I was pretty bummed by our eventing team…I’ve never been a fan of Amy Tryon, so while I wasn’t “happy” with her fall, I wasn’t devestated, either. Karen O’Connor had a pretty good trip with a very green horse. Phillip Dutton apparently got screwed over a bit by a new FEI rule, so he was DQed for individual (and possibly team as well) competition. And Becky Holder just had a bad XC trip, which is a shame for as nice a horse as Courageous Comet (but it happens to everyone).
But Gina Miles - yay! So happy for her. She’s not a “big name” (until now, anyway), doesn’t have a huge string of million dollar horses, and yet she pulled off an amazing ride in her first Olympics. And she’s from northern California!
I didn’t really catch much of the eventing, I always seem to be out or at work when they air it, but I was pretty disappointed we didn’t medal. I did see Gina Miles’s individual jump off, I was holding my breath she’d get the Gold, but she was obviously thrilled with the Silver and it was a great ride.
I did see a little bit of the dressage too which was beautiful. There was a 16 year old girl from, I think Spain maybe, who was the youngest Olympian in history for dressage which was pretty amazing. Wish they would show more equestrian on the main TV stations
I convinced my mom to buy the “Bold” channel so I have been watching it all. I am soooo disappointed in Team Canada’s eventing team, but oh well , maybe next time… Excited for Team Canada show jump team, I think we could medal it here I wish somebody would get a medal though, I’m slightly embarrased that we haven’t got one yet! lol
I watched some of the horse stuff but it really made me mad how in the stadium round they were all like “this is a VERY technical course” when it was only 3’9" and VERY much a wide open, rolling course. I had just got back from a grand prix held in an area maybe 1/4 of that size lol and they had this HUGE Swedish with a 2 strides approach off of the fence lol
I can;t waith for the actual Show Jumping (the big stuff not the eventing stuff )
but yes the Water Cube is a very good place to stick to!! lol My friends keep tryin to get me to go out with them at night and I’ve had to turn them down every time cause I just love Michael Phelps SOOOO much!! lol
Yeah, I don’t think the stadium course for eventing was all that “technical”, unless just via all the various options the riders had to choose from (though even then, it didn’t seem like it made much difference as far as time, so there wasn’t much incentive to take the shorter/harder routes).
Still, 3’9" is high for eventing, especially when they’ve already jumped stuff that’s 3’11" the previous day in 8 minutes.
I’ve been watching the Water Cube since Phelps started, and watching some of the Canadian Olympic swimmer’s that train at my University and 2 hours away. Fun stuff to watch people you know in the Olympics!
I’ll mainly be watching now the Team and Individual show jumping to see how the Canadians do as it’s the Americans in first with 0 jumping faults and Canada in a three-way tie for second with 4 faults.
I love watching Ian Miller as he is in his 9th Olympic Games. Sadly, it’s the only major world event he has not won a medal in yet so I’m hoping he can get one in the Team event or in Individual as the Canadian team is strong this year, and won the silver in the 2007 Pan Am’s so it will be a fun event to watch!
As perhaps the only dressage ‘queen’ (oh, please…who am I kidding… ) here, I’m wondering if anyone else saw the tests… I’ve only caught one, and I’m trying to you-tube the rest…
I have a few remarks:
Not surprised by Germany’s dominance and they more than deserve the gold they got… (they’ve owned that top spot on the podium since 1984)
Obviously any team w/ Anky + Salinero on it is going to kick butt… (The Netherlands’ took Silver) And, lets be serious… A conservative test from Anky is stellar to anyone else…
I’m not really liking this new 3 rides only rule, and I think it kinda messed things up for the Americans (Brentina is older, but seriously… a 63%? And you can’t drop it? How do you decide who rides out of 4? And, doesn’t this really mess up qualifications for the individuals?)
Props to Heglestrand and Don Schufro ( I looked at him as a stallion candidate for my mare a couple years ago… )… Although I’m missing Blu Hors Matinee…
Killer showdown coming between Anky and Isabell… BRING IT ON!!
I’m rooting for Steffan Peters to bring bronze home with Ravel (is he sired by one of the stallions of Iron Springs?), but I’m concerned that the stallion is a little young @ GP… And, they’re up against Kemmer and her mount, Bonaparte, who are simply way way too good (and German… ).
Still psyched that Courtney King made it with Mythilus AND placed 8th in the standings… she is a really awesome rider and great person.
Brazil’s 16 y/o w/ her Lusitano placed something like 18th! How amazing would it be to be 18th in the WORLD at 16 years old… I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this one…
Oh… PS… Ian Miller, you’ve always rocked my world… Congrats on the Canadian Team Silver; Big Ben would be proud.
I haven’t checked, but are there any videos of our eventing team on you-tube?
I don’t know about youtube, but in the US, at least, you can watch all the equine stuff online on nbcollympics.com.
I agree with all of your comments, though I wasn’t that impressed w/ the 16yo’s horse (he seemed enh movement-wise, and was only 9, too). She seemed really poised and gracious, though.
I missed it all,my cable didnt carry it , or at odd times, but back in 1981 (showing my age i know) I actually went to a 4 day horse camp (they were big on pony club) and then a show that weekend at the Farm in Maine owned by the family of an Olympic rider, she was really nice. Lendon Grey, her horse was a big black named Beppo, she had to retire him due to navicular, if i remember . Their farm was gorgeous and huge, thats where the pony club was held and a lot of big shows too. She and Beppo performed for us then we got to see the new horse she was training, it was really awesome.
there is a story about them, but the link would not copy, you can google them tho
I wish somebody would get a medal though, I’m slightly embarrased that we haven’t got one yet! lol
