I have not heard anyone mention what they think the xc will be like at Beijing, but it is something I have been thinking about lately. After a few pieces on tv about how demanding olymic caliber sports programs are in China. Not saying that competing in any sport at that level isnt demanding. I just worry that beijing might be out to prove something by making a really hard course, but it should be because its the olympics right? Its hard to say what im thinking. very hard. and this post does not adequately do so. Just with the year we have had, im worried about a particularily demanding xc. sorry if this has been absolute babble making little sense.
The equestrian part of the Olympics is in Hong Kong :).
A few countries went out and ran the courses for Eventing specifically to make sure that the courses would not be to tough.
I think it will be fine.
I am not in the know but they already ran a competition there! It is in Hong Kong, not Beijing! Go to :
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/archives/2007/08/099.shtml
for the outcome! I would worry more about the polution than the XC course. IMHO from what I have read and heard Hong Kong has worse pollution then Beijing!:sadsmile:
[QUOTE=Ajierene;3413762]
A few countries went out and ran the courses for Eventing specifically to make sure that the courses would not be to tough.
I think it will be fine.[/QUOTE]
The test event last year was more to make sure that all the officals, vets, grounds etc were going to be suitable. They did not run over the course that will be seen next week. “Elements” of the design would most likely been seen but the actual Olympic course…no.
Is there a Mongolian Team :lol:
[QUOTE=BaroquePony;3413866]
Is there a Mongolian Team :lol:[/QUOTE]
I’m really not sure of the relevance of Mongolia sponsoring an Olympic team in China. There is a Mongolian Olympic team, but they do not seem to have representatives in Equestrian Sports this year.
According to the article, the Olympics have only recently become popular enough in Mongolia to warrant televising the games (first time was the 2004 Olympics).
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/27/oly.nomadgames/
http://en.beijing2008.cn/story/story2/0531/
Snoopy - yeah, I didn’t mean they ran over the exact course, or at least that is not what I was thinking - more like a similar course with key elements that may be questionable.
Not worried in the least, unless Phillip Dutton comes back from walking and declares it impossible. 
In my opinion,there should not be any serious problems on the Olympic CC.
They have to cater to many nations who have riders that are not as experienced as others.
The course has to be geared to this.
Which is why,I prefer to think of the World equestrian games as the pinnacle of Equestrian sports.
Arjierene, this would be the relevance:
Quoted from CNN Bejing:
The horses in the Naadam Festival have higher endurance than the horses that will compete in the Olympic Equestrian events in August," bragged Edward Rochette, an American lawyer who married a Mongolian woman and is living in Ulaanbaatar. “Most thoroughbreds would die if you ran them for 30 km. The Mongolian horses have been running across these plains for hundreds of years and have developed the correct body type for this kind of sport.”
They actaully are very good horseman.
[QUOTE=BaroquePony;3414111]
Arjierene, this would be the relevance:
They actaully are very good horseman.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I saw that when I looked it up…kind of obscure reference though.
Kind of like one of those inside jokes only you and your friends know, except none of your friends that know are present and everyone is wondering what you are laughing at…(especially considering the smiley icon- made me infer there was some joke or something involved…)
He certainly doesn’t know anything about TBs, does he? 
There’s even an individual from Jamaica competing this year.
I thought Mike E-S was designing the course.
I like Mongolian BBQ. Yummy!
The Jamaican rider, whose name I forget, is riding a Swedish bred full brother to Darren Chiacchia’s 4**** Better I Do It. She represented Jamaica in the Pan Am Games last year and came in somewhere between 6 and ten (I think). She’s a very competent International rider.
Originally posted by Arjierene:
Kind of like one of those inside jokes only you and your friends know, except none of your friends that know are present and everyone is wondering what you are laughing at…(especially considering the smiley icon- made me infer there was some joke or something involved…)
Ok, it was sort of an inside joke. I was being obtuse.
If one of theses Mongolian kids accidentally kills their pony during this race they are “shunned” and considered bad horsemen.
He is. At least that’s what the FEI and all the news sources have said.
At least in Mongolia if a rider kills his horse at an event he is shunned. Here we just get them another one.
