It’s official: I’ve been well and truly struck by Olympic fever. (The figurative kind, mind you, not an actual case of COVID.) I’ve been intently watching all the dressage coverage and then, when it finishes, switching over to literally any other sport that happens to be on, and now I think I might be an expert on men’s volleyball. Maybe. Anyway, as it turns out, I really can cry about anything, even if I don’t understand the rules of what I’m watching at all. Do I understand why everyone’s screaming about the diving? No! Am I sobbing about those little land-seals flinging themselves into the pool with such reckless abandon anyway? Absolutely!
National Holiday: It’s All or Nothing Day. Fitting for an Olympics, sure, but it only makes me think of this bop.
The Weekend in Tokyo:
The dressage riders were hard at work over the weekend riding the Grand Prix test, the scores of which decided who’d get to proceed to the Freestyle and Special. They’re enjoying a day off today – so catch up on what went down here.
Japan won its first gold medal of this Olympics, somewhat softening the public mood towards the Games. That medal went to Naohisa Takato, who won the men’s 60kg judo. Since then, four more golds have followed for the home nation in skateboarding (the first-ever Olympic medal won for this sport), the women’s 400m swimming, and twice more in judo.
Austria’s Anna Kiesenhofer came from nowhere to win road race gold by such an extraordinary margin that the second-placed rider thought they’d won. Anna rides as a true amateur, too – the Cambridge grad is a mathematician in her ‘normal’ life.
Surfing made its Olympic debut, and honestly, this is probably the sport everyone wished they were doing in the scorching 32-degree heat.
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Meet Sebastien, the Olympic mount of Canada’s Lindsay Kellock. He’s a grumpy chap with a secret heart of gold and he loves a bit of pumpkin spice, so I feel like we’ll all relate to him a bit. [Stable Personalities: Big Ego, Big Talent, Big Future]
The Germans did what Germans do best and dominated the sand-dancing over the weekend. Did you know that if Isabell Werth wins double gold this week, she’ll become Germany’s most decorated female Olympian of all time? [Germans Show their Might ahead of Team Medal Decider at 2021 Olympics]
One of my new favourite games is people-spotting in the background of Olympic coverage, such as the opening ceremony (hi Ludwig Svennerstal! Hello to the top third of Tom Carlile’s head, and the top third only! Howdy, Felix Vogg!) and the dressage competition. Turns out a few of our eventers really like to get up close and personal to the pony prancing, and you won’t be surprised at all to find out which ones. Top tog Peter Nixon is on site in Tokyo for Horse & Hound, and his super photos have given us the golden opportunity for more stalking. See who you can spot in the carousel of images above!
Morning Viewing:
Catherine Dufour‘s 81%+ test with Bohemian nearly made me do a little cry yesterday. They finished up the Grand Prix in second place – and their stunning test is worth at least a cursory glance.
Compiled from FEI and US Equestrian press releases.
Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Salvino. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.
Team Germany continued to build up a head of steam when moving to the top of the Dressage Grand Prix leaderboard at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games today. Two great rides, from Dorothee Schneider with Showtime and the living legend that is Isabell Werth with Bella Rose, secured pole position at the end of the competition which decided the eight best nations that will go through to Tuesday’s medal-decider, the Grand Prix Special in which all teams start from scratch.
Joining the defending champions will be Great Britain, who finished second today followed by Denmark, USA, Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal and Spain.
Meanwhile the 18 individuals that have made the cut to Wednesday’s Individual medal decider are also confirmed. The two best from each of the six qualifying groups – Charlotte Fry and Charlotte Dujardin (GBR), Therese Nilshagen and Juliette Ramel (SWE), Cathrine Dufour and Carina Cassoe Kruth (DEN), Edward Gal (NED), Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Dorothee Schneider and Isabell Werth (GER), Sabine Schut-Kery and Adrienne Lyle (USA) are through. Also qualified are the six next-best individuals, Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN), Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP), Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED), Carl Hester (GBR), Rodrigo Torees (POR) and Steffen Peters (USA).
Carina Cassoe Krut (DEN) and Heiline’s Danciera. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Top two spots
Denmark’s Cassoe Kruth and America’s Lyle claimed the top two spots in Group D when the action resumed this evening, and then Germany’s Schneider headed up Group E after a lovely test. Schneider said her horse was “a little bit tense but it’s normal for him on first day”. She’s had a late return to top competition for a range of reasons.
“Showtime competed at the European Championships in 2019 and then he was at home because I wanted to keep him safe for the Olympic Games in 2020 and then there were no Games! I wanted to start early in 2021 but then I had an accident in April. But he’s an experienced horse and once he gets out to compete three or four times he’s fine”, she said of the gelding who carried her to team gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and who she has ridden since he was a three-year-old.
A fall when a horse she was competing dropped dead during a prize-giving ceremony left her with a broken collarbone, “but it’s all good now!”, she said. “It took a little time to come back and it wasn’t so easy mentally, but we are back now and I’m happy again”, she explained.
