Boy Kannan is heavily represented in the top 20 at La Baule, both as a dam sire and as a sire.
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World of Show Jumping article about the class.
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Ilex… wow.
I know he had a rail, but what a freak of a horse.
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Right? I’m not a Karl fan. I do not enjoy his social media persona, but considering how much I have struggled going from basic lesson barn horses to retired FEI horses who are now used in lessons because they can take a joke, he can ride - no one can jump as high as he does without being able to ride. Sure, his family buying him good horses and instruction over the years has definitely helped him. Same with Jessica Springsteen - and last Olympics, I think Jessica struggled with nerves the first round or two. But then she put it together and had a lovely clear round to help the US team get silver. Springsteen isn’t as controversial as Cook for various reasons, but she also has obviously benefited from family money.
And as bad as Cook’s PanAm performance was and his reaction to the bad ride was, I’ve seen him ride Caracole since and to me, at least, it looks like they are doing much better as a team
Is he my favorite rider? No. Is he a good rider? I think so. Has his family’s wealth helped? Obviously. Is he an Olympic caliber rider? Maybe. And maybe we’ll find out this year.
Regardless, we cannot rely on the likes of McClain Ward and Laura Kraut forever. Talented younger riders need experience, and like it or not, Karl has some talent and also has talented horses. And he’s not the only rider to benefit from family wealth.
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Link please? I am googling without success. 
I still can’t find a replay. 
I looks like a difficult course. I did find a great photo of Greya and Kent though.
Try this:
https://results.worldsporttiming.com/event/199/competition/6572/result
There is a little camera next to each score that lets you see that round.
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Thank you for the information about the little cameras on the page. I’m an idiot and I didn’t connect them to video.
I have no dog in this fight but “a couple of years” is not accurate. Karl first competed at 1.60m in 2008 - he would have been 17 or 18. He rode at the Olympic selection trials in 2012, competed in his first World Cup in 2013, and was on his first Nation’s Cup team in 2016. His profile has risen a lot in the last few years, but saying he’s new to international level competition is false.
And while I also find his tone a little lecture-y at times, he and Eric have a unique program, he’s clearly involved with and passionate about his horses’ care, and I can’t fault him for wanting to share information. People love to complain about how horsemanship knowledge is dying out and then find Karl annoying for putting (detailed, free) videos online about bitting or caring for horses after a show…
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Thanks again @fourfillies. That was a difficult course.
Both Kent and Karl’s mares were great. I love the ears back, when Greya is really trying.
Karl’s mare looks like a tough one to ride.
I don’t follow Facebook or Instagram so I can’t comment on the personalities of the top show jumpers. Karl seems to ride well to me. That’s a hot mare. There is an interview with her groom here: https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/behind-the-stall-door-with-caracole-de-la-roque/
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I’m aware. But the pressure of riding in one of the very large events is not the same as going to the Pan Am games (especially as often the US is already qualified for the Olympics at the time of Pan Am) or to a nations cup in Europe. There is no way to recreate the pressure of those biggest championship - Olympics, WEG, the Nations Cup final - at some point, someone just has to do it.
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They will send one, that’s mainly the debate here on who it will be.
Interesting that McLain had a rail again during the GP. In the 1.50m class posted earlier he had a great ride. Hopefully everything gets sorted out for him before the games.
Incorrect on both counts. And I think anyone involved in trying to breed horses for the very top level of the sport will tell you that the chances of actually producing a horse to that point requires, among other factors, a large amount of luck.
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The Irish could really field two or three competitive teams. Which is pretty remarkable, given the size of the country.
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The Irish have so many good horses and riders this year. Sweetnam has been on fire with his horse. I assume the Swiss will Martin Fuchs, Steve Guerdat and ?? Sweden has to have King Edward!!!
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The British list is up. It will be interesting to see if the next generation of the Charles family goes to the Olympics.
https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/news/jumping-nominated-entries-for-paris-2024-olympic-games
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So which of the English will go? Brash for sure. The rest, I think, are a toss up. No Whitakers.
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And culturally more significant too. America just isn’t as nationally invested in equestrian sport.
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