Equestrian sport is celebrating its 100th year at the Olympic games. It was first seen at the 1912 Games in Stockholm, with eight countries taking part - while a total of 21 nations are celebrating their Olympic qualification for London 2012.  

Olympic qualification

Eleven countries have now secured the opportunity to join the nine nations already qualified at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Game 2010 in Kentucky and hosts Great Britain at London 2012 through a series of nail-biting qualifiers held around the world for their Olympic Group.

Show jumping

Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, the USA and Ukraine will join hosts Great Britain.

Eventing

Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the USA have also secured their opportunity to compete.

Dressage

Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden and the USA have qualified to compete.

Individual hopes

The total number of teams competing at the 2012 Olympic Games will be confirmed on 1 March, when additional composite teams in Dressage and Eventing made up of three individuals from the same nation, are finalised through the FEI Olympic Riders Ranking.

Nations qualifying to send individual riders will also be confirmed on 1 March and riders then have until 17 June to achieve the necessary minimum eligibility criteria to compete at London 2012.

“We have had the most exciting build-up during the qualification period, with Canada, Germany, Sweden and the USA qualifying for team places alongside host nation Great Britain in all three Olympic equestrian disciplines,” explained Catrin Norinder, Olympic Director at the FEI.

“There are still composite team places for two disciplines to secure and of course it's all to play for with the individual riders. We're building up to a thrilling 100-year anniversary for equestrian sport in the Olympics, when 200 riders and horses will compete for individual and team gold, silver and bronze medals in Eventing, Dressage and Jumping.”