Two team riders were disqualified from the showjumping competition today at the Deodoro venue at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Home competitor, Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha (pictured, top) and the Ukraine’s Cassio Rivetti were both disqualified for over use of spurs.
They were both disqualified from the competition following the post-jumping FEI stewards; inspection, under art 242.3.1 of the FEI Jumping Rules, which concern the presence of blood on the horse.
It states:
Mandatory Disqualification 3.1 Horses bleeding on the flank(s), in the mouth or nose or marks indicating excessive use of spurs or of the whip anywhere on the Horse (in minor cases of blood in the mouth, such as where a Horse appears to have bitten its tongue or lip, Officials may authorize the rinsing or wiping of the mouth and allow the Athlete to continue; any further evidence of blood in the mouth will result in Disqualification.)
Stephan was riding Landpeter Do Feroleto, a 13-year-old bay gelding by Landritter x Wangmix. The pair had eight faults today before their exclusion.
Cassio’s mount was the 11-year-old grey mare, Fine Fleur Du Marais (Toulon x Cento). She is owned by the rider and Paul Schockemöhle. They jumped for four faults today before their disqualification.
As today’s round was officially part of the team competition at the Rio Olympics, neither rider may progress any further individually, nor may they jump for their teams again.
Brazil have qualified for the next team round as the three other team riders all produced clear rounds. They have lodged a protest over Stephan’s exclusion from the next team round.
Continued below…
Related articles:
Irish showjumper Greg Broderick’s Rio journey over as he fails to qualify for next round
No team showjumping medal for Britain: defending champions out of the Rio Olympics
Rio showjumping: riders disqualified for excessive use of whip and spurs
Ukraine, like Britain, did not make the cut and are out of the team competition.
Disqualifications are distinct from eliminations. Riders who are eliminated but form part of a team qualified for the next round may jump again for their team. However, they are no longer in the running individually.
Full 20-page report from the Olympic showjumping in Rio in the issue of H&H published Thursday, 25 August, including full analysis of every round of the competition and expert comment from Geoff Billington and William Funnell.