Candian Olympic Dressage team members withdraw to

[Alibear]

It was reported in the Globe & Mail this morning that Ashley Holzer and Cindy Ishoy have decided not to try for Hong Kong.

The Canadian qualifying criteria had apparently just been released and Ishoy was quoted as saying she wasn't prepared to spend 5 to 6 months away from her business and family. The qualifying criterial called for them to compete in USA and Europe then go on to Hong Kong. Very expensive and stressful proposition.

Interesting so is not possible something similar has been announce to the Swiss?

 

[kerilli]

Hmm. although, if i could afford it (which may be the sticking point), i'd spend 6 months on the road if it meant I got to ride at the Olympics...!

 

[ReadyTeddy]

they wont be the only ones either, watch this space as the realities of hong kong horse events start to dawn on people!

 

[Tempi]

Im beginning to think that aswell.......

 

[ReadyTeddy]

if the bbc are reporting on it it must be a concern. rats and sikng ships are coming to mind. and ask yourselfs why there is no racing AT ALL in hong kong in august, even at night. i am expecting casualties already. its not just the humidity on its own it is the filth filled humidity thats the problem. isnt Sha Tin right in the city centre of one of the most heavily populated and poluted places on earth?

 

[kerilli]

yep. there was a report about it in the Sunday Times a week or so ago iirc... the pollution levels were waaay higher than the WHO's recommended maximums.

 

[lifeslemons]

[ QUOTE ]
they wont be the only ones either, watch this space as the realities of hong kong horse events start to dawn on people!

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed... Mathew Grayling has just withdrawn from the New Zealand eventing team, (rumour has it the horse was expected by selectors to fly from NZ to America for Kentucky in the Spring, over here for team training at Aston le Walls and then off to Hong Kong!)

 

[kerilli]

jeez, cos that's not at all unreasonable. poor flipping horse if it did all that. surely Badminton, A-le-W, HK would have been a much more sensible route?

 

[TarrSteps]

Cindy and Neale have a VERY good business, kids in school and Cindy has been before. Also I saw her top horse (went to the last Olympics) compete a couple of months ago and frankly he has not matured into a real world beater. They have nothing to gain by just going to go.

Ashley does have some promising horses and good results but she lives in the US and it's a real pain to do the Canadian qualifiers as team members HAVE to attend certain shows, they can't just get their marks at any show. It's been a bone of contention in the past.

Add all that to the genuine concerns and potential logistical nightmares and I can see why people might consider it reasonable to give the whole thing a miss. Canada, alas, hardly has a sterling record in dressage so quite frankly it's not the end of the world.