by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 2, 2021
It’s 7:15 a.m. EDT and the top 25 riders are still walking designer Santiago Varela’s course where they will contest the individual medals. It’s shorter than the course for the team final that finished earlier today. (See the story on this website) with a 60-second time allowed.
The International Olympic Committee does not allow competitors to win two medals for one performance.So in 1996, it was decided to have a separate competition to determine the top 25 individual placings in eventing. As a result, horses that have competed in dressage, cross-country and show jumping must take one more test.
In my opinion, that’s unnecessary and too much to ask of the horses– especially in 81 degree temperatures with 84 percent humidity–but arguing with the IOC doesn’t work if we want to keep equestrian competition in the Olympics. It it, however, such a shame to ask more of the most successful horses as they go into the a second round of stadium jumping to determine the individual medals.
We’re in for some exciting competition over fences set at 1.30 meters, as opposed to the 1.20 jumps in the first round. Will Julia Krajewski of Germany become the first woman (hard to believe!) to win individual Olympic eventing gold? And the third German in a row to take the title? Only a rail separates the top four in the standings.
Julia Krajewski and Amande De B’Neville. (Photo courtesy FEI)
Julia is on 25.6 penalties, followed by British team gold medalist Oliver Townend, who had a rail in the team jumping to lose his lead from cross-country and stand on 27.6 penalties. His teammate, Tom McEwen, has 28.9, and the durable, 62-year-old Australian team silver medalist Andrew Hoy–the oldest rider in the competition, has 29.6.
Germany’s Michael Jung, who was working on becoming the only three-time individual Olympic gold medalist in the sport, lost his edge when his horse, Chipmunk, triggered a frangible pin at a cross-country fence on Saturday. That resulted in 11 penalties being added to his dressage score putting him eighth at this moment on 32.1.
Another rider of note is Japan’s Kazuma Tomoto, who trains with British Olympic multi-medalist William Fox-Pitt. Kazuma stands seventh on 31.5 penalties, which should make up in some small part for the Japanese team’s failure to get as close to the podium as they did at the 2018 FEI Woirld Equestrian Games, where they were fourth. They wound up 11th here.
Riders from the sixth-placed U.S. team are out of sight of the podium, but still could bring home a good placing. Boyd Martin is 15th on 38.2 penalties, while Phillip Dutton (the individual bronze medalist from Rio 2016) is 19th with 43.3 and Olympic first-timer Doug Payne is 20th on 43.8. Great they all made the cut for the individual.
Each toppled a rail in the team round; let’s hope the fences stay up in this one.
We’ll bring you the results as the riders go, so keep coming back to this page.
Riders walking the individual eventing show jumping course.
Here is a look at the course diagram for the route in the stadium at Baji Koen Equestrian Park.
7:50 a.m. EDT: The first two riders, Fouaad Mirza of India and Felix Vogg of Switzerland, both had time penalties. Make that three:–Jesse Campbell of New Zealand also had time penalties along with two rails. Now it’s four; add Susanne Bordoni of Italy to the time penalty list.
7:55 a.m. EDT: Still waiting for someone to make the time The horses look tired. Alex Hua Tian of China had four rails and 1.6 time penalties.
8 a.m.:Doug Payne collected 4.40 penalties for a total of 48.2, which would turn out to be the best score of the U.S. riders. Phillip Dutton pulled the last two rails in the triple combination and wound up on 54.1 penalties.
8:05 a.m. EDT: We have our first round within the time. Austin O’Connor on Colorado Blue did it in 59.65 second with one rail down. His total is 59.65.
8:a.m. EDT: Lea Siegl of Austria makes the time with a rail, ending on 47 penalties.
Tim Price of New Zealand, the world number two, finishes on 60.4 after three rails and time penalties.
The last U.S. rider, Boyd Martin, had the first two down in the triple combination and a rail at the next-to-last fence as well as 1.6 time penalties that left him on 52.30.
8:15: Australia’s Kevin McNab had 12 penalties to wind up on 46.90, going after his teammate Shane Rose, who dropped only one pole.
8:20 a.m. EDT: We have our first double-clear of this round. Nicolas Touzaint on Absolut Gold, who is worth his weight in gold. He will be sixth, with 33.90 on his account.
Michael Jung, who led after dressage but got 11 penalties for a frangible pin problem cross-country, has a rail to end on 36.10. He had been hoping to be the only person to get three individual golds in the sport at the Games. Instead, he finished eighth.
8:25 a.m. EDT: What a magnificent achievement for Japan. Kazuma Tomoto logged only 0.4 time penalties for going less than a second over the time allowed, and no jumping penalties. His total is an impressive 31.90 with Vinci de la Vigne. He is fourth, just missing the podium.
8:35 a.m. EDT: Andrew Hoy, foot perfect, finishes on his dressage score of 29.60, the only rider in the competition to do so. Stands fourth–will he get higher? Depends on the three ahead of him.
Of his horse, Vassily de Lassos, he said, “We got the horse on 13th May 2017, the day Steffi and I got married, so an easy day to remember. Got him from Tom Carlile and for me it’s an absolute joy to work with him every day, every day he puts a smile on my face.” Especially today.
Andrew Hoy takes individual bronze on Vassily de Lassos. (Photo courtesy of the FEI)
But Tom McEwen of Great Britain collects only 0.4 time penalties and clinches at least bronze with a score of 29.30.
It’s a rail at the second fence for Oliver Townend and 4.8 time penalties put him on 32.40 and out of the medals in fifth, after coming into today in first place.
Then Julia Krajewski does it–the German becomes the first female individual gold medalist in Olympic eventing history with no jumping faults over two rounds, just 0.4 time penalties added to her dressage score to make a total of 26 penalties.
In the future, silver medalist Tom McEwen, gold medalist Julia Krajewski and bronze medalist Andrew Hoy won’t have to wonder where this podium shot was taken. Masks are synonymous with Tokyo.
Julia’s mount, Amande De B’eneville, was her third choice, in a way. Michael Jung’s sponsor bought her top horse, Chipmunk, two years ago. Then Samouri du Thot, who she was aiming for the Games, had to have an eye removed due to an infection.
That left Amande, and she made the best of a mare that had spent a lot of time off, but went on to win Saumur.
“Cross-country went super good. It was quite good for me that I went early (in the day), because I couldn’t watch too much,” said Julia.
“I just did my thing. And after cross-country, I was fairly positive that we could finish well, because she’s such a good jumper. And I thought, ‘Okay, if it goes wrong, it’s all in your hands.’ And before we went in, and I said, ‘Mandy we’re going to get it,’ and I think she knew it was a special day.”
Women were only allowed to start competing in Olympic eventing in 1964, when Lana DuPont was on the U.S. team. She fell twice (rules were different in those days, you could fall and get back on) and had all kinds of bumps and bruises, but she paved the way for Julia to achieve the sport’s highest honor.
Julia Krajewski did it!
So Tom McEwen is silver and the eternal Andrew Hoy bronze. Kazuma Tomoto made his own history by finishing fourth individually for Japan.
Doug Payne was the highest-placed of the Americans in 16th place, followed by Boyd Martin (20th) and Phillip Dutton (21st).
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 2, 2021
It’s 4 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time and the eventing stadium jumping is under way at Baji Koen Equestrian Park.
We’re starting out with the lowest-placed riders after cross-country, as the competitors proceed in reverse order of merit.
Designer Santiago Varela’s colorful course begins with six fences that get riders into the task, and becomes increasingly more difficult as they go on, especially with a time allowed of 79 seconds to cope with.
The temperature is 85 degrees with 78 percent humidity, but will become somewhat cooler as the competition continues, since Japan is 13 hours ahead of EDT and it’s heading into the evening there.
Here’s a look at Santiago’s course for the team medals:
The top 25 after the team medal round will proceed to the individual round over a different course. It’s a lot of work for the horses who qualify, after they have done dressage and cross-country in the heat. But having two jumping tests is required, because the International Olympic Committee won’t allow awarding two medals for one competition, as is done in the World Championships.
A view of the first eventing show jumping course.
4:15 a.m. EDT: Colleen Loach of Canada had two rails with Qorry Blue D’Argouges to finish on 50.80 penalties incorporating her cross-country score. She will finish 28th and not make the cut for the individual test.
Another rider we’ve been watching, the stylish Fouaad Mirza of India, had 8 penalties for a total of 47.20. He did make the cut and would wind up 23d over all.
4:30 a.m. EDT: We have our first clear round, Ryuzo Kitajimo on Feroza Nieuwmoed. He is the reserve Japanese rider, filling in for Yoshiaki Oiwa, who had a fall cross-country and was eliminated. Ryuzo was added so Japan could finish as a team, an accommodation for the first yearthe Games has run with a three-member squad and no drop score. Japan winds up 11th.
Ryuzo is one of a number of substitutes, including the next rider to go fault-free over the course, Eveline Bodemuller, filling in for Switzerland’s Robin Godel, whose horse, Jet Set, was euthanized after sustaining an injury on cross-country. Switzerland ended in 10th place.
4:45 a.m. EDT: The first U.S. rider, Doug Payne, had a rail at the initial element of the double with Vandiver, but rode a very competent round–as one would expect from a man who spends a lot of time competing in grand prix show jumping. With the four penalties added, he stands at 43.80 penalties and may be able to come back for the top 25.
4:50 a.m. EDT: France’s Nicolas Touzaint on Absolut Gold went clean over the jumps with a time fault to end on 33.90 and keep France in bronze medal position.
4:55 a.m. EDT: Kevin McNab of Australia was fault-free to keep his team in silver medal position with his score of 34.90 penalties..
5 a.m. EDT: Britain’s Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser are insuring their country stays at the top of the standings at this point with a clean round that puts them in first place with 28.90 penalties. If Britain wins gold, it will be the first time the country has claimed the title since 1972. and in my mind there’s not doubt about who will wear gold here.
They were the favorites–Britain’s Oliver Townend, Laura Collet and Tom McEwen show off their medals. (Photo courtesy FEI)
Tom McEwen of Great Britain and Toledo de Kerser at the colorful double.
5:15 a.m EDT: The cute dun mount of Ireland’s Sam Watson, Flamenco, dropped two rails, including the middle pole of the triple combination to add 8 penalties and finish on a total of 55.30 penalties.
5:20 a.m. EDT: Michael Jung, who saw his dream of being the first three-time individual gold medalist end with a frangible pin penalty on cross-country, had a fault-free trip on Chipmunk. He is standing eighth on 32.10.
Michael Jung and Chipmunk.
5:25 a.m. EDT: The USA’s Phillip Dutton dropped the third part of the triple and the first part of the double with Z, whose total is 43.30. The USA has fallen to sixth place behind Germany now. Phillip will be back for the individual test, however.
5:30 a.m. EDT: Shane Rose of Australia tipped the first part of the double, which can be costly, as his country, France and New Zealand are all close for what Great Britain leaves of the medals to be contested. He’s at 35.70.
5:35 a.m. EDT: Britain has such a good lead of nearly 18 penalties in the team fray that Laura Collett’s mishap at the liverpool with London 52 scattering the rails didn’t make a dent. She came close to the 79-second time allowed in 78.79 seconds, but squeaked through and has 29.80 penalties.
5:45 a.m. EDT: What a disappointment for China. Alex Hua Tian, the country’s best rider, had a very sudden stop with Don Geniro at the last fence. In addition to 4 jumping penalties, he collected. 4.8 time penalties, but will be back for the individual carrying his score of 44.70..
5:50 a.m. EDT: Julia Krajewski of Germany goes into the individual lead on 25.60, having put only 0.4 onto her dressage score when she was one second over the optimum time on cross-country. She is fault-free in this jumping round and could become the first woman to win Olympic eventing individual gold.
5:55 a.m. EDT: No medal for the U.S. Boyd Martin had the first part of the double down with Tsetserleg, and Germany has moved ahead of America in the standings. Boyd will be back for the individual jumping. He is the third U.S. team member to have penalties in the final phase of the event. He is on 38.70 in 15th place.
5:55 a.m.EDT: Three rails down (including two in the triple) by Tim Price on Vitali puts New Zealand behind Germany in the race for the bronze medal. New Zealand is off the podium. It’s a total of 38.80 for the number two rider in the world rankings. Tim was fourth after cross-country and is now 16th.
6 a.m. EDT: It’s bronze at least for France, the 2016 Olympic champions, as Christopher Six goes clear with a score of 31.20.
6:05 a.m. There’s no pro like an old pro. A clear round from 62-year-old Andrew Hoy, still on his dressage score of 29.60, keeps Australia atop the podium in silver, while France takes bronze. Then it’s Germany, New Zealand and USA, sixth on 125.8 penalties.
Oliver Townend led Great Britain to team gold.
6:10 a.m: Oliver Townend of Great Britain has a rail at the first part of the troublesome double, putting him behind Germany’s Julia Krajewski individually.
But it does no harm to Britain’s lead, as that nation takes its first Olympic eventing team gold in 49 years. Here are the totals: Britain 86.3, Australia (silver) 100.2, France (bronze) 101.5; Germany fourth, 114.2, New Zealand fifth, 116.4, USA sixth, 125.8.
6:45 a.m.: All three U.S. riders qualified for the top 25. Boyd Martin was 15th, Phillip Dutton 19th and Doug Payne 20th.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 29, 2021
(This blog is being updated with the second session of eventing dressage. It starts with the first session and continues into the second session, so keep going down to get the latest information.)
It’s 7:30 p.m Eastern Daylight Time as three-day eventing kicks off at the Tokyo Olympics.\
The test is specially written for the Games, and provides a challenge with movements such as the half-pass to the shoulder-in, which is counter-intuitive (it’s tougher than the other way around.)
I’ll give key scores, so not every entry will be mentioned in this blog, but we certainly will include the leaders and anyone of particular interest.
We’re starting with some important players near the beginning of the order. After the Thai rider, Arinadtha Chavatanont on Boleybawn Prince, made her country’s debut in Olympic eventing with a score of 42.40 penalties, world number one Oliver Townend showed his precision with Ballaghmor Class. Good lead changes, smoothly executed, were typical of this very flowing test, which earned 23.6 penalties. That would be the equivalent of 76.36 percent in a regular dressage score, but that isn’t how they do it in eventing..
Britain’s Oliver Townend and Ballaghmor Class.
Oliver, like his British teammates, is a 5-star winner, most recently at Land Rover Kentucky in April, but this is his first Olympics. Britain is favored in this Games, and it’s off to a good start.
The USA’s Doug Payne and Vandiver were fulfilling a lifetime ambition by starting in the Games.
The horse, who is by the Trakehner, Windfall, has lovely carriage, but he tossed his head slightly in reactive mode during two lead changes.
Doug, marked at 33 penalties, said, “This is probably about as well as he’s ever done. I think it’s a difficult test for him, everything comes up really quick.
Doug Payne and Vandiver. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
“He was about as settled as he’s been in quite a long time. For sure, there’s some stuff you wish you could improve and that’s our job going forward…he’s got a massive heart and always tries his best and for that, you’ve got to be thankful and appreciative.”.
Doug stands 12th and is the only American rider tonight. The dressage phase continues tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening.
The dressage is being done during the coolest times of the day to avoid the worst of Japan’s summer heat and humidity, but the horses can also get a break when they leave the arena from the cooling mist fans that we first saw at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Felix Vogg of Switzerland and Colera moved smarly to be marked at 26.70.
If you read my eventing preview story on this website, you’ll know I mentioned that the Japanese team shouldn’t be overlooked.
And that was underlined when their first rider, Kazuma Tomoto on Vince de la Vigne, left the ring with a score of 26.1, which elicited a “wow” from me after watching his test.
Kazuma, who is fourth, trains with British Olympic multi-medalist William Fox-Pitt, and it shows.
8:10 p.m. EDT: Alex Hua Tian of China, a pioneer at the international level of the sport for that country, made his Olympic bow in 2008 in appropriately, Hong Kong. His experience showed as he and Don Geniro were marked at 23.90, right behind Oliver. And there they stayed for the remainder of this segment.
