2024-07-26

Paris Olympics horseshoes land in Versailles

(Photo: FEI / provided by Ben Clark)

Taipei---The Paris Olympic Games equestrian events will begin on July 26. The first hooves have already echoed in the historic venue of Versailles, marking the arrival of the world's top equestrian athletes. The first to arrive are the eventing horses, followed by the dressage horses a day later, and the show jumping horses are expected to arrive on July 28 .

For these four-legged Olympic athletes who have been training hard to compete on the global stage, their accommodations are worthy of five-star standards.

Four-legged athletes deserve five-star facilities

The stables at Versailles are not just a place to rest, but also a place to enjoy. Each horse has a spacious 4m 3m stable with rubber mats and locally sourced straw or wood shavings bedding to ensure comfort and sustainability. The horses will also receive personalized care from dedicated horsemen.

Versailles is more than just stables. The grounds offer ample grazing and training areas, with three round sandy areas for circling, one of the six training areas being indoors, a riding track and dedicated grazing areas. It’s a comprehensive set-up designed to ensure every horse is kept healthy and performing at their best.

A team of experienced farriers provides personalized hoof care for horses.

Stay Cool and Calm in Versailles

During the Parisian summers, these equestrians will have no problems with comfort, as their stables are equipped with a state-of-the-art air conditioning system.

The FEI uses the advanced Wet Globe Temperature ( WBGT ) index for climate monitoring and is ready to activate heat mitigation solutions if temperatures rise, which have proven effective during Tokyo 2020 to keep horses cool and comfortable.

Strategically placed shade tents, misting fans and mobile cooling units, as well as plenty of water points and shower areas, ensure all horses stay hydrated and comfortable. In a bid to focus on welfare, horses will be monitored using state-of-the-art thermal imaging technology to detect and prevent overheating, allowing them to compete in top condition.

First-class veterinary care

A world-class veterinary team is on hand at all times to provide top-level care and support to equestrian athletes. This full-time team includes professional veterinarians, imaging experts and equine physiotherapists, so that horses at Versailles will receive the best medical care if needed.

Safety first: strict biosafety measures

The horses will follow strict biosecurity protocols during their time at Versailles, overseen by the FEI Veterinary Committee and a dedicated biosecurity team.

Daily health checks, temperature monitoring, and thorough cleaning and disinfection measures will ensure the highest standards of hygiene and safety.

“ Monitoring of the Olympic horses starts 15 days before they arrive , ” explains Göran Åkerström, head of the FEI veterinary department . Each team is required to record and track the temperature of the horses every day using the FEI Horse App. 

“ Once on arrival, the horses will be stepped off the carriages and checked by the Paris 2024 veterinary team to ensure they are in good health. Horses that pass the check will be placed in stables for competition, while horses that fail the check will be placed in quarantine stables. Horses will continue to be monitored for 15 days after leaving the venue to ensure biosecurity traceability. 

The equestrian events of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games are scheduled to be held from July 27 to August 6 .