Dutch show jumping team silver medalist, as well as individual silver medalist Gerco Schroder’s horse, London, was seized August 12 as part of bankruptcy proceedings against the horse’s previous owner, the company Stal Eurocommerce.

London’s ownership has changed twice in the past year, once when the horse’s ownership was altered on the FEI database from Stal Eurocommerce, which is owned by Guy Vissel, to Ger Vissel Jr.  Then, last week, the horse’s ownership changed again to the name Sileste B.V.

Apparently the court is trying to determine whether or not London and the other horses count as assets for the original owner, Stal Eurocommerce, and whether they should be included in the proceedings.

The 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion is reportedly currently at Ben Maher’s stables in England, with his sponsors interested in buying the successful show jumper if the opportunity arises. London is reportedly worth around 10 million euros.

Team competition is wrapped up for the 2012 Olympic Games, and for the first time since 1956, the United States failed to medal in any of the team competitions.

I’m sure there will be plenty of talk about it in the next four years; what went wrong, what we could have done differently, but in the immediate aftermath, how do we feel?

Are we satisfied that we sent the correct riders, who had the ideal competitive tune-ups, got the very best training, and tried their hearts out to medal? Does the Olympics still ignite that competitive fire in us? If not, we need to re-evaluate how we compete at the major games. Because as of now, we are being out-performed by most of the world.

The passion and spirit I saw from every British rider was astounding. They rode like winning anything less than gold would get them shipped off the island. They rode like they had been preparing for that moment every day for the last four years.

So, are results a question of who wants it most? If so, the United States didn’t seem to want it. In 2008, in Hong Kong, Great Britain won ONE team medal, a bronze in Eventing, and one individual medal. In 2012, so far they have won 3 team medals, including two golds in Show Jumping and Dressage.

However, this isn’t just about the Brits. We know that homefield advantage plays a part, sometimes a significant one, but that can’t explain all of their dominance in the equestrian sports. The rest of the world has stepped up their game as well. Germany, who was missing Isabelle Werth and Matthias Rath, won silver in dressage, and of course double gold in Eventing. The Netherlands have two team medals in Show Jumping and Dressage. Sweden had a strong display in eventing, and finished with a bronze.

Where does the U.S. go from here? How do we prove that our standards are still high, that we’re still capable of producing top class horses and riders? Do we let the little girls of the world hang up posters of Mary King and Michael Jung, instead of Karen O’Connor and Boyd Martin? And yes, I realize that no one would rather have a poster of Michael Jung over a poster of Boyd Martin, I’m making a point here!

Do team medals even still count? Are we all children of the world here, satisfied when any strong performance gets its deserved reward? If so, everyone should be happy with the medals won so far in the Olympics.

Michael Jung wins double Olympic gold. Photo by Erin Gilmore.

Were you stuck under a rock these last four days? Missed all the eventing competition had to offer? Never fear, we’ve got all the links and the stories that I deem important enough.

Video links:

Day One Dressage
Day Two Dressage
Cross Country
Stadium Jumping – Team
Stadium Jumping – Individual
“Highlight” Reel of All the Falls : Good of NBC to leave out the damaging ones!
Eventing Medal Ceremony
Team Eventing Victory Gallop

Results:

Final Team Standings
Final Individual Standings

Top News:

Michael Jung Wins Double Gold : Proves he’s pretty good At eventing
Brits win Silver : Get to Know Their Team
Boyd Withdraws Otis Before Stadium : Update on Boyd and Silva’s blog
Hawley and Camilla Are Going to Be OK
Michelle Mueller Retires Amistad After XC : Gelding suffered a torn tendon in London
Karen O’Connor Is a Show-Jumping Beast : Pulls off two clean rounds to finish 9th
Jessica Phoenix Finishes Strong: Is Canada’s nly rider to finish the Olympics
Japanese Rider Yoshiaka Oiwa Was Leading After Dressage: I repeat, was leading
All Horses Presented Passed: That means everyone who came, competed
Olympic Eventing By the Numbers: Yeah, that is an awesome mustache
USEA Break Down of Final Day 

Photos:

Horse and Hound Course Walk
Cross Country Photos From MD Photo
Chronicle of the Horse Photo Gallery
Show Jumping Photos
A complete Zara Gallery

Well, it’s only Day Two of the London Olympic Games, and there have been a few surprises both in the Equestrian world and outside that bubble we encase ourselves in so tightly. Some of the upsets and overall surprises:

1. Japanese Rider Leads the Way After Dressage Day 1

Pretty sure you get it by now, but in case you had forgotten, no, Michael Jung isn’t in the lead. Neither is William Fox-Pitt, or Day 1 leader Ingrid Klimke. Instead, it’s Japanese rider Yoshiaki Oiwa who is holding down the Number 1 spot. He scored a 38.9 to lead the way going into cross-country. Learn more about him on his Olympic page. Things I noticed? He weighs 139 pounds and looks like my dentist. The Japanese team are in 6th place, ahead of the United States, who are currently in 7th.

2. Ryan Lochte Beats Michael Phelps

Ryan Lochte, who in 2008 won three medals in swimming, and has since then become America’s number one swimmer, beat Michael Phelps in the final of the 400m Individual Medley yesterday. Phelps won gold in the event the last two Olympics, in both Athens and Bejing. If you ask me, they’re both winners. I mean honestly, you guys look great.

3. Chinese Men Gymnasts Falter

If you ask my mom, all the men’s gymnasts are great. “Just look at that handstand!” was a literal quote from last night. Reigning champions China, who are without their star gymnast Teng Haibin after he withdrew from the Games with an injury, faltered a bit during the Qualification round yesterday. Guo Weiyang, who came in as a replacement, fell a couple times, and the entire team finished in sixth. The United States men qualified in first with stellar individual performances.

4. Hope Solo Calls Out Brandi Chastain

Not sure WHAT United States goalkeeper Hope Solo was thinking when she took to Twitter to fire off these little gems, directed at Women’s Soccer legend, and current NBC commentator Brandi Chastain:

Its 2 bad we cant have commentators who better represents the team&knows more about the game @brandichastain! #fb

and this little ditty:

Lay off commentating about defending and gking until you get more educated @brandichastain the game has changed from a decade ago. #fb

The U.S. Women have won both of their opening matches, and will move on to the quarterfinals after their last group stage game against North Korea in Manchester on Tuesday.

5. People are Still Watching Beach Volleyball

With cold temperatures in London (it was 58 degrees at the start of NBC coverage) the women’s beach volleyball teams have had to, wait for it, put on shirts. Yet, people are still watching! Good news for the sport, and the athletes, to know that it’s not the bikinis that get the ratings (even though they are).

This guy likes sports.

Stop worrying, EN readers. Put down your voodoo dolls and breathe. The Pope has blessed the Olympics. All will be well. The Olympics is cleansed of all its sins, reborn in light and innocence. The Olympics went to Bible study, impressed in Sunday school, and now is ready for its confirmation on July 27.

Some other things I wish the Pope would bless, while he’s at it:

1. The cross-country course at Greenwich. Could we have a reverse Noah’s Ark situation there?
2. My credit card with a flight to London. First class with a stay at the Savoy please.
3. The US of A with some stellar dressage tests, few double clears on cross-country and rail-free stadium rounds. That’s not TOO much to ask is it?

Some things he could probably skip blessing:

1. The British. Their horses and riders do not need ANY additional outside help please.
2. Boyd Martin and Will Coleman. If they get any better looking they’re going to break the internet.
3. Buddhist monk Kenki Sato, it will just confuse him.

The Vatican is saying that the Olympic Games is here to promote peace and understanding in the world. I always viewed it as more of an opportunity to play hooky and get really interested in swimming for two weeks. Maybe that’s just me though (it’s not). However, I hope to understand more and become enlightened as the Games go on. For example, I’d like to understand how and why William Fox Pitt gets to be the best at everything. Or why Lenamore won’t give me a cuddle, even though I’ve left numerous comments on numerous forums asking him.

So, whatever your religion, whether you go to Mass, a Mosque, or just light candles and put on organ music whenever you read Eventing Nation, lets take a month and try to put competing for medals aside and focus on peace and love. We can do that, right?

The year we remember today is 2008. Do you know what that means? DO YOU?

It means that the dressage at the 2012 Olympic Games is FOUR DAYS AWAY! Will you all please start showing a little enthusiasm? You’re embarrassing me.

The first thing to remember about the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing were that they err weren’t held in Beijing. The equestrian sport was held in Hong Kong (that’s still in China, but several hours away, for us geographically challenged people).

The great thing about remembering the 2008 Games? Some of the horses will be competing in their second Olympics in 2012. We’ll get to that later.

Sidebar: I know, I KNOW we had the internet in 2008. So, why is video so hard to find? Couldn’t get through China’s firewall? Does NBC still have it under lock and key? If I click one more ‘Cross country 2008’ video and have it merely be a photomontage with One Direction playing in the background I’m going to scream! End Sidebar.

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Eventing

There’s not much great stuff to say about the USA in the team Eventing. They finished in a dismal 7^th place. McKinlaigh was brilliant with rider Gina Miles, Amy Tryon and long-time partner, and Olympic vet Poggio II were eliminated cross-country, and Courageous Comet and Mandiba both picked up multiple stops on cross-country, officially eliminating the team from medal contention.

The lone bright star was Gina Miles and McKinlaigh, who rode a superb stadium jumping round, coming within 2 points of gold medal winner Hinrich Romeike and Marius Voigt-Logistik.

