The Beas River course in Hong Kong, designed by Sydney 2000 course designer Mike Etherington-Smith, is the shortest ever built for an Olympic event, but with 39 jumping efforts over 4,560 metres, it is set to be one of the most difficult.
Riders have an optimum time target of eight minutes to complete the course but it will prove tricky to get round it in that time, especially with the added factor of the heat and humidity.
Team GB eventer William Fox-Pitt admitted the course will ask a lot of questions of the riders.
‘It is hard to pick out one problem fence as there are a few on first glance,’ said the 39-year-old.
‘When you ride at Badminton or Burghley, to win it is usually a case of straight route or nothing but here that's not the case as there are a number of routes through fences.
‘I'm not sure if that's a good thing - the quick route here is definitely on but there will always be a bit of doubt knowing there is another way.
‘The fences are not as big and bold as a traditional four-star course but the questions asked are every bit four star.’
Mary King, who is taking part in her fifth Olympic Games, is relishing the challenge the course will represent.
‘This is a true Olympic track. The time will be difficult to get but that is what we wanted,’ she said.
‘Questions start early as there is a difficult first water at the fifth.’
Meanwhile, no teams reported problems with their horses following the typhoon that hit the region yesterday.
Tropical storm Kammuri arrived in the early hours of the morning and as heavy rain and strong winds lashed the region, a category eight typhoon warning was issued, which by law means all offices and shops were forced to close.
However, although morning training sessions were cancelled the typhoon was downgraded to category three by the late afternoon and training resumed in the evening.
The arrival of two planes with a total of 24 horses had been delayed but all 218 horses from 42 countries and regions taking part in the Games have now arrived in Hong Kong.
