Dressage is all about bringing the drama to the ring and Rio delivered—and then some. These are your highlights from session one of the Grand Prix at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Adelinde Cornelissen retires mid-test

Adelinde Cornelissen’s Olympic dream came to an abrupt end just as it started. Sixteenth to go in the order, The Netherland’s lead-off rider retired mid-way through her test. But it was for all the right reasons.

Said Cornelissen:

“Yesterday morning, I came to the stable and [Parzival’s] cheek was completely swollen. It appeared that he was bitten by a spider or mosquito or whatever. His body was full of toxic fever over, 40°C . We managed to get that down yesterday. He was nine hours on liquids. Then yesterday evening he was all good…I discussed with the team vet and he said, ‘OK, we’ll give it a try for the team result.’ But then he felt totally empty and I didn’t want to push him through this. He didn’t deserve that, did he?”

Parzival is 19-years old. The Rio Games were to be his last competition.

Gunfire was the soundtrack of the day

Military training exercises were underway throughout the entirety of the dressage competition today. Some horses handled the war zone simulation it better than others.

“I was really proud of Dublet,” said Kasey Perry-Glass (USA). “He hung in there really well for me, especially with all the guns and everything going off. He’s a very sound sensitive horse, so to be able to keep him focused and together was a challenge for both of us. But he was there and he was ready to go.”

Military officials have promised to stop the weapon training exercises going forward.

Julie Brougham makes her Olympic debut at age 62!

Throughout her career, Julie Brougham (NZL) has trained many horses through to Grand Prix. But she never one that was good enough justify the considerable expense of travelling from New Zealand to Europe to compete at the pinnacle of the sport. That is, until Vom Feinstein.

Today, the 62-year-old rider realized a dream decades in the making.

“I have a fairly sizeable term deposit from selling past horses and I always had that money there. I always said if I get a horse that’s good enough to go, that’s my savings and I’m going. So I did,” said Brougham. “I had that dream and I haven’t ever stopped trying. I’ve still got other lovely horses at home. I’ve sort of got the next world’s in mind. You just keep going.”