Australia’s Shane Rose has been around forever and he and Virgil looked very comfortable with all their experience. Their total was 31.70 to stand 11th.
Therese Viklund and the one-eyed Viscera.
Sweden’s Therese Viklund had an interesting ride on Viscera, a Hanoverian mare who lost an eye.a while back. (You can see its absence as a black spot in the photo)
It doesn’t seem to bother her; the score of 28.1 was quite nice, good enough for sixth. I’ll be interested to see how she handles cross-country.
The cool thing about the eventing here is the range of countries represented, many more than in Grand Prix dressage. The list includes Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Poland, India, Czech Republic, Belarus and others that we’re not used to seeing. Nice to see that the sport is expanding.
I always advise to never overlook the French in eventing and show jumping, but I did in my preview, since I wasn’t sure this team had what it takes to medal.
Its Rio 2016 gold medalist Thibaut Vallette announced July 9 that he withdrew Qing Du Briot Ifce due to a “slight sensitivity” in one foot.
However, today former reserve rider Christopher Six had very smooth changes with Totem de Brecey and some style (so typical of the French equestrians) to wind up with 29.6 penalties, seventh and the lowest-placed of those who scored less than 30 penalties.
I know you’re never supposed to buy a horse for it’s color, but I’d be tempted by Sam Watson’s Tullabeg Flamendo, a dun with white and black on all four legs, oh so flashy.
Sam Watson and his perky dun, Tullabeg Flamenco.
Sam you may know as the co-founder of Equiratings. He was wearing a yellow ribbon in memory of Tiggy Hancock, a 15-year-old Irish eventer who died in a fall last June. His 34.20 penalties puts him 14th.
New Zealand’s Jonelle Price and her husband, Tim, comprise half of their country’s team. She was on Grovine de Reve, previously ridden by her countryman Dan Jocelyn, to get marked at 30.70.
9 p.m. EDT: Julia Krajewski of Germany moved into third place behind Alex Hua Tian with Amande de B’Nevelle on 25.20 for a test in which the horse was wholly cooperative, fluid throughout and easy in her flying changes. Julia is the former rider of Chipmunk, who has gone to her multi-medal teammate Michael Jung.
Canada’s only entry is Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argoges, after Jessica Phoenix declined to present Pavarotti for the horse inspection, after he sustained an injury on his final gallop. This French-bred gray stands at 35.6 penalties, 14th best at this point in the evening (or morning, if you’re in Japan.)
Lauren Billys normally is coached by Derek DiGrazia, who built the cross-country course for the Games, so they are not working together for the Olympics because it would be a conflict of interest (and he wouldn’t have the time, anyway.) She represents Puerto Rico with Castle Larchfield Purdy,,the second-oldest horse in eventing here at age 19.
Her horse was very cooperative, but he stepped forward in the halt. She is on 39.80 penalties to be 17th of 21 in this group.
Thomas Heffernan Ho and 20-year-old Tayberry.
The oldest horse, is Tayberry, age 20. He is in 20th place with 46.70 penalties after kicking out in two lead changes and throwing his head quite a bit. He is ridden by Thomas Heffernan Ho, Hong Kong’s first Olympic representative in eventing.
10 p.m. EDT: We’re finished for this round. I’ll be back blogging at 4:30 a.m. EDT Friday, so return to this story to check scores and find out what’s happening as we begin to get an idea of the team totals..
SECOND SESSION
4:30 a.m. EDT: Fouaad Mirza of India and Seigneur started the session with a very impressive test that did their country proud on 28 penalties, the equivalent of 72 percent in pure dressage. It was worth getting up early to see.
Fouaad Mirza of India and Seigneur.
The former mount of Bettina Hoy of Germany is now under the watchful eye of another German, former world champion Sandra Auffarth. This horse looks every inch a thoroughbred and had a crisp and eager style. This was a ride many competitors would envy.
I mentioned in my comments on the first session of dressage how encouraging it was to see riders from a wider variety of countries than we watched in the Grand Prix dressage competition. But what’s even more encouraging is the quality of riders from countries that are not hotbeds of eventing.
Fouaad is riding as an individual, not as a team member, and a few other individuals followed him.
Peter Flarup of Denmark was on 33.6 penalties with Fascination, while the youngest eventing rider at the Games, 22-year-old Lea Siegel of Austrlia, was marked on 32.6 for DSP Fighting Line’s test.
Thailand’s second rider, Weerapat Pitakanonda on Carnival March (trained by Britain’s Piggy March) withstood the rain to finish on 38.10 penalties.
Britain’s second rider, Laura Collett on London 52, won the 5-star at Pau, France. She nicely added to Oliver Townend’s leading score for her country from the first session. London, the horse she bought as a 5-year-old, is a businesslike horse with a lovely stride.
“He’s been phenomenal all year and I was aiming for (a score of) 21/22. This year, he’s been very close to Ballaghmor Class, but unfortunately it didn’t come off today.”
Laura, who had a bad accident eight years ago, still doesn’t have sight in one eye. That certainly doesn’t stop her. Her mark was 25.80, good enough for fourth at this point and bolstering Britain after two thirds of its team has gone.
From the youngest rider to the oldest–Phillip Dutton at age 57 is the senior U.S.athlete at these Games. This veteran, the individual bronze medalist from Rio 2016, achieved a score of 30 penalties, or 70 percent in Grand Prix dressage terms, with the Zangersheide gelding, Z.
Phillip Dutton and Z.
Phillip turned in a professional performance, as always. Z was on form, though he looked like he was working hard in the lead changes, which are such a big part of the score.
“I was really pleased,” Phillip said, reflecting on his ride.
“I would have liked a bit of a better score, but at the end of the day, my horse went really well and did what I asked, so I can’t be too disappointed. He’s generally a hot horse, but he’s getting more and more seasoned and more and more trained, and I was pretty proud of him actually – there’s no crowd, but you are under the lights, it’s a different situation, and there’s a lot to look at, and he was really in tune with me.
“The great thing about our sport and working with horses is that they keep improving all the time, and if you can keep them competing and sound, then they keep getting better and better, and that’s the way he is. He’s a better, more seasoned horse than he was this time last year.”
The U.S. total is now 63 with two-thirds of the team having performed. The Brits lead with a total of 49.40.
If you look at my eventing preview, the second story on the main page of this website, you’ll note that I said not to count out the Japanese. After all, they were fourth at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, and are proving their mettle again here.
Toshiyuki Tanaka and Talma D’Allou, the second rider for Japan, demonstrated the potential this team may have to make the podium. His score of 32.6 penalties makes the team total 58.7, putting it ahead of the U.S. He trains in England with Angela Tucker.
Australia is just behind the U.S. now on 63.8 with a 32.10 test by Kevin McNab, who was the second reserve to get on the plane.Now the Aussies are very glad to have him here with Don Quidam. Stuart Tinney and Leporis had replaced Chris Burton on the squad, but after the horse inspection, Leporis was deemed not fit to start, so Kevin was called in.
5:40 a.m. EDT: The second Chinese rider, Huadong Sun, earned 35.2 penalties on the Zangersheide mare Lady Chin V’T Moerven Z to put his nation on 59.1 penalties, buoyed by Alex Hua Tian’s 23.9 mark in the first session that remains in the second position to Britain’s Oliver Townend at this moment.
Polish rider Malgorzata Cybulska on Chenaro 2 has 31 penalties, the same mark as Belarus’ individual rider Alexander Zelenko on Carlo Grande Jr. (the names sounds like a person, but trust me, it’s a horse). The Polish team total to this point is 71.20.
5:50 a.m. EDT: Poised flying changes were a highlight of the test by Sweden’s Louise Romeike and Cato 60, a 17-year-old whose rump bore a stencil of the Swedish crown. Her score of 28, which ties with the Indian rider for seventh place, makes the team total 56.10, standing second. Like Britain, Sweden now has two riders in the top 10.
