oh lighten up… 
trashed if we like him
trashed if we don’t
let us hear your Secretariat critique
(if you don’t have one…contact me…
I can fake one up based on the ‘Totilas is just a trumped up piece of shite’ motif…
i actually think that Fuego should of won. He was frickin amazing… the crowd knew it, as will most anyone who watches the vids.
that ride gave me chills and had me laughing and crying at the same time!
i didn’t think Totilas deserved a 91+ (didnt look like the dutch were that enthusiastic about his ride either) and he didn’t deserve to beat Fuego.
[QUOTE=mbm;5132995]
i actually think that Fuego should of won. He was frickin amazing… the crowd knew it, as will most anyone who watches the vids.
that ride gave me chills and had me laughing and crying at the same time!
i didn’t think Totilas deserved a 91+ (didnt look like the dutch were that enthusiastic about his ride either) and he didn’t deserve to beat Fuego.[/QUOTE]
I’m not sure Fuego should have won, but his score was way too low. And, Toto’s was a bit high considering the mistakes. He’s normally better than that. I’m going to watch again b/c I was so blown away by Fuego that it was hard to concentrate on Toto.
Also, I felt really bad that when Edward was entering the stadium the crowd was booing (even though that had nothing to do with him and Toto).
BTW, there is no equal to Secretariat
I agree that Toto’s ride was meh. His grand prix gave me goosebumps but the freestyle? Not so much. He definitely did not deserve 91 points. His music stinks.
Anyone that thinks Toto was on last night with all do respect is showing their complete ignorance of dressage. I was lucky to be there and great seats and I will say seeing a video does not compare seeing him live. It was breathtaking he was by far the most relaxed he was just outstanding. Not only was he on(even with a few mistakes) he lit the house on fire. We had the most fun group of orange dressed and hair dyed Dutch behind us( I got great pics) it was a magical night…and hunter/jumpers have always been my discipline.:lol:
The harmony between Edward and Toto is AMAZING!!!
P.S. The spanish horse was a crowd favorite but he ended up right where he belonged. No way was his ride comparable to Edward and Laura’s…Oh and IMO Imke should have been on that podium her ride was flawless.
Agree with ridgeback 100%. I’m American and, though it pains me to say this, the only places that should have been reversed were 3rd and 4th. I’ve watched Imke & Sunrise many times when they made mistakes, and this time they were flawless. The mare is 16, the only mare in the Freestyle, and it’s sad that they didn’t place where they belonged 
All the top rides were phenomenal. Ravel looked tired at points but still phenomenal. I hope Isabell was pleased with her ride, because I think she gave 100% and surpassed my expectations. And Ashley Holzer & Pop Art also rose to the occasion. I watched on-line, and that was the perfect place to see the huge smile on Ashley’s face throughout the test. Her joy was palpable, though I am quite sure she knew she wouldn’t have one of the top 3 rides.
Fuego most certaintly did not deserve to win. He did a flashy test, yes. However, the quality of work is just not what it is with Totilas. I thought his score was perfectly fair. There were a lot of non-Dressage people there lastnight (or so I’m assuming by the applause while the horses were in the middle of the test, I was cringing at that), and I think that they liked the spark he had. Toto has been better, but still did a lovely test. I liked the GP Special he did best. It appeared as though Edward was conservative with him, and he had some minor mistakes.
I think that Steffan did a fantastic test, and perhaps deserved a higher score. Imke also did a wonderful test. The British horse doesn’t do much for me, but did a nice test regardless.
I was quite disappointed by Isabell’s ride. She scored higher than i was expecting… it was a very forgetable test.
[QUOTE=kwmred;5133024]
BTW, there is no equal to Secretariat [/QUOTE]
As a Brit, I will take Arkle - the horse who forced them to rewrite the handicap books 
I was rather disappointed with most of the music selections last night. I found most of the rides to be somewhat of a snooze-fest in that regard. I think that Fuego’s rider was the only one who truly nailed that aspect of the test. I did find Isabell’s choices of music to be interesting - perfect for the 2012 Olympics in London, as anyone who has ever watched the Last Night of the Proms will attest
Secretariat didn’t do jumps.
From Robert Dovers Blog
Then came the last pair into the arena- Imke Schellekens-Bartels riding her mare, Hunter Douglas Sunrise, and their Kur to music composed by one of the foremost pianists in the world with choreography by JostPeters of Holland. I will be totally honest with you all when I say that, had I been the judge tonight, I would have placed Imke and Sunrise in first place! OK, don’t have a heart-attack here as I say this. I loved the 3 combinations who meddled tonight, but each had their mistakes and little inaccuracies, while Sunrise performed an absolutely flawless ride to for me the finest music I have ever heard composed for a freestyle in my 35 year career! It was so gorgeous that it made me cry and when both Kyra and I went up to Imke to congratulate her, we sounded like a sterioas we both blurted out that we thought she should have won the entire class.