Isabell Werth (GER) and Bella Rose 2. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Solidity
Compatriot Werth headed up the final group of 10 horse-and-athlete combinations and, last to go tonight, underpinned the solidity of the German challenge. With her beloved Bella Rose who scored 82.500 she pinned Great Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and the charming little chestnut gelding Gio into second place in that group.
However both of these ladies look to have a lot more in store for the coming days. And Dujardin, whose reign of supremacy with the great Valegro changed a lot about the sport of Dressage in recent years, is clearly super-excited about her latest rising star. You could feel that rivalry between herself and the evergreen queen, Werth, filling the air once again tonight.
Isabell Werth (GER) and Bella Rose 2. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Gio. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.
Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Gio. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Talking about Gio, Dujardin said, “I was so happy, he’s a very green inexperienced horse, so it was a bit of the unknown what to expect. Hagen (Germany in April this year) is the biggest show he’s done and he delivered there. I couldn’t ask for any more today, he went in there and he tried his heart out. He’s just unbelievable, he keeps giving. I felt emotional on the last centreline because when you have a ride like that, win or lose that’s what it’s all about for me.
“He’s like a little powerhouse, he’s small but definitely mighty, for where he is at his training I know he can give even more and I’m so happy with him”, she said.
Isabell Werth (GER) and Bella Rose 2. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Rivalry
Werth clearly enjoys the renewed rivalry with her British counterpart because it feeds her competitive edge. “It’s always very important that you have strong field of competitors because then you push each other to top performances and that’s the spirit of competition”, she pointed out.
She described the 17-year-old Bella Rose as “my dream horse and when she’s in top shape she is the best – her way of moving, her character, her charisma, her piaffe/passage down the centreline – of course Weihe (her other mare Weihegold) is super and the younger ones too, but with Bella you have the feeling there is always something more possible!”
Talking about these “Games like no other” in Tokyo, the multiple Olympic champion said the lack of an audience could be influential. “Mostly you will see it in the medal decisions, especially in the Freestyle. There will be music but no crowd to carry the horses and riders — it makes a big difference — but on the other hand we are so happy that we can be here, can compete that we have an Olympic Games. We are in a discipline that is really depending on Games, because then we are more in the focus of the media and the world and it gives the younger riders at home the motivation and support so it’s a big package we have, and we are very thankful to be here”.
Steffen Peters (USA) and SuppnKasper. Photo by US Equestrian.
Team USA
On the second day of FEI Grand Prix competition at Equestrian Park in Tokyo, the U.S. Dressage Team saw its final two pairs help to secure a team start in the FEI Grand Prix Special for Team Medals set to take place on Tuesday, July 27. Adrienne Lyle (Wellington, Fla.) and Salvino were the first team combination to contest the second day of competition in Group D, with the duo earning a 74.876 percent and qualifying for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for Individual Medals. Steffen Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Suppenkasper rounded out the evening, going second-to-last in Group F, and earning a score of 76.196 percent. The team qualified in fourth place overall with 7389.5. total points.
Lyle has had the ride on the impressive 14-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Betsy Juliano LLC for nearly six years and the strength of their partnership was on display during their test. With experience as an individual from the London 2012 Olympic Games, Lyle was reflective on her experience in Toyko and the importance of the team environment.
“He has some great talent in the piaffe and passage and unfortunately we had some tension and balance issues got in the way of showing off what he’s really capable of today. I know there’s so much more in there,” commented Lyle. “This is my second Olympics, but everything is a little bit different with COVID, and the format is completely different, so in a lot of ways it’s all very new. We have a wonderful team and everyone is so supportive. We train so hard for this and to get to be here and to think about everyone who starts on this journey and being one of three selected to represent this country is awesome. This whole experience has been wonderful.”
Steffen Peters (USA) and SuppnKasper. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.
As the team’s Olympic veteran, Peters brought his experience and composure forward to his FEI Grand Prix test with Suppenkasper, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki. Starting in his fifth Olympic Games, Peters understood the need to give the team a strong performance to secure their team start on Tuesday in a competitive field and delivered with a clean and conservative test.
“It was a good test. It was a bit conservative because we had some trouble spots with the flying changes in the warm-up, so I rode those really carefully, but the rest I rode very forward. We had a super relaxed walk tour, which for Mopsie in an arena like this, to be that relaxed is a wonderful feeling,” said Peters. “I think today I really wanted to go for a clean test and get a decent score, which we did. With a 76 percent, I think that puts us in a really good place going into the Special.”
Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald was pleased with the team’s qualification for the FEI Grand Prix Special, as well as all three combinations qualifying for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for Individual Medals.
