After this years Olympics bringing to light the distressing, irresponsible and dangerous showjumping phase in the modern pentathlon, I think the showjumping phase should be removed completely. 

It is outdated and inexcusable to expect a horse to jump at this level only knowing the rider for 20mins, however experienced they are. 
It is treating the horses as equipment, not as a living thing. Not that any other equipment gets given randomly to the athletes anyway! They do not allocate bikes, swim suits or trainers ect why allocate the animal. 
However well the rider or horse is trained there is an importance to knowing the horse and the horse knowing the rider In order to reduce the risk of injury to both whilst in the ring. 
 
After years of training I can not see why this is fair to the athletes to leave all their hard work up to the fait of what horse they happen to get assigned for this phase ether.