VERSAILLES, FRANCE — Alexandre Dallenbach of Switzerland rode into the arena as several hundred fans roared their approval for the French competitor ahead of him. His horse, Grichka Tame, was young and unfamiliar with crowds. Dallenbach had just met the bay mare 20 minutes ago, but could sense she was nervous.
“You’re a good girl, let’s go, you can do this,” he told her. They cantered around the dirt arena on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, Dallenbach urging the horse over the jumps adorned with the cheerful red phryge of the 2024 Paris Olympics. A little over a minute later, it was over.
They had cleared all 10 jumps and Dallenbach needed to say goodbye to Grichka Tame and get ready to fence. “It was the greatest horse ride of my life,” Dallenbach said after qualifying for the final of the Olympic modern pentathlon. It was also one of the last rides he’ll have like that.
Though horses have been part of the Olympic modern pentathlon since 1912, the sport will move forward without them after these Games. Modern pentathlon — which historically has seen athletes competing in show jumping, fencing, swimming, shooting and running — is a sport inspired by the ancient pentathlon and tests athletes in skills needed by 19th century soldiers. The show jumping discipline is contested on unfamiliar horses randomly assigned to athletes 20 minutes before competition begins.
“Horse riders have a connection to their horse. They see them all the year round. We h.