I just find it interesting that people still seem to think that accuracy on the letter and conservative riding must always trump expression with a few mistakes.
It’s not western pleasure. Accurate transitions on the letter without regard to expression is not the ideal. Expression is also rewarded.
That’s what makes it so interesting for some of us. A fine line.
It’s an exciting and wonderful sport.
The most submissive obediant horse is not necessarily the best.
Ingrid Klimke is my dream coach as well. In the category of “Mozart wins the lottery and suddenly develops some ability and has her pick of coaches” dream.
One of the commentators I heard said her mother Ruth Klimke is a former German National tennis champion, so she certainly has the background to be athletic and competitive. Never forget the influence of the dam line 
What, the team competition is finished? Isn’t there another round of team competition tomorrow? At least that is what is published on COTH’s schedule: Thursday, Aug. 14: Dressage-Grand Prix team competition; medal ceremony.
And the individual competition (GPS) to start on Saturday.
No, competition is not finished. More horses to come. I believe canyonoak means it is a forgone conclusion.
The rewind is up now. Got to http://www.nbcolympics.com/equestrian/video/index.html
and choose WATCH: Dressage qualifier
Well, bummer that this won’t be the years for a Dutch team gold, but life goes on! And fab for Emma Hindle. :yes:
The Dutch with two team riders today vs. one each for the Germans and Americans needed to slam the door shut with their scores. They didn’t do it. Courtney did exactly what she needed to do as the first team rider - a conservative, well ridden test that scored 70%. She knew her job and rode every stride to get that score. Kemmer for Germany also did his job with a great ride for a 72%. Now the weight is on Anky but it may not be enough considering the quality of the remaining riders for Germany and the United States.
Thanks so much but I find it hard to believe silver for the US is a forgone conclusion although that would be wonderful. What happened to the Dutch? I cannot watch at work unfortunately so I am totally dependent on comments from the BB.
[QUOTE=Mozart;3439694]
No, competition is not finished. More horses to come. I believe canyonoak means it is a forgone conclusion.[/QUOTE]
Canyonoak was also pointing at the fact that the German judge Riexinger is consistantly marking the Dutch riders very low. Together with having the pole position, it will make it very hard for the Dutch team to aim for Gold.
We only hope that the Dutch judge may step into the shoes of the German judge and strike back. However knowing Ghislain Fouarge he is not that kind of judge at all.
As stated before the ride of Courtney and Mythilus was the best.
And a very nice tribute to the breeder of Ferro who died the day before he was heading for Hongkong to watch his babies ride at the Olympics.
Of the Chinese horse, Piroschka…
As someone else said, stand in line! I LOVED this mare and would love to ride her. Her ears were relaxed and listening the whole time, and she looks incredibly easy to ride and like she has a very tolerant nature. I think the website info states she’s an anglo-arabian. Too cool.
I liked that the rider didn’t jab in the piaffe and personally, I agree with that 60%. I think her only real mistake was in the two-tempis and in the placement of things like the zig zag and the centerline. But the horse was pleasantly doing her job and was easy to watch. I would love to get a 60% in the Grand Prix at the Olympics. :yes:
I was wondering what the reference to Riexinger meant, thought it might be one of the riders. The biased judging is what I dislike so much about international level dressage although I realize it is not limited to only this discipline. It is a shame these riders who work so hard for this moment have to be subjected to such politics.
I’ve been thinking about it alot this morning.
What sets the Olympics apart from all other competitions is that alot of people get to go who wouldn’t get to go alot of other top competitions. So we have our Courtney King/Dyes and we have our Eddie the Eagles.
Well, what’s so bad about that? I am not really sure that is so bad.
[QUOTE=canyonoak;3439585]
well, the team competition is pretty much over, thanks to Riexinger.
So Germany, Gold; I think U.S. Silver, and Dutch fighting for bronze with maybe Denmark.
I cant wait for the rehash of judging at the next Global Dressage Forum.
et tu, Theo??[/QUOTE]
How can you say that when only one American rider has gone? We have no idea how Debbie and Stefan are going to do…
[QUOTE=freestyle2music;3439650]
I think that it will be the same as so many of the past Olympics:
Germany Gold, Netherlands Silver, and the USA and Danish riders fighting for Bronze. For the UK-team it’s a big lost that Carl didn’t make it.
But : Let me put it this way : I had hoped that our Dutch judge was cut from the same wood as the German judge.
Theo[/QUOTE]
Integrity is more important Theo and clearly the Dutch judge has it and the German judge does not…
[QUOTE=ridgeback;3439978]
How can you say that when only one American rider has gone? We have no idea how Debbie and Stefan are going to do…[/QUOTE]
I agree! I can not wait to watch them. What a fabulous ride for Courtney King-Dye! Beautiful.
[QUOTE=BAC;3439962]
I was wondering what the reference to Riexinger meant, thought it might be one of the riders. The biased judging is what I dislike so much about international level dressage although I realize it is not limited to only this discipline. It is a shame these riders who work so hard for this moment have to be subjected to such politics.[/QUOTE]
Yes but this is reality. Look at how the German and Dutch judges pointed down Courtney and Mythilus. As an insider I know that the Germans and Dutch want to defend their castles. But as a lover of the dressagesport I know that we have to give other countries a fair chance (read honest judging) to have a piece of the cake. Untill today it’s name-judging !!
Theo
Could you please clarify the above comment? Did you mean Courtny and Eddie are both “wouldn’t get to go” or at the opposite ends of the equation. I think I know, but want to make sure?
Look.
It is going to take 3 scores over 70 to medal.
Nadine got a 69. If Imke gets a 71, that average 70, the Dutch are OK.
But Riexinger goes LOW, and now the Dutch are below 70 average.
Both the Germans and the US have TWO rides tomorrow.
Courtney already got her 70+.
Brentina will not get below 70.
Ravel will not get below 70.
Elvis may get a 69 but then there is the monster, Isabell ( I use this term affectionately, as I adore Isabell’s riding and horsemanship). She goes well after Anky.
No matter what Riexinger does about Anky…there are all the points to play with to ensure the Germans get gold. They don’t need a lot of points, they need a decimal place.
Easy to do in such a subjective sport.
Depending on what Ravel pulls off–remember he goes last–the U.S. could conceivably outpoint the Dutch.
It all looks great on paper–everyone else was scored fairly correctly, albeit low.
I think it does nothing for the sport to give these low scores,and in fact, probably makes future riding stars look to other disciplines.
It is not that I so want the Dutch to win.
I want a fair playing field; I want to jump and down and root for personal favorites, and feel it is a contest, as the eventing turned out to be.
Sjef was right to complain about Riexinger at Rotterdam. For all the good it did.
I don’t think you can be so sure…we have no idea how those horses will react in that ring they could blow up/come up lame or they could be fantastic and the German’s could fall apart and maybe the U.S. will when Gold… Look at gymnastics nothing is for sure until the fat lady sings…JMO or maybe you are right and the judging is that pathetic that no matter what some of these guys do they will win…SIGH…
Which horse and rider? We have the replay on now and I want to watch that test.
Thank you NBC!!! 
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