US Equestrian's Guide to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

July 26 - August 6, 2024

Let the Games Begin

The 2024 Paris Olympic & Paralympic Games are set to kick-off on July 26, 2024, welcoming the sporting world to the iconic city of Paris, with equestrian competition set to be hosted in the incredible gardens of the Palace of Versailles featuring eventing, dressage, jumping, and para dressage competition.

The 2024 Olympic equestrian venue at the Palace of Versailles.

The 2024 Olympic equestrian venue at the Palace of Versailles.

US Equestrians at the Opening Ceremonies for Paris 2024! (L-R) Karl Cook (Jumping), Steffen Peters (Dressage), McLain Ward (Jumping), Lizzy Chesson (Jumping Manager), & Endel Ots (Dressage)

US Equestrians at the Opening Ceremonies for Paris 2024! (L-R) Karl Cook (Jumping), Steffen Peters (Dressage), McLain Ward (Jumping), Lizzy Chesson (Jumping Manager), & Endel Ots (Dressage)

Team Results & Scores

The medals of Paris 2024 are unique, as with each Olympic Games, with this year's prize containing pieces of the iconic Eiffel Tower.

U.S. Olympic Eventing Team

U.S. Olympic Dressage Team

U.S. Olympic Jumping Team

Team: 7th

Team: DNF

Team: Silver

Individual: Boyd Martin & Fedarman B - 10th

Individual: None

Individual: Laura Kraut & Baloutinue - 8th

Learn more about the story behind the Paris 2024 Olympic Games medals here.

How to Watch

NBC and their affiliate partners, including Peacock, will be streaming all of Paris 2024 with access to 24/7 coverage of all sports, including the equestrian disciplines.

 Peacock will also offer a “Gold Zone” program, broadcasting 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET from July 27-August 10. Similar to the NFL’s Red Zone - this broadcast will provide a live look at all of the sporting action happening at Olympic venues around Paris.

Paris 2024 Equestrian
Schedule

Eventing

Saturday, July 27
3:00 a.m. — 11:40 a.m. ET
Dressage 

Sunday, July 28
3:30 a.m. — 8:00 a.m. ET
Cross Country 

Monday, July 29
4:00 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. ET
Jumping - Team & Individual Medals

Dressage

Friday, July 30
4:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m. ET
Grand Prix Team and Individual Qualifier Day 1 

Wednesday, July 31
4:00 a.m. — 9:00 a.m. ET
Grand Prix Team & Individual Qualifier Day 2 

Thursday, August 1
3:00 a.m. — 8:45 a.m. ET
Dressage Grand Prix Special - Team Medals

Sunday, August 4
4:00 a.m. — 8:30 a.m. ET
Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle - Individual Medals

Jumping

Friday, August 2
7:00 a.m. — 10:45 a.m. ET
Jumping Individual Qualifier 

Saturday, August 3
3:00 a.m. — 5:30 a.m. ET
Jumping Team Final - Team Medals

Monday, August 5
3:00 a.m. — 6:45 a.m. ET
Jumping Individual Qualifier

Tuesday, August 6
7:00 a.m. — 9:30 a.m. ET
Jumping Individual Final - Individual Medals

U.S. Olympic
Eventing Team

The Team

Liz Halliday

Hometown: Lexington, Ky.

Olympic Appearances: 2024

Elisabeth Halliday has represented the U.S. in international eventing competition, most notably as part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She has an impressive resume of developing young event horses, including podium finishes at the FEI Young Horse World Championship in 2018 and 2019 with Cooley Moonshine. In 2020, Halliday earned the title of World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year after nine wins and 23 total top-ten finishes at FEI competitions that season.

Nutcracker

Nickname: Bali

Owner: The Nutcracker Syndicate

Groom: Abby Steger

Gender: Gelding

Breeding: Irish Sport Horse (Tolan R x Ballyshan Clepatra)

Foal Date: 1/1/2014

Nutcracker (Bali) joined Liz Halliday’s program in 2022 after beginning his career with Astier Nicolas in France. Halliday and Cooley Nutcracker debuted at the CCI3*-S level in 2022 and worked their way up to the CCI5*-L level by 2024. The duo collected two wins at the CCI4*-L level in 2023, the first at Tryon International in Mill Spring, N.C., and the second at Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif. With their win at Galway Downs at the end of the 2023 season, they earned their first National Championship together. The pair have placed outside of the top ten only twice in their FEI career and finished eighth in their debut at the CCI5*-L level at the 2024 DEFENDER Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Boyd Martin

Hometown: Cochranville, Pa.

