Team USA Eliminated from Olympic Dressage After Horse Displays Blood on Leg

American dressage rider Marcus Orlob experienced an unexpected setback during his Olympic debut in Paris. Orlob and his horse, Jane, were eliminated from the competition after judges noticed a cut on the horse’s hind leg. This disqualification not only ends their participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics but also disqualifies the United States from competing for a team medal.

Each dressage team includes three horse and rider combinations along with one traveling reserve. Unlike in equestrian eventing, dressage pairs cannot be substituted once the competition has commenced. Adrienne Lyle and her horse Helix, the second American duo to compete in Paris, finished third in group 3, narrowly missing an automatic berth to the individual finals. They still have a chance to qualify if their overall position holds through the continuation of the competition tomorrow.

Jane, the 10-year-old mare ridden by Marcus Orlob, showed initial resistance by rearing up as they prepared to enter the arena, following the performance of Antonio Vale and Fine Fellow H of Portugal. Despite settling in and receiving solid marks from the judges, the jury stopped the pair partway through the compulsory test after spotting the cut on Jane’s right hind leg.

The incident has drawn attention to horse welfare in the discipline, especially in light of recent allegations of abusive behavior by two-time individual gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain.

The qualifying round continues tomorrow morning with American rider Steffan Peters and his internet-famous horse Suppenkasper, also known as the “rave horse,” competing for individual standing in group 6.