by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 1, 2021
The Olympic Games always have been more than an athletic competition: in the past, they offered an opportunity for athletes to mingle with their counterparts from other countries, swap pins and (time permitting) visit a variety of venues to watch sports other than their own.
Then there are the fans. The cheering of spectators has lifted many an athlete to greater accomplishments. The entire Olympic experience usually presents unlimited inspirational potential–think “Chariots of Fire.”
But that won’t be the case in Tokyo this summer. It all has been changed, like so many other things, by the presence of Covid, and in this instance, strict mitigation measures. That has prompted many Japanese (the percentage depends on which poll you believe) to call for cancellation of the Games.
Barring what International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates calls “Armageddon,” however, these Olympics will go on July 23-Aug.8. But they will be quite different from every other Games since the ancient Greek tradition was revived at the end of the 19th Century.
Those on the podium won’t be able to greet their nearest and dearest after they step down with their medals around their necks; no spouses or parents can attend, or for that matter, any foreign spectators. We will have to wait until June 30 to find out if Japanese fans are allowed in the stands, and if they are, it’s likely they will have to show proof of vaccination or undergo a Covid test before taking their seats.
During its virtual sports forum this morning, the FEI (international equestrian federation) offered a glimpse of what athletes can expect if they make the team and travel to Japan, but there are still a lot of questions to be answered, including whether horse owners can attend.
“This definitely will be different…we’re all operating a little bit in the vague here,” said Catrin Norinder, the FEI’s director of eventing and Olympics.
There will be no sightseeing, no restaurants, no shopping for the athletes. It’s a little like being under house arrest for these competitors, who will remain in their rooms or at the venue in a “bubble-to-bubble” set-up designed to eliminate the need for quarantine. While there is no requirement for athletes to be vaccinated (though it is strongly recommended), they will be tested frequently–and twice even before they depart for Japan.
Smart phone applications required for all foreign visitors include health monitoring and “close contact” apps to be used in case someone tests positive for Covid, as well as a locator that specifies the phone user’s whereabouts. Close contact will be defined as having spent 15 minutes without a mask in less than 1 meter distance.
There are only three riders on a team this time around, but every squad has a traveling reserve. Pre-competition changes of athletes on a team can be made two hours before the start of each discipline, and also before the start of the team competition in show jumping, which follows the individual competition. This can be done without veterinary or medical excuses, but substitutions also be made under other circumstances with vet or medical certificates.
That includes between the team qualifier and the team final in dressage, before cross-country or team jumping in eventing (with the addition of 20 penalties) and between the team qualifier and team final in show jumping. Since there is no drop score without the usual four-member team for eventing and show jumping, the idea is to make sure the nations can finish as a team to earn a place in the final standings. Subs are not eligible for individual medals, though.
Oh, and then there’s the climate situation. Tokyo in mid-summer is hot and humid. Very. So much so that the human marathon, for instance, was moved further north to Hokkaido.
“It’s going to be uncomfortable for horses and humans alike,” said Catherine Bollon, the FEI advisor for athlete services, noting that it can affect performance and, if not well-managed, health as well..
She advised acclimatizing for both horses and humans, “training your body to get accustomed to heat.”
Are you enjoying going around without a mask now that Covid has declined here?
In Japan, Catherine warned, athletes and others who will be there, “on site, you will need to wear a mask at all times.” And there will be limits on how many people can be in an area at the same time.
On the plus side, stables and transport will both be air-conditioned, and cooling facilities will be available at competition and training sites. Horses will be monitored by veterinarians and physiologists. Ground juries will have help in making decisions when “the weather may become very challenging for competition,” according to FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström.
If conditions are difficult on the day of cross-country, however, the ground jury won’t have a lot of flexibility, except perhaps moving the competition to the afternoon, since rowing and kayaking are scheduled to start the next day at the Sea Forest venue. All the Olympic equestrian competition except cross-country is at Baji Koen equestrian park, a refurbished version of the site used for the 1964 Games that were held in Tokyo.
A scene from the Olympic test event at Sea Forest. (FEI/Yusuke Nakanishi)
Will Connell, the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s director of sport, called Tokyo, “the most challenging Games I’ve ever been involved in.”
There are still a lot of questions to be answered, but the U.S. riders have an edge because they have been able to compete regularly over the last year, while many Europeans and people in other countries have not, due not only to Covid, but also to an outbreak of EHV-1.
So Americans can count themselves lucky and won’t be deterred by the challenges as they get ready to represent their country, a higher purpose they have worked toward for years..
As eventing team member Liz Halliday-Sharp put it, “There’s nothing more that I want right now than to go to Tokyo.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 28, 2021
What could well be the U.S. show jumping team for Tokyo got a test run at Rome’s Intesa Sanpaolo Nations Cup in the scenic Piazza di Sienna, and it showcased top American talent, even with a disappointing fifth-place finish.
First of all, the placing off the podium was determined by a single time fault, collected by Jessica Springsteen in a round free of jumping penalties with Don Juan van de Donkehoeve, still an improvement over her 4-fault first round.
Laura Kraut isl getting accustomed to her brand new ride, Baloutinue, purchased just last month.Although she had 8 penalties in the first round over the Uliano Vezzani-designed route in the lovely public park, Laura came through with a clear in the second round. Kent Farrington had two 4-fault rounds with his longtime campaigner Gazelle, while McLain Ward showed why he deserved to be the anchor with a pair of perfect trips on Contagious.
