1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

HORSE RIDING COMPETITIONS.t was first at the Olympic Games of Stockholm thatHorse Riding competitions were placed on the programmeof the modern Olympiads, and many difficulties hadto be overcome before even that measure of success wasobtained.The first time that the idea was brought forward ofincluding Horse Riding events among the Olympic competitions, wasat the meeting of the International Olympic Committee, at Athens,in 1906. The proposer of the plan was Count Clarence von Rosen,the Swedish representative on the Committee, who urged the greatimportance of Horse Riding, too, forming part of the Games. Militaryrepresentatives ought to take part in the proposed competitions, as theGames would thereby be strengthened by an element that would otherwisebe absent, and would certainly gain in popularity and scope,while the various Governments and other State authorities would feelmuch more interest in the Games, were the cavalry officers of differentcountries to compete with each other. The opponents of the measurepointed out, on the other hand, that the cost of the proposed event wouldbe very great, and that, consequently, there would not be many entries.Count von Rosen succeeded in gaining the support of Baron Pierrede Coubertin, President of the Committee, who requested him to preparea scheme for the competitions in question, and to lay it before theMeeting of the International Olympic Committee at the Hague, in 1907.A Committee was, consequently, formed in Stockholm the same year,consisting of (then) Captain G. A. Boltenstern, Baron Cl. Cederström,Captain E. af Kleen, Lieut. Count C. Bonde and Count Cl. von Rosen,the latter of whom acted as secretary.This Committee drew up a proposal which was signed by H. R. H.Prince Carl, Inspector of the Swedish Cavalry, and Major General,Count A. Gyldenstolpe, the then President of the Swedish Jockey564