France only has one team member riding here from its 2016 Rio Games gold medal squad. It is on a total of 62.60 after a 33-penalty effort from Absolute Gold (love that name!) and Nicolas Touzaint, whose father and uncle rode in the 1976 Montreal Games. This horse looks as if he needs delicate handling. He was casual in the extended walk but when his rider gathered the reins, it appeared that might light his fuse.
6:15 a.m.: We’ve had several reserves put in as members for their teams. Here’s another, Austin O’Connor on the gray Jaguar Mail son, Colorado Blue, stepping in for Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua. Cathal’s horse was pulled for veterinary reasons, but could come back as the reserve if necessary, should her vet report improve.
Colorado Blue performed a classic halt but was a little rushed in the rein-back. I can hear him grinding his teeth; not sure if the judges can.He was rather flamboyant in his first two flying lead changes, and I’m sure his score of 38 reflected that. With two riders in the books, Ireland stands on 72.30 penalties.
6:25 a.m. EDT: Sandra Auffarth, Germany’s individual world champion in 2014, had a few costly errors in her test with Viamant du Matz.
Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz.
Most noticeable was when he struck off on the wrong lead in the canter. He was supposed to be on the counter-lead at that point, but he was on what would have been the correct lead under other circumstances.
So she had to fix that, and then went on moments later to have a flying change that popped a bit too much.
Sandra was marked at 34.10, putting Germany, one of the favorites for gold, on a team total of 59.30. I’ll remind you that she coached the Indian rider who competed earlier in the session and wound up with a better score (28 penalties) than his coach!
7 a.m. EDT: With the second session over (the third and final session starts in 12 and 1/2 hours) I’ll recap. Great Britain holds its team lead on 49.40 penalties, followed by Sweden, Japan (I told you they had potential), China, Germany and New Zealand. The U.S. is ninth on a 63-penalty total, with Doug Payne in 21st place and Phillip Dutton 12th.
The top three haven’t changed since yesterday: World number one Oliver Townend of Great Britain, Alex Hua Tian of China (that’s how China is in fourth place) and Julia Krajewski of Germany.
Oliver led off for his team, noting, “It wouldn’t be my chosen job in life to be pathfinder but at the same time the first bit is out of the way and he’s (Ballaghmor Class) done a very commendable job. So fingers crossed, we keep the work up over the next three or four days and see where we end up”.
Here’s how Oliver assessed the cross-country course: “It’s very intense.You’re always on the climb or camber or in the water, or in a combination.”
Even so, he said, “The questions are extremely fair, it’s very horse- friendly, and if you took each fence individually, there wouldn’t be too many problems. But at the same time, when you add the heat, the terrain, the Olympic pressure and then speed on top of that, it’s going to be causing a lot of trouble and it’s going to be very difficult to get the time.”
“Derek is a horseman to start with, and I think he’s a special, talented man at the job. He wants the horses to see where they are going, there’s no tricks out there. Derek doesn’t try to catch horses out, he builds very see-able questions and lets the terrain and the speed do the job for him.”
I’ll be live blogging the final session, so come back to my website to learn who’s where before we head to the cross-country, where things will change a lot.
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by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 28, 2021
There were a few surprises in the dressage competition at the Olympics; the U.S. got its first team silver in the discipline since 1948, and there was a new face on the highest level of the podium after the individual competition.
No one was surprised, however, when Germany won team gold for the 14th time, and many familiar names–even with new horses–did well.
But eventing in Tokyo, which gets under way Thursday evening Eastern Daylight Time, will be a whole different story. The dearth of top-level eventing since the spring of 2020 due to Covid means horses might not be in their usual form and we may not be aware of new contenders with the potential to win.
With only three on a team and no drop score, the ability to substitute a horse/rider combination during the competition comes with penalties, which make the sport harder to understand. Even those who have followed it for years are on a learning curve. As a result, it’s also more difficult to handicap. And we all know anything can happen in eventing under any circumstances, let alone the Olympics.
For the U.S. squad, preparation has gone “according to plan,” said the discipline’s performance director, Erik Duvander, noting the idea always was that team contenders would compete primarily in America in the run- up to the Games. With Covid, as it happened, there was little choice about traveling to foreign competitions. .
“If we had planned to go abroad, it would have been different,” Erik pointed out, but as it was, only one or two horses originally might have wanted to go to Great Britain’s 5-star Badminton Horse Trials before it was cancelled in May for the second time.
Key to the American lead-up was April’s Land Rover Kentucky 5-star, which was called off and then went ahead after a grassroots fundraising campaign. A Kentucky outing was vital because the cross-country was designed by Derek di Grazia, who is also laying out the Olympic cross-country route at Sea Forest, a former landfill on the water. The horses will be based at the Baji Koen equestrian park for the dressage and stadium jumping phases, and travel to Sea Forest Friday night Japanese time, which is 13 hours ahead of EDT.
In Kentucky, said Erik, “Derek built a very, very good track this year, as he always does, but this one was particularly good. I think we learned a lot from riding around there.”
The team of three and an alternate was changed when Liz Halliday-Sharp’s ride, DeNiro, was injured. Doug Payne and Vandiver were tapped to replace her on the team, which also includes perennial members Phillip Dutton (Z) and Boyd Martin (Tsetserleg). Tamie Smith and Mai Baum are the traveling reserves.
Doug Payne and Vandiver in the ring familiarization at Baji Koen. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Equestrian)
After walking the course, Phillip concluded, “Derek has made people think and decide what line they want to take. It’s not the biggest course I’ve ever walked, but there’s plenty there to do.”
He cited, “Thinking all the time…pushing things to stay on the clock.”
Boyd said the course is “very difficult just because it’s on a twisting piece of land. I think it’s going to feel big because you’re sort of stopping and starting and going left and right and up and down. Even though it’s 7 minutes 45 (seconds) I think the horses will be pretty winded just because there’s a lot of sprinting and stuff. I think Derek’s built a top track because there’s not one wicked influential jump,” he continued, mentioning tricky traps set the whole way around the course, from the fourth fence, the first jump into the water, until the last combination. The course is way harder if you have a crack at the time and go the direct lines and take chances.”
Doug said with the land Derek had available, he’s done an excellent job to make use of it. He compared it to the 4-star short at Tryon, N.C.
“Everyone’s goal is to be as smooth and easy on the horses as possible. I’m quite happy to have Vandiver here. He’s really quick horse in general… it will help your horse a lot if you know the land and know your line from start to finish within a couple of inches. It would be very easy to get caught out a little bit off one way or the other and have a pretty big impact on your round. The time’s going to be challenging for sure.
The riders were thrilled with the facilities for training and the climate-controlled stables. “Horse friendly,” is how Phillip put it.
At the same time they’re dealing with the inconvenience caused by Covid, the heat,and social distancing, they’re focusing on the competition.
“It’s been an Olympics like no other, ” said Boyd.
“You can whinge and whine about how inconvenient and this and that,” he observed, but added the situation needs to be kept in perspective.
“It’s fantastic being here. I think you can enjoy the moment. It’s unique, it’s different. I think in years to come, we’ll look at photos on the wall wearing masks and no spectators and think, `Holy hell, what a weird time that was.’
“It’s different, but it’s a special moment in all of our careers. and at the end of the day, the dressage arena is the same size, the same number of judges,” Boyd pointed out.
“It doesn’t matter if one person is watching or 50,000 people are watching, you’ve still got the same job to do, so it’s important you don’t get focused on things that are difficult or inconvenient.”
Doug rides at 7:42 EDT today (Thursday), Phillip at 5 a.m. EDT Friday and Boyd at 8:28 p.m. EDT that evening.
If you can’t watch the livestream and want to keep up with what’s happening, come back here to read my live blog for the moment-to-moment action. With a delay, you can watch highlights on NBC Sports Network on Friday from 3:15-4:15 p.m. EDT. That program will also include the second segment of eventing dressage that starts at 4:30 a.m. EDT Friday.
Want to follow German superstar Michael Jung? He rides next-to-last Friday evening at 9:44 p.m. EDT. Those rooting for Canada will have to be content with seeing just Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue D’Argouges.at 9:26 EDT Thursday. The other Canadian entry, Jessica Phoenix’s Pavarotti, was withdrawn before the horse inspection.after sustaining a minor injury on their last gallop.
