The first day of equestrian competition at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro has concluded with approximately half of the three-day eventing riders having completed their dressage tests. William Fox-Pitt and his veteran mount, Chilli Morning currently lead the pack with Australia’s Christopher Burton and Santano II less than a point behind. Favorite Michael Jung of Germany, competing in Rio with his 2012 Olympic partner, Sam, is currently in third place.
U.S. riders Boyd Martin with his OTTB, Blackfoot Mystery, and Clark Montgomery with Loughan Glen had their dressage rides today. Montgomery just managed to sneak into the top 10 while Martin stands in 17th place.
In the team eventing standangs, Germany currently tops the leaderboard thanks to Jung and reigning World Equestrian Games champ, Sandra Auffarth, who is currently in fourth. The U.S. is in seventh place.
One other note from today’s competition: A stray bullet reportedly pierced the roof of the equestrian media tent and landed near some photographers. No one was injured, but the source of the bullet is uncertain. Read more about the incident from Horse and Hound.
Equestrian competition continues tomorrow with the remainder of the eventing athletes completing their dressage tests.
How to watch the equestrian events of the 2016 Olympics >>
Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky. Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.
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