You are right, now that you mention it I do remember something about Margie Engle. It makes sense once the team is picked not to risk and injury to either horse or rider by making them compete again before the Olympics. I think the selectors should be able to take into consideration unusual circumstances when making their final selection.
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2012 was a weird year.
McLain Ward broke his knee in January, missing the selection trials in March. He was back riding at Devon (an observation event) in May, and named to one of the four spots.
Margie, meanwhile, won the March selection trials on Indigo (tying with Reed). She had a concussion in April but I don’t think missed much saddle time and did well at Devon.
I think she was named alternate, and IIRC made some comments to the effect about being confused how you could tie for the win at the selection trials, do well at observation events, and get left off the team. I think the issue was she didn’t do as many observation events as some (but not all) of her teammates. She did break her leg that summer, but it was after the team was announced without her on it as one of the four.
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The Margie incident I’m remembering was long before that, I think. Maybe 2004? Although she certainly has had her fair share of injuries, so it’s not easy to keep them all straight.
I was also quite surprised that she did not make the team for London. Wasn’t there some confusion about the relative importance of the different observation events or selection trials or whatever they were called? I have to think that if she knew she needed to do another one, she would have been there, for sure.
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That was super crazy. I remember seeing him knock down that standard with his knee and thinking it was probably going to be a bad thing.
I think it might have been the following year that the hospital by the mall in Wellington had a giant banner with his picture on it on the top of the building during WEF. Lol.
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Yes, I can’t remember the full details but I remember some controversy and a very upset owner when she wasn’t picked for the team - I think it was one of the Hidden Creek horses. I think either 2004 or 2008.
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I feel like it might have been the bay mare with the really full tail. Laurel? I won’t swear to it, though.
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Ohh I got it. With how many broken legs there were in 2012 for the top Olympic contenders (two, but more than 0 is still a lot…) I thought it was a safe bet.
I agree, and that is how I remember it to. It could have been a different team with her taking Reed’s spot. She did not think she needed to attend every single observation event, and was upset that was not more clear up front. Given that she won the selection trials and placed well at the observation events she did attend it seemed to be a reasonable assumption on her end too.
I also clearly remember that banner on the outside of the mall at Wellington! I think there was inside too. I was there 2014 and it was still up and prominently displayed.
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I think it was HC Perin in 2004 - I found this article where she jumped a clear round in the trials but then pulled out, and was hoping to still be named to the team: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-24-sp-equestrian24-story.html
That sounds about right.
Side note. I believe Authentic is still enjoying his retirement at the Madden farm in New York. 
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I remember that. She broke her leg and it was kind of an ugly break. She got back on before she was supposed to to go to the trials etc and it didn’t go well. The whole situation was just ugly.
He is, I saw a picture of him recently on Beezie’s FB page. Its so good to see all of these oldsters enjoying the wonderful retirement life that they have earned. So many are not so lucky.
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I posted this article a few months ago about the selection for the team in London
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/meet-your-olympic-us-show-jumping-team/
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Interesting to see where they are now. Reed out of horses and working after college. Rich in federal prison. Beezie no longer competing at that level. McLain still in the race. I think Flexible is dead, Cylana is retired, as is Beezie’s. No idea where Mclain’s horse is. Time flies.
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I had forgotten about Chill RZ. Didn’t he go on to teach Eve Jobs? And his career fizzled there? Does anyone know what became of him?
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Thank you for reposting! I forgot Charlie Jayne and Chill R Z were the alternate. That was a cool horse.
@kenyarider, McLain’s goddaughter Baylee McKeever showed Cylana for a bit a few years ago. I assume she is retired now (as I assume Anatres F is too, although I don’t think it was ever super formally announced). Flexible died in 2021.
@BAC Yes I loved that! 29th birthday party photos. He looked great.
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The retired horses at the Madden farm really have a fantastic life there.
I believe Authentic was the babysitter for my friend’s young horse after he got weaned there. Hopefully he was listening to whatever wisdom Authentic could pass along to him.
It seems like he may have been paying close attention since he is turning into quite a nice horse himself.
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I think that was when Baylee was first starting to do the jumpers. She was really loaded for bear on that horse!
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Boy, there was a lot going on that year.
I do remember now that in addition to seeing if McLain could come back from his knee injury, they were hoping that Sapphire could make it back from a soundness issue to go to her third Olympics. But unfortunately she did not quite make it back, and they decided it was time to retire her at that point. Bless her.
It’s remarkable to think how many superstar mares McLain has had in his barn over the years.
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Now, I often say that the best way to raise a young horse is to put it next to a cynical old horse, but I’m going to have to revise this now that I know that “having my weanling colt raised by Authentic” is an option.
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