The thread of all Olympic Threads

[Teaselmeg]

So the lady commentator is obviously an Isobel Werth fan How that test scored more than Lottie's test is beyond me.

 

[piebaldproblems]

Credit where credit's due - Richard Vaughan is less annoying today. Haven't heard anything controversial or overtly stupid so far.

To be fair to the man, he must have been told to bring up the conversation about CDJ.

I don’t mind him at all anymore, he does provide the information that the other commentators don’t. But this is my fifth day of listening to him so I think I’m used to him now.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Deleted, I was being dense

 

[criso]

I think these scores are going towards the team scores then the top 10 teams go through.

So someone may not qualify for the individual but will ride in the team final as part of a qualified team?

 

[Boots*McGruber]

I'll give credit where it's due. Yes the mouth needs to be much quieter and drier, but that was probably one of the most harmonious tests I've seen Glamourdale do. Very little tail swishing and a more open frame than in the past.

Watching it I thought the same thing so I think my eye is getting better (I’m no expert but always want to learn). I didn’t know whether to watch her or not as I haven’t enjoyed some of her tests in the past but Glamourdale seemed more relaxed today.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

So someone may not qualify for the individual but will ride in the team final as part of a qualified team?

I assume so but don't know for sure.

 

[SAS56]

I do wish Nicky ( whoever she is) the female commentator would actually stop fangirling over some of the horses/riders and say what is actually in front of her. Freestyle was very fussy in the mouth ( as she always has been) and Wendy was both in front and behind the vertical on many of the movements. She seems to be so splayed behind on the centre line, she is narrow in front but still looks a bit like a wheelbarrow shape to me. But hey, what do I know! lol

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

The chestnut horse (which is gorgeous) for India is all front end with little else in his movements.. that extended trot was laughable. I do wish this spidery leg nonsense would disappear!

 

[Parrotperson]

It this is always the way. Certain people always get great marks. Whether the test is correct or not. Whether it has tension or not. When her the horse has a fussy mouth or not. Tis the way of top class dressage. Makes it difficult to watch for me. A lot of under marking yesterday for some lovely horses.

Today the complete opposite.

 

[piebaldproblems]

Nicky's saying that it's interesting how the riders differ in their choice of music but I'm pretty sure this Austrian rider has just picked her favourite film's soundtrack (Spirit and something else).

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Go on, be brave and say it, it's BTV.

 

[piebaldproblems]

Go on, be brave and say it, it's BTV.

To be fair, BTV wouldn't make much sense to the non-horsey audience and she is saying that the neck needs to be more open for a better test.

 

[j1ffy]

I'm just catching up on some key tests after a morning of work calls.

I didn't think Glamourdale was more open in his frame than usual tbh - he has a much better neck conformation than Everdale and has always presented a nicer picture IMO. Lottie rode it fairly quietly, he can do a far more 'spectacular' test but I suspect team orders have been to play safe for qualification and save the horses for the weekend. Let's hope they maintain the softness while they go for more expression...

Freestyle definitely looked a bit tense, aside from the contact issue her ears are usually a lot floppier! She looks better than she did with CDJ because she's stronger and more experienced - I don't think we should underestimate how many of the basics were installed by CDJ (hopefully without whips.....).

Back to work now so will watch more later, I'm not sure I can face watching the Werth/Helgstrand combo though!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Oh I missed so much - stupid work calls while I’m on leave!

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I skipped the Werth test, I absolutely will not entertain her as a rider in any way - and her public speaking out about horse welfare is the most laughable thing I have ever heard of.

I quite enjoyed the first Finnish rider (I'm playing catch up) and the slack he had on his curb rein throughout, it almost feels like a protest in some way against needing to have the double. Whilst the Spanish horse downed tools somewhat, it was also nice to see a non-warmblood go, even if the Lusitano does truthfully hold the dressage pedigree

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

To be fair, BTV wouldn't make much sense to the non-horsey audience and she is saying that the neck needs to be more open for a better test.

I think they're using a fair amount of terminology that wouldn't be understandable to a non-horsey audience anyway and BTV isn't a complicated thing to give a little explanation to.

 

[misst]

Didn't really like IW test but I think I am prejudiced anyway as her connections are so obviously suspect and her hypocrisy around CDJ just make me mad. (not supporting CDJ but just cannot believe she has the nerve to speak on welfare).

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Oh I wish discovery + lady would stop being so down on William Matthew’s horse - I love him, he seems like the most willing, sweet horse.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Quite liked this Australian combo. Not sure why she's chatting again like they've done a crap test.

Also, in the judging - are they comparing the horse to itself for the marks? So for example: marking extension as the difference it shows to its own collection, or against other horses (i.e., it's not as extended as someone else's horse.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Not loving this one for Dominican Republic. It considered going up in the rein back. I don't blame it.

 

[piebaldproblems]

Aquamarijn is one tense mare today, very unsettled and frothy mouth. I'm not a fan of this ride but the rider's done well to keep everything going smoothly after the reinback mishap, which was quietly ridden.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

My read of this horse is that whilst it doesn't paint the best picture, the rider is trying to keep a lid on a grenade

 

[piebaldproblems]

Lusitano time now. And he's a beaut.

 

[NinjaPony]

Put it on to a lovely Luso performing very well without any obvious stress or tension and surprise surprise the commentator is constantly criticising it for lack of flash…

 

[piebaldproblems]

The frame's alright for the most part and the overall picture's not bad, just some tail swishing, but it's rare to see a Lusitano at this level show so little sitting in the piaffe. Maybe he'll score better in a few years time. And he could really use a more open frame in the extended movements as the "simpler" movement of the breed don't help create an illusion of extension.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Just had a fantastic triathlon followed by the most gripping rowing race - gold on the line!

 

[SAS56]

Listening to her comments gives me a good insight into why dressage judging is as it is now. Top riders are awarded best marks, flashy front end movers ditto, ignore the mouth and obvious tension and undermark perfectly correct movements that lack pizzazz. A halt that is all over the place gets a mark of 8 if you are a "name" - Time to move on FEI

 

[piebaldproblems]

Is this Ecuadorian horse's head small or is its noseband massive?

 

[SAS56]

Is this Ecuadorian horse's head small or is its noseband massive?

Just thinking the same - little head, shortish neck and stuck on very high. Sweet though

 

[Burnttoast]

Not sure what I was hoping for when I decided to watch but it's no more horse friendly than it was before. So many horses wishing (if they could) that they were anywhere but there. Since I'm now feeling slightly nauseated after flipping back to look at Freestyle's test, I'm going to have some tea and do some work and try not to think about the practically zero influence I have in this situation.