Erik came to the U.S. program in 2017 and immediately was faced with organizing things for the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018. He found the contenders were not quite ready, with a group of young horses at the fore. The team finished eighth of 16 squads.
Three years on, Tsetserleg and Z are more mature and Doug has quite a resume with Vandiver. Tamie and Mai Baum are also proven entities.
While the U.S. doesn’t really figure among the hottest favorites for the team medals, as I said, handicapping is tough because of the three-member format, the heat horses will face cross-country through the morning (dressage and jumping will be held during cooler times of the day) and how the substitutions will figure in the picture. But America has three good horse/rider combos (four if you count the talented alternate) and the determination to make their mark.
The U.S. team: Phillip Dutton (Z), Boyd Martin (Tsetserleg), Doug Payne (Vandiver) and Tamie Smith (Mai Baum). (Photo courtesy of U.S. Equestrian)
The short odds are for the British, with Oliver Townend on their side. Also a factor are the Germans, led by three-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Jung (two individual golds and one team gold). The husband/wife team of Tim and Jonelle Price will make New Zealand a nation to watch in term of medal possibilities. And Australia, with veteran Andrew Hoy leading the way, can be dangerous as well.
But the withdrawal of the formidable Chris Burton after his horse suffered a slight injury means that nation won’t be quite as much of a contender as it would be with him on its roster.
Meanwhile, keep an eye on the Japanese–I was impressed at the 2018 WEG, when those riders took the short way out of a troublesome water complex, which made me think they could put in a bid.
Individually, Ollie and Michael Jung are the big players, along with Tim Price, number two in the world. But there’s always room for a dark horse or two in eventing, so maybe Boyd or Phillip will find a spot to slide onto the podium.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 28, 2021
I put the medalists in the headline, but to find out how they got to the podium and what happened to the other riders, follow my live blog.
It’s 4:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time as the final dressage competition of the Tokyo Olympics gets under way at Baji Koen Equestrian Park. An elite group of 18 starters will be dancing to their own music for another shot at the medals.
If you didn’t want to wake before dawn to watch the freestyle, I’m covering it for you, so you can check my blog to see what’s happened when you do get up. And if you want to see the highlights, they’ll be on NBCSN at 3:45 p.m..
The USA’s Adrienne Lyle, the lowest scorer on her silver medal team but still impressive with Salvino, elected not to ride today. In a statement, she said, “This morning, Salvino did not feel quite like his usual self and last night’s historic team medal was an extraordinary accomplishment, and we are proud of the team’s incredible effort.”
Adrienne was replaced by Canada’s Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and All In, the first starter on the roster today. The white-legged chestnut earned 72 percent for technical marks and 80.2 for artistic, with a toal of 76.404 for their routine to lovely orchestral music that reminded me of an ocean wave in its swells of sound.
Germany’s Isabell Werth, the number one-ranked dressage rider in the world with an Olympic medal record unmatched by any other equestrian, normally would be odds-on for another gold with her favorite horse, Bella Rose. But during the team competition yesterday and the Grand Prix over the weekend, she had to take a back seat to her teammate, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with TSF Dalera, who was the high score rider of the team competition as Germany won its 14th gold. Her mark of 84.666 set a new Olympic record.
You have to figure these women will be 1-2 in either order, leaving only one place for someone else to claim an individual prize. Jessica obviously is one to watch, but never underestimate Isabell. I’m guessing she has plenty in reserve and a clever freestyle in her quest for more gold.
Another rider of great interest is three-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain. Although her mount Gio is young and inexperienced, he is not only correct in his form but brilliant. A mistake going into the one-tempis in yesterday’s Grand Prix Special meant she couldn’t break 80 percent, so the silver medal slipped away and the U.S. took it as Britain settled for bronze. But word is that Charlotte has a freestyle with a high degree of difficulty, which will help her score if she executes it as planned.
After receiving the team medal on Tuesday, Charlotte said of Gio, “This last few days, he’s literally tried his heart out. I can’t really ask much more.
The round little chestnut, only 16 hands high, is appropriately known as Pumpkin and has a hold on Charlotte’s heart.
“This might look like bronze,” she said of her team medal, “but for me, with my horse, it feels like a gold medal.”
As we handicap the individual medals, let’s not forget Sabine Schut-Kery of the U.S., a first-time Olympian with the stallion Sanceo, who clinched silver for her adopted country (she’s a native of Germany).with a personal best, marked at more than 80 percent, another first for her. Technical advisor Debbie McDonald always said she believed Sabine and Sanceo could achieve 80 percent and as usual, she was right. The two are really on a high and perhaps they’ll surprise with a medal. After all, they were third in the Special.
Another to watch is Denmark’s star, Cathrine Dufour with Bohemian. Though I don’t think she’ll get into the medals, she’ll be close.And we can’t forget the third German, Dorothee Schneider with Showtime, who earned 80.213 in the Special. Can you imagine if the Germans swept the individual medals?
The second rider to go, Nanna Skodborg Merrald of Denmark on Blue Hors Zack, had a canter half-pass to a pirouette as a highlight. She was marked at 76.3 for technical, 85.4 artistic and 80.893 overall.
The USA’s Steffen Peters offered an impressive compilation with the 18.2-hand Suppenkasper, his menu set to his familiar “We can dance” music from his 2009 World Cup Finals victory with Ravel. The floor plan included such interesting moments as a double pirouette into piaffe and half-pass passage, as well as extended trot to a half-turn in piaffe, demonstrating the horse’s ability to stretch out and instantly shorten. It was worth a score of 80.968 percent. His artistic mark was 85.8 and technical was 80.
Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper.
Speaking about the U.S. team competition, Steffen said of winning the silver medal, “I’ve been competing for 45 years. That was probably the most special day of my equestrian career. Mopsie (Suppenkasper’s nickname) gave everything yesterday, every ounce of energy and every ounce of cooperation. Yesterday, he fought for our team.
“I wouldn’t say he was tired today but not as brilliant as yesterday. But it was still a clean test.and almost an 81 percent, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Rodrigo Torres of Portugal and the gray Lusitano stallion Fogoso, a name that reflects his coloring, received rousing applause from the few in the stands (spectators are barred due to Covid, but the owners, grooms, riders and other staff are watching closely).
Rodrigo Torres of Portugal and Fogoso.
His personal best score of 78.943 percent to me seemed a bit low for his routine that made much of the piaffe and passage in which this breed excels. The artistic mark of 83.743 percent far outstripped the technical total of 74.143 percent.
Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat rode Elegance, a horse with no international freestyle experience. He made an honest effort but was perhaps a bit tense. Her technical mark was 72.607, artistic 82.457, with a score of 77.532.
5:30 a.m. EDT: After six of 18 starters have gone, Great Britain’s Carl Hester on the Jazz son En Vogue leads the way with 81.818 percent. The technical score was 77.750, the artistic an impressive 85.886 percent. It was En Vogue’s first international freestyle, but he was guided by a master in his sixth Olympic Games, the man who piloted the British to the top of the international standings with his program.
Carl offered tempi changes on a bending line, including more steps than required to increase the degree of difficulty, which should have made up for missing a beat in the one-tempis. The passage zig-zag was pure brilliance, and a great way to end the confidence-building ride.
5:55 a.m.: Hans Peter Minderhoud, a stalwart of the Dutch team, rode Dream Boy to a score of 80.862 percent.
6 a.m. EDT: Sabine Schut-Kery, who clinched silver for the U.S., had her usual mind meld with Sanceo to take the lead on 84.300 percent. She was marked at 88.457 artistic for her routine to, appropriately, music from the movie “The Last Samurai.” Her technical score was 80.143.
Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo.
While some of the other horses have appeared a bit tired, understandable after competing in the Grand Prix and the Special in Tokyo’s heat and humidity, Sanceo looked unfazed by the weather as he and his rider put in a personal best.
