Olympia last night

Stoxx

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To those that saw the Kur at Olympia last night, what did you think? Did you agree with the end result?
As much as Anky's test was definitely more polished that than the others, with better transitions between the piaffe and passage, I'm sorry but there was still a few mistakes in there and I just don't think it deserved an 83%.
Don't get me wrong I thought the final order was right (apart from I would have liked to have seen Steph Croxford in there, she had a small mistake in the one times but apart from that I thought it was good) but I just didn't think Anky deserved over the 80% mark.

Am I the only one?!
 
Have to say I didnt think she should have got quite such a high mark. I preferred Kyra Kurklands one. Didnt like Anky's music. Overall, I liked Afrikka's performance the most. And that little young floaty chestnut was absolutely amazing!

I think its hard for judges to be totally unbiased. Everybody knows Anky is the queen of kur. It would be hard not to expect her to be good if you know what I mean?!

I enjoyed her little demo. What was with her frantically wanting the spot lights turned off?
 
I think British Eurosport is doing great to show the event as it is - N.B. Beeb that shows hours of inane football

Anky and the others notably rode a performance to the music instead of putting the music around the performance with jerky transitions between the music

don't forget that a good % of this class is about the musical interpretation and not the technique - one of the reasons why Carl H. did so well - his music and interpretation were good, so were Kyra K and Africa as well

the lower finishers had technical errors, some very unlevel steps and less polished musical performances.
 
The horse 'spooked' going towards the spotlight - to be honest it didn't really do anything and I wasn't really sure why she needed them to be turned off
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Yeah, I would have thought it would have been good practise!

Anyway the performances I enjoyed the most were, Dolendo (really liked the way the music had been put together), Afrikka, Max and Mr President.

I didn't think Emile's horse looked established enough (runs and hides!) but it is only 9!
 
I watched it last night too and Kyra was my definite favourite as they just looked so in tune, relaxed, happy, just dancing together as if no one was watching!
Anky - although I must say she made me watch every step and showed Salinero off beautifully I really don't see why there should be such a distance in between her percentage and Kyra's.
I also loved Laura's test and despite the end where the atmosphere must have gotten the better of them they looked such a pleasure to watch. The music really suited the horse as well.
Finally, what do you think of Dream of Heidelberd - extraordinary or what??!! Obviously not yet experienced but I loved his floaty trot.
PS. Got some videos of all the horses so if I manage to find some time to put them on they will be in PG.
 
Kyra test was lovely but she did mess up the one-times and not get the required amount so this mark would have been very low, it may have also reflected in the level of difficulty mark. Although Anky also looked like she made a mistake in the changes she had done the required number so covered it up!
 
Did you watch the young stallions? How can a three year old have such an uphill frame and active hind leg??!! *Sigh* For pure musical interpretation, I thought Laura B's horse was a joy, shame he got so tense but it was his first Kur(?) Not the most relaxed atmosphere, the people next to me got out of their seats 4 times!! Why???That wasn't in the interval either
 
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Did you watch the young stallions? How can a three year old have such an uphill frame and active hind leg??!! *Sigh* For pure musical interpretation, I thought Laura B's horse was a joy, shame he got so tense but it was his first Kur(?) Not the most relaxed atmosphere, the people next to me got out of their seats 4 times!! Why???That wasn't in the interval either

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The 3 year olds were out of this world! How early do they start!?!
As to people going in and out - I couldn't agree more. You would think some might have died of starvation if they didn't pop for a hot dog five times in three hours! We had our seats next to the stairs and it was mega frustrating to have all those people walking in front of you during the tests!
 
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Did you watch the young stallions? How can a three year old have such an uphill frame and active hind leg??!! *Sigh* For pure musical interpretation, I thought Laura B's horse was a joy, shame he got so tense but it was his first Kur(?) Not the most relaxed atmosphere, the people next to me got out of their seats 4 times!! Why???That wasn't in the interval either

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Definately not Lauras first Kur with him... he just gets tense and strong..
Anky would have scored 9 or 10 for her Piaffe and Passage. Her transitions were wonderful as were all the extended work.
Kyra was superb but messed up both sets of 'ones', she knew what she had done and smiled at the judge at C and M, and was probably well aware by then that 2nd place was hers...
The Stallions were truly fantastic, and we will be ringing the Pidgleys after New Year!!
 
Totally agree, I think Kyra and Max lokoed fab, with only one mistake in the 1's!

To me they looked really harmonious and as one!

