Is this ride available to look at online somewhere?
I agree with you about the canter, and no one seems to have commented on that yet (except you). To me she looked like she didn’t want to step under in the canter (especially the corners). And her final extended trot was the strangest thing I have seen (a huge passage it seemed). But you are right about how lovely her piaffe and passage were.
The mare has a heart of gold. I am just so sad about it and really feel bad for Debbie, since she really seems to love the mare.
Speaking of Breathing
Did you listen to Lancet? He was the most labored in breathing I had heard through the entire event. Or the microphone was extra loud when Emma Hindle rode.
Not a single one of you KNOW what was affecting the mare. It could have been any one of a thousand things, including abdominal discomfort, muscle problems, breathing problems to name a few. Why not just keep your feet out of your mouths and wait until there is a FACTUAL explanation?
[QUOTE=snoopy;3444199]
I have no idea who wrote the article, maybe astrid, but yes there were some serious observations…but then again it is the writer’s point of view.[/QUOTE]
The article was completely the truth, nothing poor was said about the mare and Debbie. All you have to do is watch the coverage of the ride. Brentina was tense, sore, and unlevel; after the her nonexistent lenghtenings I felt so sorry for her and Debbie. You could see it was not going well, and not going to end better.
The mare has been off and on for awhile now, she needs to retire. Not a bad thing! 
She has been a model for dressage in America, and our nation should give them both our gratitude. I salute them for all the work they have done for dressage. But it is over. The horse needs to be out of the high stakes world and relax on a pasture, she deserves it.
After seeing all the huffing and puffing from the dressage horses, I am getting really worried about how the conditions are going to affect the jumpers 
[QUOTE=ridgeback;3444316]
Let us not just blame Debbie because Klaus is the one who ultimately decides who goes in the ring!!![/QUOTE]
I am so horrified for Debbie & Klaus & the entire team. This is devastating. Klaus is really an excellent person, so is Debbie, and I don’t know Stephen.
I am just horrified for all of them. I am so sorry… :no: :sadsmile: 
I thought the mare just two-footed it in a couple corners at the canter because she was getting strung out (long). I didn’t think that suggested anything wrong iwth her except lack of fitness.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;3444627]
Not a single one of you KNOW what was affecting the mare. It could have been any one of a thousand things, including abdominal discomfort, muscle problems, breathing problems to name a few. Why not just keep your feet out of your mouths and wait until there is a FACTUAL explanation?[/QUOTE]
I couldn’t agree more!
Would anyone have a link to the infamous Brick House Freestyle? I looked on youtube but couldn’t find it…
is there a link on the Olympic site to today’s ride?
No, Equibrit, we do not KNOW, but we do have eyes, and even a blind squirrel could see all that going on.
[QUOTE=2 tbs;3444301]
What I did pick up on was the horse was not right overall. Breathing was maybe more intense than many others but beyond the breathing I saw a horse quite unsettled. The halt was hardly a solid halt-she stopped but she looked like a time bomb. The walk out of the arena was quite animated compared to the rest who dropped their head and gave a great forward stretching walk. She looked worried/anxious/overwhelmed.
What I don’t know is how they normally perform so I can’t say that this was out of the ordinary. Did the horse sustain an injury? Maybe. Did the horse do her best to hold herself together when she really wanted to freak out? Maybe.
I’m worried about what really happened and I saw a horse that was completely on edge/ready to explode for whatever reason.)[/QUOTE]
ABSOLUTELY AGREE. I have seen this pair perform probably 25+ times, in California, Idaho, Arizona, Las Vegas, Aachen, and now in HK. This is not normal behavior for Brentina. I’m not referring to the quality of the test, any mistakes, or the unevenness some have alluded to. I’m referring to the change in the way Brentina was using her hindlegs as the canter tour deteriorated, and how worried, anxious, and overwhelmed both Brentina and Debbie appeared at the end. This is my biggest cause for concern right now, and I can only wish them well.
supposing
What an incredible heart that mare has, and poor DM looked like she wanted to die.
