Freddie Vasquez Jr. is an equestrian trainer, FEI level showjumper, and event director at a prestigious equestrian barn in Illinois. In the following article, Freddie Vasquez Jr. discusses the news of the Olympic Equestrian world, and the outlook for the Paris Games in 2024.
Equestrian and equality go hand-in-hand. Men and women compete alongside each other in the same event — and the next Olympics will be no different, showcasing three disciplines (dressage, eventing, and jumping).
From finding out the qualification criteria for equestrian eventing to the ticket registration opening for Paris 2024, a lot has been happening in the Olympic equestrian world in these last few months according to Freddie Vasquez Jr.
Hopeful athletes and fans of the sport are in for a long yet eager wait. But there’s a lot to catch up on this November to stay in the know ahead of the Olympic Games.
The Qualification Criteria for Equestrian Eventing at Paris 2024
Freddie Vazquez Jr. reports that the following two years will be jam-packed with thousands upon thousands of athletes competing in various qualification events in the hopes they’ll become one of the 65 (three per NOC or National Olympic Committee) who will make it to the stunning stage at Chateau de Versailles in 2024.
The eventing competition comprises three phases — dressage, jumping, and cross-country — spread over three back-to-back days. Since competitors ride the same horse for all phases, it’s the pinnacle of equitation mastery reports Freddie Vasquez Jr.
Before riders can showcase their prowess on the formidable Paris 2024 stage, they must qualify. And eligibility begins with age.
Riders must be born before January 1, 2007, and horses must be born before January 1, 2017. Freddie Vazquez Jr. says that when athletes and their horses meet this criterion, it’s time to showcase their skills in event qualifiers.
Sixteen quota teams are allocated during the team’s qualification process, while 17 competitors will achieve an individual quota placement through individual qualification rounds.
A Look at The Team Qualification Stats
A team comprises three athlete/horse pairings, and 16 NOCs will get team qualification in the following manner:
One host country place
14 placements from the FEI Olympic Group Qualification Events
One place from the FEI Eventing Nations Cup in 2023
A Look at The Individual Qualification Stats
NOCs that don’t accept a team quota place can receive individual placements. Every athlete can qualify for an individual place for their specific NOC.
Freddie Vasquez Jr. explains that the two highest-scoring athletes in the FEI Olympic Ranking will qualify for one of the 14 individual quotas from these groups:
- North Western Europe
- South Western Europe
- Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia
- North, Central, and South America
- Africa and the Middle East
- South East Asia, Oceania
Belgium Wins 2022 FEI Jumping Nations Cup, Clinching the Paris 2024 Spot
Gregory Wathelet, Gilles Thomas, Koen Vereecke, and Jerome Guery, the Belgium equestrian team, scored their spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics on Sunday, October 2, 2022.
Freddie Vazquez Jr. reports that the event took place at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona, and it was Guery who scored the clear round on the stallion Quel Homme De Hus necessary to win the Nations Cup and secure their place in the upcoming Olympics.
Thomas, Vereecke, and Wathelet stood fraught with nerves for the entire 82.04 seconds it took for Guery and his stunning steed to finish his round.
As the 2020 team jumping bronze medalist cleared the final fence, tension dissipated as excitement settled in — they’d just qualified, and the pressure was finally off!
British Rider Wins 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships, and the German Team Came Out Victorious in the Event’s Paris 2024 Qualifiers
Yasmin Ingham, the British rider, upset the playing field with her debut performance at the 2022 FEI Eventing World Championships this September.
Atop French-bred Banzai du Loir, the duo barely put a hoof wrong in the Pratoni del Vivaro showjumping ring while medals were decided.
The 2020 champion, Julia Krajewski, earned silver with Amande de B’Neville, and Tim Price/Falco took the Bronze.
Freddie Vasquez Jr. explains that the seven top finishers during the team event were given straight Olympic qualification, meaning Germany reigned supreme for the first time in two decades.
Paris 2024 Equestrian Ticket Registration Opens December 1, 2022
Fans looking to attend the equestrian events in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be able to register from December 1, 2022, until January 31, 2022, for the chance to buy ticket packs. Each pack contains three competition sessions, allowing lucky holders to customize which events they want to attend reports Freddie Vazquez Jr.
Seats are expected to fill rapidly. So, those with their heart in the sport should get in as soon as they can.