Two horses in the German gold-medal winning team will be present at the 2012 Olympic Games, but Germans won’t ride them. Mr. Medicott will represent the USA with Karen O’Connor, and Butts Leon will compete with Thailand’s Nina Ligon, who is riding as an individual.

Two Cross-Country Videos that, when combined, almost get the job done:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OuGs8SA0Us

And because there’s something so soothing about Lucinda Green’s voice, this one as well:

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Show Jumping

Oh hey, thanks U.S. Olympic Show Jumping team for getting us a team medal! Oh, is that gold? Oh, it’s so pretty.

The U.S. was unstoppable in 2008, winning in the first-ever Olympic jump-off with Canada. Canada had the disadvantage of only having 3 riders, which meant that when Will Simpson jumped clean in the jump-off, it was all over. The Canadians had a bit of revenge though, when Eric Lamaze and the great stallion Hickstead won individual gold over bronze-medal winner Beezie Madden and Authentic.

Hickstead’s Round:

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Dressage

Welcome to the world stage, Steffen Peters and Ravel. Okay Steffen, you’ve clearly been here before, but this is a whole new story. Ravel finished fourth individually, and third in the Freestyle, behind very deserving horses Salinero (Anky van Grunsven), Satchmo (Isabelle Werth) and Bonaparte (Heike Kimmer). Of course he would go on to clinch the bronze medal two years later at the WEG in Kentucky, but his first Olympics was an important one.

Anky wins her second in a row, aboard the stallion Salinero. The United States finished fourth, only to be disqualified after Courtney Dye-King’s horse Mythilus tested positive for a banned medication.

Anky’s Grand Prix test (skip to 1:45):

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2008 Olympic Facts and Figures

-A total of six horses tested positive for banned substances

-Anky became the first rider in history to win three individual Olympic medals

-2008 became the first Olympics to implement the ‘One fall’ rule

-Hinrich Romeike was an amateur in 2008 when he won gold. His day job? A dentist.

-In Hong Kong, only 35 horses contented the individual jumping final, down 10 from Athens

-The horses stayed in air-conditioned special “boxes” in Hong Kong, where the temperature was set at 73.4 degrees

This is literally what I think of whenever anyone mentions the 2004 Olympic Games. (video updated)

So we’re down to single digits my friends! Last time, we looked back at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where the difficult cross-country course claimed many victims, both individually and in the team competition. In Athens, ummmm not so much. The course was designed to be horse and rider friendly, maybe a little too horse and rider friendly. The lack of difficult, technical tests led many to get around safely, albeit outside the optimum time, which was the biggest challenge for riders.

In 2000 it was a dressage round I remember best, in 2004, it was a cross country round. Literally that of John Williams and Carrick. Carrick, who loped his way around this course with one ear flopping, John Williams hovering over his neck, barely sitting in front of the fences. It was like they had jumped this course every day of their lives.

for John Williams and Carrick’s round, start at 2:42

However, it was Kim Severson and Windsom Adante that were the USA’s superstars. They put in a stellar dressage test, were one of 14 pairs to go double clear on cross country, and pulled one rail to finish in silver medal position behind Leslie Law and Shear L’Eau.

The biggest story in 2004 was the situation with Bettina Hoy and Ringwood Cockatoo. Bettina was in silver medal position going into the stadium; however, she made two circles to start her round, which were later penalized, then appealed by Germany, then appealed again by France, and the Germans were stripped of their gold medals. This gave France the gold, Great Britain the silver, and the United States the bronze. Sooo, thanks Bettina Hoy for the bronze medal!

Athens were the first Olympic Games to feature the modified event format, which x-nayed the roads and tracks and steeplechase, and only included the cross-country. Also for the first time was the individual format we are familiar with today, in which the individual riders jump two stadium rounds, one for the team, and one for the individual competition.

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Show Jumping

The United States hit back after a disappointing finish at Sydney with a performance few could find fault with in Athens. The team, which consisted of Chris Kappler (Royal Kaliber), Peter Wylde (Fein Cera), McLain Ward (Sapphire), and Beezie Madden (Authentic) took team gold for the first time in 16 years. Chris Kappler won individual silver, behind Rodrigo Pessoa and Baloubet de Rouet.  Unfortunately Royal Kaliber suffered a severe suspensory injury in the final round and was unable to finish; his prior performance was still good enough to earn a medal.

Oh but that’s not the whole story. The entire games were plagued with positive drug tests from horses across all three disciplines. Cian O’Connor, the original gold medal winner, had his horse test positive for a human anti-psychotic. Whatever that means. After a drawn out period, which included drama in the form of stolen documents, O’Connor was stripped of his medal the Irish were moved down to last place, allowing Kappler to move up from individual bronze to silver. Germany, the original team gold medal winners, had Ludger Beerbaum’s horse Goldfever 3 disqualified because he tested positive for an illegal anti-inflammatory. This was why the USA had their gold medals awarded in 2005 in Palm Beach, Fla. Whew. Did you follow that? I confused too.