So let’s agree we all disagree:lol:
[QUOTE=AliveandKicking;5133220]
So let’s agree we all disagree:lol:[/QUOTE]
I agree 100% with Robert… Imke was robbed.
WOW about Robert’s comment :eek: I love this mare so much, I know I am biased and was trying to bend over backwards not let my biases come through, so I would have placed her 3rd. Maybe 2nd. Probably not 1st. But maybe I need to watch it again. And she was definitely robbed 
[QUOTE=Discobold;5133250]
WOW about Robert’s comment :eek: I love this mare so much, I know I am biased and was trying to bend over backwards not let my biases come through, so I would have placed her 3rd. Maybe 2nd. Probably not 1st. But maybe I need to watch it again. And she was definitely robbed [/QUOTE]
NO way 2nd Laura’s horse was amazing. I can see how some thought Steffan should have taken the bronze but for me Imke had a flawless test.
Boven is above or above all. Wish I could have seen this ride! Thought about paying the fee to watch clips, but I did this for some other stuff for the Olympics and paid the fee, never worked, and they would not refund my money. So alas… listening to all of you say how magnificent it was!
I want to like toto, I really do, but I think his hocks are waaaaay to stiff…I love Alf and Ravel…more connection from back to front. I just don’t see that he is the horse of the century, good? yes, perfect? no.
Well, y’all can argue forever, but the scores are the scores. I just watched amateur video of Totilas’ ride last night – and cried. He is truly an amazing horse who delivered an awesome performance. I feel privileged that I could even see the video!
[QUOTE=kwmred;5133024]
I’m not sure Fuego should have won, but his score was way too low. And, Toto’s was a bit high considering the mistakes. He’s normally better than that. I’m going to watch again b/c I was so blown away by Fuego that it was hard to concentrate on Toto.
Also, I felt really bad that when Edward was entering the stadium the crowd was booing (even though that had nothing to do with him and Toto).
BTW, there is no equal to Secretariat [/QUOTE]
I’m pretty much with you on this - I watched both videos and was “wowed” by both, but not as enamored by Fuego as some, and not as disappointed in Toto as some. They are two very different horses, and very amazing horses. They both exude quality and displayed extreme power and control.
In terms of Toto’s “break” into the canter, I actually appreciated that, but then again, I like to see the hunter “play” in the corners. It reminds me they are very real and possibly enjoying their jobs. I recall a certain mare that performed a freestyle and swished her tail - some considered this a sign of unhappiness, while most of us saw it as a sign she was enjoying her job and doing the tail thing to the rhythm of the music.
Fuego was like watching poetry on water. Toto was like watching a novel unfold at the point of climax. I enjoyed both very much for the experience they evoked within me. Isn’t that part of what dressage is meant to be for those of us that watch?
[QUOTE=Eye in the Sky;5133372]
I’m pretty much with you on this - I watched both videos and was “wowed” by both, but not as enamored by Fuego as some, and not as disappointed in Toto as some. They are two very different horses, and very amazing horses. They both exude quality and displayed extreme power and control.
In terms of Toto’s “break” into the canter, I actually appreciated that, but then again, I like to see the hunter “play” in the corners. It reminds me they are very real and possibly enjoying their jobs. I recall a certain mare that performed a freestyle and swished her tail - some considered this a sign of unhappiness, while most of us saw it as a sign she was enjoying her job and doing the tail thing to the rhythm of the music.
Fuego was like watching poetry on water. Toto was like watching a novel unfold at the point of climax. I enjoyed both very much for the experience they evoked within me. Isn’t that part of what dressage is meant to be for those of us that watch?[/QUOTE]
Well said. Agree completely
“Boven” also means “upstairs”
For the Dutch amongst us, it really was like the World Cup without the vuvuzelas.
Zipping my flame suit on…
I think Toto is a very flashy horse. There were some points where I thought his front legs were going to hit his nose! Obvisouly very free with his shoulder, and a very well trained horse. His 1s and 2s were flawless, and I loved his pirouttes. But I just don’t love him. His test (the freestyle) had very obvious mistakes. I also agree where someone said his hocks look stiff. But to me, it looks more like his hind end just doesn’t match his front end, which I know is hard b/c his front end is so flashy… but that’s just it. I think he’s flashy and I think everyone is in awe of it. But I don’t think it makes him the most amazing horse ever. I don’t know how I feel about him having so much action up front makes his test a 91% I don’t know, maybe it’s my instinct to not love something just because everyone else does (I kinda resist it, such as Harry Potter and Twilight, lol) but I really feel like there’s a lot of show to him that they score him on, not always the actual accuracy of the test, which is the real pont of dressage.
Not saying he didn’t deserve to win, I didn’t see the other tests, but test with a score in the 90s should be perfect, with no mistakes, or very minor ones, not the mistakes he had.
Also not trying to say he’s not a fantastic horse, or Edward Gal not a fantastic rider. Just that some people may not think of him as their favorite out there.