A piaffe pirouette to passage and performing the walk in two sections was innovative. There was a little break before a pirouette, but it was nothing compared to the overall excellence of this effort.
Sabine did note that “the last time I rode the freestyle was 2018. I cannot ask for anything more, other than next time, I have to come more polished. He was really good, sometimes they have that extra little edge and maybe that was not quite there. Because I wasn’t as polished in the floor plan and having not ridden it, I think I, if anything, was not as fluid and I was in his way.”
Sabine was involved in entertainment exhibitions at shows before she started on her road to the big time in international competition, so that experience has helped her learn to present herself and her horse in the best form to her audience and the judges.
Here’s a shot of Sabine Schut-Kery as part of the exhibition at the 2007 World Cup Finals. How cool is this? And look at her now!
Of the stallion she brought from Training Level to Grand Prix, she said, “He’s there for me and I feel like we definitely do have a partnership. He’s sensitive but not overreactive. He lets me guide him and be the leader.”
6:37 a.m. EDT: Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino Old were marked at 79.721, but her teammate, Juliette Ramel on the impressive Buriel KH who followed her upped the ante with an entry that involved passage to a piaffe pirouette and a pirouette into the canter half-pass, but was not quite with her music at one point. She earned 81.182 percent, with 76.679 for technical and 85.686 for artistic.
6:45 a.m. EDT: Charlotte Fry of Great Britain wraps up the second group with the quirky stallion Everdale. He usually only shows his aggressive side in the horse inspection, but during her freestyle, he half-reared before settling into the half-pass after going around a corner. He had some impressive moments, though, including a zig-zag to a piaffe pirouette. He was scored at 80.614, with 75.714 for technical marks and 85.414 for artistic.
At this point, with the competition two-thirdsinished, the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery still leads the way with Sanceo. She stands 52d on the world ranking list, the same number as her age.
7: 10 a.m. EDT: But that didn’t last long. Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour on Bohemian rode magnificently to the music from Les Miserables. I loved the way she blended the two tempis into the ones on the same line.She was marked at 87.507 to take the lead. Her artistic score was an awesome 93.086, with technical at 81.929.
7:20 am. EDT: And then we had Jessica von Bredow-Werndl of Germany, living up to being the leader in the first two phases her with TSF Dalera. With a light touch on the reins of her mare, her score was 91.732 percent with an incredible 97.571 percent for artistic with 85.893 for technical. Can Isabell beat that? We’ll see, but it will take some doing. And interesting to note that in 2008, when the Olympics were in Hong Kong, the winner’s score was 78 percent. How far the sport has come!
Jessica was under the utmost pressure as she rode to the music from the movie “La La Land,” noting, “At times. I felt like I was riding in and out of a fire, on the edge of a knife.
“How far can I go, how much risk can I take? But it all worked out.”
7:30 a.m. EDT: The Netherlands’ Edward Gal did all he could with his 9-year-old Totilas son, Total US. This is a horse for the future. We likely will see him at the Paris Games in 2024, when he will be more polished. His biggest mistake was a stop before the transition into passage from the canter, but just wait until he is seasoned. His score was 84.157 percent, with an artistic mark of 89.1. She got loads of 10s for harmony, choreography and music.
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera ended their freestyle one-handed on the way to gold.
7:40 a.m. EDT: Isabell came out blazing on her fighter, Bella Rose, yet she couldn’t overtake her teammate Jessica. Isabell scored 89.657 to “Ode to Joy” with a one-handed finish, like Jessica, heading toward the final halt.
She had all 10s but for one 9.5 in choreography and only two 10s for harmony; you could have fooled me. I thought she and Bella Rose were definitely on the same wavelength.
So it looks like there’s a new Olympic champion and Isabell has to settle for silver, just as she did at Rio and London in the last two Olympics.
7:50 a.m. EDT: Charlotte Dujardin, the champion from London and Rio, slotted Gio into third place with 88.543 percent and an artistic mark of 94.086. She had four 10s for music, one for music and high 9’s for difficulty, with the exception of one 9.5. She’s in bronze at the moment, with one more German, Dorothee Schneider and Showtime to come. Are we in for a German sweep?
7:55 a.m. EDT: I’m guessing no German sweep. No score yet, but too many mistakes for Dorothee and Showtime, including a big fumble in the one-tempis and a lack of energy at the end, leading to a mark of 75.607..
8 a.m. EDT: As I said, Dorothee obviously was out of the medals and dropped down to 15th.Charlotte Dujardin is bronze, the same spot she was in at the 2018 World Equestrian Games with Mount St. John Freestyle. Cathrine Dufour of Denmark takes fourth and Sabine Schut-Kery ends her first Olympics in fifth place with Sanceo, what a fabulous finish. The other American competitor, Steffen Peters, was 10th.
The medalists: Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, gold (center), Isabell Werth, silver (left) and Charlotte Dujardin, bronze.
This is the Olympics that many (but not me) doubted would happen. For many reasons–the amount of money involved for Japan and the IOC, the need to provide a venue for athletes who had worked so hard–the Games that already had been postponed for a year needed to go on.
And so far, so good. There are Covid cases, of course, but I have no information on how serious they are. I know our equestrians have been incredibly careful (and I hope they will continue to be at their celebration tonight.)
With one equestrian discipline in the history books, it’s time to turn to another. Eventing begins tomorrow with its dressage phase. Follow along with another live blog on this website.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 26, 2021
Donations to the Equus Foundation of up to $30,000 from now through the Hampton Classic at the end of August will be matched by Cheryl Olsten, owner of EQUUS Foundation Equine Ambassador Lafitte De Muze.
Lafitte de Muze and Amanda Steege. (Photo © 2020 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
That is in addition to donations to the foundation of a portion of the spectacular show hunter’s prize money winnings. The EQUUS Foundation is the only national animal welfare in the United States solely dedicated to protecting America’s horses and strengthening the bond between horses and people. Lafite De Muze, ridden by Amanda Steege, is a perennial winner, so that’s a good thing for the foundation.
On Monday Aug. 30 during the Hampton Classic, the EQUUS Foundation will present Equine Adoption Day, sponsored by Georgina Bloomberg. Equine Adoption Day is designed to increase awareness of horses in need and to promote the welfare of America’s horses. The Equine Adoption Day will showcase rescued and adoptable horses from off-the-track Thoroughbreds to mini horses.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 24, 2021
Yes, it’s 4 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 24, and it’s finally happening! After a year’s postponement due to Covid, horses actually are competing in the lovely arena at Baji Koen Equestrian Park, which also hosted Tokyo’s 1964 Olympic Games.
No outside spectators are allowed under pandemic protocol, but some seats are filled by those associated with the horses, from vets to trainers and owners, so the stands aren’t totally empty (just close to it.) Still, there isn’t really anything in the way of atmosphere that says “Olympics.” But I’m sure for every rider here, these Games–as unusual as they are–feel like the pinnacle of everything they’ve worked for over the years.
I’ll be blogging about the highlights, so I won’t mention every horse, just the most interesting ones!
We started off with an impressive effort by the lovely Lusitano Escorial, who is a popular stallion in Portugal. Looking at his powerful passage, you can see why.
How cute is Escorial?
“Good job,” someone from the sidelines yelled after Joao Victor Marcari Oliva finished his ride for Brazil. Even though he did not have a lot of chances to compete in the run-up to the Games, he finished on 70.419.
Meanwhile, Victoria Max-Theurer of Austria, who hoped to follow once again in her mother’s footsteps at the Games, has withdrawn Abbeglen NRW. The culprit was a molar abcess. How unlucky! (check out the second story on this website for the names of some other horses that have been withdrawn.)
The rider’s mother, Sissy, won gold at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, which was boycotted by many countries, including the U.S. The withdrawal means Austria no longer has a team, since three members are required to compete to achieve that status.
Zack, a newish partner for Nana Skodborg Merrill of Denmark, had errors in piaffe and two-tempis. At 17, he is one of the oldest horses in the competition and came up with a nice score of 73.168.
Mary Hanna, an Australian grandmother of three, had a mistake in the two-tempis but handled her horse Calanta with style, showing off his very active passage.
