[QUOTE=Berry0317;6488508]
I would love to know what Steffan leaned over and said to Ravel after the final salute. I’m sure it was something very loving![/QUOTE]
Whatever it was, I am sure it was great.
In many ways Ravel IS his horse of a lifetime.
It’s a tough day …final Olympics for Ravel, and he’ll be retired soon.
Steffen has Legolas in the wings. We’ll see them in Rio 
fwiw, that was one of the nicest rides I have ever seen from Anky and Salinero. I am not a fan of theirs, but he looked much happier and less tense than in the past. Lovely. Nice way to end their Olympic run IMO.
[QUOTE=Mardi;6488528]
In many ways Ravel IS his horse of a lifetime.
It’s a tough day …final Olympics for Ravel, and he’ll be retired soon.
Steffen has Legolas in the wings. We’ll see them in Rio :)[/QUOTE]
I know, and I think you’re right that he is- I just hope he continues to have such special animals. Legolas, obviously, is very exciting.
I LOVE FUEGO! I dunno nothin’ about dressage, but this horse makes me smile.
[QUOTE=Renn/aissance;6488544]
I LOVE FUEGO! I dunno nothin’ about dressage, but this horse makes me smile.[/QUOTE]
ditto, he is magical 
Fuego and Juan just make me smile. Perhaps it is because of my memories of WEG. But I just love watching him go. Juan obviously loves that horse…although what was with the goosing of him before he started his test?
[QUOTE=Perfect Pony;6488538]
fwiw, that was one of the nicest rides I have ever seen from Anky and Salinero. I am not a fan of theirs, but he looked much happier and less tense than in the past. Lovely. Nice way to end their Olympic run IMO.[/QUOTE]
I agree. That was a lovely ride.
I just watched Steffen and Ravel’s ride (running a bit behind because of early work meetings). At some points, it looked like Ravel was tired, but other times he seemed really fresh. A couple of bobbles in the twos and the extended canter. Maybe it was just a combination of Steffen trying to get absolutely everything he could out of Ravel and Ravel just being a bit tired. I was really hoping for a great performance, but still nothing to be truly disappointed about.
Now I can watch the rest of the rides, hopefully in peace!
Anky’s horizontal curb was mighty distracting tbh. I don’t know, I just don’t understand the hype.
Anky’s ride WAS much better to watch this year. But I don’t know that it looked like 82% to me.
When I said that in many ways Ravel is Steffen’s horse of a lifetime, I meant that Ravel has taken Steffen to the moon and back. They’ve accomplished more as a pair than any other horse/rider combination in US equestrian sports history.
[QUOTE=chancellor2;6488553]
Fuego and Juan just make me smile. Perhaps it is because of my memories of WEG. [/QUOTE]
Same here. It’s like watching live art.
Juan is giving a clinic in San Diego in September. I’m going to audit and I hope there’ll be a chance to thank him for the freestyles that are a such joy to watch.
Was disappointed for Ravel and Steffen. At one point Ravel even had his tongue out which is SO out of character for him. Had a few canter errors. Still a fan of his though…felt bad for him as he seemed so disappointed.
Damn - I’m not sure I can sit through the last 6.
I’m just watching this thread and the scores–can’t actually watch at work!
Seeing Ravel’s score made me sad, but they’re such a lovely pair anyway.
Where is the site for updated scoring? Here it is the end of the Olympics and I still can’t find my way around the sites. [pathetic, I know]
[QUOTE=Mardi;6488589]
When I said that in many ways Ravel is Steffen’s horse of a lifetime, I meant that Ravel has taken Steffen to the moon and back. They’ve accomplished more as a pair than any other horse/rider combination in US equestrian sports history.[/QUOTE]
This is really something. There are some who might argue, but it’s been a hell of a good ride watching this pair.
I read this (post quoted above) a bit ago, and realize I’ve lost all interest in the rest of the competition. I just need some time to process this ending; not sad, not tragic, just … significant.
Thank you, Steffen and Ravel.
[QUOTE=chancellor2;6488588]
Anky’s ride WAS much better to watch this year. But I don’t know that it looked like 82% to me.[/QUOTE]
well she actually did a final salute before waving to the crowd, so the judges must have been blown out of the water.
I give Helen bonus points for booting the horse up herself after the ride. They should give bonus horsemanship points for what goes on in the warm up and ‘on deck’ areas.
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;6488641]
Where is the site for updated scoring? Here it is the end of the Olympics and I still can’t find my way around the sites. [pathetic, I know][/QUOTE]
Here’s the live scoring site.
http://www.london2012.com/equestrian/event/dressage-individual/index.html?v=20120809-151114006