I thought the repsonse to Anky was quite muted and OH made a really good point that although her piaffe was regular it was not particularly seated, from the piaffe should come a levade and he didn't think that could happen.
 
I agree that Anky's music was disappointing and although as Hils says, she would have scored highly for her passage and piaffe, I couldn't see how it was 10% better than all bar Kyra's.
Kyra's test was lovely to watch, so soft and harmonious, shame about the 1's!
I felt Laura's music was fun......why are some SO dreary?, but he looked VERY strong at times and she did well to keep him together for as long as she did.
I loved Dream of Heidelburg, beautiful looking horse but agree not quite ready yet, his passage and piaffe looked rather weak.
I also enjoyed Paganini's test and music.

I've decided I am definately going to have to change my music! Several competitors used music from The Pirates of the Caribbean.......but at least I got there first!!!
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Struggling to keep my eyes open this morning.....did anyone else get held up in the delays on the North Circular caused by several 'incidents'? Got home about 2am, having taken about 1 1/2 hrs just to get out of London!
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Hils - didn't Laura say in her interview it was the horse's first Kur?
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Definately did Young Riders, but kt and I were just wondering if it was Mistrals first GP Kur...mmmmmm I will investigate!!
 
I've never watched dressage before and absolutely loved it last night (and have decided I want to be a cossack, that looked soooo much fun!) With my very limited dressage knowledge I couldn't see how Anky's score was so much higher than the others.... but it was fitted to the music rather than fitting the music to the movements.
 
Yep, I agree, some are sooo boring to watch. I haven't been to Olympia before and TBH i'm not sure I'll go again, I thought it was poorly organised and wasn't that impressed!
It took us ages to get home as well - I didn't get up for work this morning and am still fiddling around trying to get up the enthusiasm to sit and do anything!!
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Yes - it was you we saw.
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We were between E and H a few rows back. I saw you outside in the interval as well standing by the entrance to the seating bit holding a drink but couldn't get through the crowds to say hello.
 
I really enjoyed it last night - Except I missed Carl's performance as I was hunting for food outside!

I think Anky's test showed the greatest amount of control. Everything - the movements and transitions looked seamless to me. The horse was relaxed and collected. I definitely thought her's was the best. 83% does seem a very high mark but probably the others were making very subtle technical errors that I couldn't see!

I fell in love with Salinero. Such a beautiful nature. It made me laugh in the prizegiving when he suddenly stared up in front of him and saw hundreds of people staring back! And wasn't he trying to eat the ornamental trees?

I have to say, I am going to the yard this pm, and I am going to be brought back down to Earth with a bang when I see my horse working!!!!!!!!!!
 
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I have to say, I am going to the yard this pm, and I am going to be brought back down to Earth with a bang when I see my horse working!!!!!!!!!!

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same, I think flash has the most potential as a drum horse rather than a dressage diva.
 
I missed the prize-giving as I had to rush off to catch my coach home. I did laugh at the prize giving for the forces show jumping when they started unrolling the red carpet in front of the winning horse
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Poor horse didn't know what to make of it!
 
I know, I thought that was a really stupid thing to do.........this rolled up thing getting closer and closer to the horse's feet!

I also laughed when the people setting up the cossack's bit had the tape all in the most giant bird's nest, then wrapped some of it around the funny trees and they all started falling over.
 
That was hilarious - it was like playing dominoes
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I don't know why they couldn't have rolled out the carpet before they came back in. I did think it was nice of Princess Anne to go along the line and congratulate all the riders though.
And how pink and sparkly was the mystery guest in the Household Cavalry bit
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Yes and very brave to play like that in front of such a big audience. Mind you, the Dressage riders are SO brave, I could never do that - I'd go to pieces and then so would my horse!!
 
hi does anyone know how jeroen devroe and PAGANINI did??? he's my horse's hafl brother (so to speak lol) and just wondered how they did and what his test was like,,, just how he looked in generalll#????

xxxxx
 
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Did you watch the young stallions? How can a three year old have such an uphill frame and active hind leg??!!

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Sorry, this might be very controversial but what on earth are 3 YEAR OLDS doing being ridden at all, let alone at dressage which is very hard on legs and joints. I suppose they don't care that the poor creatures will probably be crippled with arthritis by the time they about 12

I'm a bit of an old fuddy-duddy and believe in letting babies be babies

I am a huge fan of Anky and I loved her master class on Painted Black. I just wish she didn't make it sound so easy! Her music for her Kur was awful though and although her test was, as expected, pretty spectacular technically, it wasn't very exciting and I would hope she has a rethink before the Olympics re the music.
 
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