“I could have done with being more nervous today,” she said, relating to the lack of the spectators who normally create a sense of the occasion.
She was marked at 67.981. Her mount is by Johnson, who had been ridden by perennial Dutch team member, Hans Peter Minderhoud.
Mary Hanna and Calanta.
Yvonne Losos de Muniz, who we regularly see at the Global Dressage Festival in Florida, expertly rode Aquamarijn to a score of .70.869, with passage and piaffe very sharp off the ground.
Based in the U.S., she rides for the Dominican Republic. Her horse had a correct but nicely compact frame to produce our second score over 70 percent so far.
At 5:03 a.m. EDT, Great Britain’s Charlotte Fry has the best score to this point, 77.096, which will qualify the Netherlands-based rider and Everdale for the freestyle, which is the individual final. Lottie’s late mother, Laura, rode in the 1992 Olympics and was a European championships silver medalist.
Charlotte Fry and Everdale.
It’s a good start for Britain, a contender for the silver or bronze team medals (Germany we assume has locked up gold.).
Everdale was a picture of concentration on the same wavelength as his rider. He has a tendency to be feisty, which is why his owner, rather than Lottie, trotted him out in the horse inspection, where he went last in case of antics. The only obvious flaw I saw in his test was a weak second pirouette.
Also through to the final is Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen, the highest-rated rider on the world standings list in the first group of competitors, with Dante Weltino Old. Her score was 75.140.
So a new group has taken the stage at 5:36 a.m. EDT and now we have a new best score. Not unexpectedly, it’s the Netherlands’ Edward Gal on Total US, a son of his late, great mount, Totilas.
Edward Gal of the Netherlands and Total US.
Although the horse who has the dramatic action of his sire is only nine years old and just made his international debut this year, he is very polished under the guidance of a master rider, posting a mark of 78.649
Loved his elevated pirouettes, and his front leg action is mesmerizing. You can expect to see Edward (who is sporting a beard) in the individual final. And if the Games hadn’t been postponed for a year, you wouldn’t have seen Total US in the Olympics–he would have been too young and inexperienced.
Edward was resplendent in an orange tailcoat, something new. The Netherlands is all about orange (its reigning house is Orange-Nassau.)
Spain’s veteran Beatriz Ferrer-Salat is another over 70 percent on the aptly named Elegance with 72.096 percent.
Portugal is fielding its first Olympic dressage team and Maria Caetano was off to a good start with Fenix de Tineo on 70.311 percent. Only eight teams will make it into the Grand Prix Special on Tuesday, where the team medals will be decided. The Grand Prix is only a qualifier for the Special.
Canada’s lead-off rider, Chris von Martels with Eclips, missed out on hitting 70 percent with a break in the final passage that didn’t help his score. Canada’s only equestrian team in Tokyo is dressage; it just is fielding individuals in eventing and show jumping.
At 630 a.m. EDT, I thought back and remembered Russia’s Mister X as being so electric when I watched him in the World Cup finals and the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. He’s now 17 and isn’t quite the same; understandable after missing two seasons due to injury.
And when the Trakehner was recovering, his rider, Inessa Merkulova, had a fall in the spring of 2020 and was in an induced coma for four weeks. She returned to action in the fall of 2020. They had a few moments today that weren’t up to par, including a slow canter depart and a break in the extended trot. Unfortunately, they didn’t make 70 percent (they used to be well above that) and were marked at 69.457 percent.
Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian.
Cathrine Dufour of Denmark lived up to expectations with Bohemian at 6:57 a.m. EDT, earning the first score over 80 percent today with a mark of 81.056 percent.
The Danish national champion, who is ranked number six in the world, qualified for the individual finals and will buoy her squad’s efforts in the team medal race.
Her ride was disciplined and correct, a tribute to the harmony between and exceptional horse and his skilled rider.
Great Britain’s Carl Hester took over the ride on En Vogue from Charlotte Dujardin (who we will be seeing tomorrow on Gio) because he was better suited to this mount, though she remains as part-owner. His relationship with the horse showed in the balance he demonstrated during his 7:30 a.m. EDT test as rain started coming down to ease the 82-degree temperature.
Carl Hester pats En Vogue for job well done.
He had a mistake at the beginning of the two-tempis, but got a very nice mark of 75.124 added to the 77.096 earned by teammate Lottie Fry earlier in the day.
Carl is the mastermind of Great Britain’s success, which most notably included team gold in London 2012 and two individual golds for his protege Charlotte Dujardin on the now-retired Valegro. Charlotte rides tomorrow on Gio.
At 8:15 a.m.EDT, the USA’s first rider, Sabine Schut-Kery demonstrated her special connection with the stallion Sanceo, producing highlights in piaffe and passage and one of the pirouettes, resulting in a terrific score of 78.466 percent. That should be good enough to get her into the individual final.
Sabine Schut-Kery and Sanceo. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
This is her first Olympics and she showed great composure, doing what she came to do. She formerly focused on doing show biz-type exhibitions before turning her attention to international competition.
Sabine and Sanceo also were members of the U.S. gold medal team at the 2015 Pan American Games.
Her teammates Adrienne Lyle and Steffen Peters will ride tomorrow.
The last rider to go, at 8:42 a.m. EDT,Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl delivered as expected with TSF Dalera, turning in the highest score of the day, 84.379 percent, as she started her country on the road to its 15th Olympic team gold.
This partnership looks effortless as they perform the movements, one flowing into another in a continuous array of ability.
So that’s a wrap for today. I’ll close with Sabine’s thoughts about representing the U.S. in her first Olympics and coming up with such a great score on Sanceo (78.466 percent). Don’t forget, she’s a native of Germany who is devoted to America after building a life here, and is returning the favor by representing the USA.
Of Sanceo she said, “Hes always just so with me, he is like a partnership, absolutely. You go in there and he gives you a little bit that feeling, `I got it,’ and he also likes going into that venue. He definitely puffed up a little bit.”
Discussing her test, she said, “The highlight to me that feels always amazing is piaffe/passage. The most important thing was for me was to make it here, I thought that was a huge deal, riding back in June (in the mandatory outing) and making sure I got my spot.”
And that spot wasn’t just for her or Sanceo’s owners.
“When you come as a team, you don’t ride really for yourself anymore. For me, it was really important to ride for my teammates and my country, and for all of you, for (coach) Christine (Traurig), (U.S. technical advisor) Debbie (McDonald), for my teammates, for the federation and also for friends and fans.”
U.S. Dressage Technical Advisor Debbie McDonald waving the flag on the kiss-and-cry stand at Baji Koen.
Sabine brought Sanceo up through the ranks after trying him in Germany when he had been ridden only 10 times.
“Thinking back, I would never have thought where we’d end up,” she observed.
After all the levels, including the Pan American Games gold medal team in 2015, “to finish at the Olympics is unreal, it’s so special.
“I take pride in managing him and keeping him healthy through all these years. This is also a huge part.”
Please come back to my website tomorrow for the second half of the Grand Prix. I’ll be blogging it starting at 4 a.m., EDT just as I did today.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 23, 2021
The “will they or won’t they?” part is over.The Olympics officially are a go, with the opening ceremonies wrapping up this morning (EDT) as tennis star Naomi Osaka lit the cauldron with the Olympic flame in Tokyo. (Watch a replay tonight at 7:30 on NBC). Now after months of Covid doubt, it’s time to let the Games begin (and actually, soccer, softball, rowing and archery already have started competition).
There are many, including a good number of Japanese citizens, who felt that with the problems of the pandemic, the Games should be postponed another year or simply cancelled. At least one Japanese official suggested the Games could even be called off right before opening ceremonies.
Thank goodness that didn’t happen. But the athletes who worked so hard to get to the pinnacle of their sports deserve a chance to compete against the world’s best, so the decision to go ahead seems to be the right one.
It comes with plenty of baggage, however, for the teams from 205 countries. They have to deal with mandatory masks (though I was interested to see many performers in the opening ceremonies were unmasked), as well as quarantines, restrictions on travel (the public transportation system can’t be used by visitors), no sightseeing, no restaurants. U.S. dressage rider Adrienne Lyle, who will ride Salvino, explained that to be safe, the U.S. equestrians are associating only with each other.
