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Post by horseguy on Aug 11, 2016 21:57:11 GMT
Our Olympic dressage team is currently in 3rd place, doing well. Individual high place 5th. I watched some. It was streamed over the net onto my TV via xfinity, and technically it went in and out. I watched USA's Laura Graves. Nice horse, talented young rider. Good to see fresh young faces representing the US. Boy, do those Dutch riders crank the heads of their horses down.
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Post by horseguy on Aug 12, 2016 22:14:07 GMT
The US Dressage Team won a Bronze. That is great, particularly because they were beaten by the Germans and the British, two very good teams with great horses and the US Team has some young and inexperienced in the Olympics riders. Time is on our side. If I had to say why the Germans and British were better, I'd say they had better horses. Question is what is the US Dressage Federation doing differently than the USEF/USEA? Why did the USDF team do well and the Eventing team do so poorly?
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Post by horseguy on Aug 14, 2016 16:50:19 GMT
I'm watching the Show Jumping. Lots of mares. I love the course designer's approach to design. He uses very open airy jumps with few rails, only one solid vertical, and very demanding striding. Second last jump, a combination is unforgiving. Riders are coming in to it too long or too short and not able to complete it. Some awful riding. The guy from Uruguay is going to get a letter from PETA for his mouth abuse.
It is interesting to see which countries use the old "settle-commit" to each jump and which use the more modern rolling rhythm method throughout the course. I'd say the course favors the "settle - commit" method.
more later
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Post by horseguy on Aug 22, 2016 0:14:30 GMT
US won Silver in Show Jumping with Kent Farrington, Lucy Davis, Beezie Madden and McLain Ward. Beezie Madden was forced to retire with a horse injury but they did very well without her.
My theory on why we do well at Show Jumping is that it's the only equestrian sport where you can make some serious money in competition as well as some significant sponsorship dollars. This motivates and supports the riders and allows them to find and ride the very best horses. Not true in dressage or eventing.
I have one story about professional show jumping. Some of you have probably heard it before. Twenty five years ago when I had a farm in Bucks county PA outside Philadelphia I had a student whop was a corner back for the NFL team the Philadelphia Eagles. After three lessons he was jumping perfectly over 3 feet. This most coachable student I have ever had made multiple correction with each jump. Most students have to change things one at a time over days. This young man who rode mules on his grandfathers southern farm as a boy was a truly amazing athlete with limitless body control and relaxation.
So I said to him after he said he planed to retire in a year or so that he could be a professional show jumper. He asked about the life style, how much travel, how long was the season, etc. as a true professional would. Then he asked how much money the riders and who were good. I said a lot maybe $400,000 a year and some endorsement money. He looked sideways at me, and then I remembered that a guy like him might make near that a game in football. We never discussed it again.
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