London 2012: The Countdown Series: Equestrian Preview

26 days until the first day of the London Olympics. This is a preview of the equestrian at the London games.

The venue for equestrian at the London Olympics is Greenwich Park (pictured), also used for the majority of the events in the modern pentathlon.

200 men and women from 40 countries are participating this year in London.

Anky von Grunsven is the defending Olympic champion from Beijing 2008 and has won the previous two Olympics in the individual dressage on different horses. Germany has won the last two summer Olympics in the team dressage and holds the most wins in the team dressage with seven.

Hinrich Romeike is the defending Olympic champion from Beijing 2008 in the individual eventing. He is trying to tie Charles Pahud de Montanges and Mark Todd for most wins in that event in the Olympics. Although Germany is the defending Olympic champion in team eventing, Australia and the United States are tied for most wins in the event with four.

Eric Lamaze, the defending Olympic champion from Beijing 2008, is trying to tie Pierre Jonques d'Oriola for most wins with two each in the individual show jumping, while the United States is the defending Olympic champions from Beijing in the team show jumping, an event that Germany has a stranglehold of in the Olympics with six wins.

Up next: a look at the road cycling.