Smashed records, a dream start for Britain, and riders on the form of their lives: all the Olympic eventing stories from day one

It’s been a packed schedule of Olympic eventing dressage in Paris, with every single competitor crammed into nine hours of quick-fire tests, so here’s a round-up of all the top stories. The day may have been soggy and cold in France, but there were some fabulous, record-breaking highlights to brighten the gloom and warm the cockles before the sun returns tomorrow for cross-country day.

Laura Collett produced a scintillating test to smash the Olympic eventing dressage test record and take the lead.

• Find out how Laura learned from mistakes in Tokyo

Britain hold a 7.4pen lead over Germany, thanks to three tests in the top 11.

• Which records were smashed and by whom?

Michael Jung was just a fraction behind on Chipmunk FRH to boost Germany’s bid for gold.

• What did Michael say about “galloping into the stadium”

Alex Hua Tian impressed as the only individual rider to feature in the top 20, taking third spot for China.

• Read Alex’s thoughts on his horse’s view of the majestic venue

The reigning European champion and Britain’s anchorman Ros Canter is currently in sixth, cementing Britain’s place at the top of the teams.

• Find out what caused Lordships Graffalo’s only blunder

Tom McEwen was the British pathfinder, and produced a solid test for 11th at the end of the day.

• Read Tom’s analysis of JL Dublin’s “awesome” test

Frenchman Stéphane Landois was best of the home side in seventh with Chaman Dumontceau

• Learn about his emotional experience of riding in Versailles.

Seven-time Olympian Karin Donckers delivered a personal best for Belgium, lying 13th.

• Find out why this stallion thrived on the electric atmosphere

German’s Julia Krajewski was first into the ring on Nickel 21, and 15th in the final dressage reckoning.

• Do you remember what was special about Julia’s last time in the Olympic arena?

Liz Halliday was a late call-up to the US team, but performed best of the trio with a top-20 score.

• How did Liz cope with the emotions of the past 24 hours?

It wasn’t just the stars in the limelight. One of the youngest riders in the field, 25-year-old Robin Godel, posted a sub-30 mark.

• Read how his performance confirmed the Swiss team in seventh of the 16 nations

Unfortunately, one horse bit his tongue, causing the rider to be eliminated, although the horse was not seriously injured when checked by a vet.

• Find out how this affects the Italian team 

The stories behind the Olympic eventing dressage results

An Ecuadorian horse and his rider with a combined age of 78 had their turn in the Versailles arena.

• Find out why this veteran horse is still full of energy despite two attempts to retire him

A student rider managing to combine top-level eventing with an engineering degree made her Olympic debut.

• What made her so emotional at the end of her test?

Shane Rose franked his remarkable return to top sport after a career-threatening injury in March.

• What does Shane have to say about his comeback journey?

A mare with a fear of horses was full of confidence in the atmospheric arena.

• Find out how her Italian rider manages her talented partner’s quirks 

And the joint-youngest horse in the competition is making his rider very excited for the future.

• Is this horse one to watch for the World Championships in 2026?

Olympic eventing: after dressage results, thoughts turn to cross-country

Riders are unanimous that Pierre Le Goupil’s cross-country track is beautifully crafted, but their opinions vary.

• Read what the likes of Tom McEwen, Austin O’Connor and Jonelle Price think of Sunday’s challenge

The course is not only stunning, but is inspired by many historic and cultural French themes.

• Find out more about Pierre Le Goupil’s Versailles track

Sunday’s action kicks off at 10.30am local time (9.30 British time).

• What time do the Brits and your favourite runners start?

And finally, to help you to prepare, we’ve rounded up the five things you won’t want to miss during Sunday’s action.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout the Olympic Games, Royal International Horse Show and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You might also be interested in:

How to watch eventing at the Paris Olympics live from around the world

Horse & Hound’s ones to watch for Olympic eventing individual medals in Paris

Who will top the Olympic eventing team podium in Paris? H&H’s eventing editor reveals all…

Top riders given flag bearer honours for Paris Olympic opening ceremony

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Martha Terry

H&H features editor

Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.