So, any predictions on what will happen tomorrow? As much as I would love for Isabell to win, I don’t think her lead is big enough to hold off Anky in the kur. I think it’s going to be :
Unsure about the rest, I sure would love to see Courtney move up as well.
Although has anybody else noticed Anky is not riding like she normally does? She looks very, very braced. It was almost painful to watch her. But she is the Queen of the Kur, whether she deserves to be or not is a different story IMO…
I really dislike Isabelle, never have liked her.
I think Courtney and Steffen deserve to move up in placings though. Both have put in such beautiful performances. I’ve always enjoyed both Courtney and Steffen’s Kurs. Although Heike is definetly putting in solid performances as well.
Well I won’t be able to see any of it - but I have my likes and dislikes.
I really don’t like the FS in the Olympics. Too subjective. Yes, it is a crowd pleaser, but please!!!
I have never been an Anky fan - even before RK. I don’t think she is the Queen of the Kur. I have always been astounded how folks ooh and aah over her kurs.
I don’t get it. I “started life” as a musician. Rode dressage for years.
So maybe I am more critical. I have not seem many FS’s that have moved me to tears.
I have not seen Brentina’s but what I have heard - it is one of the best.
My favorite FS was KK and Matador - years ago.
I prefer IW over AvG - but would be pleased if anyone else topped them.
I know this sounds terrible but I don’t want AvG to be awarded/rewarded with the gold.
opposite…
[QUOTE=Dressage_Diva333;3454392]
Unsure about the rest, I sure would love to see Courtney move up as well.
Although has anybody else noticed Anky is not riding like she normally does? She looks very, very braced. It was almost painful to watch her. But she is the Queen of the Kur, whether she deserves to be or not is a different story IMO…
I really dislike Isabelle, never have liked her.
I think Courtney and Steffen deserve to move up in placings though. Both have put in such beautiful performances. I’ve always enjoyed both Courtney and Steffen’s Kurs. Although Heike is definetly putting in solid performances as well.[/QUOTE]
I have never liked Anky, and really really dislike her rides at these Olympics, so my thoughts are the opposite of DD… Of course she’s a fabulous rider, of course she’s incredibly talented, and she and her trainer sure can put together a kur… but… Jsut something about her…
I hope this is how it goes anyway… 
Though I am also very impressed with Bonaparte and Heike, so they may take bronze or silver…
Either way, it will be so much fun to watch! Cannot wait…
After reading this
After reading these last posts I felt like being back on UDBB again.
Rule #1 Hate Anky and everything she does.
#2 When you don’t understand anything about dressgae throw in the
Halt, BTV, RK, HF or or or.
Back on topic : I think you all seem to forget that we have a girl from Russia and a girl from Mexico riding in Hongkong. And… without a USA judge on board and a German judge who probably has something against Americans (and Dutch), and a Danish judge who wasn’t very friendly to the US-riders also, it is going to be a tough battle for the US-riders to earn a medal.
Just to clarify, I do not like Anky, or support what she does either. But she always scores highly, it’s my prediction. I sure would love to see an Olympics without Isabelle and Anky. I think I’d take Anky over Isabelle though.
The name of this thread reminds of an old racetrack story - can’t remember which horse but let’s say Man O’ War - the trainer bet that he could tell where every horse in the race would finish - he won…Man O’ War first…the rest of the field…distanced. In this case Isabell, Anky, a random third horse…the rest of the field distanced. (ooops, do I sound critical of the judging, sorry)
I’m rooting for Steffen & Ravel. I think they are a beautiful pair – and most correct.
Judging will be what it will be, tho… My dream is that someday FEI dressage judges will judge what actually happens in front of them, in the moment. Not what “might” have been.
Seb
My predictions for what they are worth
Anky - I like Anky and think she rides quite well - and the Kur is her specialty
Isabelle - I like Isabelle and also think she rides quite well - I love Satchmo
I cross my fingers for any American - Steffen or Courtney - GO USA!
I think the judges will judge totally on merit today as everyday ;), freestyle to music, and no politics:D
To tell you the truth, I love equestrian dressage where men and women compete on equal footing and the world’s best are women. GO ANKY and ISABELLE! :winkgrin:
Isabel Werth will win.
I don’t think Ravel can do alot better right now, he is just too green, though he could place and even score very well if anyone else has little problems, and given how many problems there have been, I would expect problems to continue. THe venue just stinks.
He did his first GP in competition just a few months ago - I think everyone expects far too much of him, and I think it’s grossly unfair what people expect of him, actually. What I think is a problem there with him, he is too tight in the throat near the poll, and lacks the more flow and freedom that he needs to place first. I think he needs to be lighter, free-er, more supple in the upper neck basically, what it means is, he needs to be less green. It is just time. People are being extremely unfair and putting way, way too much pressure on that horse in their expectations.
The judging of the freestyle is more on keeping in the rhythm and technical matters of the execution of the movement, it is not judged on ‘oh, that is my favorite music, so they should win’, and since people are always mad at how the tests are judged, and technical points figure in the freestyle too, it’s inevitable that spectators often get mad at who wins.
I think Anky simply was trying to do the impossible, asking for a lot and yet being conservative, as Sjeff said, ‘riding with the handbrake on’ (way to go, supportive husband - i would rather die a thousand deaths than have my husband coach me). I think a hot horse like Salinero is very, very hard to ride smoothly that way. I think the more you try to be better, the harder it gets to be better. I think she has been doing this for 30 years and I think there is so much pressure on her, she is the most hated winner ever, even in a sport where always, ‘Everyone hates a winner’, as Isabel Werth said. It takes its toll.
I love the way Isabell rides, really dislike Anky’s method but due to politics Anky will win, they have to keep both countries happy…Whoever wins I hope it’s really deserved. I don’t think Courtney has a chance based on how the German judge scored her in the grand prix but maybe that was a mistake;) I still have no idea how or why the German judge was so far off from the rest of the judges.
I expect the usual two to get gold and silver. Big deal.
For the bronze, I would love to see Steffen get it, but I do feel his horse is green at this level and has a lot more to develop, so it’s a pipe dream for him to medal this time. I can be patient. Watching that horse develop is going to be such a joy.
I would love to see Courtney pull a rabbit out, she’s been such a pro so far and is a lovely, lovely (and effective!) rider. I hope her strategy of being conservative so far pays off, and that she can really go for it today.
In any event, I’m very proud of these two and will be proud of whatever they produce.
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