Watch Chris’ ride on Royal Kaliber. The last Olympic Games without GPA Air helmets blinding my eyes.

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Dressage

Typical, typical. Anky wins gold, this time with Salinero, and Germany wins team gold. What else is there to say? Oh, well team USA won bronze for the fourth consecutive Olympic Games, this time with the great mare Brentina on the team. Other members included Lisa Wilcox (Relevant), Guenter Seidel (Aragon), and Robert Dover (Kennedy).

Robert Dover competed in his SIXTH consecutive Olympic Games. However, to me I will always remember best seeing him at Dressage at Devon wearing some truly awesome dirty wash jeans. His best individual finish came in Sydney in 2000, where he placed sixth.

Instead of leaving you with Anky’s beautiful round, or Ulla’s silver medal freestyle, instead I leave you with Beatriz Ferrer-Sallat and her 17-year-old Beauvalais. Why? Because I love old horses (I have one) and the name Beatriz is just freaking awesome. Enjoy.

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2004 Facts and Figures

-Four horses between disciplines tested positive for illegal medications
-Germany won its 11th team Dressage gold medal. To put that into perspective, only 17 team gold medals have been given out in Dressage since its conception as an Olympic sport.
-Jumping footing in Athens was later deemed “acceptable,” but “not up to Olympic standards.” The footing was blamed for three injured showjumpers, including Royal Kaliber (who later died of colic while recovering from his torn suspensory).
-A disastrous round by individual eventing leader Nicholas Touzaint (FRA) saw his 19 penalty round drop him from first to 19th. Ouch.
-Equestrian Team USA won a total of 5 gold medals in 2004, one more than Great Britain
-Showing their love of strikes, Greek workers began a series of one-day strikes before the start of the Olympics over wage disputes
-2004 was the first year the Olympics were broadcast over the internet
-The annual cost to maintain Olympic facilities since the Olympics is an estimated 500 million euro. Yikes.

This is a completely non horse-related, but equally as important, Olympic-related post.

Today, I’m a little ashamed to be an American. This is something I’ve said more than once, I’m ashamed to admit. When the Octomom got a movie deal, when Justin Beiber began wearing those ridiculous diamond earrings…it’s a fact: sometimes I’m ashamed of our culture.

However, it’s not just fertility-pumped wannabee celebrities and over-blinged boy superstars that annoy me. Today, I am ashamed because at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, there will be no chips.

McDonalds has taken control of the chip game, and isn’t really playing fair.

To know the English’s relationship with chips, you have to experience it firsthand. When I was 20, living in London’s East End, they were the thing that soaked up a night’s worth of cider. Big, newspaper wrapped cones that you drizzled with pungent malt vinegar and sea salt. Pick them up at the corner, and they’re gone before you reach the front door. Big, thick hunks of potato, with slightly crispy tops and spongy, delicious middles.

Very different in fact, than the “chips” McDonalds will be hawking at the Olympic Games. McDonalds is the official restaurant of London 2012, and has enacted a ban on any other vendor selling them. One loophole? If a vendor is selling fish and chips, but cannot sell them on their own. No chicken and chips, no burger and chips, unless you want to eat at McDonalds. Bada ba ba ba not loving it.

There has been a huge uproar over this, namely from the hundreds of workers preparing for the games. Caterers received a bye last week when they were allowed to serve chips to workers preparing for the opening ceremonies. However, the public will not enjoy this one-time leniency given to caterers. If you want chips, you better like them thin and crispy.

hope you like fish with your chips

I am as appalled as one can be when considering injustices relating to fried foods (read: really appalled, because I spend a lot of time and energy thinking of, and eating fried foods). For an American restaurant, a totally quintessentially American restaurant, to take over something so beloved in England, and not even give anyone the choice? It’s a downright monopoly.

What do you think? Any ex-pats out there that actually prefer McDonalds style chips? Or will the absence of those thick-cut, vinegar drenched lovely potatoes be a true tragedy? Or do I need to shut up and get back to talking about horses?

This new weekly series invites readers to send in photos and a description of your barn (or where you board). What do you like about your setup? What would you change? There are some fabulous barns out there, from big and extravagant to quaint and workmanlike. Tell us about yours! It doesn’t have to be fancy or dressed up, in fact some of the “bare bones” no-frills barns have been my favorite for horsekeeping. Send us an email about your barn, with attached JPEG photo(s), to [email protected] with “Barn” in the title.
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The indoor arena at Hideaway.

