Olympic countdown: 22 days

Britain have won 22 equestrian medals over the years

Funnell and Team GB are widely tipped to win a medal in Athens

Great Britain's total medal haul in Olympic equestrian events stands at 22.

Pippa Funnell led the Brits to eventing silver in Sydney in 2000, adding to the five golds, seven silvers and nine bronzes already in the trophy cabinet.

Britain has had some famous equestrian Olympians, including HRH The Princess Royal at the Montreal Games in 1976.

Horse contests like chariot racing were a highlight of the Ancient Games, but the first equestrian event to appear in modern times was showjumping in 1900.

By 1912, dressage and eventing had been added to the Olympic equestrian categories each, like showjumping, with an individual and team competition.

In the early years, only military officers were eligible for eventing, but these restrictions were lifted in 1952.

However, Princess Anne's former husband Captain Mark Phillips made sure the services were still a force to be reckoned with when he helped Team GB to gold at the Munich Games in 1976 and silver in Seoul 16 years later.

The record for most golds (six) and most medals (eight - he also won two bronzes) is held by Germany's Reiner Klimke, who dominated the dressage scene between 1964-88.

The Germans also completed the only equestrian 'clean-sweep' in the history of the Olympics in 1936.

The most successful horse was the Soviets' Absent, who was ridden to four medals (a gold, a silver and two bronzes) over three different Games - 1960, 1964 and 1968.

British women have also made their mark in the only Olympic sport were the sexes compete against each other in individual events.

Pat Smythe was the first female to win a showjumping medal (in the 1956 team event), while the first individual medal went to Marion Coakes in 1968.

Mary Gordon-Watson and Bridget Parker were the first women to win eventing team gold.

Britain also holds the record for the oldest women to compete at the Olympics in any sport.

Lorna Johnstone came 12th in the dressage in Munich, 1972 - five days after her 70th birthday.

Finally, let us spend a moment to remember eventer Captain Dick Fanshawe.

After coming a cropper on the cross-country phase, the captain spent some considerable time trying to catch his horse - the famous Bowie Knife.

The pair amassed more than 8000 penalty points (staggeringly not a record!) but all was not lost and they were able to toast team bronze at the Berlin Games in 1936.