“It was really important that we put in two solid tests today in order to qualify us for the Grand Prix Special on Tuesday, and after Sabine’s great ride yesterday, Adrienne and Steffen made sure we got the scores we needed to get there,” commented McDonald. “We’ll start with a clean slate in terms of scoring on Tuesday and will begin preparing for what is going to be a very intense competition for team medals.”
The U.S. Dressage Team will return to competition on Tuesday, July 27, as they aim for the podium in the FEI Grand Prix Special for Team Medals, which will begin at 5:00 p.m. JST/4:00 a.m. EDT. The draw order with ride times will be announced on Monday, July 26. The following countries will partake in the FEI Grand Prix Special for Team Medals: Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, United States, The Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, and Spain.
Joao Miguel Torrao (POR) riding Equador. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.
Facts and Figures:
If Isabell Werth wins double-gold she will become the most decorated female German Olympic athlete of all times.
The IOC and FEI have given special permission to Irish athletes across all equestrian disciplines at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to wear a yellow ribbon in memory of young rising star, Tiggy Hancock, who tragically suffered a fatal fall last month. Dressage rider Heike Holstein was the first to compete with hers today. She said, “We are very proud to wear it, and grateful to the IOC and FEI for allowing us to do it.”
Dorothee Schneider (GER) and Showtime FRH. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
The judges awarded the maximum score of 10 on 14 occasions during tonight’s second half of the Grand Prix which is the Team and Individual qualifying competition and 13 of them were earned by Isabelle Werth’s Bella Rose (GER) – 7 for piaffe, 5 for passage/piaffe transitions and one for halt. A single 10 was awarded to Charlotte Dujardin’s Gio (GBR) for two-tempi changes.
Hiroyuki Kitahara (JPN) and Huracan. Photo by FEI/Shannon Brinkman.
Quotes:
Christian Schumach (AUT) who scored 70.900 with Te Quiero SF: “I’m super happy with my horse and super happy with my riding. Overall there was one mistake in the twos and that was clearly my mistake, I was enjoying the surroundings and the Olympic experience too much so it wasn’t his fault, he did a super job! he’s really young (10 years old) and this was only his seventh Grand Prix.”
Heike Holstein (IRL): “It’s special when you breed a foal that you know from when it is running around in your fields as a baby, breaking it, competing it and taking it all the way to the Olympic Games!”
Steffen Peters (USA), talking about his ride on Suppenkasper: “He’s a hot horse so to do a relaxed clean test was a very good start. This was not the test to go crazy in, we’ll do that in the Special! It’s been four years of a complete love affair with him, he’s such a big, kind teddy bear. He’s 18.2 hands tall but there’s not a mean bone in his body, he always tries and I’m one of the fortunate riders who gets to ride him!”
He complimented the judges on the scores they gave his team-mate Sabine Schut-Kery yesterday whose pathfinding ride got the US off to a great start.
“Sabine is a cool, calm competitor with a helluva horse. Not too many people know her that well but I appreciate that some of the judges who had never seen her before gave her a very good score”.
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Liz Halliday-Sharp & Cooley Quicksilver competing at Galway Downs. Photo by Kim Miller.
Under the category of making lemonade from lemons, Liz Halliday-Sharp’s heartbreaking withdrawal from Tokyo has turned into an opportunity to clinic with her. On Friday and Saturday July 30-31 at the Galway Downs Equestrian Center in Temecula, California, slots are open both mornings for private dressage work, then small group show jumping and cross-country schooling.
Liz has been so busy campaigning her many horses, that there haven’t been many chances to give clinics, so it’s a great time to grab a chance to learn from the 2020 USEA Rider of the Year! Interested participants can sign up for this clinic opportunity here – you can pick and choose which phases you’d like help with, but it’s strongly recommended that riders do a lesson with Liz on the flat or over fences before doing a cross country lesson.
So, just as Olympic eventing is getting underway, we can all get some tips on learning to ride and manage our horses like an equestrian who earned her spot on the team. Let’s give Liz a warm West Coast Welcome!
The “Pinnacle Posse” featuring Ali Johnson, Tarra Gakstatter, Kelsey Horn and Kim Johnson. Photo by Erin Tomson.
Every eventing enthusiast knows how challenging the sport can be. To train and compete successfully requires perfect alignment of so many factors that are out of our control. Riders often have to overcome setbacks, challenges, and disappointments, but that also makes the wins that much more exhilarating. We often hear “it takes a village!” to be successful, which is particularly true in the context of Rebecca Farm because it’s a week-long destination event.
The FEI levels get a lot of attention because they’re exciting to watch and the riders and horses become household names. However, the foundation of our sport is in the lower and mid levels. There are many trainers who specialize in bringing along young horses, developing good lower-level riders, and introducing the next generation of competitors and trainers while striving to reach the upper-most levels themselves. I sat down with one rider and her village for a look behind the scenes of a successful operation.