I once read on an equine-related message board that it was “irresponsible, impractical, and impossible to keep a horse on a shoestring budget.” When I read that, my first thought was ‘wow, alliteration really does drive the point home.’ My second thought was, ‘this lady’s never been faced with, sell or eat off ramen for the rest of your life.’ Or maybe she had, and had picked the right one.

When I was 17, freshly graduated and ready for the world, my mom finally said enough was enough, and decided I was paying for my horse now. For the last 7 years, I’ve never been financially secure, and always just afforded to keep my boy in oats. And seriously, the dude eats A LOT of oats. And by oats, of course I mean high performance feed 3 times a day because he has the ability to shed more weight than Kirstie Alley before a Jenny Craig photo shoot. Through college, and even trickier, life after college, I’ve managed to survive by the skin of my teeth. The skin of my teeth and getting vet bills paid for my birthday, and sending Smart Pak wish lists with the actual supplements on them for Christmas.

Now, knowing what you know, you’ll see why I love the barn I’m at. When I moved to the Washington DC area a year ago, for a job I no longer have, I couldn’t believe the prices I was faced with in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Seriously, 750 dollars a month for a barn without an indoor? Extra money for turnout? Premiums for hot walkers? Have a trainer at your barn who hasn’t managed to disgrace themselves? Tack on an extra 500, just because.

The aisle at Hideaway. Plaid is looking into the arena in either anticipation or just thinking about carrots. Or maybe both.

Now, knowing what you know about prices in my area, you’ll see why I love the barn I ride at. Number 1, it’s 30 minutes from my house. No more treks on I 66 to Middleburg, where I’m not sure why the lane is closed, or why people stop to merge. No more hunching over the radio when the traffic report is playing, making bargains with the devil to get me there with no red lights.

On top of that, the board is so reasonable. So reasonable in fact, that when they told me what it was, I had to keep my poker face on. Inside I was all ‘HOLY CRAP DO THEY KNOW WHAT YEAR IT IS?’ but outside I was all ‘Oh well, you know, I should be able to manage that.’

It’s not fancy, nor am I used to being anywhere fancy. It’s clean, it’s safe, and my horse is well taken care of. And guess what? You can feed whatever you want. Literally. Is your horse gluten free? They have a feed for that. Wants protein but no fat? They have a feed for that. Want people to not call The Humane Society on you because your horse’s ribs show even though he eats all day? They have a feed for that. And all at no extra charge. I was like a kid in a candy shop, a great candy shop where I couldn’t eat any of the candy.

They have an indoor arena, with mirrors, which is great for people who ride by themselves and haven’t seen themselves in the mirror in a year and then oh crap what is happening to my shoulders? The outdoor arena is new, and while the footing is a little too deep for my lazy bones Thoroughbred, it drains well and can be used at almost anytime. They also have a grass arena with some “cross-country fences.” I like to use them as training tools. As in, if you jump this with no problem, real cross-country fences will seem sane and great.

The outdoor arena at Hideaway.

They run a summer camp, which is torture on some days, and fine on others, as long as I’m riding in a group that knows how to pass on left. Many days I’m oh so glad I spent all that time working on collection and bending, because it’s really called into play when trying to maneuver around six kids on ponies. However, the school horse aisle and boarder aisle are separated by the indoor arena, so barring a few instances when I’m hosing my horse off and some kids with their moms come by ‘Look Timmy the horse is getting a shooower!’ the interaction is kept to a minimum.

The stalls are older, but kept in good shape, and the barn lets in a lot of light, but keeps most of the heat out. Fans are standard in every stall, and again, there’s no extra charge during the hot months. A mother-daughter team runs the barn, and they’re there all the time. The daughter, April teaches hunter-jumper lessons and at camp, but they bring in people every month if you want more jumping, or dressage lessons.

Now, knowing what you do, you know why I love my barn, Hideaway Horse Center. It’s close, defies rush hour, and keeps my boy happy and healthy.

Four days ago, we looked back at where we were 16 years ago. Today, we look back at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

The year 2000 marked the first time that Equestrian sport took place in Australia. Due to strict quarantine restrictions at the last Games, held in Melbourne in 1956, horses were not allowed to compete; *instead, equestrian sports were held in Stockholm, Sweden.

Eventing

For David’s cross-country ride, start at 8:30

I remember being 12 years old, and watching Custom Made’s dressage test. Literally, that’s what I think of when I think of Eventing at the 2000 Olympics. Well, that and the absolutely crazy water combinations on the cross-country course. Hey, feel like going through two 7’ drops in a row? Hey, feel like bouncing down into water then maneuvering a skinny corner? Not your choice, you’re going to do it. Riding the individual test as well? Lets do a bounce up an island in the middle, and make half of you fall on your face.

When David O’Connor won the Gold medal, it really said something about where American eventing was going, and where it had been. The last time an American stood at the top of the podium was in 1976. Then, it was Tad Coffin, who rode the incomparable Bally Cor to gold medal glory.

