U.S. horses cleared for equestrian competition

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Friday’s Beijing Games were highlighted by the opening ceremony in the Bird’s Nest. But the day also included the necessary business of preparing teams for the competitions that resume on Saturday.

At the equestrian competition center in Hong Kong, that meant riders leading their horses through an initial inspection. The U.S. Eventing team cleared each of its five horses during the review.

The U.S. horses are: Connaught, Courageous Comet, Mandiba, McKinlaigh and Poggio. The U.S. Equestrian Federation reports that ‘all looked very fit and sound’ when they were presented before equestrian officials at the Hong Kong venue.

During the Games, the five-horse team from the U.S. will be one of 11 teams vying for medals. The U.S. team begins its competition early on Saturday morning in Hong Kong.

-- Greg Johnson