Kelsey Horn is the head trainer at Inavale Farm in Philomath, Oregon. Her business, Pinnacle Equine Training, focuses on teaching her students and horses good dressage and horse management basics as a foundation for success. Kelsey is an accomplished FEI 2* rider and has successfully brought multiple horses from beginner novice through preliminary. Her ultimate goal is to be successful at the 5* level, although she knows that is incredibly challenging to do. For the time being, she is happy to put in the hard work so she and her students can meet their goals.
It cannot go without saying that Kelsey and her husband, Brian, had their first baby just four and a half months ago. After two months of maternity leave, Kelsey was back in the saddle and leading the “Pinnacle Posse” to success at Area VII events. Her village came together to bring six horses to The Event at Rebecca Farm this week.
Kelsey and Skylar. Photo by Erin Tomson.
The drive from Inavale to Rebecca Farm takes about 15 hours, with an overnight stop in Spokane. Kelsey’s mom, Kristin Tetrick, came on the trip to help take care of Kelsey’s daughter. At four months old, Skylar needs frequent meals, naps, and diaper changes! As Kelsey said, she couldn’t possible do this without a lot of help. Fortunately, Skylar has five grandparents – all of whom have offered to go along to events to help with childcare. Kelsey speaks with extreme gratitude for the help offered by her family members and friends so that she can continue to ride, compete, and coach her students. Rebecca Farm is a particular goal for the Pinnacle Posse each year.
Kelsey said she loves coming to The Event because “it’s an amazing venue, but it’s also the grandness of it all. You want to be a part of it! You also get great exposure – because of the upper levels, you see people from outside of your area.” Kelsey went on to say that she really enjoys watching other trainers coaching their students in the warm-up arenas because it gives her new ideas and opens her mind to approaches she might not have considered. “It helps educate you – whether it’s the dressage or jumping warm-up, you learn so much about other ways to do things that you didn’t think of. It helps you get outside of your routine.”
Kelsey’s main goal with her students is to teach them how to ride correctly and make smart, independent decisions. Once a rider leaves the warmup, it’s just them and their horse and, as we all know, anything can happen out there – especially on cross country. She encourages her riders to establish confidence and competence at each level before moving up.
Ali Johnson is one of Kelsey’s riders. Soon to be 13 years old, Ali has been riding with Kelsey since she was 8. Ali described Kelsey’s coaching style as “amazing… she is very calm, technical, and analytical. Which is perfect for me.” Ali’s mom, Kim Johnson, agreed with that assessment and said she loves Kelsey’s approach because she spends the time to make sure all of the basics are in place and the horse/rider pairs are ready to compete or move up a level.
Kelsey and Cleared for Takeoff. Photo by Erin Tomson.
Tarra Gakstatter is the assistant trainer at Inavale, and a key member of the Pinnacle Posse as well. Between Kelsey and Tarra, they teach dozens of lessons each week including basic “up/down” lessons with beginner kids and adults, as well as dressage and jumping lessons with more experienced adult amateurs. Tarra’s philosophy is to keep riding fun. Tarra and Ravaye, an eight-year-old Holsteiner owned by Katherine Merkle, won first place in the Sr. Open Training B division here at Rebecca Farm today. They finished on their dressage score of 23.9 – way to go Tarra!
For every successful event, there are key members of the village that stay behind to keep things running at home. They miss out on all the fun of traveling to events! Kelsey said she is “incredibly proud to be here representing Inavale Farm and the amazing people there.”
Owned and run by Caroline and Luigi Meneghelli, Inavale is a staple in Area VII in its own right. Not only do they manage a very large and successful boarding operation and lesson program, Caroline and Luigi (and an amazing group of hard-working volunteers!) put on a USEA recognized event in June each year. Kelsey is grateful for Caroline, Luigi, and all of her riders and cheerleaders at home in Oregon.
Event riders love the thrill of cross country, there’s no doubt. We also love the community, the friendships, and the support we provide for each other. We all have a village, and it really does take the support of everyone around us to make dreams become reality. Go Eventing!
The Games have begun at the Baji Koen Equestrian Park in Tokyo, as the dressage riders got their competition started yesterday with their qualification Grand Prix tests. Team USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo rode their test yesterday and finished second in their group, qualifying them for a spot in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
If you’re up early this morning, you’ll be able to catch the other two US riders today: Adirenne Lyle rides at 5:21 AM EDT and Steffen Peters rides at the more reasonable hour (in the Eastern time zone at least) of 8:42 AM EDT. Catch a detailed recap of the first day of dressage competition here!
Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam. Photo by RedBayStock.com.
Cross country day for the FEI competitors at Rebecca Farm resulted in big changes in the top three standings in the 4*-L division. The current top three riders all put in impressive double-clear rounds and head into show jumping on Sunday on their dressage scores.
