A video puts dressage gold medalist Dujardin out of Olympics: UPDATE

by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 23, 2024

In a shocking development, Britain’s dressage queen, Charlotte Dujardin, has been provisionally suspended by the FEI a week before she was scheduled to ride in the Olympics, after a 2.5-year-old video surfaced that showed her making “an error of judgment” during a coaching session.

The video came out on social media Wednesday and showed her aggressively hitting her student’s cantering horse with a longe whip, prompting the animal to kick out several times. The video was taken during a lesson at a private stable.

Dujardin, who dominated headlines with her team and individual gold medal at the London 2012 Games on Valegro, made headlines of another kind on Tuesday as she withdrew herself from the Olympics and other competitions while the FEI investigates.

“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse,” she stated on social media.

“I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment,” she said.

“I am sincerely sorry for my actions and devastated that I have let everyone down, including Team GB, fans and sponsors. I will cooperate fully with the FEI, British Equestrian Federation and British Dressage during their investigations, and will not be commenting further until the process is complete,” she concluded.

Netherlands website Horses.nl stated Dutch attorney Stephan Wensing, who is a rider and trainer, filed a complaint on behalf of a client with the FEI and British Equestrian Federation about Dujardin’s actions as depicted on the video. Wensing is a specialist in equine law and has co-authored a book entitled, “Plea for the Horse.”

Wensing stated, “It is unacceptable that dressage sport should be accompanied by animal abuse. If top sport can only be performed in such a way that the welfare of the horse is compromised, then top sport should be abolished.

“Everyone who handles horses has their own responsibility and this also applies to bystanders who become aware of excesses. Equestrian sport must regulate itself and ensure that there can never be a discussion about horse welfare in sport again. This is a very important task for the judges who have lost sight of the core value of dressage for far too long and have overvalued the spastic movements of horses.”

Dressage has experienced a number of scandals recently, with the FEI looking into Cesar Parra’s training methods as depicted on video, and the decision of the Danish federation to suspend Andreas Helgstrand from being considered for the Olympic team after an undercover video of training at his stables was televised.

Wensing noted about Dujardin’s case, “It is extremely sad that one of the most successful riders in the world has to suffer. But this rider has also not taken any responsibility and this cannot go unpunished. The federations and in particular the FEI can be expected to take even more adequate action against animal abuse precisely to safeguard the survival of equestrian sports.”

Social license to operate is a major issue for horse sports, and the Olympics is equestrian sport’s biggest stage. For the first time during the Olympics, there will be an equine welfare coordinator whose mission is aimed at ensuring all stakeholders play by the welfare rules. Go to the On the Rail section of the website to read the link, or click here.

Britain was on track to challenge Germany for the team gold medal at the Olympics, while Dujardin, riding Imhotep, would have become her country’s most decorated Olympian in any sport if she had won any medal in Paris. Could that have played into the timing of the complaint being field, years after the incident?

In addition to her London gold medals, Dujardin and Valegro earned individual gold and team silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics and she took individual bronze in Tokyo three years ago.

Carl Hester, Dujardin’s mentor (Fame) and world champion Lottie Fry (Glamourdale) now will be joined in the team competition by alternate Becky Moody (Jagerbomb).

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro in the 2012 Olympics. (Photo © 2012 by Nancy Jaffer)

A statement from the FEI said it received a video on Monday “depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare. This video was submitted to the FEI by a lawyer representing an undisclosed complainant. According to the information received, the footage allegedly was taken several years ago during a training session conducted by Ms. Dujardin at a private stable.

“Upon receiving the video, the FEI initiated an investigation. As part of this investigation, Ms. Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage were informed of the allegations.”

After being given a deadline to respond by 5 p.m. Swiss time on Tuesday, Dujardin confirmed that she is the individual depicted in the video and acknowledged that her conduct was inappropriate.

The FEI announced the rider’s provisional suspension, effective immediately.

“During this period of suspension, she is prohibited from participating in any activities related to competitions or events under the jurisdiction of the FEI or any competition or event under the jurisdiction of a National Federation (NF). This also includes any FEI or NF (national federation)-related activities. In addition, the British Equestrian Federation has mirrored this provisional suspension, which also makes Ms. Dujardin ineligible to compete in any national events during this period.”

Dujardin and Imhotep, who would have been her Olympic mount, at the London International Horse Show.