Olympic Appearances: 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024

A native of Australia, Boyd Martin has competed for the U.S. since 2009. He is a three-time Olympian and has three Pan American Games gold medals to his name, including a team gold from 2015 with Pancho Villa and team and individual gold from 2019 with Tsetserleg TSF. Tsetserleg TSF was also his partner for the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championship, where they were part of the silver medal-winning team. Martin has won the USEF CCI5*-L Eventing National Championship at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event twice, in 2019 with Tsetserleg TSF and in 2021 with On Cue. In 2021, he and On Cue won the inaugural Maryland 5 Star, becoming the first American combination to win a CCI5* event since 2008.

Fedarman B

Nickname: Bruno

Owner: Annie Goodwin Syndicate

Groom: Stephanie Simpson

Gender: Gelding

Breed: KWPN gelding (Eurocommerce Washington x Paulien B)

Foal Date: 1/1/2012

Fedarman B (Bruno) has become one of the top-performing mounts in Boyd Martin’s string of international horses. Fedarman B was sourced, purchased, and started by the late Annie Goodwin who Boyd continues to represent in each competition aboard the 2010 KWPN gelding. Fedarman B’s FEI record with Martin has been strong and consistent, with finishing twice inside the top ten at the CCI5*-L level with completions at Luhmühlen and Pau in 2023. In 2024, the pair finished fourth in the CCI4*-S at the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2024, adding to their international top-five finishes as a combination.

Caroline Pamukcu

Hometown: Springtown, Pa.

Olympic Appearances: 2024

Caroline Pamukcu (neé Martin) is a five-star eventer who has produced numerous young horses to the upper levels of the sport. She represented the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, riding HSH Blake, where she won individual gold and team silver medals. She had a successful young rider career, competing in the North American Youth Championships in 2011 with Classic Touch, and in 2013 with Quantum Solace where she won individual and team gold.

HSH Blake

Nickname: Blake

Owner: Caroline Pamukcu, Deniz Pamukcu, Mollie Hoff, Sherrie Martin

Groom: Chloe Teahan

Gender: Gelding

Breed: Irish Sport Horse (Tolan R x Doughiska Lass)

Foal Date: 5/10/2015

Caroline Pamukcu started HSH Blake (Blake) as a young horse, developing him through the levels as the only registered rider in his entire career. The pair debuted at the CCI2* level in 2021 and have increased their international experience and success as they’ve continued to rocket up the levels. HSH Blake has notched seven international wins throughout his career with Pamukcu. The duo earned a team silver medal and individual gold in their first championship representing the U.S. Eventing Team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, were they added just four jumping faults to their initial dressage score of 26.8.

Sydney Elliott

Hometown: Hoffman, N.C.

Sydney Elliott made her debut at the CCI5*-L level in 2016 when she completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with Cisko A. The pair went on to represent the U.S. on the Nations Cup Team at Great Meadow International in 2018, and had top-ten finishes in the CCI4*-S at the Carolina International, Chattahoochee Hills CCI4*-S, Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*-S, and Fair Hill International CCI3*-L that same year.

With QC Diamantaire, Elliott has had top-ten finishes in the 2020 USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship at Tryon, 2021 Pine Top Advanced Horse Trials, 2021 Carolina International CCI4*-S, 2021 The Fork @ TIEC CCI4*-S, and 2022 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*.

Elliott and "Q" have represented the U.S. Eventing Team at FEI Nations Cup comptetitions including in 2022 in the CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen and in 2021 at CCIO4*-L at Boekelo, where they finished fifth individually and led the U.S. team to a silver medal.

In 2023, Elliott and Q were part of the silver medal-winning U.S. Eventing Team at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

QC Diamantaire

Nickname: Q

Owner: Carole Stephens

Groom: Caitlin Martin

Gender: Gelding

Breed: Oldenburg (Diarado x Lantana)

Foal Date: 5/6/2010

QC Diamantaire started his international career with Sydney Elliott in 2016, quickly rising through the levels and producing top results from the CCI1* level up through the CCI5* level. The pair exceled in competitions all across the country, Canada, and around Europe, and represented the U.S. Eventing Team in FEI Nations Cup competitions including as part of the third-place team at Great Meadow in 2018 and at CHIO Aachen in 2022.

In 2021, "Q" made his debut at the CCI5*-L level, completing the Kentucky Three-Day Event with Elliott. The pair returned to the event the following year and finished 8th overall, then went overseas in 2023 to complete the CCI5*-L at Luhmühlen (GER). That year, they also reprented the U.S. at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, winning team silver.

U.S. Eventing Team Mandatory Outing

U.S. Eventing Team hosted a Mandatory Outing Stable View in Aiken, S.C. prior. to their departure to Europe.