Moving up from fourth to take the lead in the CCI4*-L, Jennie Brannigan and Twilightslastgleam stand on a score of 33.0 going into show jumping on Sunday. “Grampa” is an 11-year-old Thoroughbred owned by Tim and Nina Gardner, who love The Event at Rebecca Farm. Jennie said, “Thoroughbreds try so hard and that horse tries so hard for me … I’m shocked to be leading and I am so happy for today.” Regarding the difficulty of the course, she said “I really had to work today … more than I thought I would. But at the end of the day that’s what a 4*L is all about.”
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Jollybo. Photo by RedBayStock.com.
Hawley Bennett-Awad and her self-owned Jollybo moved from fifth after dressage into second place, maintaining their score of 34.5. Jolly, also known in the barn as “J-Bizzle” is a 17-year-old British Sport Horse. Hawley said, “I’m super psyched. Thanks to the Broussards – this is a world class event.”
Hawley has been coming to The Event for many years, usually with her husband in tow. He is such an integral part of her team that he attended participated in the press conference this afternoon. When asked about her ride today, Hawley’s husband Gamal (aka SBM) said, “It couldn’t have gone better. I mean it could have had more cowbell.”
Caroline Martin and Islandwood Captain Jack. Photo by RedBayStock.com.
Currently standing in third place with a score of 34.9 are Caroline Martin and Islandwood Captain Jack. The 12-year-old Irish Sport Horse who goes by “James” is owned by Caroline’s mom, Sherrie Martin. “He was quite good … from beginning to end he felt like a proper 4* star horse. It was nice and fast ground.” Caroline’s fiancé, Deniz, is also a supportive horse partner and attended the press conference as her cheerleader. Deniz said “everything went great out there today” and he also wanted to pitch an idea that Ian Stark had — to run the course through the middle of the VIP tent. Perhaps that would make things even more exciting at Rebecca Farm.
Maya Black and Miks Master C. Photo by RedBayStock.com.
CCI4*-S
The CCI4*-S didn’t result in as many changes in the standings, with the top two staying the same after cross country. Maya Black maintains the lead with Miks Master C, a 9-year-old Swedish Warmblood owned by Laurie Cameron. Maya and Mickey added only four time penalties for a current score of 29.8. “He’s great – this is the second season at advanced with him. He went out and galloped around – it was a short course and I galloped where I could, but it was hard to make the time.” Because they drove out from the east coast, Mickey hasn’t schooled cross country for three weeks. Maya decided he didn’t need to because he is a good, solid horse, and she ended up being happy with that choice.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver. Photo by RedBayStock.com.
Liz Halliday-Sharp and Cooley Quicksilver added 10.8 time penalties to maintain second place with a score of 39.6. The Monster Partnership owns the 10-year-old Irish Sport Horse. When reflecting on her ride, Liz said “The Monster was a good boy. I know him really well and he’s an extremely brave horse. All the jumps rode exactly how I’d planned. I was pleased him – it was a good course and I said that to Ian. The Monster is excited to be back out running again.”
Liz, who was slated to ride for Team USA in Tokyo, changed her plans two weeks ago when Deniro Z was withdrawn from Olympic competition. Despite the disappointment, Liz said “This has been healing for the soul for me and for my owners and my family, coming here. That was partly why we did it. Just plugging away at home … was not great. So it was sort of on a whim that we came here, and I’m really glad we did.”
Liz also said she’s already booked her Airbnb for next year and will plan to make Rebecca Farm an annual destination. “If there was anywhere else in the world I’d rather be than Tokyo, it’s probably here.”
Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II. Photo by RedBayStock.com.
Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II, a 10-year-old British Sport Horse, jumped clear and added 16.4 time penalties, which moved them from seventh into third place. “Ernie” is owned by Arnell Sporthorses. “He was spooky and impressed with the waters – he’s pretty green still [at the level] but he’s a really good jumper,” Bec said about her ride. “For me the two water complexes were the most surprising to him but it’s always fun here – if they’re out in front of you, you can keep kicking on. And you know Ian always wants you to keep kicking on.” Bec, who has won the 2* a couple of times and coached the young rider teams in the past, is excited to be back at Rebecca Farm on a 4* horse.
James Alliston and Nemesis. Photo by RedBayStock.com.
CCI3*-L
James Alliston and Nemesis, a 7-year-old Canadian Warmblood owned by Alliston Equestrian maintained their lead in the CCI3*-L. They added 2.8 time penalties for a score of 33.1. Lucienne Bellissimo and her self-owned Atlantic Vital Spark put in a double-clear round to move up from eight place into second with a score of 34.1.
Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio added only 1.2 time penalties for a score of 34.2 and a move into third place. The 10-year-old Argentine Silla is “a little horse with a big heart.” Dani said it went “super well and I want to thank my owner, Carol.” Dani traveled from Colorado for the event and said, “I’ve been here maybe 18 of the 20 years and I have watched it grow – it’s pretty spectacular.” When reflecting on the course, she said “I had to keep my gas pedal on the whole time. The combinations rode fantastic … I had to add a couple strides in two of the combinations, but he jumped so well and was so rideable.”
