Comments on Laura's test

[Booboos]

Well done to Laura not only on trying her best in her test but also being so candid in her comments about it. From the H&H report:
"My hands were full and I lost my bearings," admitted Laura. "I can't really explain it. He was going for gold, but I wasn't really with him."

Rather than trying to blame the horse or the venue or the judges she just was honest - good for her and best of luck next time.

Odd though that David Holmes seemed to suggest that the judges were partly at fault for being late with the bell! From the BD site:
Team captain Richard Davison said: “It was absolutely tragic as Laura was on course for a blinder of a test with an expected score of 73% until she made an error of course. The judges were late ringing the bell, which threw her - you cannot afford to lose concentration for a split second in these conditions.”

 

[kerilli]

yes, i think she did brilliantly. he's an amazing horse but looks very difficult to ride. i'm sure i'd just about manage a collected walk!
must admit though, am i the only one who wondered what he'd have got with Carl on board? (*goes straight to hell*)

 

[Partoow]

He would have spat the dummy with Carl on i am afraid to say.
Carl is good but he is not the great elixir for all horses laura and ralf have a great relationship and he was sold from Germany because no one could realy get on with him.
It was one of those things, when the world is flying past quicker than you thought it is all too easy to get caught up in the horse and loose sight of where you are.
I am afraid i have to question the wisdom of sending Jane and lucky star , they are a 65% combination at best and really should not have been put on the team especially as there are only now 3 in the teams and no dicard score travellling reserve reaaly should have been carl as his horse was perfectly sound in time to go in the quarentine.
Laura was great she handled herself well and i hope she comes out of this a little wiser she will have her day.
Now its Emmas turn......

 

[Wiz]

I think she's great - and so honest to admit that the occasion had got to her and not blame the horse - when he was obviously being quite a handful. I did wonder how much it was her forgeting the test and how much that she just couldn't get him back. Really hope he's a bit more rideable in the special now he's been in the arena and she can at least go away from the games feeling she's performed to her potential.
I also agree about Lucky Star - Lecantos was ok again by the time they chose the team just hadn't competed but would that have really mattered. I think the decision was between Jane and Anna and I suspect because of having no drop score they felt it was too much of a risk to take Laura and Anna both of whom could be brilliant but also both horses have the potential to blow?

 

[Booboos]

Jane looked very tense to me and I wonder if the ocassion got to her (which would be weird given her experience!). It may be that she knew she was the 'safer bet' and just tried to hard not to mess up.

Well done all of them though, it's a tough thing to do! (I don't think I would want to lead Mistral Hojis to his stable much less sit on him!)