Olympic Equestrian Teams.

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Rachel_M

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Firstly, when do the teams get announced, if they haven't already?

Also, if they haven't announced the teams yet, who do you think will be in the teams?
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They haven't even announced the long lists yet as not til August. I guess we all need to see who is fit and how the early season outdoor form is.
 
They have a rough idea about long list in each discipline because about 40 riders in Eventing, SJ and Dressage went to Hartpury for an series of lectures about how everything was going to run in Beijing.
 
I love guessing these sort of things! Its a well known fact that little_pink_piggies and I should be the selectors.
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I reckon that for eventing the squad is far more open than in previous years when it was the same four stalwarts. In my opinion, soundness dependant, Zara and Mary have already earnt their tickets. The probs Ruth Edge and Two Thyme, Will (on something!) Sharon Hunt and Daisy Dick. Reserves would be Polly Stockton and Lucy Wiegersma. Plus... I had heard that Pippa and Kiri are aiming for Badminton...?
 
Agree with you, lifeslemons. Not sure about Sharon Hunt getting her place unless she goes exceptionally well at Badminton. I'd be amazed if they don't take WFP. I'd love Kiri to be sound enough, but whether the Olympics will be too small a track for him and not back him off enough for Pippa to let him keep coming to the fences (as last time) is a big question... you really need a horse like Tam that's 4* calibre but doesn't get mental-brave when faced with 2*/3* fences...
 
What about Miner's Frolic - and wonder-horse Paris? I think if Piggy has a strong Spring she could be taking her boyfriend's place on the team! That would put the cat among the pigeons!
 
hmm, hadn't thought of those two. if either of them finishes top 3 at Badders, then maybe, otherwise not, i think. i don't think they'll take a horse that isn't proven at 4 star, when there are so many good ones that are, unless they have a lot of the top choices go lame (god forbid.)
 
On the other hand younger horses will probably fare better in that climate, and if their dressage is up to scratch and they are established at 3* level 4* experience probably isn't needed. Many nations don't let their best horses ever do a 4*...
 
Saw on EWW that the German longlist was out, anyone know the list~?
I think Mary has definitely earnt her place there.
Others to consider are Sharon, Daisy WFP (whether it be Tam or another possibly Parkmore Ed or Balincoola?), Oli T? I'v also heard Kiri could be aimed at Badders, if he is back to his previos form he could be in with a real chance.
Do you think they would consider the youndger horse who at the moment are showing brilliant form at 3* level? (minor's Frolic, Secret Weapon?)
 
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I love guessing these sort of things! Its a well known fact that little_pink_piggies and I should be the selectors.

[/ QUOTE ] hahaha damn right =D

erm obviously soundness has an issue but provided everyone is ok, I think Mary, Daisy (after xc at pratoni), William (on something), Ruth Edge on TwoThyme if he's sound, Zara if she shows good form in the spring and then possibly Oli, Piggy or Miners Frolic?

Selectors are a law unto themselves though
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i am reliably informed that sharon will need a top three badminton finish to regain her position and oli townend will almost certainly go if flint in good shape. tiger is right to mention miners frolic tina didnt do two three stars in six weeks just for the sake of it and she has plenty experience. lifeslemons has heard right about kiri but he will also need to prove fitness particularly as i hear that it is the opinion of Mr briesner that hong kong will be very hard on the horses with the travel quarantine climate and all. of the reat they will take william on a rocking horse for this, piggy is a good bet if paris performs in the spring, i doubt Ruth will be slected cos of slight doubt over two thyme soundness tho ruth fine jockey. Dont forget those that went to pau, francis whittington had unlucky run out when dropped a rein otherwise fantastic round and they love rodney, if it jumps round badminton he will be there about as well.
 
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Do you think they would consider the youndger horse who at the moment are showing brilliant form at 3* level? (minor's Frolic, Secret Weapon?)

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miners frolic has been discused but teh secret weapon is not young (12) and hasnt been round a four star and as i hear it not going to be aimed at Badminton either, certainly not this spring anyway.
 
not really an eventer so can't really comment but i would say Mary and WFP a must. Zara dependant on spring performances with TT as afterall his last performance did include a far from spotless SJ round (although still finishing 6th!) but an almost cert if sound/able. rest not a clue but will be interesting to see if Kiri does come back sound and fit and competitive afterall he did (and won) badders in '05 and after that did dressage in a OI at Longleat then 4th in the AI at Salperton in June in '06 so a fairly substantial break.

With regard to the other disciplines it would take a brave man to not name at least one Whitaker in the squad. If Peppermill stays consistent he must be a certainty for John, and Portofino is continuing to produce results for Michael. Nick and Arko are strong contenders as when Arko is good he is exceptional but since his injury his form hasn't been quite so consistent although he has had some markedly good results and Nick admits he never jumps as well indoors than out.