Tommy Greengard and Joshuay MBF. Photo by RedBayStock.com.
CCI2*-L
In the CCI2*-L, Tommy Greengard and self-owned Joshuay MBF maintained their lead on their dressage score of 25.4. Josh is a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood who “was spectacular and gave me the best ride I’ve ever had on him. He really got into a rhythm and was able to gallop. The tables just came to him, and he pricked his ears at the corners.”
Maya Black and Laurie Cameron’s 6-year-old Hanoverian, Double Diamond C, also put in a double-clear to stay in second place with a score 27.0. “He’s still green but we know each other so well. He galloped around and jumped everything as expected. By the end he was like … OK just keep jumping. It was nice to have a little bit longer course, to not have to rush between the jumps.”
After a double-clear round, Chloe Smyth and Flyin Huckleberry moved into third place with a score of 31.7. Michelle Cameron Donaldson owns the 7-year-old Thoroughbred. “This is his first 3*L and this was his first time running on grass. He was really good at all the options … a little looky at the crowd” but Chloe said it was a very successful ride and she is happy to be here.
The FEI divisions begin show jumping on Sunday at 10:30am local time with the CC2*-L followed by the CCI3*-L. The CCI4*-S begins at 2:00pm, followed by the CCI4*-L. With the scores very close together, it should make for a very exciting Sunday in Montana! For the complete schedule and results visit https://www.rebeccafarm.org/
Admission for this family-friendly spectator event is free, with full concessions and a large multi-interest shopping fair, as well as a free Kid Zone that includes pony rides, PonyUp! (Horsemanship 101 classes for kids), face painting, arts and crafts, and more. A one-time, recommended $10 parking donation per car to support Halt Cancer at X and a full weekend pass is available with a $25 donation.
To access Rebecca Farm, from the junction of Highways 93 & 2, travel two miles north on Highway 93 to Reserve Loop and go west two miles, then south on W. Springcreek Rd. The entrance is 3/4 mile on the right.
ABOUT THE EVENT AT REBECCA FARM
The Event at Rebecca Farm presented by Montana Equestrian Events is held every July in Kalispell, Montana. One of the largest equestrian triathlons in the United States, The Event is also considered to have some of the world’s finest scenery. Each year it draws hundreds of riders of all levels, from amateur to Olympians. The 2021 Event celebrates the 20th anniversary of Rebecca Farm.
The Event at Rebecca Farm features thirteen courses ranging from novice to Olympic qualifier, which were originally developed by world-renowned course designer, Mark Phillips. In 2012, Scottish equestrian Ian Stark redesigned the Rebecca Farm courses. Known for his immense contributions to eventing, Stark has won multiple Olympic medals and was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.
This week’s coverage is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products – and you can win some cool KPP swag and receive a discount on product all year long just by entering through this simple survey. Good luck!
Compiled from FEI and US Equestrian press releases.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) with TSF Dalera posted the highest score of Day 1 Grand Prix Dressage. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
It may have been a long time coming, but the opening day of Equestrian Dressage at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games more than lived up to expectations. Emotions ran high and so did the scores as superb individual performances saw The Netherlands take the early lead in the battle for the Team title, while Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl set a personal-best when posting the biggest mark of the evening with TSF Dalera.
The Grand Prix continues tomorrow when another 30 horse-and-rider combinations take their turn. And if Dorothee Schneider (Showtime) and Isabell Werth (Bella Rose) can come anyway close to the score achieved by compatriot von Bredow-Werndl then Germany looks well on the way to securing the Olympic Dressage Team title for a fabulous 14th time.
Sabine Kery (USA) with Saneco. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Team USA
Sabine Schut-Kery (Napa, Calif.) and Sanceo, a 15-year-old Hanoverian stallion owned by Alice Womble, were the first U.S. combination to ride down the centerline at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 at Equestrian Park, completing their FEI Grand Prix Test as part of Group C on the first day of competition. Schut-Kery and Sanceo received a 78.416 percent from the ground jury, a personal best in FEI competition, placing the U.S. in a strong position looking ahead to the second day of competition. Fourteen teams are vying to finish in the top eight at the conclusion of tomorrow’s competition in order to qualify for the FEI Grand Prix Special for Team Medals on Tuesday, July 27.
Schut-Kery has developed a strong partnership with Sanceo over the last 12 years, having acquired the stallion as a young three-year old from Europe and developing him herself up through the international levels. This is the pair’s first Olympic Games, though they have competed in a championship environment before as part of the gold-medal winning team at the Pan American Games Toronto 2015.
“He’s always just so with me. It really feels like a partnership, absolutely. You go in there and he gives you that feeling like ‘I’ve got it,’ and then he also likes going into that venue. He definitely puffed up a little bit,” smiled Schut-Kery as she talked about her incredible Olympic debut. “The highlights to me, and it always feels amazing, was the piaffe and passage.”
