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.