The team didn’t perform too shabby either. They finished in bronze medal position behind Australia and Great Britain, who battled it out the entire week for the gold medal. The rest of the team consisted of Nina Fout, with her great OTTB 3 Magic Beans, Karen O’Connor with Rolex winner Prince Panache, Linden Weisman with Anderoo, and David O’Connor with Olympic veteran Giltedge.

Show Jumping:

Definitely an Olympics the USA will want to forget in terms of Show Jumping. The all lady team of Lauren Hough, Laura Kraut, Margie Engle, and Nona Garson could only manage a sixth place team finish, and Margie Engle finished highest individually, placing 10^th with Perin.

Saudi Arabia won their first Equestrian medal through Khaled Al Eid, who rode Khashm Al Aan to an individual bronze medal.

Dressage:

The US repeated its team bronze from 1996, with teammates Robert Dover and Guenter Seidel working together again. This time they were joined by Sue Blinks and Flim Flam, and Christine Traurig and Etienne.

The real star of the 2000 Olympics Dressage was Anky van Grunsven, and her horse Bonfire. If you’re wondering how big of a deal Bonfire was, lets just say I owned the Breyer before I even knew what dressage was. The horse medaled in THREE Olympic Games.

Their freestyle:

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2000 Olympics Facts and Figures:

-The cost to construct the Equestrian facilities was around $46 million USD

-42 of the 82 horses competing in Eventing were Thoroughbreds

-12 of the 15 medalists were Thoroughbreds, and the other 3 were 7/8 Thoroughbred

-Equestrian competition didn’t begin until Sept 9, 2 weeks after horses arrived in quarantine

-Rodrigo Pessoa completed 3 clear rounds for Brazil, then was eliminated in the individual jump-off with Baloubet de Rouet

-The top 2 placed horses in Dressage, Bonfire and Gigolo (ridden by Isabell Werth) were 17 years old

-Blyth Tait’s gold winning mount from Atlanta, Ready Teddy, was eliminated in the second horse inspection. This eliminated the entire NZ team, which gave USA the bronze

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSX-gl3cPT0

Short video of Cross-Country at the 1996 Olympic Games. Last documented use of a Troxel an Olympic Games, by Wendy Schaeffer. Phillip Dutton is also riding for Australia in the clip, on True Blue Girdwood *booooo*.

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While we’re all waiting for the start to the London Olympic Games, 16 years ago, the US was enjoying their best result since 1984. The venue? Atlanta, of course. The games came back to the United States, and with that the team of Karen and David O’Connor, Kerry Milliken, Bruce Davidson, and Jill Henneberg won team silver behind the Australians.

Remember Biko? Remember Giltedge? Out and About, who won individual silver? The names read like my childhood horse fantasies. You can practically see Biko’s big blaze running around the cross-country course in Atlanta, Giltedge on his first of many USA teams. Bruce Davidson, competing in his last Olympics, wearing another silver medal.

Another notable feature of the 1996 Games? It was only one of two instances (the other being Sydney in 2000) where the individual and team competitions were held completely separate. Horses that were part of the team did not have the chance to contest individual medals as well.

In the other disciplines, the USA also medaled in Show Jumping and Dressage. Michael Matz helped the show jumpers secure silver, and the boy band dream team of Robert Dover, Steffen Peters and Guenter Seidel won bronze in Dressage.

What do you think? Can the USA return to winning ways in London? Or better their 1996 result?

What else do you remember from Atlanta?   Bela Karolyi’s famous “YOO KAHN DOO IT!”  Kerri Strug of the United States women’s gymnastics team vaulted with an injured ankle and landed on one foot, giving the US team gold in women’s gymnastics.

There comes a time when ‘just getting around’ isn’t enough. For Charlotte Agnew, a 24-year-old Scottish eventer currently riding in Oxfordshire, that point happened after completing the grueling cross-country track at Luhmuhlen this year.

It was only Agnew’s second 4*, and her first since 2008, when she completed Badminton on her first event horse, Little Beau. She was 20 at the time, in her first year at Edinburgh University, and finished the weekend in 39^th.

This time it was a different track, and a different horse that brought her 4* success. Out of Africa II, or ‘Zulu’ as he’s called at home, was never even treated as a 4* prospect.

“He was great at pre-novice and novice, and I thought that he might make a good 2* horse, but I never really dreamed he would be fast enough to get around a 4* course,” Agnew said.

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Their 12-year-relationship began at conception. Agnew’s parents bred the gelding out of her father’s hunter mare, Africa, who was a great jumper, but a little too slow in the field. It took him a while to mature and come into his own, and even more time to establish himself at the 3* level. Part of this was the result of a tragic accident in 2009, which resulted in his pasture-mate, best friend, and Charlotte’s upper level eventer, Little Beau being put to sleep.

