"S" tur ' ' J. ' vV « ' Sf " -it «1 "'•'*&#ikf* in ' .'.,1 J*! tiM Mgùr JM « #4, -.i fi» ? • «ti -m «ttm&t* £* mv».* • w.m-jmmA mmma. m»* rs mmjv • • - ma» — .. » — - — mMBkk " f" MiMìM ìPfrJZi CMOS &i«m. UJk • l 'J é 4 v r. t The cross-country riding competition throuah woods and meadow in Doberitz. The jumping competition on the final day of the Olympic Games. First Lieutenant Hasse on "Torà". Equestrian Sports If any further climax was possible toward the end of the tremendous, unforgettable experience The riding contests in Berlin were without doubt the most tremendous equestrian event which of the Olympic Games, this was provided by the equestrian competitions, which cast their spell has taken place since horsemanship has been practised as a sport. For decades to come they will be over the Olympic visitors during the last five days of the Games. Is it possible that the excitement of value to the riders of the entire world. The horsemen of 21 nations competed for victory and was greater at the chariot races of the ancient Greeks in the Olympic arena than it was on August glory. It is true that at the last moment some entries were cancelled, and some portions of the total 16th in the gigantic Stadium in Berlin, when the best riders and jumping horses of 19 nations picture, which would have made it even more impressive, were thus lacking. The Spanish officers, competed against one another? We do not believe it could have been. who had already arrived, were forced to return to their country because of the political disorder. The inclusion of riding events in the Olympic Programme is due to the tireless efforts of the Swedish Fourteen days before the competitions were scheduled to begin, word was received that Canada Count, Clarence v. Rosen. As a member of the International Olympic Committee, he prepared the would not participate because it had not been possible to assemble the necessary number of high ground for the riding contests even before the 1908 Games in London. At the last moment, however, quality horses. Ireland's so often victorious riders and horses were also unable to compete. the organizers of these Games did not support his plans. In 1912, in Stockholm, Rosen brought Everyone had been anxious to see her internationally famous riders and horses at Berlin. The about the glorious rebirth of Olympic riding. Since that time, the riding contests have become absence of the riders from the South American countries, particularly those from Chile and the steadily more important in the Olympic programme. Argentine Republic was also regretted by all. The latter countries had sent riders to the former Games at Stockholm and Amsterdam. Every expectation cannot be fulfilled. But even though 876 877 «Ma» Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library the riders of some countries were absent, the participation in the riding events of the Xlth Olympic Games set a new record. The love of horses is a sentiment shared by everyone. The great majority of the hundreds of thousands who watched the riding contests in Berlin were far from being experts on the subject of horsemanship. There were countless spectators who had no contact with horses, but who nevertheless felt a warm affection for the noblest of all animals and an enthusiasm for the chivalrous competition. The riding contests are the only Olympic sport in which two living creatures, rider and horse, appear in a most complete union of endeavour. The spectators divine the great amount of work which is necessary to bring rider and horse to the highest standard of perfection. Since riding first began, there have never been such intensive preparations, extending over a period of several years, as were made for the Olympic riding contests of 1936. All countries made the most conscientious and arduous efforts to send only the very best riders and horses to Berlin. It was assuredly the realization that the competing riders and horses were the very finest the world could offer which inspired the tremendous enthusiasm of the spectators and their thundering storms of applause. The opinion has been expressed a thousand times by foreign visitors as well as by Germans that the German horsemen excelled themselves at the Olympic Games. The German riders and horses exhibited a perfection which filled all Germany with pride and joy. However, the exaltation of "v ictory did not cause any of the spectators to forget how great the efforts and achievements of the foreign riders had also been. The riders of all the nations strove for victory with a truly heroic devotion. This was evident above all in the three-day-event. It is part of the character of riding contests that there is in them a great element of chance. An unfortunate accident, a second's mistake, may spoil the results of years of preparation. This we were forced to witness time and again during the competition and it increased our respect for the efforts made by the riders and horses. The record made by the Germans in the riding contests is unique. Expert judges in many countries have expressed the opinion that it will never be equalled. Since the modern Olympic Games began, no one country has ever before received all 6 gold medals in a sport in which 6 gold medals were given. The German victory was due to the great natural ability of the riders and horses, and to the carefully planned training which increased the ability of each individual rider and horse. The preparations had been made on such a broad basis that there were two or even The fine exhibitions of horsemanship during the dressage tests aroused the enthusiasm of the thousands of spectators daily. Captain Jousseaume three substitutes for each man in every one of the German teams, these consisting of three men (France) is riding "Favorite" in the rectangle. for each of the three events. The importance of the German victory is not lessened by the fact that Germany had the great advan­ Sweden, Austria, Holland, Hungary, Norway, Czechoslovakia and the United States of America. This tage of competing in her own country, where the competitors were well acquainted with all the was a total of nine countries with three riders each. In addition to this, Denmark and Switzerland conditions, and where the riders were further aided by the moral support of the general public. were each represented by one rider. The following countries entered three-man teams in the Olympic The influence of the conditions of the home country is particularly important in the case of riders combined test (internationally also called the "Military", and in America the "Three-Day-Event"): and horses. In the combined test, especially, the foreign riders competed on a terrain and over Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Japan, Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Italy, France, America, obstacles of which they had had no previous experience and with which they had had no opportunity Holland, Switzerland, Poland, Germany. Rumania, Austria and Turkey were each represented by to become familiar, fhis is naturally an extremely great handicap for the riders and horses who two riders, Finland and Norway by only one rider each. Thus a total of 19 countries participated in have come from a great distance. Also, over the Olympic contests of riders and horses stands a the combined test. Only full three-man teams were allowed to compete in the "Prix des Nations" star which distributes its rays erratically: the sun of fortune, which may either shine brightly on jumping competition. The following 18 countries entered this event: Holland, Portugal, the United a competitor or leave him in darkness. States of America, Switzerland, Japan, France, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Austria, Twenty-one nations sent riders to the Olympic Games : Austria, Sweden, France, Denmark, Holland, Poland, Rumania, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Turkey, Hungary and Germany. Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Hungary, Norway, the United States of America, Finland, Great Because of the different character of the various contests, several competition sites were necessary. Britain, Japan, Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Rumania and Germany. Three The jumping competitions of the three-day-event and the "Prix des Nations" (jumping competition) riders made up a team. The following countries participated in the Olympic dressage test: France, took place in the Olympic Stadium. The main dressage test, and the dressage test which was a part 878 879 Source : Bibliothèque du CIO / IOC Library of the three-day-event, were held on the May Field. The cross-country, endurance and speed tests of the three-day-event were held in Doberitz. All the foreign journalists who reported to their countries on the Olympic Games and endeavoured to understand and interpret the spirit of these contests have written with amazement of the vast crowds that witnessed the riding events. It is readily comprehensible that the Stadium was packed to capacity on the day of the "Prix des Nations", which was also the last day of the Games, when the official closing ceremony took place. But all the journalists were frankly amazed that day after day, from 8 o'clock in the morning on, 20,000 and more spectators should follow with interest and enthusiasm the movements of the individual competitors in the dressage tests, who were required to ride one at a time. Even in Doberitz the crowd was very great, although this town is 25 miles from the centre of Berlin and does not have convenient transportation facilities to Berlin for large numbers of people. The number of spectators who lined the cross-country stretch of the three-day-event from early morning was estimated at from 50,000 to 60,000.