The thread of all Olympic Threads

[TheMule]

Thank goodness, the clip I saw was just a few seconds of him hopping on three legs but I didn’t want to click on it because I thought it might be clickbait.

He kicked it hard with his spurs as the horse went to stop instead of transitioning to passage out of the final piaffe. The horse reacted like a horse would if it's used to being jabbed in the ribs with sharp spurs

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

He kicked it hard with his spurs as the horse went to stop instead of transitioning to passage out of the final piaffe. The horse reacted like a horse would if it's used to being jabbed in the ribs with sharp spurs

I found that very hard to watch. Not necessarily because I thought it was lame but such a sorry sight hopping around on three legs, and then the horse was just so unhappy all the way out afterwards. Most of them seem to relax when they finish and wander out, some have a bit of a spook, but this one just seemed kind of 'stuck' in passage and looking really stressed.

 

[Honey08]

It’s sad isn’t it. Why don’t judges/us look at the big picture. It’s meant to be elegant. We seem to get distracted by the too hats and tails or the music, and not focus on the tail swishing and blue tongues/completely stressed horses. It needs to change.
(Using “we” vaguely rather than meaning us here)

 

[blodwyn1]

I assume as a fall out of all the controversy one of the online saddlers has reduced the le mieux pony valegro to £30!

 

[GreyDot]

I found the amount of open mouthed, teeth baring horses really difficult to watch. To see them rewarded with 7s and 8s was difficult to understand. Freestyle looked horribly tense, as did that chestnut from the USA team.
This type of obvious stress would never be rewarded at UA or your standard BD competition, so why at the Olympics? And the amount of horses who couldn't even halt. I am a complete dressage enthusiast but have found the majority of tests difficult to watch.
I look forward to the double bridle no longer being mandatory and hope for a properly fitted noseband, and freedom for the horse to relax into their movements.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

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!

I miss her floppy ears, they are lovely!

 

[Kat]

Anyone watching the SJ qualifiers?

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Ben Maher jumping 10th, Harry Charles 30th, Scott Brash 50th.

 

[piebaldproblems]

Anyone watching the SJ qualifiers?

I am working with the SJ ‘accidentally’ live in another tab.

 

[Kat]

Ben Maher jumping 10th, Harry Charles 30th, Scott Brash 50th.

Any ideas what sort of times so that I can have a strategic tea break?

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Will see if I can find a start list. Course time limit is 79 sec. Onto 4th rider now

 

[Janique]

Shame about Steve Guerdat, i like him, he has a good name for caring for his horses, he is one of the good one,
resting them and looking after them well.

 

[RachelFerd]

I just love King Edward - what a horse he is to watch - incredible athlete

 

[teapot]

Start list was posted in this thread last night - there are no times on it

 

[teapot]

Thursday team show jumping qualifier start list, 10am UK start time https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/EQU/OG2024_EQU_C51(S)B_EQUOJUMPTEAM----------QUAL000100--.pdf

Three to a team, all scores count, top ten teams qualify for Friday

Updated one here:

https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/EQU/OG2024_EQU_C51(S)B_EQUOJUMPTEAM----------QUAL000100--.pdf

 

[Equi]

Gosh these are big jumps

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Anyone watching the SJ qualifiers?

Me.

I think SJ, perhaps more-so than dressage, is a prime example of where 'the bit is only as harsh as the hands on the reins' really really goes out of the window! Hoping to see some harmonious rounds though.

ETA - it will be interesting to see how the wider criticism of horse sports touches on the SJ compared to the dressage.

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Shane now then Ben

 

[piebaldproblems]

Not a fan of this Irish rider, and especially not that bit.

 

[Equi]

Wow what a round for Ben, looked effortless

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Wow Ben made that look incredibly easy!

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

That's a careful mare

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

It appears they are having a short break every 20 riders so those 'sneakily watching' something to bear in mind

 

[Kat]

Just caught King Edward who looked as though he was finding it easy and would have been happy with another foot on the fences.

Ben's round was lovely, he is such a quiet rider. Lovely mare who looked to have plenty of scope!

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Ha, I imagine Nick was riding that last fence with his elbows sticking out too.

 

[SAS56]

I have to say that Ben Maher is a beautiful rider to watch and his horses really do go for him.

 

[Morwenna]

Was the American rider wearing a body protector?

 

[YourValentine]

Lovely clear for Ben

 

[Britestar]

Was the American rider wearing a body protector?

Airvest

 

[Morwenna]

Airvest

Thanks. I’m watching on my iPad while I work and couldn’t quite make it out.