[QUOTE=Lost_at_C;6475687]
81 for Damon Hill? Why??
But ohmygoodness I can’t wait til next week.[/QUOTE]
Well I liked that ride far better than Parzival, albeit my dressage knowledge is limited.
I liked Damon Hill’s ride better than Parzival’s also. Adelinde was really riding on the curb. The close up of Parzival’s head they showed on LiveExtra was really disturbing to me. The only time I’ve ridden a GP horse, I had a really loose curb rein. So much fun riding piaffe and passage on the snaffle!
Now I have to go back and watch the USA rides and Charlotte’s!
Maybe SP didn’t really push Ravel to be flamboyant as the US needed a decent score to make the GP Special as a Team? Maybe he’ll take more chances later.
I thought Damon Hill’s test was lovely to watch and of course Valegro. I fell in love with Charlotte and Valegro the very first time I saw video of her riding in a warmup.
GO TEAM USA too for putting in solid performances!
When did it become OK to use your voice during a test?
Kittell told his horse to “whoa” just before his free walk.
Poland rider clucked her horse into the trot from the opening salute. You could see her do it, as well as hear it.
During one part of her test, I could hear the last British rider clucking in rhythm. She must have used her tongue on the back of the roof of her mouth, so that her mouth did not move.
The sound comes through really well. It is too bad that the judges could not hear them as well.
The last rider from the land of everything Orange 
was definitely using Rollkur before entering the stadium. The horse’s neck was so short during the test that it looked about a foot long. The horse resisted the rein back, then took six steps back, instead of five. There was no extension of the horse’s head, during the walk. He did have a super passage and piaffe, though.
I was surprised that Stephan Peters ride was not more accurate. He was starting movements before letters, after letters and nowhere near some letters (ie: transition from extended walk at H, he was still gathering up his reins after H). I loved his extended canter! I did think that he was scored a bit low, especially when compared to the riders after him.
Did anyone else notice the last German horse rope walking in front, during his extended walk?
[QUOTE=Auburn;6475756]
When did it become OK to use your voice during a test?
Kittell told his horse to “whoa” just before his free walk.
Poland rider clucked her horse into the trot from the opening salute. You could see her do it, as well as hear it.
During one part of her test, I could hear the last British rider clucking in rhythm. She must have used her tongue on the back of the roof of her mouth, so that her mouth did not move.
The sound comes through really well. It is too bad that the judges could not hear them as well.
The last rider from the land of everything Orange was definitely using Rollkur before entering the stadium. The horse’s neck was so short during the test that it looked about a foot long. The horse resisted the rein back, then took six steps back, instead of five. There was no extension of the horse’s head, during the walk. He did have a super passage and piaffe, though.
I was surprised that Stephan Peters ride was not more accurate. He was starting movements before letters, after letters and nowhere near some letters (ie: transition from extended walk at H, he was still gathering up his reins after H). I loved his extended canter! I did think that he was scored a bit low, especially when compared to the riders after him.
Did anyone else notice the last German horse rope walking in front, during his extended walk?[/QUOTE]
Every comment you just made echoed each of my thoughts exactly! Except maybe for Stephan’s accuracy as I missed the first half of his test.
Cornillson (sp?) ride was really unpleasant to watch imo.
I tend not to judge accuracy from video because the angles can make it look very distorted. The only thing I noticed was that Ravel’s change on the centerline, between the pirouettes, was short behind.
As to the sounds, the mics are right in the flowers, so much closer to the rider and horse than the judge is.
I think they need to put speakers in the judge’s boxes so they can hear all the use of voice. It was amazing how many riders were clucking to their horses!
Coverage-wise, I’m impressed with the NUMBER of broadcast cameras that they’ve got working the arena. I count three from the top of the stands, three from the corners on the ground, one hand-held at the in gate and one remote at C. I can’t remember a network EVER having such a complete view of things. Anyone else see other angles?
I was saddened by Parzival’s test too, very unpleasant to watch. I don’t think she let go of the curb rein once. I loved Ravel’s soft expression and wonderful floppy ears!! Valegro was amazing, and deserved to be 1st.
Yes, its fabulous to see all the angles. I especially love the rein back cam.
Just wish they had a camera on the scoreboard to see the individual . movement scores.
I don’t believe they are showing the individual movement scores anymore - they haven’t at the last few CDIs I’ve been to. Instead they do a running score which shows what the horse in the ring’s average is at that point… But it would be interesting to see that.
[QUOTE=nomeolvides;6475419]
Rubi looked like he was doing those changes on his own.[/QUOTE] that was a truly moving test. I’m so glad I got to watch him. I think he deserved a bit higher score.
And the italian’s piaffe was a 9 for me!
[QUOTE=Sonesta;6475775]
I think they need to put speakers in the judge’s boxes so they can hear all the use of voice. It was amazing how many riders were clucking to their horses![/QUOTE]
The riders are very good at doing it in the right place at the right time, and out of range of the judge’s boxes. I don’t know if it really matters that much. I’d rather they clucked than gouged with the spur.
[QUOTE=Lost_at_C;6475490]
Fuego was lovely but not quite as nice as I’ve seen him in the past. Perhaps a bit tighter in the neck than usual.[/QUOTE]
That was my impression too. He seemed not present in a way, yet Juan did his best to bring out what he could. I hope whatever has Fuego distracted is alleviated when we see more of him.
Juan was tidy but not as giving with the hand today.
Regarding the rider’s voice/clucking/etc…
My husband and I also drive, and for driving dressage, your voice is one of your main aids and you are never marked down for using it during a test (within reason of course).
It’s made me see what a wonderful aid it is and I think it’s sad that it’s not allowed in ridden dressage. You can finesse your ride with some simple voice aids–a soft whoa to back up a halt or a cluck to help a transition.
I can say it’s lovely to watch driven dressage tests where people are telling their horses, “Good boy!” or “You’ve got it!”, during a test. Makes for a much more positive experience for horse, driver, and spectators.
JMHO
Charlotte made it look easy!! Gorgeous horse and test!
Regarding the voice aid - glad to see that I was not the only one who heard the whoa from Kittel. Thought maybe I was hearing things…
Very subtle (or not so subtle) voice aids are heard all over dressage tests. It’s hard to remember not to, unless you never speak to your horse when riding, ever. And most judges tend to ignore, or at most make a comment in the remarks, a small slip. It’s got to be pretty blatent for most judges to deduct for it. And in those booths that they were using, I’ll bet they weren’t even hearing the horse as much as we were on tv.
Totally agree I’d rather have a small voice aid, than a gouging spur. The problem then comes from what is small… The next thing we’ll have is riders yelling and grunting all through tests ALA Monica Seles tennis of the 90s.
Well I have to admit that watching dressage over the past two days was just a kick in the pants! I loved every second of it. I had some trouble predicting the scores it seemed, but it was fun watching so many “super stars” compete all in one place. Just had to gush for a second and stop and really appreciate the opportunity to watch the competition. I am so loving my sport right now! (Sorry, was that over the top?)
Remarks from Charlotte Dujardin and Richard Davison:
http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/news/show/1507-day-two---grand-prix-part-2
I did think Artemis looked a bit tense but nowhere near what Richard describes… I’m sure that atmosphere affected many of the tests.
