Welcome to our Olympics Saturday dressage open thread, presented by SmartPak! Check back on this post regularly for quick updates on the most important and exciting rides of Saturday–I will be posting updates throughout the day. Reader beware, all scores are provisional, please forgive the typos, and please understand this is written in real time.
5:12am ET — Boyd Martin and Otis Barbotiere: First to ride of all the nations at the 2012 Olympics, Boyd and Otis gave the USA the perfect lead-off test of the Olympics. Otis was a bit more tense than usual (who wouldn’t be) and a few bobbles marred his lovely gaits, particularly in the trot. Otis rocked his changes and Boyd finished with a relieved smile and salute to the crowd. The pair scored a 50.7 and moved into the provisional temporary outright Olympic lead!!!
So far, the live video feed from NBC in the USA is holding up brilliantly, although there is no commentary, and our EN live blog software is holding up as well.
5:27am ET — Video Feed and Bonnets: Chris Burton and HP Leilani of Australia have overtaken Boyd and Otis for the lead with a 46.1. My online video froze significantly once and I had to restart my computer. Other than that, NBC’s player seems to be working quite well. You can pause, buffer the video, watch replays, and go live.
Bonnetts are all the rage today. Each of the first four horses wore them. The Olympic venue, particularly the part not visible on the online feed, is packed with stands very close to the arena. The bonnets (might) help keep the horses less distracted by buffering some ambient sound. I can’t fault the riders for wearing them. Also, it’s a nice place to display your country’s flag.
5:42am ET — Barny and the Atmosphere: Quote of the morning so far for our live blog goes to Kate Samuels “Having watched the first few horses go,
5:57am ET — Michelle Mueller and Amistad (CAN): Amistad looked like another victim of the Olympic atmosphere early on in their test, but Michelle worked hard to improve things as the test went on. We saw something that I think will be a trend today–tense trot work followed by a more relaxed canter work as horses settle in to the arena. Michelle and Amistad scored a 57.0 with their best phases yet to come.
6:27am ET — Nicola Wilson and Opposition Buzz (GBR): Great Britain’s Olympic hopes started with a rhythmical and quiet test from Opposition Buzz “Dodie” in front of a hushed British crowd. Even the ever-present airplanes seems to give Greenwich a reprieve. Opposition Buzz doesn’t have the best movement, but Nicola showed her horse off well with her lovely position. They scored a 51.7, which was a fair score that I don’t think included any home-country advantage.
6:30am ET — Linda Algotsson (SWE): First rider of the day to wear a helmet! Linda and her horse La Fair were the first pair to look calm, almost backward, in the arena. Linda’s sister Sara will ride for Sweden tomorrow.
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7:01am ET — Andrei Korshunov of Russia (RUS): Andrei dominates the competition for best ‘stache ever, and that’s all I have to say about their test.
7:09am ET — Karen O’Connor and Mr. Medicott (USA): Like many of the Saturday morning rides, Mr. Medicott’s test suffered slightly from tension. Nonetheless, he is such an impressive horse and Karen rode so elegantly that they scored a 48.2. The best part of their test was the flying changes and the worst part was probably the extended walk–which has been giving horses and riders trouble all morning. Karen and Boyd have scored 48.2 and 50.7 respectively, which puts the USA in a good position this morning with the lovely Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister still to ride today. I think it would be fair to say the judges were a bit generous to Karen and Mr. Medicott considering the other scores of the morning.
7:37am ET — Sam Griffiths and Happy Times (AUS): The Aussies are turning up the heat at Greenwich with a test that showcased excellent changes and forward relaxation in all three gaits from Sam and Happy Times. Sam was a last minute substitute to the Aussie team after late minute injuries but he proved he deserved the spot by jumping into the temporary lead on a 45.6, giving Australia the top two spots as of right now.
7:52am ET — Dirk Schrade and King Artus (GER): After a less than ideal first test from Peter Thomsen, Germany needed a good test from Dirk Schrade and King Artus to stay close in the team competition. King Artus was extremely rideable for Dirk and although the smaller horse doesn’t have the most movement in the world, his test was the picture of correctness. The judges rewarded accuracy over flash and gave the German pair a 39.8 to take the temporary individual and team lead from the Aussies.
8:03am ET — Hawley Bennett and Gin & Juice (CAN): From riders to horses to coaches to vets to selectors to fans, Canada has one of the best true teams in eventing. That great team leads to consistent quality at team events. Ginny showed some tension and shortness in her frame, which held back her score. The excitable mare gave Hawley her full attention throughout the test and Hawley should be really proud after their test, which scored a 48.7. Canada has invested a lot in this pair and that investment paid off well today. I did think that Otis’ test was a few points better, but that’s the curse of going first.