FEI President Ingmar De Vos said, “We are deeply disappointed with this case, especially as we approach the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. However, it is our responsibility and crucial that we address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised.

“Charlotte has expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and we recognize and appreciate her willingness to take responsibility. Despite the unfortunate timing, we believe this action reaffirms the FEI’s commitment to welfare as the guardians of our equine partners and the integrity of our sport.”

The FEI further stated that on Tuesday, Dujardin requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations and voluntarily withdrew from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and also confirmed that she will not participate in any competitions pending the outcome of the FEI’s investigation.

“The FEI condemns any conduct contrary to the welfare of horses and has robust rules in place to address such behavior. Our commitment to ensuring the highest standards of equine welfare and sportsmanship remains unwavering.”

The FEI acknowledges the cooperation of Charlotte Dujardin, British Equestrian, and British Dressage with the ongoing investigation and intends to proceed as swiftly as possible.

British Equestrian Chief Executive Jim Eyre commented; “As the guardians of equestrian sport, we must uphold the highest standards of equine welfare – the horse’s well-being is paramount. We have been in close liaison with the FEI on the matter and will fully comply with any requests to fulfill their investigation and support the robust processes around such complaints. The allegations made are serious and the consequences far reaching but upholding the integrity of our sport remains our priority – we are privileged to enjoy the company of horses; we must never compromise on their well-being.   We will continue to work with the FEI and Charlotte to complete the process.”

British Dressage Chief Executive Jason Brautigam added; “At British Dressage our commitment is to ‘bring people and horses together in harmony’, and as part of this we constantly strive to achieve the highest standards of horse care.  We do not condone any behavior that goes against our guiding principles and take a zero-tolerance approach to any breach of our equine welfare policies.  These historic allegations are deeply upsetting for everyone involved in our sport, but we fully support the FEI investigation and will take any appropriate disciplinary action when this process is complete.  Our priority now is to rally behind our athletes and horses representing Team GB in Paris as they take on the responsibility of showcasing the best of our sport on the world stage.

British Equestrian Performance Director and Team GB Equestrian Team Leader Helen Nicholls said; “Obviously the events of the last 24 hours have been disappointing on many levels for all affected. No one more than Charlotte Dujardin recognizes the part welfare holds in sport and as such has done the right thing in stepping down to allow the FEI tribunal to take place in a timely manner. Our focus remains on supporting our athletes to deliver to their potential on the world stage and we look forward to the Games getting underway on Saturday.”

Barisone to remain in New Jersey — for now

by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 16, 2024

After nearly five years of tumult that included a high-profile trial, jail time and stays in psychiatric institutions, a court hearing this week indicated dressage trainer Michael Barisone may be a step closer to resuming his life with horses.

Since being discharged from Greystone Psychiatric Hospital in November, Barisone has been free to travel around New Jersey as he wishes, but is prohibited from leaving the state while he is under supervision of the court.

He wants to move to Loxahatchee, Fla., where he owns a farm with his fiancée, Lara Osborne, so he can work with his horses that are stabled there and continue the relationship with his partner.

In 2022, Barisone was found not guilty by reason of insanity on a second-degree attempted murder charge involving Lauren Kanarek, a former student and tenant he was charged with shooting twice in August 2019. He has stated he has no recollection of the incident that transpired after Kanarek and her boyfriend, Rob Goodwin, clashed with him repeatedly.

Barisone, the alternate for the 2008 U.S. Olympic dressage team, has been subject to periodic Krol hearings. They are held to judge the progress of a criminal defendant who has been confined to a psychiatric institution following a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

During Tuesday’s Krol hearing in Morristown, N.J., before Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor, Barisone’s lawyers, Ed Bilinkas and Chris Deininger, asked that their client be allowed to go to Florida.

Michael Barisone and attorney Ed Bilinkas. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)

“I’m not disinclined to do that, I’ll be honest with you,” said the judge.

“I think it’s important for Mr. Barisone to get on with his life. But I also have to recognize there are dangers here…this was an exceedingly violent offense that almost cost the life of Miss Kanarek.”

The judge also pointed out that she lives near Barisone’s Florida farm and is involved with the equestrian scene, which prompts him to be concerned about what might happen if Barisone encounters her in the area.

“How is that going to end up? Is that likely?” asked Taylor. “I don’t know.”

Dr. Jonathan Wall, a psychologist who has been treating Barisone in New Jersey, was questioned by both Morris County Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn and Barisone’s lawyers about his client’s state of mind.