“It came at a time when I was asking him to step up a level,” Agnew said. “And I think when his best friend was taken away, it filled him with a lot of doubt.  He’s very sensitive; he’s got this amazing brain. Sometimes I think he’s half human, he understands people very well, and after that, it just took a little while to get it together at the 3* level.”

Mistakes and run-outs plagued their rise up the levels, until last year, when Agnew knew she needed to get tough if she wanted them to live up to their potential.

“I knew I had to get determined, and a little pissed off,” Agnew said. “I rode with a new sense of ferocity that I got from somewhere.”

Their return to the 4* competition would have been sweet, a homecoming to Badminton, where she had hung on around one of the toughest courses in the world on her first horse. Zulu was peaking at just the right time, had just enough miles on the clock, and was ready to go. Then the rains hit, and washed away their well-laid plans. From then, it was a re-route to Germany, too far for their fan club, but far enough that the pressure might not follow them.

“I was absolutely devastated that Badminton got canceled,” Agnew said. “In the end though, getting to Germany, I think it helped us. There was less pressure, and I knew he would love the surface, the ring and the atmosphere over there.”

Their mistake-free fluid and expressive test saw them sit sixth overnight, behind such names as Lucinda Fredericks, Michael Jung and Andrew Hoy. Agnew knew she would have to be on her game to maneuver the big gelding around Luhmuhlen’s tight and twisty course.

“I definitely wouldn’t describe him as a ‘nippy’ horse,” Agnew said with a laugh. “He loves big galloping fences, he eats those up. Unfortunately for us, the course was pretty much the exact opposite.”

The difficult course claimed its fair share of victims, out of the 41 starters, only 29 finished, and only 5 finished without time faults. Agnew and Zulu picked up 2 time penalties, mostly the result of taking the long option on only one difficult combination.

“There was the fence that was a combination coming down the hill to a skinny chevron. I walked it and knew he wouldn’t understand what I was asking him to do, so I took the long route there. It was the right thing to do,” Agnew said.

They stayed in sixth overnight, and starting the stadium course, Agnew thought she had a chance to move up. When they crossed the finish line with four time faults, her face said it all.

“My sister said she saw my face and said it did not look too happy. I was so proud of him, he jumped really well, but it was bloody annoying that we got those four time faults!” Agnew said.

Charlotte and Zulu at the 2011 Blenheim Palace CCI*** in 2011, where they placed 9th. Photo - Adam Fanthorpe

With a fifth-placed 4* finish under their belt, Agnew will focus this summer on their preparations for Burghley, a venue at which she’s never competed.

“I’m really looking forward to Burghley. I think the course will suit him, and hopefully he’ll do well,” Agnew said.

Her 5-year plan extends much further than Burghley. When she graduated University, and began training full-time, she outlined her plan, which includes not only 4* events, but European Championships, World Equestrian Games, and the 2016 Olympic Games.

“My goal always has, and always is, to ride on a team,” Agnew said. “Ever since I won [gold] at the Young Riders in 2007, my aim is to get on a senior team.”

Photo - Adam Fanthorpe

Right now she busies herself with her up-and-coming horses. Her string is interesting, it includes Longwood, a horse bought for her sister but was “a bit too naughty,” and who is currently competing at the 3* level, and a half gelding to ‘Zulu’ named The Masai Warrior. Learn more about her, and see her 2008 Badminton run at her website (www.charlotteagnew.com).

Wrong castle.

Barbury Castle International will take top billing when it goes off on Sunday, July 1. The world’s best riders will travel to Wiltshire, England to compete in the last event before they migrate to Greenwich for the 2012 London Olympics.

When I hear ‘Barbury Castle,’ I’m immediately transported onto the set of The Young Victoria. I’m thinking manicured gardens, halls of mirrors, turrets and tapestries. Burghley has a castle and Badminton has a Duke. What does Barbury have? Apparently, an “iron age fort.” Where were you during Iron Age Fort class?

In 556 AD (yeah, that’s a long time ago), a group of German ex-pats known as the Saxons defeated the Romans at Barbury Castle at the Battle of Beran Byrig. What exactly were the Romans doing holed up in England? Well, back then the Romans pretty much ruled everything, and kept Barbury Castle as it was strategically placed on the Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest and most traveled road.

After the Saxons won the battle, like most men they up and forgot what they were fighting for, and left. The ‘Castle’ fell into disuse, and today all that remains are the original stones of the fortress, buried beneath the ground.

Barbury Castle, the event, has only been around since 2005. In 2008 it served as one of the mandatory outings for the United States Olympic Eventing Team. Eventual individual silver medalist Gina Miles was the highest placed American rider, placing 22nd with longtime partner McKinlaigh. Following “highest placed” with “22^nd” obviously didn’t bode well for the remaining American riders. Amy Tryon placed 30^th with Poggio II and 49^th with Leyland, Karen O’Connor and Mandiba followed in 32^nd, and Clark Montgomery rounded out the team in 59^th with Up Spirit. The dismal finishes at Barbury were followed by a disappointing seventh placed team finish at the Olympics.

There are quite a few battles that will be fought at Barbury this weekend. Lets hope they lack bloodshed, and Laura Collett is the only one wearing war paint.

The British vs. Everyone Else

Barbury will be the chance for the Brits to showcase their strength and depth as a team. Zara Phillips has experience around this course with High Kingdom, and will be looking to prove that the paparazzi and tabloids can’t throw her off her game. For the others, including Tina Cook with Miners Frolic, William Fox-Pitt and Lionheart, and Piggy French and DHI Topper, they’ll look to have a nice run before defending home turf for real at Greenwich.

Americans vs. Expectations

Everyone has an opinion on how the team should shape up, but opinions won’t matter if the results don’t hold up. The big hitters like Karen O’Connor, Boyd Martin, and Phillip Dutton all need to cement their place in the team by making few mistakes in dressage and more importantly, running a clean cross country round. Riders on the fringe like Will Coleman, Will Faudree and Clark Montgomery need to make a big impact in order to be considered.  Allison Springer needs to prove that their Rolex performance wasn’t a fluke, and that poise can travel across seas.

New Zealand vs. New Zealand

Any team would be lucky to have the nine riders vying for a spot on the New Zealand team, and they should make it a competitive event. Andrew Nicholson has Avebury, with whom he finished 12^th here last year and Quimbo, Jonathan Paget is riding Clifton Lush, Mark Todd is riding NZB Campino, who was 3^rd in the Boekelo CCI*** in 2011, Clarke Johnstone has WEG partner Orient Express, and Lucy Jackson rides 2 mounts; Kilcoltrim Ambassador and Animator II.

Barbury Fast Facts:

-Course designer Captain Mark Phillips went to school down the road at Marlborough College.

-William Fox Pitt won the inaugural event in 2005 with Balincoola. That year the pair also won the Burghley Horse Trials CCI4*.

-One American competed in that year’s event: Heidi White and Northern Spy. They finished 14^th.

-In 2011, 35 riders failed to complete Mark Phillips’ difficult cross-country course at Barbury.

-Barbury runs 3 divisions – Novice, CIC** and the CIC***.

-A record number of entries were received for this year’s event. 110 riders will start the CIC***, with an additional 261 in the CIC**, and 166 Novice (American Preliminary level) entries.

-Pre-Olympic hype not enough? Other attractions at Barbury will be the Pro Bull Rider Challenge, which will pit jockeys versus event riders on a mechanical bull, and the Wiltshire County Show and Festival of Food.

[Live Scores]

Go Barbury.

I’m EN’s newest writer, Tori. My first time covering eventing was the 2002 Rolex Kentucky. There, at the age of 12, I wrote a song about eventing to the tune of ‘Superman’ by Five for Fighting, and a poem about the Rolex Corn Dogs. Haven’t had them? You’re a fool. You now know all my great loves. Horses, eventing, and fried foods. I promise to give all equal coverage in my subsequent posts.

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Laura Bechtolsheimer and Minstral Hojris at 2010 WEG

The British Olympic Association (BOA) today revealed the horses and riders chosen to compete at the 1012 London Olympic Games, and there were certainly no surprises. The three members of the team will be:

–Carl Hester and Uthopia. Uthopia is an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion (Metall-Odelia, Inspekteur) owned by Hester and Sasha Stewart.

–Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro. Valegro is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Negro-Maifleur, Gerschwin) owned by Carl Hester and Roly Luard.

–Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris. Mistral Hojris is a 17-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Michellino-Virginia, Ibsen) owned by Laura, her parents Dr. Wilifred Bechtolsheimer and Ursula Bechtolsheimer.

-Competing for individual honors is Richard Davidson. Davidson will ride Artemis, a 13-year-old Westphalian gelding (Florestan-Delphine, Delphi) owned by the Countess of Derby.

Since placing fourth in the team competition in Bejing, the Brits have become a dominant force in World Dressage. Dujardin set a world record in the Grand Prix Special in Hagen with Valegro, scoring an unheard of 88.022. The horse has yet to create the kind of buzz Moorlands Totilas inspired in 2010, but is of the same quality. Bechtolsheimer has remained consistently on top with Mistral Hojris since their triple silver at the WEGs. Hester, who is competing in his fourth Olympic Games, turned in top class performances with Uthopia, who at 11 is still maturing, and the black stallion should execute a more polished, but still brilliant performance in London.

To read the full story, along with quotes from the riders, visit the British Dressage website.