Locarno seems off form at the moment but if improves in the spring is a good candidate for Ellen. William Whit I don't think has the horse power but would love to see him prove me wrong, and his win at the weekend won't harm his chances. I do like Corlato and Tim as well. There are several 'outsiders' as well who could easily take up team places and I think the winter and especially the early outdoor season will be closely watched by the selectors.

Dressage wise it is going to be interesting. I think the main players are going to be Carl, Emma Hindle, Laura B, Anna Ross-Davies, Steph Crawford (if she continues to improve her current results he is becoming a reliable 70% horse at world cup level so I wouldn't rule him out!) and also Nicola McGivern has bought herself a new established GP partner so could well be in the mix if things go to plan once they start competing.

will be interesting to say the least when long lists are officially released...
 
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On the other hand younger horses will probably fare better in that climate, and if their dressage is up to scratch and they are established at 3* level 4* experience probably isn't needed. Many nations don't let their best horses ever do a 4*...

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But the Olympics are 4*, as are the Worlds.

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i don't think they'll take a horse that isn't proven at 4 star, when there are so many good ones that are

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I thought the same, but Minors Frolic is being excused from Badminton for the Olympics, which means he won't have done a 4* before.

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and they love rodney, if it jumps round badminton he will be there about as well.

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He's not even going to Badminton with Darcy. Doesn't think he would be ready as only did his first advanced in April. Just shows how incredibly open it all is!
 
All of the big champs- the olympics, euro;s the worlds,- they are all 3 star.
Otherwise the poles/russians/finnish teams would not stand a chance!
 
yes, the Olympics are 3*, but it's madness not to take 4* horses, just in case the course is particularly tricky.
interesting that Miner's Frolic is being excused Badminton, if it's definitely true... maybe the selectors will be impressed enough with CIC 3* wins in the spring instead, perhaps?
 
umm, it was downgraded for Athens, honestly! Athens was basically seen by the riders as a 2* course with some 3* questions, i believe. in WFP's book he describes walking the course, and another rider (Tintin iirc) saying "grasshoppers could jump it"...
it used to be a proper 4*, back when Charisma, Kibah Tic Toc, etc won.
downgrading it so that more nations could compete (without annihilating themselves) was a factor of keeping eventing as an olympic sport. there are other equestrian events trying to get the place, and they'd cost a LOT less to stage and be a lot more spectator and t.v. friendly... e.g. reining, vaulting, etc, irrc.
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The only differences between the two though on the xc is distance and number of efforts, (and 20cm width in spread fences I believe), and if space is an issue as I thought the test event highlighted it will be more 3* than 4.... And the euros are def a 3* with 3* dr.
 
hmm, well, i don't think Athens was 4* dimensions by any possible stretch of the imagination. i am sure i read somewhere about it being made a 3* so that many more lesser nations could be encouraged to have a go, because the Olympic bigwigs don't like a sport that gives 2 medals but basically has only about 8 competitive nations.
if beijing is a true 4* it will be great for the brits, so let's hope so!
 
kerili and all are quite right about the level of the xc it is not allowed to be a 'full on 4* none of the smaller nations would get round also it is the olympic rules you need to think about which are not quite the same as the FEI. Hence how smaller nations qualify the winers of the Asian games get in for example and that is a two star. but they do 4* test and say not to much about the other! it counts a 4* for qualification purposes. However the brits would have to be very sure of their combinations not to take something well proven at four star level. Two 3* CCI's in top two would do just as well when the rider is as experienced as tina. Rodney probably right not to force the issue with his horse but it would need to almost win a three instead if not doing badders tho the same applies to Rod as a rider as Tina, they have both riden in championship teams before.
The brits like their horses to be over qualified if you like because it creates confidence. They will not be taking anythng to this that there is the slightest doubt about considering the conditions and the fact that the course is going to have to be demanding just because of the weather and the limited space to fit it in. The long list is large but the realistic contenders are probably only about ten. The ones you want to look out for are the ones that go to lexington. Tough track, warm weather often humid, sound like anywhere else just a little......
 
PS the athens test event was jumped by two star horses i was there and i can tell it wasnt any different as far as i could see on the day except for an extra elemnt at the water and that stump thing that caused so much grief. Look at the horses that went to the hong kong test event. Amy's a pretty good sort but the rest are hardly world beaters.....
 
It all really depends on the conditions out there. The course is done in a funny figure of 8 shape so it the ground is very hard and its hot and humid they will take a loop out and make it 2* length, in which case we will need good dressage horses, but if the going and weather is ok then we need good 4* xc horses. One thing is for sure, they will have to be bloody fit, we can't have horses dropping out there.
 
sadly according to my information there is a good chance some will. i believe the official opinion is that it will be very hard on the horses hence why team Gb took older horses with some history to test. they are not called guinea pigs in dressage parlance for nothing....
 
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