Today the Olympics got under way for the showjumping riders in Rio and the first test looks promising for some exciting sports next week when the team and individual medals will be devided. During the first qualifier where 75 riders presented their nation it were only 24 riders that finished the job without making any mistakes. A wide spread the water caused some horses to get wet feet, including World and European championship horse Zenith ridden by Jeroen Dubbeldam. And the double combination at the end made some casualties with Casio Revetti leavind his horse's saddle and many more having a pole down. Germany seems to be the European country to watch this Olympics when Christian Ahlmann led the way for all their riders to jump a smooth clear round within the time. So far only 14 combinations finished faultless. Revelation might be Belgium's individual rider Jérome Guery aboard Grand Cru vd Rozenberg. The horse still jumped a regional level about a year ago. So Far Germany is in the lead of the Nations Cup with three out of the four riders finishing clear. Christian Ahlmann, Daniel Deusser and Meredith Michaels Beerbaum did a perfect job aboard their mounts. Last rider on course, Ludger Beerbaum and Casello, looked good till the last jump. But there the pair had a pole down, keeping Germany on three clear rounds. Hosting Country Brazil is also of to a good start with Stephan De Freitas Barcha, Alvaro Affonso de Miranda Neto riding a clear, putting the home nation in first place together with Germany. The Netherlands that are the top favourite for the title had a very unlucky start with Jeroen Dubbeldam and Zenith having 4 faults at the water and Jur Vrieling not finishing the course as Zirroco Blue fist has a refusal the triple and later on strikes out at the double. Maikel van der Vleuten and Harrie Smolders however seem have to their horses at top form giving the Dutch two clear rounds, having them start “ranking” third after the qualifier. France who made a great start with a clear round Philip Rouzier and Rogier Yves Bost also got unlucky as Staut had a pole down and last rider Penelope Levervost falling frm Flora de Mariposa as the little mare stumbled in the landing. Canada who had two great clear rounds from Eric Lamaze and Amy Miller also lay in third place as Tiffany Foster and Yann Candele both have a pole down during their rides. The same counts for Switserland that manage to stay on 4 penalty points after an amazing ride of Steve Guerdat and Nino Des Buissonets. Quatar put themselves in as 7th starter for Tueday with a total of 5 penalty points in front of Sweden, USA and Great-Britain who all have a total of eight penalties. Individual it are Belgiums Jerome Guery that surprise everyone with a nice clear round and Karim Elzogbhy onboard of Amelia for Egypt that had a clear. Go here to see all the results
