion, it’s also a cost issue.
Eventing, requiring a cross-country course, is particularly expensive in terms of both building a route and the amount of space needed . And then there’s the necessity among all disciplines for stabling and exercise facilities that contribute to a large hoofprint.
This week, there was a new wrinkle, as Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins raised the issue of the Games’ long-term sustainability, with Brisbane 2032 on the horizon. His thoughts? Some traditional Olympic sports “have no modern relevance whatsoever.”
He declined to name those sports, but there is plenty of lobbying for sports with “modern relevance,” such as surf lifesaving (really!) and netball (huh?) And they are far from the only ones.
The 2032 Games competition program is still in the planning stages, but I had figured equestrian would be safe, since Australian eventers have won many medals over the decades. However, with 36 sports in the LA 28 Games, that’s expected to be an all-time high, which won’t be repeated. For comparison, it’s 10 more sports than London 2012.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry warned, “We can’t continue to just get bigger, bigger, bigger, bigger, bigger.”
The exccitement of show jumping has been an integral part of the Olympics, and this photo of McLain Ward and Ilex in Paris 2024 shows why.
“But if the Olympic movement actually does grasp the challenge they have and recognize that while there are some traditional sports that we love dearly, they have no modern relevance whatsoever, and there are others that have earned and need a more prominent position in the Olympic movement, if that’s the case, I think we’ll be fine,” said Perkins.
So where does that leave equestrian sport? And don’t forget we’re in the era of needing public approval, otherwise known as social acceptance to operate. World Horse Welfare’s fifth annual YouGov poll shows 24.4 percent of adults in the United Kingdom reject horse sport entirely, up from 19.5 percent when the survey began in 2022. (There is no equivalent poll in the U.S.)
However, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is, as you might hope, on top of the Olympic situation.
The FEI is aware of the comments regarding the sports program for Brisbane 2032, said a spokesperson for the organization, emphasizing no specific sports were identified as irrelevant “and there is no reason to assume that the comments (by Perkins) were directed at equestrian sport or eventing.”
Tom McEwan of the British Olympic team on JL Dublin at the Paris Games 2024 (photo Jon Stroud Media)
The IOC is undertaking a thorough review of the Olympic program as part of its Fit for the Future initiative. All disciplines included in the program for the LA Olympics will be considered as part of this process, based on objective criteria including popularity, universality, broadcast revenue, and cost and complexity. These criteria were proposed by the IOC Olympic Programme Working Group, of which outgoing FEI President Ingmar De Vos is a member.
“The FEI is confident in the place of equestrian sport within the Olympic Movement. Jumping, dressage and eventing have a long and successful Olympic history, a strong global following and continue to evolve to meet the expectations of modern sport. Equestrian also has the unique distinction of being the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete against each other on equal terms in the same competition and this is a powerful demonstration of gender equality that is fully aligned with Olympic values,” the spokesperson noted.
“Looking ahead to Brisbane 2032, Australia has a particularly strong equestrian tradition. Its eventing team won three consecutive Olympic gold medals between 1992 and 2000, with eight-time Olympian Andrew Hoy a member of all three teams. Australia also claimed individual Eventing gold at Barcelona 1992 through Matt Ryan and Kibah Tic Toc and, most recently, individual silver at Paris 2024 through Chris Burton and Shadow Man.
“Preparations for Brisbane are also progressing positively. An FEI delegation comprising the FEI President and Secretary General recently visited Toowoomba in Queensland, which is being considered as the venue for the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events. The visit was very productive and reinforced the constructive engagement between the FEI and the relevant Australian authorities,” the spokesperson continued.
Dressage star Isabell Werth of Germany at the 2024 Olympics with Wendy de Fontaine.
“The FEI firmly believes that all three equestrian disciplines have their place on the Olympic program and remains confident about their future as part of the Games. We will continue to engage closely with the IOC and Brisbane 2032 as the process moves forward.”
The IOC is expected to announce its decision regarding the Olympic program for Brisbane 2032 in the first quarter of 2027.