I don’t see what harm there is in offering thoughts on “where it hurts.” Hher movement is so extravagant and fluid, and she was so game, that it was hard to me to try and pinpoint what I was seeing.
I don’t think it’s necessarily disrespectful to offer our opinions on what we saw, or think we saw.
I just watched the video and it was really sad at the end.
After she had finished and dismounted, the grooms took Brentina away and you could hear Debbie saying, “I’m sorry guys.” I could hear someone say, “that’s ok.”
So sad.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;3444627]
Not a single one of you KNOW what was affecting the mare. It could have been any one of a thousand things, including abdominal discomfort, muscle problems, breathing problems to name a few. Why not just keep your feet out of your mouths and wait until there is a FACTUAL explanation?[/QUOTE]
perplexed look Why is NBC putting it on TV and giving us a live feed if we aren’t allowed to talk about an Olympic event? If a sprinter or a swimmer had appeared to have a physical issue would no one be allowed to speculate on what it was and the effect of it on his/her performance before there was an “official” explanation?
[QUOTE=petitefilly;3444633]
The article was completely the truth, nothing poor was said about the mare and Debbie. All you have to do is watch the coverage of the ride. Brentina was tense, sore, and unlevel; after the her nonexistent lenghtenings I felt so sorry for her and Debbie. You could see it was not going well, and not going to end better.
The mare has been off and on for awhile now, she needs to retire. Not a bad thing! She has been a model for dressage in America, and our nation should give them both our gratitude. I salute them for all the work they have done for dressage. But it is over. The horse needs to be out of the high stakes world and relax on a pasture, she deserves it.[/QUOTE]
I was not disputing what was written but was addressing another poster’s point that is was a scathing article…hence I said it was the writer’s point of view…got it?
The RF issue was what was extremely evident at the WEG’s and obviously much worse here at the Olympics. But - I watched the youtube video of the freestyle for the selections and I could still see the guarded movement on the RF on that video. And I believe Dressage Daily had a photo in the write up about the selection trials that shows the mare not free in front and moving out behind.
The write ups have been pretty harsh but as someone else said - this is a sport and other athletes and teams get harsh but honest comments from the press. In this instance it was on point. The best 3 should have gone. The new system makes the decision about soundness to be critical - no drop score - so every horse going in has to be sound.
It’s a tough last showing for this mare.
[QUOTE=MelantheLLC;3444759]
perplexed look Why is NBC putting it on TV and giving us a live feed if we aren’t allowed to talk about an Olympic event? If a sprinter or a swimmer had appeared to have a physical issue would no one be allowed to speculate on what it was and the effect of it on his/her performance before there was an “official” explanation?[/QUOTE]
I’m going to say this once and then shut up but I think what equibrit was getting at is that there is more than meets the eye, and so you have to also consider the other side(s) of the story–both before and after the press release. I’m going to call out COTH members on getting very one sided at times (not just on this thread, but many) and not considering other options. Make the observations and dually note them, but when it comes to the analysis, at least acknowledge there might be another (or even several!) possibilities.
Pony +an inch - THIS IS A SPORT. Commenting on performances where it’s just a competitor or a competitor with a horse - makes no difference. The comments people are making here relate to a situation where the SCORE evidenced problems. Was the write up on EuroDressage a bit harsh - YES - but this is the Olympics - not a local show with amateurs. Countries like Holland and Germany are consistently at the top because they are used to this harsh criticism and take it back with them to improve the training or the decision making process on whether a horse should go or not. It’s not personal - it’s just what it is.
[QUOTE=Pony+ an inch;3444782]
Make the observations and dually note them, but when it comes to the analysis, at least acknowledge there might be another (or even several!) possibilities.[/QUOTE]
LOL, ok I acknowledge there might be several possibilities.
Can we talk about them now? :eek:
