Boyd and Tamie would both have shots at delivering the whole package with Tsetserleg and Mai Baum. Z probably wouldn’t deliver a competitive dressage score, but Philip’s value as the pathfinder could be huge. Doug and Quantum Leap are the US 5* national champions. I like Liz Halliday Sharp but not sure she is going to have a world championship caliber horse ready to go. I think Will Coleman is in the mix but not sure he should get the nod over any of the others - he has a good string, but which horse would be the choice? I think Ariel Grald has made a good case for herself, but over the others? It will be interesting!
Is it me or does it seem like Will often gets snubbed by selectors? I think he belongs in serious consideration for a team. Just seems like he is outside of the “circle”?
5 Likes
I feel like you could definitely have Will Coleman in there with either of his two 5* horses.
Sydney Elliott is another one that needs to be watched, QC Diamantaire is as quality as they come, and she has been putting in some excellent results. Maybe not for the WEG but I am glad she is on some lists.
With this finish, Ariel hasn’t finished out of the top 15 in any of the 5* she has competed in. And their dressage is typically getting better, hopefully now that they have done the big crowd thing, it will keep going down.
7 Likes
There was some “drama” that one year at KY but he was on the WEG team and went overseas to Germany as non traveling reserve for Olympics last year.
She’s is the most exciting thing to come to the US high performance in a long time. Not saying others aren’t exciting either but she is still fairly new to the “Team” atmosphere.
So impressed by her this weekend. I hope everyone shuts up about MB not being a 5* horse. Nope, he’s almost a 6* horse, isn’t he?
15 Likes
Yep. That’s what is going to happen too probably. Horse and Hound podcast was pretty harsh on the Americans in general (no one in particular), just saying good effort but they are still really lacking whatever it takes to be a strong country in eventing, aside from a few who had great finishes.
I want Ariel on WEG team but I just can’t see them sending her sadly.
3 Likes
They would be FOOLS not to. Not only MB, but Tami. Woman can handle the pressure, do dressage, AND jump. Total package.
7 Likes
No guidance, I mean look at the High Performance/Coach/Leader issue this year.
The UK has one of the most supportive and comprehensive YR and JR programs there is. We don’t even have Pony eventing in North America. Kids are doing PRELIM on ponies to start. The Europeans and Brits already have such a huge start long before we ever do.
8 Likes
Young rider history;
Ponies;
Juniors;
That would be said as she has made it a point to go over to Europe to compete, She has a 10th at Burghley, 3rd at Luhmulen, 15th at Badminton and a 12th at Kentucky since 2019. Most US riders haven’t even gone to Europe three times, never mind had her placings.
11 Likes
I’m feeling increasingly worried about Nicola Wilson, who had a fall that seemed quite bad. The updates have said she’s “stable” at the hospital and undergoing testing, but there is no word on exactly what’s wrong, and no word from the rider herself.
I think she needs all our jingles and good thoughts. I love eventing (just as a spectator, of course) but after word of so many falls, I was just hoping we would learn that everyone turned out okay in the end.
14 Likes
There are some rumours floating about UK chat areas but I don’t want to post and speculate. I’m sure a public announcement will be made once they are ready.
Everyone keep sending all your positive vibes her way.
7 Likes
Expecting multiple U.S. riders in the top 10 at Badminton (especially this year) isn’t realistic. For all intents and purposes, all of our horse/rider combinations were first timers. Yes Will and Phillip have been before, but it was ages and ages ago. Overall, we should be very happy.
Tamie had a fantastic weekend. Her round on Sunday was probably the round of the day and she’s set herself up for a real shot at an individual medal at Pratoni this fall. People seem to forget how crucial clear rounds on Sunday are at championships. She’s the first name on the team sheet for me.
The rest of the team is a hard one to pin. I think we’ve got a about 6 horses who are more or less bunched together in terms of where we’d expect them to finish, they just leak points in different phases. I think Phillip’s showjumping round may put his spot in jeopardy. Z’s selling point has been his historical strength in that phase and that’s slipped some in recent years.
Don’t forget that we have a drop score at WEG, which really changes how you structure the team. I’d have Tamie first on the list, then probably Boyd, Ariel as a solid team score but likely not an individual contender, then probably Will and Off the Record as one that could be up there if they have a good weekend or a very average weekend if not. You could also through a super flashy 4L winner in the mix if someone blows us away at Tryon or Bromont.
If Liz has a good Lumuhlen on Cooley Quicksliver, I think we could see them take the individual slot. Sydney would be my choice otherwise. Love Doug’s horse, but he needs to travel somewhere first. Paris looks like a real probability for him though. Again, love that horse on the final day.
12 Likes
I’m terribly worried for her. Sending good thoughts to her and all her connections.
2 Likes
What was Dairm’s quote? “The U.S. is too big to have been this bad for this long”?
1 Like
Except that time he went to the Pan Ams and was a traveling reserve for the olympics?
But to some degree, that’s really the problem. We’re too spread out to do a lot of traveling to different eventing venues. Area 2 has a lot, but does any other Area? I would have said Area 1 (where I live) 10 years ago, but not anymore.
It sounds like the UK has a LOT of venues within a day’s driving distance, and Europe does too, to some degree.
4 Likes
WC on Tight Lines was a late replacement for ML for WEG 2018 at Tryon. IIRC correctly, he was sent out as pathfinder on xc and picked up a couple of stops. As with LKN and Veronica at Rio, there (understandably) seems to be a reluctance to give a rider another chance on the Olympic/WEG stage when the rider didn’t deliver the last time he or she was given the opportunity.
1 Like
I don’t expect the US to ever be able to compete on the world stage consistently again given how rapidly we’re losing venues and there’s just so little support for the pipeline of riders and talent. I think we’re going to have to be content with what we already have: some brilliant riding and great horses doing their best with what’s possible.
8 Likes
The concept that Ariel has gone four for four in clear cross country rounds with this horse at the biggest venues in the world, jumped two clear jumping rounds this weekend, finished eleven places higher than Phillip and Z, and is STILL considered to be an unlikely selection for the WEG team in his favour is absolutely everything that is wrong with this country.
She was top 12 at her and the horse’s first five star (even when she had to jump a fence with a flag trapped under her leg), she was top 10 at Burghley, finished on the podium (albeit in a small field) at Luhmuhlen, and was top 15 at Badminton. While the horse was one of many to get a little tense in front of the crowds in dressage last weekend, he has broken 30 at 4* level, so the ability is there and proven. He’s 13 now, so tons of potential for the future. Short of requiring her to change her name to something that starts with Phillip and ends with Dutton, what more could anyone possibly want before they will give her a chance?!
42 Likes
