The equestrian events at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games included dressage (team and individual medals), eventing (team and individual medals), and show jumping (individual medals while team medals were not awarded). The competitions were held from 10 to 14 August 1932. Due to the worldwide Great Depression, only 31 entries from 6 nations competed—which was to be the lowest participation of any Olympic Games.[1]
Disciplines
Jumping
The jumping competition had 11 riders from 4 nations. While individual medals were awarded, none of the teams managed to have three riders finish the course so team medals were not awarded.[2]
The 18-obstacle, 20-effort course was 1,060 meters in length, and included two fences at 1.60 meters, a very difficult wall, and a water that was 5 meters in width. 100,000 spectators were present at the show jumping competition.
Dressage
The dressage had 10 riders from 4 nations, and was held on the Riviera Country Club's polo field. 25,000 spectators watched the 16-minute tests, which now for the first time included piaffe and passage. A controversy arose after Swedish rider Bertil Sandström was accused of clicking to his horse, which was not allowed under FEI rules. Sandström claimed it was simply his new saddle squeaking. After being reviewed by the Appeals Committee consisting of FEI President Guy Henry, FEI Vice President Clarence von Rosen of Sweden, and FEI Secretary General Georges Hector of France, the decision was made to place Sandström, who was in silver position, last individually but to allow his score to count for his team. This resulted in a French rider moving into individual silver position and an American moving into bronze.
Eventing
14 riders competed with only 3 teams starting: the United States, The Netherlands, and Sweden. Sweden's Arne Francke was eliminated during the cross-country phase, so only team gold (United States) and silver (The Netherlands) were awarded. Pahud de Mortanges won his second consecutive individual gold medal, while individual silver went to Earl Foster Thomson on Jenny Camp who was to repeat that performance at the 1936 Olympic Games. The bronze winner in the eventing competition, Clarence von Rosen junior, also won bronze in the Jumping competition.
