All of the 1996 equestrian events were held at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Georgia, 50 km (30 miles) east of Atlanta. This facility was built in 1991, and since the 1996 Olympics the area around it became very built up and the park was later used mostly for conferences and concerts.
One concern in 1996 was the effect on the horses of the extreme heat of the southern United States summer, mainly in the eventing endurance phase. The Organizing Committee took significant measures to prevent the horses from overheating. The endurance course distance was reduced from 26,950 metres to 19,695 metres, and the event was started at 0700. Mesh covers were placed over large portions of the course, to block direct sunlight, and misting stations wet and cooled the horses at several locations. There were multiple veterinarians and ambulances available, but due to the precautions, there were no major injuries to the horses.
Team and individual eventing were contested at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but for the first time ever at the Olympics, they were basically held as separate events, although the endurance phase was conducted concurrently for the two events. New Zealand’s Blyth Tait won the individual title and Australia defended their title in the team event.
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