Barisone had been abused as a child. When Barisone was dealing with Kanarek, he suffered from delusional disorder and believed she was trying to kill him, a psychologist said during his November hearing.

Wall said Barisone currently has no symptoms of clinical depression, but was sad about what has happened to his career since the shooting, telling the doctor, “This would have been my year.”

Under questioning by Bilinkas, Wall agreed that Barisone has admitted responsibility for the shooting and is remorseful for his conduct. He also agreed that after therapy, he saw “no further signs of any delusional thinking” and it is unlikely that Barisone “would suffer another delusional event” like the one that ended in tragedy.

The psychologist said in his report to the court he addressed “managing the risk,” but did not administer a risk assessment.

“I did not find Dr. Wall’s testimony particularly helpful,” the judge said later in the proceedings, noting there was nothing in his report about “dangerousness.”

“That’s the whole purpose of this,” the judge commented.

Barisone’s team is proposing that if he moved to Florida, he would be treated there by another psychologist, Dr. David Landry.

Looking at Landry’s resume, Taylor noted that he does evaluations of clients and said it appeared he has been involved in the court system “and may have a better understanding of what is required here,” citing “some assessment of continued dangerousness.”

Osborne, who got to know Barisone in 2018 when her daughter began riding with him, testified about Barisone’s living conditions in a gated community, where their farm is also gated. In response to a question from Schellhorn, she said there are no guns on the property.

Judge Stephen Taylor and Lara Osborne. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)

Taylor is concerned about “the authority of the court” once Barisone leaves New Jersey.

He said he is not at the point where he wants to give up jurisdiction, and feels it is necessary to have a mechanism in place that would allow the court to have Barisone brought back to New Jersey if, for instance, he stops going to the doctor in Florida.

At some juncture, Taylor said, “if he continues to progress, maybe we’ll get to the point where supervision is not necessary. We’re not at that point right now.”

Schellhorn asked the court to continue Barisone on his therapy and the current set of conditions, seeing no reason to change them. If Barisone violated conditions or began to exhibit signs of additional psychosis in Florida, the prosecutor was not sure what the mechanism would be to bring him back to New Jersey. At this point, risk “does appear to be relatively low,” but he noted Barisone is not in proximity to Kanarek. That risk would increase if he were to move to Florida, said Schellhorn.

Bilinkas noted for Barisone to be separated from Osborne and other family members in Florida “could have a deleterious effect if this continues,” were he “not allowed to go to his own home.”

The lawyer contends “he needs to be able to make a living, he needs to be able to help his fiancée” and without being in Florida, “it will be more difficult for him to survive financially.”

The judge said he is not inclined to release Barisone without supervision. Taylor asked for briefs from the attorneys about how Barisone legally could be returned to New Jersey from Florida. The judge also added he would like a certification from Landry that he is willing to take the case. Another hearing is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Meanwhile, Barisone, who will be 60 next month, has been living in Readington at the home of a former client, doing repairs for her, working on his collection of old trucks and cars, writing a book and exercising. He would like to be able to visit his friends in other states “and just go back to living,” he said during an interview outside the courtroom.

The trainer has not competed at FEI level since 2016. He is under an interim suspension from SafeSport and the U.S. Equestrian Federation, pending the outcome of a formal investigation and final decision, which means he can’t attend shows or teach.

His dream?

“I want to ride a horse in the World Cup or the WEG (World Equestrian Games) one more time,” he said.

“That will be enough.”

Thieme first, Ward second in dramatic Aachen grand prix

by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 7, 2024

Here’s a lesson that rider Richard Vogel learned the hard way in the Rolex Grand Prix Sunday at Aachen—don’t celebrate your victory until you’re sure you’ve won.

Richard Vogel celebrates victory a moment too early.

The German, a real star in the show jumping at the International Equestrian Festival this year, was on his way to claiming the featured class aboard the fabulous United Touch S as they rose over the last jump. While his horse was landing with what would be the fastest time (38.64 seconds), he raised his arm in triumph and gave a thumbs up. Except that a rail was falling at the Rolex vertical even as he did so.

“I didn’t take all the risk to the last and I was still quite sure the time was good enough and then he was over the fence in front, but not behind yet. He touched it lightly behind and we had the rail,” said Richard, noting before the pole hit the ground, “I was sure the luck was on our side.”

Richard, who won the show’s style award, wound up third, behind runner-up McLain Ward of the U.S. on Ilex (clear in 41.02) and German rider Andre Thieme (0/39.77), who was overcome with emotion as he realized he just had earned the prestigious title. The first thing he did was repeatedly kiss his horse, DSP Chakaria, saying “I love her just like my wife.”

(His wife doesn’t mind that when she gets a winner’s check, he noted).

“She’s a lifetime horse for me,” he said of the 14-year-old Brandenburg mare (Chap 47 X Askari 173).

Although he’s the former European champion, Andre is very modest. So when it came to a class that is “every rider’s lifetime dream,” Andre confided, “I thought I’d never have a chance, ever.”

Andre Thieme enjoys his victory gallop.

His victory came because “I turned really short and aggressive” to the next-to-last fence” he recounted, but as he headed to that fateful Rolex vertical, he kept thinking “I’m not going to get there. But somehow, I got there and she cleared it. I think the risk to the last two jumps and her quickness made it in the end happen.”

He couldn’t ask for anything more than what he achieved in front of a cheering crowd of 40,000.

“If I would be two years older, I’d probably say `I’m done now,’” the 49-year-old rider mused.

For his part, “I thought this morning that if I was ahead of Richie, it was good enough,” said McLain, who is buddies with Vogel.

“This grand prix has eluded me.”

McLain Ward and Ilex. (U.S. Equestrian photo)

As he watched Andre go and saw that he had beaten Ilex’s time, McLain briefly put his head in his hands and then, in a gesture of sportsmanship, gave Andre a thumbs-up.

McLain learns he has lost the class, but gave a thumbs up to Andre a moment later.

This was only the second jump-off experience McLain has had with Ilex, who will be his mount for the Paris Olympics. The 11-year-old Dutchbred gelding (Baltic VDL X Chin Chin) was ridden by Fabio Leivas Da Costa of Brazil until McLain started showing him in February.

“I believe in his stride and his step,” said McLain.

“He did everything exactly the way I planned. In hindsight, I could have done eight (strides) to the last pretty easily. You always kick yourself a little bit. Andre took a great risk and it paid off and that’s great sport.”

McLain placed high in the classes he entered and was awarded a trophy for being the best-placed jumping rider over the course of the show, but didn’t win a competition. He noted, though, that “it probably would have been a very good Aachen” if Richard “hadn’t had the week of a lifetime.”

You can see why Richard Vogel won the style award at Aachen. (Hubert Fischer photo)

Aachen was the first leg of the Rolex Grand Slam for Andre. Next up is Spruce Meadows. Anyone who wins three legs in row gets a 1 million Euro bonus. Only one rider, Scott Brash of Great Britain, has ever done it.

Spruce Meadows hosts the next leg of the Rolex Grand Slam this September.

The Aachen grand prix drew 40 starters, with 18 qualifying for a second round over a different route designed by Frank Rothenberger. Only four then made the tiebreaker.

In its detailed form guide, EquiRatings gave United Touch S a 7 percent chance of winning, along with Baloutinue, the mount of the USA’s Laura Kraut, and Dallas Vegas Batilly, ridden by Britain’s Ben Maher. That horse won the Halla Trophy for being the most successful jumping horse of the show. EquiRating’s  highest win chance of 11 percent was Leone Jei, ridden by Martin Fuchs of Switzerland. He wound up fourth with 4 faults. Neither Chakaria or Ilex had their win chances rated.

Finishing twelfth with a knockdown in the first round and a clean trip in the second round was Laura with Baloutinue. She will be McLain’s teammate at the Olympics, along with Kent Farrington (who wasn’t at Aachen).

“It’s a nice set-up to Paris,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland, who was happy to end on a good note after his team failed to qualify for the second round of the Nations Cup on Thursday.

Asked if thought he might be named to the fourth spot on the German team in the Olympics, Andre said no, noting that chance was gone when he didn’t produce a clear round in the Nations Cup. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He had been so tense worrying about making the Games team that it affected his performance.

“I wanted it too much,” he explained.

“My wife said I was not the same person.”

When he finally gave up on the hope, “something changed and I felt relieved, I felt myself again.”

So he had a beer.

“I can live with being number five for the  Olympics,” he said.

The show, which drew more than 370,000 visitors over 10 days, ended with its traditional, “Farewell to the Nations.”

Everyone in the stands waved white handkerchiefs while the riders, some on foot and some on horseback, joyfully waved back (and drivers with two four-in-hands did the same) to the traditional tune about leaving, “Muss I Denn” played over and over.

