U.S. horses cleared for equestrian competition

Friday's Beijing Games were highlighted by the opening ceremony in the Bird's Nest. But the day also included the necessary business of preparing teams for the competitions that resume on Saturday.

At the equestrian competition center in Hong Kong, that meant riders leading their horses through an initial inspection. The U.S. Eventing team cleared each of its five horses during the review.

The U.S. horses are: Connaught, Courageous Comet, Mandiba, McKinlaigh and Poggio. The U.S. Equestrian Federation reports that "all looked very fit and sound" when they were presented before equestrian officials at the Hong Kong venue.

During the Games, the five-horse team from the U.S. will be one of 11 teams vying for medals. The U.S. team begins its competition early on Saturday morning in Hong Kong.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: Two officials watch an eventing rider show his horse on Friday during the first inspection for the eventing competition in Hong Kong. Credit:Jochen Luebke / European Pressphoto Agency

Comments

[Taylor]

I LOVE The Equestrian Parts Of The Olympics, For Me Being An Equestrian, I Just Love It. I Have Been riding Since I Have 3 Years Old, English, Jumping Dressage. . . .I Just Adore It. I Will Definitly Be Doing It The Rest Of My Life