The U.S. dressage team: Sabine Schut-Kery with Sanceo; Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper) and Adrienne Lyle (Salvino). (Photo courtesy of U.S. Equestrian)
And in that vein, no U.S. equestrians marched in the opening ceremonies. They had plenty of company in not being there. Of the 650 American athletes who could have participated in the opener, only about 200 actually showed up in their snazzy outfits–Ralph Lauren blazers, striped shirts and stars and stripes neckerchiefs.
The U.S. team members who did march in the opening ceremonies.
I get it; they don’t want to risk a Covid infection before they compete, but a big part of the Olympic experience is mingling with people from other countries. That’s the whole international understanding thing.
At the closing ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, I decided to risk arrest and joined the joyful throng of athletes in the heart of the stadium. No one noticed me, as everyone was eager to take photos of the stars of the Games (this was before cellphone cameras and selfies), while trading gear and pins as they learned to appreciate different styles and culture. It was fabulous to experience that (and I didn’t get arrested), so I know first-hand about the international human connection that athletes are missing in the social distancing Games.
When the announcer introduced the marchers from 205 countries at the ceremonies,she said proudly, “Ladies and gentlemen: The Athletes.” but she was basically speaking to an empty house.
Get used to seeing empty seats at the Olympic venues. (Photo courtesy Adrienne Lyle)
The stadium that seats 40,000 had only about 950 people there, most associated with the ceremonies themselves. No spectators are allowed. It was said and a bit spooky. I hear that cheers recorded from other Olympics will be played at some venues to encourage the athletes, but it doesn’t make up for who isn’t there. I’ll use the same word twice: spooky.
Not being part of the opening ceremony is just the price to be paid in these times. As another U.S. dressage rider, Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper) noted, it’s a small sacrifice for the privilege of being at the Games. It hasn;t been easy for staff either, who had to deal with mountains of paperwork and make all kinds of arrangements that wouldn’t be part of a Games in non-pandemic time.
U.S. Equestrian Federation Director of Sport Will Connell told me in the spring, “The challenges we have with these Games are multi-layered. From the performance side, it’s trying to insure the right competition schedule for the buildup. The U.S. has a big advantage in some disciplines (for which competition cancellations were common around the world), because we’ve been competing since last year and competed all spring, so that’s been good for us. But the Covid protocols that Tokyo is putting in place are very challenging.”
Here’s an example: the eventing, dressage and para-dressage horses were going to quarantine at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation headquarters in Gladstone, N.J., and fly out from the U.S. Instead, when flying direct from the U.S. to Tokyo didn’t work, the horses had to quarantine in Aachen, Germany (site of the famous horse show) and fly to Japan from there.
But it all went well and while temperatures and humidity in Japan are high this time of year, climate-controlled stables and exercise areas make things easier. Riding early in the morning or in the evening is also a help The riders are enthusiastic about the facilities and the thoughtful little touches. Adrienne cited the cherry blossoms and ringside Zen gardens, adding a sense of place.
Adrienne Lyle, the highest U.S. rider on the ranking list at number 15, jogged Salvino today in the horse inspection. (Photo courtesy of USEF).
Because of the heat, Grand Prix dressage will start at 5 p.m. Japanese time tomorrow (July 24) and run into the evening, when it will be cooler. The bad news is that with a 13-hour time difference, 5 p.m. Japanese time is 4 a.m. in the Eastern U.S. on Saturday.
I presume most of my readers will be sleeping then. But no worries, I’ll be using the livestream to blog the key riders on this website. That means not only the U.S. team, but also such important players as Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin of Great Britain, Catherine Dufour of Denmark and Germany’s Isabell Werth, who is likely to win individual gold and lead the German team to the same color medal. But I hear due to Covid fears that the athletes will have to put their medals around their own necks, foregoing the usual kiss and/or handshake from whatever International Olympic Committee rep usually is tasked with that honor.
There are two days of Grand Prix (Sunday’s livestream also starts at 4 a.m.) to determine which eight teams compete in the Grand Prix Special on Tuesday. The Special is the only test that decides team medals. Each team’s alternate horse and rider can be substituted before the Special, but the U.S. won’t have that option, since alternate Nick Wagman’s ride, Don John, was withdrawn before the horse inspection after sustaining an injury.
While there are questions about how show jumping and eventing will shake out with three on a team instead of the usual four and a drop score, dressage has had three member teams before. The nature of the discipline means there is less chance for fate to cause an upset than when a cross-country test or jumping is involved.
This is the first time the Special will be run to music, and the riders can pick the tunes, but the music isn’t part of the scoring. I’m wondering if perhaps it’s a prelude to dropping the Grand Prix in future Olympics and making the Special more appealing in the process.
For the individual medals, to be decided in Wednesday’s freestyle, the top 18 riders are eligible from the Grand Prix (but only two from one country). That begins at 4:30 a.m. EDT on the livestream.
Who do I think will medal? For the teams, Germany is a lock (see my comment about Isabell Werth, above). Britain is a contender with Carl (En Vogue) and Charlotte (Gio), even though both superstars are riding newbie horses with no Olympic experience; ditto the third member of that squad, Lottie Fry (Everdale).(I should just mention here that Britain and Germany also have a very strong hand in the two other Olympic disciplines, eventing and show jumping.)
The U.S. has a good shot at dressage silver or bronze. I expect American riders to be on the podium in some position. There are several countries that also might be in contention, but a few, like Denmark have just one really strong horse/rider combination (Cathrine Dufour/Bohemian) and the Netherlands (Edward Gal on Total US, a son of his famous Totilas). Sweden lost its top rider, Patrick Kittel, when his horse was injured, so that nation doesn’t seem to figure in the equation.
I’ll give you my picks for the individual medals, aside from Isabell with Bella Rose, after we finish the team competition.
So this weekend, check in to www.nancyjaffer.com when you get up to find out what’s been happening. If you are awake at 8:15 a.m. Saturday,, you can go online to watch the first U.S. rider, Sabine Schut-Kery on Sanceo. Adrienne and Steffen go on Sunday at 5:21 a.m. and 8:42 a.m.respectively
Highlights are on the NBCSN program that runs from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. with a variety of sports, but I think dressage is scheduled for 1 p.m. That can always change, so be sure to check.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 17, 2021
I bet that headline got your attention!
Hannah Sue Burnett rode Coolrock Wacko Jacko to the Open Preliminary title at the Essex Horse Trials, where her plucky 16-hand partner was one of three entries in the division to make the time allowed on cross-country during a day when thunderstorms stopped the action during the afternoon.
Hannah Sue Burnett and Coolrock Wacko Jacko handled the Essex course with speed and style. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
But the competition at Moorland Farm in Far Hills–cancelled last year due to Covid– resumed once the danger.had passed.
The event, which continues today, attracted competitors from around the mid-Atlantic region and as far away as Massachusetts.Admission to the competition is $10, with those 17 and under getting in free at the property on Route 202.
For details on Hannah Sue’s story and what happened in the featured division, come back to this website on Sunday evening.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 14, 2021
This weekend’s Essex Horse Trials offers an opportunity to spend some time at one of New Jersey’s prettiest spots, Moorland Farm in Far Hills, where eventing competition will be held at every level from Preliminary down to Beginner Novice. Tickets are a very reasonable $10, with kids 17 and under getting in free.
Watch some of the most recognizable names in the sport, including Buck Davidson, Hannah Sue Burnett, Heidi White and Michael Walton, as well as competitors from New Jersey, among them Meg Kepferle, Holly Payne Caravaella and her mother, Marilyn Payne. Missing will be Essex regulars Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin and Will Coleman, because they are quarantining in Aachen, Germany, prior to the Tokyo Olympics, but that gives you an idea about the caliber of competition Essex has enjoyed over the years.
Competition is Saturday and Sunday, with a concert kicking things off on Friday evening. There’s also a big car show on Saturday in memory of Peter Chesson. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.essexhorsetrials.org.