There’s nothing like Aachen anywhere else on earth.

click here for results of Rolex Grand Prix

U.S. Eventers score at Aachen

by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 6, 2024

The U.S. didn’t bring its Paris Olympic eventing team to Aachen, but the squad that finished second Saturday at the International Equestrian Festival demonstrated the country has some impressive depth for the future.

Chef d’Equipe Bobby Costello said the riders’ performances and their placing “proved a couple of things. One, that the U.S. is here to stay and we intend on being a player at the highest level of the sport. But I also was excited we came here with a mixed team, either riders who did not have a lot of international experience, and also a couple of young horses with more experienced riders.

“To me that was the cool thing,” he continued, noting it demonstrates that Eventing Emerging and Developing Coach Leslie Law’s program “is really working and the pathway all the way to the top is producing results.”

The British – the favorites for Olympic gold with different horses and three other riders — won the SAP Cup title handily with a score of 112.8 penalties. (Olympic team member Laura Collett rode DaCapo here, but will be aboard London 52 in Paris). The USA accumulated 123.7 penalties, while Ireland was third on 138.

James Alliston was the top finisher of the U.S. contingent, ninth on Karma. Alyssa Phillips finished fourteenth on Oskar, Liz Halliday sixteenth with Shanroe Cooley and Hallie Coon’s stop with Cute Girl at the next-to-last cross-country fence put her thirtieth.

James Alliston and Karma, the top-finishing U.S. pair in eventing, on cross-country at Aachen. (Photo U.S. Equestrian)

James moved up from thirty-third in dressage to twenty-third after the best show jumping round of the competition, and wound up ninth overall. He was fourth in the cross-country phase, with just 2.40 time penalties over a course designed for the last time by Rudiger Schwarz.

Bobby noted that when he and the riders walked the “masterfully designed” course, it seemed, “significantly less intense than the previous two years I’ve been here. But we knew with it being Aachen and the speed factor and everything coming up so quickly, it wasn’t going to be a cakewalk but it was really interesting that it caused as much trouble as it did. We knew not to take it for granted but we had a simple plan we tend to like to stick with, as clean and as fast as we can go, get all the jumps done first.”

James called his first time at Aachen, “An awesome experience. Being in a team dynamic, you don’t get to experience that all the time. There’s been more pressure and you have to deal with that sort of thing.”

The U.S. eventing team victory gallop: Liz Halliday, James Alliston, Alyssa Phillips and Hallie Coon. (Photo US Equestrian)

In that intance, the team’s pathfinder on cross-country noted, “going first is a little bit more challenging.” But he added, “I was really happy with the horse. We had a great environment  with all the teammates. We weren’t far away from gold either, a few little things could have been different.”

Of Karma, the Californian noted, “She’s an exciting horse, a really good athlete, good jumper, a lot of energy. The dressage has taken a little bit of time.”

But James quickly mentioned that the mare is “definitely moving in the right direction.”

He thinks the Oldenburg, a mere 10 years old, will relax and improve “as she learns the sport and learns the first phase.”

Karma was bred on the west coast by Casey Crowley’s family in Oregon. Her trainer found she was freezing in the arena, so he sent her to James. When he phoned a few weeks later to find out how she was doing, James advised that while Karma was not freezing anymore, she was “sort of flying around.”

James said Karma was “pretty hot, and as a result, he said,  I don’t think I can sell her.”

“So then they said, `Do you want her?’ and James’ answer was, of course, “yes.”

In October, the Maryland 5-star is “a possibility” for James and Karma, but he noted they had done a lot in a short amount of time. So he is “a little bit cautious of going too gung-ho.”

Individual gold went to Germany’s Julia Krajewski for the second time. She also won in 2018.

Julia Krajewski and Nickel 21, individual winners in eventing. (Hubert Fischer photo)

“Winning Aachen is something very special, almost as big as a championship,” said the only woman to take individual gold in Olympic eventing.

Of her victory, she said, “I don’t think it’s something many people predicted,” adding that  “makes it very special.”

It was also very emotional.

“We cried a lot. The owner is still crying,” she chuckled.

Despite losing a shoe, her mount didn’t miss a beat.

“Nickel is such a genuine horse who wants to do everything right. He basically waits for me to tell him what to do and then he does it.”