U.S. Eventing Team Training Camp

The U.S. Eventing Team will base in Vittel, France, prior to their arrival at the venue in Versailles on July 24, before competition begins on July 27.

Paris 2024 Olympics

The U.S. Eventing Team will arrive at the venue in Versailles on July 24, with the first horse inspection on Friday, July 26, and competition kicking-off on Saturday, July 27.

Eventing

U.S. Olympic Eventing Team

The U.S. Eventing Team will be the first equestrian team for the U.S. to take to Versailles for competition.

The team will be supported by Chef d'Equipe Bobby Costello, Team Leader Gemma Stobbs, Team Farrier Beck Ratte, Team Veterinarian Dr. Susan Johns, Human Physiotherapist Jennifer Mitchell, and Equine Physiotherapist Linda Vagher.

Reflections on Past Olympics - Gina Miles

By: Zach Girard

“Continue to be teachable."
- Gina Miles 

Though eventing athlete Gina Miles did not come from a horse-involved family, she fell in love with Olympic equestrian sports after seeing them at age 10. 

“My mom took me to the 1984 Olympics when it was in Los Angeles. We walked along the cross-country (course) and saw the horses galloping on the cross-country,” Miles said. “I just thought, ‘That is just the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my whole life. That's what I want to do; I want to do three-day eventing, and I want to go to the Olympics.” 

From there, Miles built her riding career as a working student for Brian and Lisa Sabo of Sabo Eventing in Paso Robles, Calif. Throughout her career, she kept her goal of going to the Olympics, obtaining her Irish Sport Horse gelding McKinlaigh from connections in California. Ultimately, McKinlaigh was owned by Miles, Thomas Schulz, and Laura Coats. 

“The 3* Young Riders I'd done, but I certainly had never gone advanced. McKinlaigh had never gone advanced; he was five. And we went from there,” Miles said. 

After enduring setbacks on the road to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Miles and McKinlaigh competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, earning the silver medal in Individual Eventing. 

“We were a lot more focused on doing our own personal best performance, not getting psyched out by all the hype of going to the Olympics, because that can really happen easily,” Miles said. “The emotion of it, the pull of it, can take your focus away from doing your best competitively.  Why we got a good result, I think, was we did have that maturity and experience of all the mishaps that really allowed us to grow in confidence and experience to be able to handle it.” 

Miles said the most surprising part of her Olympic experience was winning a medal.  

“McKinlaigh didn't have the best flying changes, and he was 10th after dressage. He moved up from there, and we moved in the final round of show jumping into medal position,” Miles explained. “It was amazing to have the support of so many people that had helped do fundraisers or help look after my kids or help along the journey. I really felt like everybody was there with me standing on the podium, watching the American flag go up. It was kind of unbelievable.” 

Though riding is not currently Miles’s first priority, she said she would love to go to the Olympics again in 2028 in Los Angeles. 

“That would be such a great circle, to retire my career with going back to the Olympics, but my focus is in other places right now. I'm building a facility of my own, so if it doesn't happen, my goal now is just to be a better rider than I was last year,” Miles said. “I try to continue to always learn and grow, be a better rider, continue to be teachable, and be trained by great horsemen. It’s the lifelong pursuit of being a better athlete.” 

U.S. Olympic
Dressage Team

The Team

Adrienne Lyle

Hometown: Wellington, Fla.

Olympic Appearances: 2012, 2020, 2024

Adrienne Lyle is an Olympic dressage athlete who represented the U.S. at the 2012 London Games riding Wizard and at the 2020 Tokyo Games with Salvino, where the team won silver. She also represented the U.S. Dressage team at the 2014 FEI Alltech® World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy, France, and again as part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2018 WEG in Tryon, N.C., riding Salvino. The pair returned to the FEI Dressage World Championship in 2022 in Denmark where they earned top-ten finishes individually.

Helix

Nickname: Helix

Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center

Groom: Marina Lemay

Gender: Gelding

Breed: Dutch Warmblood (Apache x Zeester T)

Foal Date: 2/10/2012

Meet Helix

Helix was purchased as a potential Olympic mount for veteran U.S. rider Adrienne Lyle and the pair have impressed since his purchase in late 2023. Helix was started in Sweden by Marina Mattsson before transitioning to Lyle’s program in early 2024. Lyle competed the flashy gelding only a few times in spring 2024, earning above 70 percent in most of their outings together. During their first European tour as a partnership, Lyle and Helix were consistent in both of their observation events at Hagen and Kronberg, recording scores near the 72% mark in the Grand Prix and close to 74% in the Grand Prix Special.

Marcus Orlob

Marcus Orlob

Hometown: Loxahatchee, Fla.

