Three equestrians competing at the season-opening FEI Eventing Nations Cup in Montelibretti, Italy

The Palace of Versailles. The Palace of Versailles! The history-laden French chateau is the location of the equestrian events at Paris 2024 and no rider wants to miss out on competing with such a backdrop to their athletic feats. Talk about Instagram worthy, especially if you have added bling around your neck.

Nevertheless, riders have to get there first, and another opportunity presents itself to qualify a quota spot for one nation – who has not qualified already – via the FEI Eventing Nations Cup series, starting Friday (10 March) in Montelibretti, Italy.

The annual series is heading into its 22^nd season and in 2023 takes in eight locations – all in Europe – concluding in Boekelo, the Netherlands on 5-10 October, where the winners will be crowned.

Often described as an equestrian triathlon, eventing is a combination of dressage, cross-country and jumping. Spread over three consecutive days, a competitor rides the same horse throughout, so the relationship between the pair is paramount.

Those nations who have already qualified are France, as hosts, and via their results at the 2022 Eventing World Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy in September – Germany, United States, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland will join them.

France went to Tokyo as defending champions in team eventing, but Great Britain ended a 49-year drought to claim the title for the first time since 1972. The silver medal went to the Australian team while France claimed bronze. A coronation at the Chateau de Versailles must be the dream on home soil come July 2024.

But back to Montelibretti and Olympics.com showcases three athletes with interesting stories who are competing this weekend.

• How to qualify for equestrian eventing at Paris 2024

Alex Hua Tian on Jisonne van Bareelhof

“Equestrian is not just a sport, it takes over your world and becomes your life,” so says Alex Hua Tian on his website.

The first Chinese eventing equestrian in Olympic history also doubled as the youngest Olympic eventer ever when the 18-year-old competed at his home Games at Beijing 2008.

Born in London to an English mother and a Chinese father, the family moved to Beijing, then to Hong Kong China, before returning to England when Hua Tian was 11.

Hua Tian also competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio and at Tokyo 2020, where he was part of the first team from People's Republic of China to compete at an Olympic Games.

Susanna Bordone – Italy’s three-time Olympian

Susanna Bordone on Imperial van de Holtakkers, has competed in three Summer Olympic Games in 2004, 2008 and 2020 with a best result of fifth in team eventing in Beijing.

Her top individual placing was 18^th at Tokyo 2020, so the 41-year-old will likely be eyeing an opportunity to improve that again next year… should she have the chance.

The home side will be hoping to start strongly this weekend as the nation who sits eighth on the all-time Olympic equestrian medallists table has yet to qualify for Paris, despite an opportunity to claim a quota spot at a home World championship last year.

Home Games medal for Karim Florent Laghouag?

Two-time Olympic medallist Karim Florent Laghouag will be hoping to make it three with the added bonus this time of being in front of a home crowd. The Frenchman won gold in team eventing at Rio 2016 and claimed bronze in the same discipline in Tokyo.

In 2016, he was named Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) in recognition of the team's success in Rio.

Does a crowning moment at the Palace of Versailles await?

FEI Eventing Nations Cup 2023 schedule

Montelibretti (ITA) - 9-12 March

Chatsworth (GBR) - 13-14 May

Millstreet (IRL) - 1-6 June

Strzegom (POL) - 21-25 June

Haras de Jardy (FRA) - 13-16 July

Avenches (SUI) - 20- 23 July

Arville (BEL) - 17- 20 August

Boekelo (NED) - 05- 10 October