Sabine Kery (USA) with Saneco. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
The pair received strong marks from the Ground Jury, as Sanceo excels in his piaffe and passage movements, which were rewarded by the judging panel. Schut-Kery and Sanceo automatically qualified for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for Individual Medals on Wednesday, July 28, as they secured second place in Group C behind Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera, who led the day with an 84.379 percent.
“Coming here, I think, you know, when you come as a team, you don’t ride for yourself anymore, so for me it was really important that I ride for my teammates and ride for my country, and that means all of you, for Christine, for Debbie, and for friends and fans.”
Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald was pleased with the test, which provided the team with a positive start with the two remaining pairs to come tomorrow. This is McDonald’s first Olympic Games as Chef d’Equipe, though she is familiar with the intensity of the Olympic Games having competed as an athlete in 2004 and 2008 and serving as the personal coach for athletes in previous years.
“I could not be happier or prouder of Sabine and Sanceo,” said Chef d’Equipe Debbie McDonald. “It was certainly a great way for our team to start this competition and it was truly just a beautiful test from both Sabine and Sanceo.”
The remaining two American combinations will take their turn in the arena at Equestrian Park tomorrow, with Adrienne Lyle and Salvino competing as part of Group D and scheduled for 6:21 p.m. JST / 5:21 a.m. EDT, and Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper in Group F rounding out the competition with the second to last ride of the day at 9:42 p.m. JST / 8:42 a.m. EDT.
Charlotte Fry (GBR) with Everdale. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Groups
The competition is divided into six groups in total, with three of those groups taking their turn today. The top two athletes from each group, and the six athletes with the next best scores (including ties) will qualify to the individual final (Grand Prix Freestyle). It was Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Everdale who set the early target score when posting 77.096 to top Group A.
“At the end he got a shock that there were people watching, he was so concentrating on my ride!,” Charlotte said. “He knew it was a big occasion, he was so concentrated all day, he knew it was coming, he is so intelligent. I’ve been riding him since he was 7 and he’s now 12. I’ve done Young Riders with him and U25 Grand Prix and he’s moved up to Senior Grand Prix in 2019 so we’ve really grown up together and built a really good partnership. He’s fun to ride and I love every day riding him.”
Charlotte Fry (GBR) with Everdale. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
The support team of Charlotte Fry (GBR) celebrates a great performance. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
But only two athletes earned marks over 80%, and Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour was the first of these when putting 81.056 on the board with Bohemian to take complete command of Group B.
Catherin Dufour and Bohemian. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
“It was important for me to give him a really great feeling in the ring today,” Dufour said. “I didn’t want to push too much because I wanted him to be comfortable in there. And even though there’s no audience there’s a vibe in the arena and they can feel it!”
Catherin Dufour (DEN) and Bohemian. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Much of her previous success has been achieved with the diminutive Cassidy who carried her through Junior and Young Rider level to triple-bronze at the Senior European Championships in Gothenburg (SWE) in 2017 and bronze again in the Grand Prix Special at the Europeans in Rotterdam (NED) in 2019. Tonight she admitted she felt a bit guilty about leaving the 18-year-old gelding at home and bringing the 11-year-old Bohemian to Tokyo instead.
“Cassidy has been my partner in crime for 11 years so I felt a little bit like I was cheating on him!” But she feels Bohemian is “one of the best horses in the world! He doesn’t have any weaknesses.”
Edward Gal (NED) with Total Us. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Firm basis
Meanwhile Edward Gal’s score of 78.649 left him second in Group B and gave The Netherlands a firm basis on which to build their team challenge. His black stallion, Total US is only nine years old, and a son of the great Totilas who, with Gal onboard, set the world of Dressage on fire a decade ago.
“You feel so much comparison, the same feeling when you give your leg, the same reaction. Totilas was more confident at his age – he (Total US) is a bit shy but I’ve done some more competitions with him now and I feel him getting more confident”, said the Dutchman who was sporting an eye-catching new tailcoat.
Previously Dressage riders were only permitted to dress in modest colours, but following a change to those rules the Dutch Dressage team have joined their Jumping counterparts in wearing the brightest of bright orange jackets so they stand out in every sense.
Second-last into the arena tonight, Hans-Peter Minderhoud bolstered the Dutch position with a score of 76.817 with Dream Boy, giving his country the lead going into tomorrow’s second half of the Grand Prix ahead of Denmark in second and Great Britain in third. But some shuffling of positions can well be expected by the end of the second day.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) with TSF Dalera. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Thrilling test
A thrilling test produced by von Bredow-Werndl produced the biggest score of the evening, despite a big spook from Dalera before entering the ring following a rainshower.
“She wasn’t scared, she was just excited by the atmosphere. She didn’t expect it because it was so silent every day here!”, said the German star after posting a massive 84.379.
Talking about how testing it was for the riders as well as the horses in the conditions at Baji Koen Equestrian Park tonight she added, “to be honest I’m very fit, but at the centreline where I started the pirouettes I thought ‘gosh, it’s so exhausting!’ It was so hot in there and the humidity is extreme after the rain. It was tough,” she said.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) with TSF Dalera. Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniere.
Facts and Figures:
Two athletes, both Olympic first-timers, produced personal-best Grand Prix scores tonight. Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl exceeded her previous best score by 2.727% and America’s Sabine Schut-Kery exceeded hers by a massive 3.394%.
The best two combinations from each group, along with the six next best athletes, will qualify for Wednesday’s Freestyle which will decide the Individual Olympic title. Tonight the best two combinations in each group were as follows:
Best two combinations from Group A – Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry and Everdale with 77.096 and Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen with Dante Weltino OLD 75.140.
Best two combinations from Group B – Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian with 81.056 and The Netherlands Edward Gal with Total US scoring 78.649.
Best two combinations from Group C – Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with TSF Dalera and USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery with Sancero.
The number of countries now left in the medal race for the Team title has been reduced from 15 to 14. The withdrawal of Victoria Max-Theurer and Abbegelen NRW leaves Austria without a team. The 11-year-old Abbegelen didn’t start today because he had a toothache.
Three equestrian athletes were flag-bearers at Friday night’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony – Sweden’s Sara Algotsson Astholt, Estonia’s Dina Ellermann and Syria’s Ahmad Saber Hamcho.
The judges awarded the maximum score of 10 on 10 occasions during tonight’s first half of the Grand Prix which is the Team and Individual qualifying competition. Edward Gal’s Total US (NED) was awarded a single 10 for Passage, Cathrine Dufour’s Bohemian (DEN) was awarded a single 10 for Piaffe and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl’s TSF Dalera (GER) was awarded three scores of 10 for Passage/Piaffe Transitions and five scores of 10 for Piaffe.
Want to stay in the know with all things Olympic eventing? We’re getting ready to kick off daily editions of our Olympic Digest starting Wednesday, July 28. You can sign up for free right here.
Perhaps it’s no longer appropriate to dub these social media round-ups as #RoadToTokyo, as the Tokyo Olympics are officially underway and most of the equestrian athletes are well settled in to their digs at the beautiful Equestrian Park. Dressage competition began today (yesterday? the time zone gymnastics for these Olympics have been making my brain hurt), and you can keep up with the results of day one here.
Before the Games could begin in earnest, though, came the all-important, ever-traditional opening ceremony, which always features artistic displays and proud representations of all nations competing in these Summer Olympics. While spectators have been prohibited from all Olympic events this year due to ongoing Covid protocol, the opening ceremony was nonetheless an event these participants will never forget.
Set to begin their portion of competition this coming Friday, July 29, the eventers have been filling their days with some leg stretching hacks, some schooling sessions and plenty of hand grazing. Access to the air-conditioned indoor arena and other schooling areas is scheduled to allow all nations access while still keeping things distanced. Riders will also have the opportunity to have ring familiarization sessions as well as a training session under the lights before competition begins.
Let’s take a look at the first few days from Tokyo and the opening ceremony through the lens of social media!
Want to stay in the know with all things Olympic eventing? We’re getting ready to kick off daily editions of our Olympic Digest starting Wednesday, July 28. You can sign up for free right here.
In an ideal world we’d all be in Kalispell, Montana this week, watching eventers do their thing beneath bright blue skies that seem to go on forever. A warm breeze fluttering our hair, lavender-hued mountains towering in the distance, maybe looking forward to a little dip in the lake at the end of the day … Sadly, Montana is, like, REALLY far away for most of us. Thankfully event organizers in cooperation with Ride on Video have gone above and beyond to provide extensive live stream coverage so that all of us stuck at home can follow along.
Here is the schedule (add +2 hours to convert Mountain Time to Eastern Standard Time):
This week’s coverage is brought to you by Kentucky Performance Products – and you can win some cool KPP swag and receive a discount on product all year long just by entering through this simple survey. Good luck!
The Aiken Horse Park Foundation board of directors are honored to announce the establishment of the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund in her memory.
In the spirit of Annie’s vision and legacy, the Aiken Horse Park Foundation is establishing the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund, to foster, support and develop Aiken’s young equestrians who embody Annie’s character and dedication in their respective sports.
Annie was a rising star in the sport of eventing and a frequent competitor at Bruce’s Field. Her huge smile, infectious laugh, enthusiasm for life, and dedication to her sport, made her an endearing member of our community. Annie was a fixture at our winter schooling days since their inception in 2016. She was a member of our $50,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field committee, and had her rookie start in this past March’s showcase.
Supported by her friends and family, The Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund will have a lasting impact on equestrian sport and will allow us all to hold on to Annie’s spirit in perpetuity.
You can make a donation to the Annie Goodwin Rising Star Fund here.
