Eventing team selection

you will all find out soon enough. the chosen are sworn to secrecy until the official announcement. what i think will be interesting is wether tina cook will get in now, having decided not to run at badders cos she was told she didnt need to and then sharon and lucy rode such blinders....
 
I have heard that a decision will not be entirely made until after Chatsworth, once Minors Frolic has run. Some riders may have already been told, but not all the places will have been finalised.

Each country is allowed to enter 14 competitors, so expect a lengthy list of reserves too.
 
So who are the likely candidates? I did think that with Balincoola having such a good run, and Imperial Cavalier such an unlucky one, that Mary and WFP are in the rather enviable position of having 2 horses each at Olympic standard! Always nice to have a back up eh!?!?
 
mary william and zara on rockin horses if thatrs what they care to ride, then the others two places between lucy W, sharon, oli and tina cook.
 
I see Pippa Funnell now has Ensign entered at Chatsworth - so gets a second chance to impress the selectors...
 
Well we should all keep our eyes on chatsworth. Does anyone know if it will be televised? I;d love to go but live toooo far away but hail from there so envious of those on here who can actually attend.
 
It's going to be hard on the horses if they get the normal temp and humidity, I think the lighter framed blood horses will cope much better than the part breds.
I imagine they'll take that into account tho...
 
It is a tricky one, because sometimes the experience of older horses in how they have learned to conserve energy may balance out their lack of youth.
I'd hate to try and put an age limit, it would need to be each horse on his/her own strengths. And also how little is taken out of them the way they are ridden.
 
if pippa does well at chatsworth, do u think they may re-consider as ensign is an ex racehorse who will cope well with the heat and they are bound to produce a good test! can't believe she fell off at badders!!!!
 
i think if she wins at Chatsworth they have to consider her seriously. ditto Tina and Miners Frolic.
the Olympics is only 3* after all, and it is bound to be a bit of a dressage and particularly sj competition again, i just can't see the xc being mega, especially in light of all that's been happening in the last month or two on the worldwide eventing scene.
 
The area where they're having it is pretty flat, so there won't be the killer hills to make it tougher.
I think the horses it is most likely to suit are Ensign, Tamarillo, Cavvy, Tankers Town and Two Thyme.
That said, I think Lucy W really deserves a place. It is going to be a difficult call, because the weather at the trials last year was much cooler than normal.
Horses can also get what they call 'dry-coat' over there.....it has a proper name but for the life of me I can't remember what. It mean they don't sweat, so their internal heat builds up to lethal levels. I'm not sure how you would recognise it in a horse that hasn't already done it....
Horses also burst more over there, whether it's because of the humidity or not, I don't know, but any of the racehorses that have burst twice are immediately retired. Or used to be...
 
I don't think Pippa and Ensign are serious contenders - that's the second time she has failed to complete the XC at Badminton on that horse and TBH although the Olympics is only 3*, we have enough decent 4* horses not to take the risk on combinations not consistent at the highest level IMO.
 
the conditions are going to be hideous for horses, tbh. i think they've got to favour the younger tb type horses.
of course, Fachoudette didn't cope well with the heat at the Euros last autumn.
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i think Tam's unfortunately proved that he's just too independent-minded to be selected. he's a very very good horse, but i think a GREAT horse helps the rider out... Tam doesn't. he's done that naughty run-out thing a few times now, and better horses haven't. Parkmore Ed won Burghley last year because he held straight at the house at fence 3 when they weren't on a perfect line, but he knew he was supposed to jump it and so he did. Tam, given the same situation at Badders (as at the last Champs, skinny after the bank) did the naughty scoot-round the side thing. also, he's too knowing in the dressage now... he might do a great test, he might do a very naughty one.
you can guarantee that the Germans will do at least 3 very very good tests, as will the French, let alone the U.S., Aussies, N.Z.s, etc etc....
i think the selectors will go on "likely to be in top 10 after dressage" followed by "great showjumper" followed by "great xc horse" out of the ones they have to pick from.
 
I agree with you, Kerelli, from a form perspective, but the littler TB types are better suited to the climate there, and Tam is that type, I think the arab bit would actually help.

My plus for Ensign is that he seems to raise his game when he travels abroad!!

It is going to be very interesting. They rarely import any WBx or part bred types for the riding schools over there because they don't tend to cope with the climate.
There's also the biting insects problem too. Fly sprays just don't cut it on a sweaty horse......

Are they likely to shorten the XC if the humidity becomes a problem, does anyone know?
 
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