8:15am ET — Carl Bouckaert and Cyrano Z (BEL): 58 year old Carl Bouckaert of Belgium worked incredibly hard to make the Belgian team this year, including leaving his home at Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia to go train with the Belgian Team all summer. The hard work and focus has paid off really well so far–Carl’s position and Cyrano’s performance was the best I have seen from them and led to a quality score of 52.8 for Belgium.
8:30am ET — Lunch Break: The eventing dressage is 25% complete. Time to write the morning recap and grab some food!
9:33am ET — Mary King and Imperial Cavalier (GBR): Mary King produced a lovely, calm, and steady test with Imperial Cavalier. Watching Mary and Imperial Cavalier ride, you’d think they were out for a canter on a cool morning, not surrounded by thousands of fans on the biggest stage of their career. Mary gave the biggest smile of the day after her salute, drawing the biggest cheer of the day, and the second best score of the day so far–40.9.
9:46am ET — Ludvid Svennerstall and Shamwari (SWE): This lovely horse showed off a great walk to score a 43.7 for Ludvig. After the test, Ludvig stretched his hands into the air as a sign of relief after a great ride.
9:51am ET — Jonathan Paget and Clifton Promise (NZL): A few years ago “Jock” Paget was a rising star for New Zealand. That star has risen and he is now a consistent top international rider who delivered a veteran ride for the Kiwis today with his partner Clifton promise. The pair scored 44.1. Jock’s expression meant all business after his salute–this Kiwi team isn’t messing around this weekend.
10:06am ET — Alex Peternell and Asih (RSA): This pair might be the most controversial and exciting of the London eventers. Alex essentially forced his way onto the South African team through two appeals to the court of arbitration after the South African federation first tried to send another rider and then tried to give up their Olympic spot instead of taking Alex. Alex and Asih put the drama behind them and delivered a nice performance. Asih is a lovely keen horse and I hope South Africa will get behind the pair now that they are at the Olympics and wearing the flag of their country.
10:19am ET — Tiana Coudray and Ringwood Magister (USA): Ringwood Magister entered the Olympic arena as the most elegant and best turned out horse of the day. Tiana gave a smile to the judges with her first salute and with that they were off on their first Olympic phase. If I had to nitpick I would say that “Fin” was maybe moving a bit more and down than reaching forward, and Tiana lost his concentration in the canter for a moment. They didn’t produce their best test today, but Tiana rode with calmness and precision to manage her horse really well. Ringwood Magister deserved the big pat Tiana gave him after their salute and I thought they were scored fairly with a 52.0.
10:42am ET — Andrew Hoy and Rutherglen (AUS): I liked this horse at Rolex and I liked watching him today at the Olympics. Andrew rode Rutherglen in a double bridle and it gave Rutherglen a steady contact with a reliable frame. As usual, Andrew didn’t give the judges any major chances to deducts points. Couple that with seamless, almost invisible, changes and you are going to get a great score–41.7.
10:58am ET — Ingrid Klimpke and FRH Butts Abraxxas (GER): Ingrid Klimke is just a step above everyone else when it comes to dressage in eventing. Today she looked like she belonged in the pure dressage competition at the Olympics on her way to a 39.3 and the dressage lead. You could hardly see Ingrid move a muscle as Butts Abraxxas moved seamlessly beneath her. The German team is starting to flex its dressage muscle in London.
11:14am ET — Peter Barry and Kilrodan Abbott (CAN): Peter Barry is riding perhaps my favorite horse in the competition–the super-nice Kilrodan Abbott. Peter has built a wonderful partnership Kilrodan Abbott the horse rewards him each and every day with pure kindness and effort. Peter did suffer an error of course, but that was the only major problem in an otherwise polished test. Peter’s dressage has come such a long way since Canadian training camp started–I hope Peter is proud of himself and his horse. They scored a 61.7.
11:29am ET — Tim Lips and Oncarlos (NED): The first day of dressage in London concluded with a ride by a Dutch pair that is familiar to North American fans from Rolex and the WEGs. Oncarlos looked around during much of the test and Tim struggled to keep his form stretching and relaxed. Oncarlos improved in the canter work and Tim left the Greenwich main arena with a pat for Oncarlos and the satisfaction that he rode through Oncarlos’ tension well.
That’s all for our Saturday dressage open thread. Check back on EN throughout the day for much more from London and return Sunday for full coverage of dressage day 2 at the Olympics.
Visit the USEF Network, SmartPak’s Youtube channel, @SmartPakerSarah, @SmartPakerColby, and the SmartPak blog throughout the weekend for the best of London.
Go eventing.
