The International Olympic Committee today, Oct. 13, confirmed the equestrian disciplines for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games sports program at its executive board meeting in Mumbai, India. 

“We are delighted with the IOC’s announcement that the equestrian disciplines at competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be on the Los Angeles 2028 sports program,” Fédération Equestre International President Ingmar De Vos said in a statement. 

“Equestrian has been part of the Olympics since 1912, and with such a strong heritage and enthusiasm for the sport in the U.S., we are looking forward to delivering successful and engaging Games, focused on the future and the values which make it unique in the sporting landscape.

“This is only the beginning,” De Vos continued. “Venue confirmation in the coming months and quotas for LA2028, which will be decided after Paris 2024, will be our next big milestones in the lead up to these Games. We are actively pursuing all avenues and making sure we have our finger on the pulse, as we look towards not only LA28 but also Paris24, which is just around the corner.” 

Not to be included in Los Angeles will be the show jumping portion of the modern pentathlon competition. At an earlier meeting, the IOC executive board had not recommended inclusion of modern pentathlon in the 2028 Olympics, but has partially changed course with the proviso that riding be replaced with obstacle racing or some other non-equestrian sport, and that the overall cost and complexity of the sport be streamlined.

“It is essential for the [International Modern Pentathlon Union] to continue to implement the necessary changes in governance and modernize as an organization,” the IOC said in a press release announcing the sports to be included in 2028. “Without the replacement of horse riding with obstacle racing, the sport would not have been included in the program.”