Laura Kraut showed torrid form in Europe after Florida. Her Tierra will be a world beater in Normandy. As for mileage in the big classes leading up to the Games, practically our entire squad was in Calgary beavering away, leaving the Canadians quite intimidated. Also the course designer for the last observation trial there was Bob Ellis himself. Seems like pretty decent prep. A funny thing is that both the Brits and the Saudis thanked their government money sources, (the British Lottery and the Saudi monarchy). Perhaps instead of bailing out AIG we should bail out Margie Goldstein.
[QUOTE=nutmeg;6482749]
Laura Kraut showed torrid form in Europe after Florida. Her Tierra will be a world beater in Normandy. [/QUOTE]
Tierra is awesome but young and not there yet. She’s the horse of the future, I totally agree.
You mean like in two more years? 
I’ve often wondered why the United States Congress doesn’t allow the IOC to have a lottery a couple of times a year? It could, you know.
[QUOTE=nutmeg;6482749]
Perhaps instead of bailing out AIG we should bail out Margie Goldstein.[/QUOTE]
:D:lol:
It is the nature of competition that there will be one winning rider or team, and everybody else will be wondering what they need to do differently to win the next time. At the last two Olympics, it was our turn to enjoy the view from the top of the podium. This time it was the Brits’ turn. Congrats to them!
Our team was what, within one rail of a medal at the start of the last round? That’s not exactly a terrible thing, to be in contention with the best in the world.
And good luck to all in the individual competition, especially Rich and McLain.
I, too, would love to know how many of the vocal critics have stood on the podium to get an Olympic medal. Of any color, not just gold. 
Wasn’t that Greg Best and Gem Twist?–Had trouble with a liverpool thanks to Devon’s night lighting.
Straight from GM’s mouth: http://www.discoverhorses.com/events/2012-olympic-games/nancy-jaffer-reports-great-britains-show-jumpers-give-their-fans-the-gift-of-gold/
“There has to be much more commitment at this level. A country has to make a commitment to riding at a standard,” he said, noting “most of our resources are spent in the hunter division, the equitation division, the adult hunter division. This has to be a big priority for the country.
“We have to produce horsemen, not jut cosmetic fake horsemen.” He noted that this observation isn’t just about show jumping, it also applies to eventing and dressage."
[QUOTE=Fluffie;6483145]
Wasn’t that Greg Best and Gem Twist?–Had trouble with a liverpool thanks to Devon’s night lighting.[/QUOTE]
I believe so. I think by the time McLain was a contender with Sapphire in 2004, the pendulum had started to swing back to a mix of subjective and objective selection.
[QUOTE=DMK;6482771]
You mean like in two more years? :D[/QUOTE]
I don’t know that anyone can predict the trajectory but I do think the horse has all the pieces and is in good hands with Laura… And time will tell if and when!
[QUOTE=lauriep;6481766]
It really amazes me how you all think George has all this control ovr the results! NONE of these riders ride with him, they all have their own programs, they are simply brought together at these competitions under the umbrella of the USET. this isn’t Bert’s USET! He is one of the selectors, but there were others. He basically is the chief organizer at the events. What exactly would you have him do differently? For that matter, what exactly do you think Robert will be able to do differently? Really, think about what you say before you spout off. No one wants to win more than he does, yet you all make it sound like he didn’t do his job. Show me how that is true![/QUOTE]
THANK YOU and…AMEN!!!
[QUOTE=BAC;6482099]
You’re right. Too bad the US team can’t base themselves in Europe for a year.[/QUOTE]
NO … that’s NOT the answer entirely.Yes, abroad competition is wise, but not a cure.
We need our Show Managers and Course Designers
to grab the bull by the horns and develop, provide, and insist the Spruce Meadows and RI Jumping Derby type of course & test. Today’s show’s and courses are steril and truely lack imagination. If your hones you’ll agree. There the same week after week…
We were spoild with the depth of our 1984 Team as we were with the brillance of Secritariat.
I doubt we’ll see either in this lifetime again!
I hope I’m wrong…
[QUOTE=fair judy;6482295]
i concur with laurie. no one is coming up with a different move just a better whine.[/QUOTE]
A bad boxed whine at that!!!
George has been saying this for YEARS, if not decades. He is very, very right.
Ahhh yes. I am old. My memory is not good. 
[QUOTE=Rel6;6483165]
Straight from GM’s mouth:“There has to be much more commitment at this level. A country has to make a commitment to riding at a standard,” he said, noting “most of our resources are spent in the hunter division, the equitation division, the adult hunter division. This has to be a big priority for the country.
“We have to produce horsemen, not jut cosmetic fake horsemen.” He noted that this observation isn’t just about show jumping, it also applies to eventing and dressage.”[/QUOTE]
Yes because us adult hunter riders are reaping so many benefits and taking all the resources away from the olympians…:rolleyes: Really George cause last I looked the majority of us “adult hunter” riders pretty much feel we get the end of the stick when it comes to showing and opportunities from usef. Hey maybe they should take this olympics with a grain of salt. Maybe we were really lucky the last 2 to win gold. Either way you can’t prepare for something like this for only a couple of months and think we can win gold. Start putting blame were blame is do.
Maybe he means that we’re spending too much of our resources on sports that don’t really matter to international competition.
In Europe the person responsible of the training and selection of the horse/rider pairs is in charge many years before the main event.
This person decides who ultimately will make the team using their knowledge they have built during the period and having full responsibility of the final outcome.
There’s nothing like “objective” elements to consider, they have to select the pairs that are peaking at the right time.
Luckily we are not yet in a stage that the lawyers are used for trying to change that system.
Our sport is so “special” that you will never find the perfect “objective” method to select a team.
Germany and France demonstrate that the “Euro” system is not “perfect” either and a bad day can happen…
[QUOTE=Smiles;6483552]
Yes because us adult hunter riders are reaping so many benefits and taking all the resources away from the olympians…:rolleyes: Really George cause last I looked the majority of us “adult hunter” riders pretty much feel we get the end of the stick when it comes to showing and opportunities from usef. Hey maybe they should take this olympics with a grain of salt. Maybe we were really lucky the last 2 to win gold. Either way you can’t prepare for something like this for only a couple of months and think we can win gold. Start putting blame were blame is do.[/QUOTE]
I think you are misunderstanding. His point isn’t a diss on the hunter divisions. He means that we are spread too thin, financially and focus wise, in this country because we have soooo many areas of interest. Which is true, and it has always been this way. The problem is 1) our competitors do NOT have these other areas to satisfy and 2) where once we could still attain some manner of focus because of BERT/Gadstone/ donated horses/ etc., now the competition is so fierce at the elite levels for $$, horses, resources, that without total commitment, you aren’t going to win consistently.
This country will eventually have to decide if they want to WIN at the Olympic level, and develop the support and commitment necessary, or just be a participant and be content to go and have the occasional good showing. Or not participate at all.
[QUOTE=andy.smaga;6483680]
In Europe the person responsible of the training and selection of the horse/rider pairs is in charge many years before the main event.
This person decides who ultimately will make the team using their knowledge they have built during the period and having full responsibility of the final outcome.
There’s nothing like “objective” elements to consider, they have to select the pairs that are peaking at the right time.
Luckily we are not yet in a stage that the lawyers are used for trying to change that system.
Our sport is so “special” that you will never find the perfect “objective” method to select a team.
Germany and France demonstrate that the “Euro” system is not “perfect” either and a bad day can happen…[/QUOTE]
Exactly. That worked well for us during the Bert years. When he left, things began to change, but only slightly. It was the lawsuits (the Leones filed one too) that did us in, and we have operated from a place of fear ever since. Too afraid of not being fair and PC!!
