Prelims
Just 9 totally clear rounds advance with their teams to the finals. Only
the top ten of the 16 teams that qualified advance.
The "anchors" of several of the teams proved to be weightier than thought--in
a negative way--as they had the most penalties and had to have their scores thrown out.
Exceptions were US (Madden), Brazil (Pesseo), Ireland and some others.
FLYING SHOES--two horses lost shoes mid-course. For anyone unfamiliar with show
jumping, unlike much show ring competition, if a shoe comes off the horse and rider must just continue the course. One
horse slipped, and naturally this affects the overall balance of the horse, and thus their performance.
Would not want to be that shoer.
The ANGLO-ARABIAN pulled up lame after the 4th or 5th jump. Looked like he came
down a little crooked and might have just turned it. Front leg and looked like not putting any weight on it. Rider noticed
immediately and pulled him up. This was a sort of "story book" saga, and it is unfortunate for the team and the individual
rider.
Hopefully, the horse will recover.
Latest news is that it is a bowed tendon, and prognosis is good tho not for competing.
WIND BLOWS GREEKS WAY--the wind keeps entering into the picture (see yesterdays Dressage
info). A plank jump kept catching the wind and as a result the top planks would blow off before the horses would get
there.
One of the Greek riders benefitted greatly as all of the planks blew off, and, as one
of the NBC commentators said, the horse was faced with a Pony Club fence in the middle of a Grand Prix course.
None of the riders were penalized or asked to take another jump. Luck of the wind!