Click here for team results

Click here for individual results

The Fourth wasn’t glorious for U.S. show jumpers at Aachen

by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 4, 2024

It was a disappointing way to spend the Fourth of July for the Americans at the Aachen International Equestrian Festival.

The U.S. show jumping team failed to qualify for the second round of the 1 million Euro Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup Thursday during the world’s greatest horse show, after three of the riders logged 4 faults each.

Laura Kraut and Baloutinue put in a clear round for the USA. (U.S. Equestrian photo)

Only Laura Kraut produced a clear round, riding Baloutinue in the test watched by 40,000 spectators.

Teams from 10 countries took part, but under the class specifications, just eight were allowed to continue into the second round over the same course designed by Frank Rothenberger.

The USA is Aachen’s partner country this year as the festival marked its hundredth anniversary, and the show made a big effort at halftime to highlight that, with a country singer and a cowboy galloping around the arena with an American flag. And there was even an American flag plank jump on the course. But sadly, it just wasn’t the USA’s day. (Switzerland, the defending title holder, wound up last and also didn’t make the cut.)

Instead, the Irish—whose first rider had the first fence down—rallied to finish on zero faults, after the 4-fault penalty became the drop score. The anchor rider, Cian O’Connor, didn’t even have to jump Fancy de Kergane in the second round after teammate Shane Sweetnam clinched victory with a sparkling clear performance under pressure on James Kann Cruz to secure the 250,000 Euro winner’s prize for his homeland. It was the sixth time the Irish won the class at Aachen, but the first since 2010.

Shane modestly downplayed what he did, explaining, “It gets easier knowing you have strong teammates that you can count on.”

Shane Sweetnam, the Irish team hero, aboard James Kann Cruz. This jump depicts Charlemagne, who had his capital at Aachen before show jumping was invented.

Mexico, which hadn’t sent a team to Aachen in 20 years, was second on a total of 4 penalties after a remarkable effort by their anchor, Eugenio Garza Perez on Contango, that matched Shane’s trip for drama.

“We are literally speechless,” said team member Federico Fernandez.

“We are so grateful to the organizers for allowing us to take part. It is the most important show in the world. It is magic in every respect. To ride into this stadium gives you goosebumps. It is an amazing feeling, an adventure, a dream. We will never forget it.” In addition to Federico and Eugenio, others on the team were  Nicolas Pizarro and Andres Azcarraga, the latter having flown in from Spruce Meadows in Canada.

Britain was third with the same score and a slower time. Robert Whitaker of that team noted, “We were close to winning it. Everyone rode well and the horses jumped brilliantly. We are really happy with the result.”

U.S. Coach Robert Ridland, who will announce his Olympic team after this show, noted, “Obviously, the result today was disappointing for the entire team. We are always aiming for the second round and for the podium and that’s a collective mindset. But I thought all our horses jumped really well and the cards just didn’t fall in our favor.

“There were a lot of clears in the first round, which left very little room for error in terms of the first round scores. Laura and Baloutinue jumped a great clear for us and there is still plenty of jumping left this week.”

McLain Ward had a pole down in the middle element of the triple, which Ilex seemed to jump a bit out of stride.

McLain Ward and Ilex. (U.S. Equestrian photo)

Natalie Dean on Acota M was going clear until she had a knockdown at the final fence, while Katie Dinan with Out of the Blue SCF dropped a pole at the Liverpool marked with the German coat of arms that was a big trouble spot on the course.

The Irish team consisted of three of the riders who will be going to Paris for the Olympics; Shane and Cian, who are on the team, and Bertram Allen, the traveling reserve. The third team rider, Daniel Coyle, is not showing at Aachen.

Michael Blake, Ireland’s ebullient chef d’equipe, congratulated the Mexican and British teams for “pushing us all the way to the line.”

He complimented the enthusiastic spectators, noting, “This show and the Dublin show, the crowds are so big and so knowledgeable.”

The Irish team and Michael Blake. (Jennifer Metzner photo)

EquiRatings’ interesting form guide for the Nations Cup had a lot of great statistics, even if it didn’t pick the winner. Germany, which has won the class 30 times since 1929, more than three times what any other nation has done, was given a 40 percent podium chance (it finished sixth). The U.S. was given a 39 percent chance (and we know what happened to that team), France 38 percent (they were seventh) and Ireland a 34 percent chance. And I’m going on the record to announce Ireland is my pick for Olympic gold. I have heard the Irish national anthem played more times than any other at shows I reported on this year.

Click here for the team standings.

Click here for the individual standings