Head over horse! Veteran equestrian rider bombs out of Rio's showjumping event with a spectacular fall – 28 years after competing in the Seoul games

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Australian equestrian rider Scott Keach has failed to qualify for the third round of the showjumping at the Rio Olympics after he fell from his horse when it refused to jump 28 years after his last games.

The 51-year-old, who last represented his country at the Seoul Games in 1988, was sent tumbling to the ground during the showjumping individual competition on Tuesday.

Keach was devastated his Olympic dream had come to an end.

Australian equestrian rider Scott Keach has failed to qualify for the third round of the showjumping at the Rio Olympics

'It's worse in a team situation... that's jumping and that's the way it goes,' he said.

'The horse just stopped. The horse was very spooky when I went into the ring. Normally he's never like that.' 

This was only Keach's second Olympic games. 

In an eventful day at Deodoro Stadium, the Australian team failed to finish in the top eight and was eliminated.

Only two of the nation's four showjumping riders - Edwina Tops-Alexander and Matt Williams - made the top 45 of the individual, qualifying for Wednesday's third round. 

Tops-Alexander felt for teammate Keach. 

He fell from his horse when it refused to jump 28 years after his last games

The 51-year-old, who last represented his country at the Seoul Games in 1988, was sent tumbling to the ground

Keach was devastated his Olympic dream had come to an end, saying his horse was 'very spooky'

'It's really sad. You focus the last four years on planning for this particular event and you get here and you get an unexpected situation that no-one would have thought was going to happen,' she said.

Australia's James Paterson-Robinson was also eliminated from the individual, finishing 53rd after racking up nine penalty points in the second round to give him 17 for the competition.

Tops-Alexander was Australia's best-placed competitor in equal 26th on five penalty points and she was pleased with her second round.

In an eventful day at Deodoro Stadium, the Australian team failed to finish in the top eight and was eliminated. Pictured is Keach getting back up after his fall

Only two of the nation's four showjumping riders made the top 45 of the individual, qualifying for Wednesday's third round. Pictured is Keach

Edwina Tops-Alexander (pictured) and Matt Williams were the two who advanced to the next round after Keach was unable to qualify along with James Paterson-Robinson

'It was great. My horse is jumping out of her skin, she's in such good shape,' Tops-Alexander, who had a penalty-free opening round on Sunday, said.

Williams, who rode a perfect second round, was not far behind Tops-Alexander in a tie for 30th on eight penalty points accrued from round one.

Only the best 35 riders will progress from the third round of the individual to Friday's final day of competition.

Should Tops-Alexander and Williams make the final round, all penalty points will be removed for the last day of action.