Spain has become the first nation to invoke the in-competition Olympic horse substitution rule at the Tokyo Games with a horse swap ahead of the Olympic dressage team final.
The team dressage medals are decided based on the scores of the grand prix special today (27 July).
José Antonio García Mena, who rode Sorento 15 in the grand prix and scored 69.15%, will now ride Divina Royal in the team final. Tokyo will be the first senior championships for the 11-year-old Desperados mare, owned by Jose Ignacio Diaz Bravo.
Spain finished eighth as a team in the grand prix, which does not count for medals but rather served as a qualifier for the team and individual finals. The top eight teams – including Spain – qualified for the team final today. All scores are now re-set to zero and José joins teammates Severo Jurado (Fendi T) and Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (Elegance) in their quest for team glory.
José had not qualified for the individual final aboard Sorento 15 – and even if he had, he would not be allowed to ride a different horse to contest the individual medals. Beatriz is the sole Spanish ride to have qualified for the individual finals, the grand prix freestyle, which take place tomorrow (Wednesday, 28 July).
How do substitutions work?
Under the new Olympic rules, substitutions are only allowed for veterinary or medical reasons.
Substitutions can only be made for the team competition, up to two hours before the team final, and nations are allowed to substitute a maximum of one horse/rider combination during the event.
You might also be interested in:
![Charlotte Dujardin ridig Valgero at the Rio Olympics.](https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/04/HAH301.legends_valegro.valegro_rio_ti_archive-920x518.jpg)
Everything you need to know about dressage at the Olympics
Find out everything you need to know about the equestrian sport of dressage and how it will work at the
![Carl Hester riding En Vogue at the Tokyo Olympics grand prix dressage](https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/07/CarlHester_EnVogue_Tokyo2020_PN21_25472-920x613.jpg)
Tokyo Olympics grand prix special times out: What time will the Brits compete for team dressage medals?
![](https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/05/generic-subs-images-NEW-920x518.jpg)
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all summer long
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.