I read an interesting article regarding the sleep schedules and methods used to negate “jet lag” in Tokyo-bound athletes. Made me wonder about the horses. How do the teams manage the change in day/night, feeding schedules, etc? Has anyone seen any articles about it?
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On the heat. I spent 9 months in Kandahar. Personally, I needed to be able to go into AC and cool down in order to function properly when outside. When I first arrived, we were in tents with no AC, and I was working afternoons/evenings so trying to sleep through the hotter part of the day. Not being able to recharge with cooler temperatures really played havoc with my endurance for working outdoors, and just my overall level of competency at life.
The big thing we did, once we had a bit of AC was never turn it down really cold. We made it so it was only a small difference but enough to be comfortable. I imagine that is what the barns will be like.
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Good question, I think we will hear more about this on the Eventing podcast I bet. They are riding at night also for dressage and SJ I believe, so that may effect their schedule also.
I see the horses have left Aachen and landed in Belgium. The Canadians are staying there until the 18th then leave for Tokyo.
As things progress that way, the Japanese people are becoming more upset and Tokyo just had its highest number of cases Corona yet yesterday. They announced the Olympic cauldron will not be open to the public.
Interesting times for sure.
Loving all the behind scenes footage now thanks to technology;
- 18 hours 15 minutes: flight time Liege to Tokyo, with a touchdown in Dubai
- 777-F : Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777-F (flight numbers EK9388 LGG-DXB, EK9442 DXB-HND)
- 19 flying stables on-board
- Dimensions of the flying stables: 317cms long, 244cms wide, 233cms high (10.4 feet long, 8 feet wide, 7.6 feet high)
- 14-17° Celsius (57.2-62.6° Fahrenheit) – on-board temperature (57.2-62.6° Fahrenheit)
- 36 dressage horses – teams from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Portugal and host nation Japan, and individual horses from Brazil, Estonia, Finland, Ireland and Morocco.
- 22,700 kgs +/- (50,044 lbs +/-) total weight of horses flying from Liege
- 630 kg is the average weight of a dressage horse (1390 lbs)
- 13,500 kgs (2976 lbs) of horse equipment
- 12,000 kgs (26,455 lbs) of feed (not including in-flight meals & snacks)
- 40 liters of water per horse
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I agree. Fabulous horse and rider. They are so connected with each other it’s really something to watch.
So do On Cue and MMw go on to Tokyo or stay in Germany? I noticed no one except Mai Baum seemed to wrap tails for international travel. And yet all tails seem to be intact. My old girl used to ‘sit’ on the butt bar so if she were not wrapped, there was an ugly mess to deal with.
Interesting insiders look at the flight/flying.
I wasn’t aware that Isobel Worth always flies with her horse(s).
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I thought that was so cool too that she flies with them! Hard not to get excited watching these!
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Thanks for sharing
I didn’t find that video when looking for a non FB link.
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The FEI YouTube channel is one of my favs…lots of good tear jerker and informative vids lol
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I would love a longer video of the horses trip! Are any of the athletes sharing videos of their journey on social media?
Lots of them are on instagram, the Canadian dressage riders are, and Pattrick Kittel had an awesome series of stories from yesterday.
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I’m curious if any of this flooding in Belgium and Germany is affecting the travel plans - or even Aachen itself. It looks like the worst of it is happening right in that area.
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Pretty scary isn’t it. I think the horses are all out of Aachen or very shortly will be.
I thought they were leaving Aachen on the 20th.
Yeah it seems the Americans are still there. I think the rest of the horses have already started their trip.
The dressage horses are already on site in Tokyo as their competition is first. Eventers have not left either their PQE or Aachen quarantine, depending on where they are at.
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Young, extremely fit men go get in their trucks and crank the AC round here as a break from roofing. Staying in the shade is great for not getting hot in the first place. I hardly imagine barn ac in Tokyo will be set at arctic levels, but I’m glad the horses and their human attendants will have some respite from the heat.
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Betonhill, I went through my TV online guide NBC Sports to the first equestrian event, which is dressage, I believe on July 28 early in the morning ET. The listing made NO mention of anything equestrian.
It wasn’t clear to me on the site whether our sport would be shown on TV or just on Peacock. I just signed up for the freebie Peacock, but not sure my TV will pick it up. Keeping fingers crossed, as I’d much rather watch on 32" than 12" !
ahhhh - just found this: NBCOlympics.com I know nothing about “livestreaming” so hope I’ll be able to watch at a civilized hour.
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I am ASSUMING it will all be streamed. How do I get Peacock? I currently do not have it. Is there a paywall? I do not expect to see eventing on NBC unless we medal.
