Double gold for GB in SJ and Dressage.
Well good morning there, Eventing Nation!
A super congratulations to Great Britain for cleaning up in the show jumping and dressage and the London Games. Pretty fitting when the home team does so well. How does that go? “If they don’t win it’s a shame!” There’s no shame in the equestrian world for Great Britain right now. Super kudos to Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro scoring just over 90% to win individual gold and help TEAM GB to the team gold as well. Before we get too much further into London (can you believe the Games are almost over?!), here’s the events this weekend. If you’re stalking the men of the US Eventing Team (and you know you are. Your FB says so), they’re all at Fair Hill this weekend. It’s only a Saturday show, so make sure you get there in time…. EN sends some karma over to Ryan Wood who will be riding 11 horses from BN-I at Fair Hill!
Upcoming Events:
Fair Hill International: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
GMHA T3D Event & N3D Event Test: [Website] [Final Scores]
GMHA August HT: [Website] [Entry Status/Times/Live Scores]
Stanton Farms HT: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
Hunters Run HT: [Website] [Entry Status]
Otter Creek Summer HT: [Website] [Ride Times] [Live Scores]
The Summer Event at Woodside: [Website] [Entry Status/Times/Live Scores]
Colorado Horse Park HT: [Website] [Entry Status] [Ride Times]
Back to London:
In case you missed it, British dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin won the individual gold medal in dressage. She has a historic score of 90.089%. Her freestyle music was British themed and she rode flawlessly except for a bobble at the end of the test. Her horse, Valegro, was a horse meant for Carl Hester, whom she works for. But, she got along so well with the horse, she was allowed to keep the ride. Her first Grand Prix was last January. Not bad for the 26 year old phenom. [Horse&Hound] [COTH] [The Independent] [Horsetalk]
Charlotte Dujardin not only made history for Britain by winning the individual gold in dressage but she also did it while wearing a helmet. She’s been a proponent for safety by wearing her helmet in major competitions leading up to the Olympics. [Riders4Helmets]
While the British were having a fabulous week of dressage, sadly Ravel was not himself in his last competition. He’s being retired after the Games. However, this isn’t to be dwelled on too much. The horse has had an absolutely stellar career, a living legend if you will. Ravel was distracted in the arena according to Steffen Peters. [USEFNetwork] [Horsetalk]
Want to know what the dressage riders think of their rides? Here it straight from the horse’s rider’s mouth compiled nicely by Horsetalk. [Say again?]
More on London Dressage: New Dressage World Order. The USDF’s take on the events of the last few days. Namely, what happened to the Germans, Swedes, Dutch, etc that usually top the podium in dressage? [The London Eye]
I am really starting to love Lauren Sprieser. Her blogs are entertaining and educational. She recaps in 6 points the last couple days of dressage. “1. Go for broke.” Maybe that’s why I like her. I rode a dressage test so forward once that the judge wrote “gutsy” in the comments. I personally prefer forward dressage tests. And her second pint hits home also. “2. Don’t move.” I think there is nothing more than a rider making it look like the horse really does all the work. My inner DQ is going to keep a sharper eye on anything Lauren has to say. You should too. [COTH blog]
The Rollkur debate is still very much alive at London 2012. The ladies of Epona.tv flew in for a day at London and got creative to illegally video tape the blocked off and guarded schooling areas. There’s a chestnut horse seen more clearly than a second horse. I’ll let you be the judge. [Epona.tv]
Not enough drama for you in London? Well, don’t forget about Abdullah Sharbatly’s Olympic qualifications or lack thereof. His first Olympic qualifying result was obtained on June 29 with the deadline being June 17.. Seems fishy. So, Horse Sport International looked into the debacle. Apparently, there’s a loophole in the qualifications process that if you’ve got enough money, you can fly someone out to hold your own qualifying trials at your farm. The Scandalous Games and so much more. [Read more]
Check out the latest Eventing Radio show covering topics such as… dun, dun, dun… the Olympics. Join Joe Meyer, Francis Whittington, and more in this week’s episode. There’s talk about the Games, obviously, but what may be more intriguing are the thoughts on the different international programs and their successes. [All ears]
Back to the eventing world:
Across the pond, at Hartpury, Allison Springer, Sinead Halpin, Jules Stiller, and Sharon White are competing this weekend. Allison leads the Americans after day one with a 40.8 while Sinead and Tate had a personal best of 44.8, landing them in 4th and 10th respectively. Sharon and Rafferty’s Rules scored a respectable 53.1. Jules and Enjoy Me compete in dressage today. Chris Burton and Kinnordy Rivaldo lead after day one in the CIC3* on a 37.3. [Hartpury Results]
Are you a US combination ready for Boekelo? Have you completed a CCI3*? Can you explain why you want to go and how it fits into your program? Well, the application is due August 15! Start writing and get your app in! [USEF]
Want to be a working student for Boyd Martin?! Well, hold on to your shorts. There are a couple more questions… Are you 21 or older? Do you work hard? Can you commit to at least 6 months? Okay, well then you should apply! [Boyd’s website]
Hot on HN: The last time the US equestrian squads walked away from the Olympics empty handed was 1956 at the Melbourne Games in Stockholm… That’s the only kick I really got out of the article. Otherwise, it has some very poignant ideas that seem to (still?) hold today. [HN]
Trending on Twitter: Well, not really trending, but Plantation Field horse Trials have joined the Twitterverse. Follow them! [Tweet Tweet]
Best of the Blogs: Ryan Wood is selling lots of horses and shares in his horses. He’s sold the shares of his CCI* partner Frankie, but he’s offering up shares in Woodstock Wallaby, by all accounts a fabulous and promising young horse. [Woodstock Eventing]
Apparently you have to be a blonde Brit to win at dressage, just fyi:
