After all the hustle, bustle and frantic excitement of Eventing over the last few days, it’s time to regain composure and settle down for the next equestrian discipline of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Greenwich Park. The first inspection of the Dressage horses took place Monday evening, and all 50 were given the thumbs up to start. This morning Dressage action gets underway at 11.00 local time, when Denmark’s Anne van Olst and Clearwater will be first into the arena in the Grand Prix.

In a change to the previous format, the team medals will be decided by the combined scores of the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. The top 18 horse-and-rider combinations, and those tied for 18th place, will then qualify for the Freestyle Final which is a stand-alone competition from which the individual Olympic champion will emerge.

The Grand Prix will run over two days, Thursday August 2nd and Friday August 3rd and the top seven of the 10 competing nations will qualify for the Grand Prix Special team medal-decider on August 7th. The Freestyle Final will bring the equestrian events at London 2012 to a close on Thursday August 9th.

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