Olympic Appearances: 2024

Marcus Orlob was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, and spent his youth riding and training under Hubertus Schmidt. He competed across Europe and debuted at the Grand Prix level at age 21. After working extensively in Europe and earning his Bereiter FN title from the German Riding School in Warendorf, Germany, he moved to the U.S. and began his own training operation. Orlob has successfully competed across all young horse levels with up-and-coming young horses, including wins at USEF Festival of Champions in the 5-year-old, 6-year-old, and Developing Grand Prix divisions. His current mount, Jane, owned by Alice Tarjan, is the first horse he’s competed at the Grand Prix level since 2019 with personal best scores recorded at the level.

Jane

Jane

Nickname: Jane

Owner: Alice Tarjan

Groom: Allison Nemeth

Gender: Mare

Breed: Dutch Warmblood (Desperado x Zandra)

Foal Date: 4/2/2014

Jane debuted at the Grand Prix level in 2024 with Marcus Orlob in the saddle after starting her career with owner, Alice Tarjan, a longtime student of Orlob’s. Jane has been a part of the Tarjan/Orlob’s program since her purchase as a young horse, participating in the Young Horse program in the U.S. with Tarjan. Alice rode the mare to Small Tour level before handing the reins to Orlob, who made his first Grand Prix start with the KWPN mare in March of 2024. The pair has continued to gain experience at the level and impressed in the final observation outing for the Short List, earning 73.913% in the Grand Prix in Kronberg, followed by an impressive 75.340% in the Grand Prix Special.

Steffen Peters

Hometown: San Diego, Calif.

Olympic Appearances: 1996, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020

Steffen Peters is a five-time Olympian for Team USA, including as a team bronze medalist in Rio de Janeiro 2016 with Legolas 92 and Atlanta 1996 with Udon, and a team silver medalist in Tokyo 2020 with Suppenkasper. He has also represented the U.S. at five FEI World Championships, with a team silver from Tryon 2018, individual bronze from Lexington 2010, and team bronze from Aachen 2006. He is a two-time individual and team gold medalist at the Toronto 2015 and 2011 Guadalajara Pan American Games, and, in 2009, he won his first FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final with Ravel.

Suppenkasper

Nickname: Mopsie

Owner: Akiko Yamazaki & Four Winds Farm

Groom: Eddie Garcia

Gender: Gelding

Breed: KWPN (Spielberg x Upanoeska)

Foal Date: 3/26/2008

Suppenkasper has been the top ride for U.S. dressage athlete Steffen Peters since 2018. He was part of the silver medal-winning teams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018. “Mopsie” has been part of FEI Nations Cup Teams in 2019 in Aachen, Germany, where the team finished in third place, and again in Aachen in 2022.

Endel Ots

Hometown: Wellington, Fla.

Endel Ots is an up-and-coming talent for the United States Dressage program, debuting at the CDI Grand Prix level in 2024 with Bohemian. Endel grew up on a farm in De Pere, Wisconsin, and began riding at age eight, finding a love for dressage early on. Throughout his career Endel has trained under some of the best eyes in sport and started his early career in Germany before relocating to Wellington full-time in 2011. He was named a reserve rider for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and was selected to compete in his first championship for the program ahead of the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Ots has earned top honors at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, a prestigious national championship competition, and represented the U.S. at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Dressage in 2015 and 2016.

Bohemian

Nickname: Bo

Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center

Groom: Caroline Hoerdum

Gender: Gelding

Breed: Westphalian (Bordeaux x Sunshine)

Foal Date: 4/22/2010

Starting his career under Katrine Kraglund before moving to Catherine Laudrup-Dufour's stable, Bohemian quickly became a staple in Laudrup-Dufour's string, earning significant international championship starts and representing Denmark at the European Championships and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Bohemian was purchased by Zen Elite Equestrian Center in late 2023 as an Olympic hopeful for U.S. athlete Endel Ots and the pair have quickly developed a budding partnership. The duo debuted in Wellington, Fla., in March 2024, and have consistently improved their scores in their short time together.

Hagen CDI3*

Combinations named to the U.S. Dressage Olympic Short List competed against one another at the Hagen CDI3* as the first observation event for the team.

Kronenberg CDI3*

Kronenberg served as the final observation event for combinations on the Short List, with several combinations putting in personal best scores before final team selection.

Team Training Camp

The U.S. Olympic Dressage Team met for a mini training camp just 30 minutes from the venue at Versailles to put the final touches on their tests before arriving at the venue

Paris 2024 Olympics

The team will arrive at Versailles on July 26, and will be the longest-staying discipline at the venue, finishing their competition in Paris on August 4.