McLain Ward and Contagious. (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
The team total was 9 penalties. Without the time fault, the U.S. would have tied for third on 8 with France and Brazil, behind winning Belgium and Germany. A representative from each of those countries faced off in a tie-breaker after their second round left them tied on 4 penalties. Both those nations will be among the teams to beat in Tokyo.
“Overall, we’re very happy with the way it all turned out,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland.
“Naturally, we always aim for a podium finish and we were just off by a fault, so we were right there in it. More importantly, this is the beginning of the second phase in our preparations for the Olympics, and I have to say, I am very happy with the way things turned out, particularly in the second round. We have some newer horses involved and it is still a bit of an adjustment, but I could not have been more pleased with how things came together for our horse and rider combination and the adjustments that were made. They did a great job. Our rounds were beautiful and it’s a very positive feeling back in the barn right now.”
In the Rolex Grand Prix of Rome on Sunday, Laura showed her new relationship with Baloutinue is blossoming as she finished second to David Will of Germany with C Vier 2. Jessie was third on Don Juan, another hopeful sign. Kent was 37th with Gazelle and McLain 38th on Contagious. Both had 12 penalties.
Other U.S. squads will go forward in the Nations Cups in Poland and the Netherlands next month, before the Tokyo team is named at the beginning of July.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 27, 2021
While the dressage and show jumping disciplines are still going through their selection processes for the teams that will go to Tokyo, the U.S. eventing squad was announced today. The short-listed dressage riders and show jumpers are still in their trials process, but eventing’s final trial was Jersey Fresh earlier this month, so there was no reason to delay.
As expected, Phillip Dutton and Z made the squad, along with Liz Hailliday-Sharp and DeNiro. But Boyd Martin was named with three horses–his Jersey Fresh winner, Luke 140; Tsetserleg his Pan Am Games double gold mount who had a fall at the Land Rover Kentucky 5-star last month and On Cue, a 5-star debutante who finished fourth at Kentucky to make Boyd the highest-placed U.S. rider in that competition.
Boyd Martin and Luke 140 (Photo © 2021 by Nancy Jaffer)
How this works is that if something happens to Luke, Tsetserleg would be the direct replacement. And if something happens to him, then it’s On Cue’s turn. Meanwhile, Doug Payne was named the traveling reserve with Vandiver. It’s a very important role, since substitution of a horse and rider will be allowed in some circumstances. The first alternate is Tamie Smith on Mai Baum.
The riders will have a mandatory outing next month at Great Meadow in Virginia before shipping to Germany for pre-export quarantine prior to flying to Japan.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 25, 2021
Upgrades have been made during 2020 and 2021 to the historic Devon shwogrounds, where the spring show has been cancelled for two years in a row, but summer and autumn competitions will go ahead.
More than 500 stalls have been reconstructed and screening has been added in the stalls to create a better surface. The majority of the barns have new exterior walls, refurbished to showcase their historic style. Stable doors have been replaced with new ones that honor the original look and feel. The iconic Devon cupolas have all been re-built and are up-lighted to showcase them.
“Our team has worked so hard to update the stabling at the show grounds so that exhibitors can have the best possible experience every time they compete,” said Wayne W. Grafton, chairman and CEO of the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.
“Ensuring that the horses have safe and comfortable accommodations was a top priority and we (are) thrilled to have it completed ahead of our summer competitions.”
The Brandywine Horse Shows begin June 30. The Devon Fall Classic will be held Sept. 15-19, followed by Dressage at Devon. Sept. 28-Oct. 3.
by Nancy Jaffer | May 25, 2021
The National Horse Show, held in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, has joined forces with Equestrian Events Inc., which presents the 5-star Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event at the venue.
The strategic partnership is aimed at strengthening the National Horse Show’s connection to the local community in Lexington. The show, to be held this year from Oct. 27-Nov. 7, usually only gets a big crowd in the Alltech Arena for the Saturday night grand prix.
EEI was formed in 1975 to stage the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the new Kentucky Horse Park. The charitable organization supports development of equestrian sports through staging competitions at the highest level–including this summer’s American Eventing Championships. It also seeks to provide development opportunities for riders, horses and equine organizations, as well as elevating the competitiveness of the United States internationally.
“The National Horse Show is looking forward to the cultivation of new local partnerships through the connections of EEI,” said Jennifer Burger, President of the National Horse Show. “Our event has found its perfect home in the Alltech Arena and we hope to cement our place in the Kentucky horse community by working with the talented EEI team.”
“Like the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, the National Horse Show is one of the nation’s iconic equestrian events,” said EEI president Mike Cooper. “It is exciting for EEI to share our marketing and operational expertise with the National and do what we can to increase involvement by the local community.”
by Nancy Jaffer | May 21, 2021
First it was Badminton, then Burghley, that were scrapped due to Covid restrictions. and today Canada’s Bromont, another three-day event whose name starts with B, is off the calendar.
The MARS Bromont CCI June 2-6 will not be held because, as the organizing committee put it, the current state of the coronavirus pandemic would jeopardize the goal of guaranteed safety.
“It was therefore decided by the Public Health Agency of Canada, with full support from the Bromont Organizing Committee, that international travel should be restricted for this event, therefore necessitating its cancellation as per the FEI rules.”
Bromont has been a valued venue for equestrian competition since it hosted the sport at the 1976 Olympics. (Photo © 2017 by Lawrence J. Nagy)
“With vaccination rates across North America continuing to increase, the Bromont Organizing Committee is looking forward to hosting the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Bromont and Bromont CCI-S Three Day Event the weekend of August 13th to 15th at the iconic venue, Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, site of the equestrian events of the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.”
The cross-country course designer at Bromont is Derek di Grazia, who is also the designer for the Tokyo Olympics.
