Dressage is all about bringing the drama to the ring and Rio delivered—and then some. These are your highlights from session one of the Grand Prix at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Adelinde Cornelissen retires mid-test
Adelinde Cornelissen’s Olympic dream came to an abrupt end just as it started. Sixteenth to go in the order, The Netherland’s lead-off rider retired mid-way through her test. But it was for all the right reasons.
Said Cornelissen:
“Yesterday morning, I came to the stable and [Parzival’s] cheek was completely swollen. It appeared that he was bitten by a spider or mosquito or whatever. His body was full of toxic fever over, 40°C . We managed to get that down yesterday. He was nine hours on liquids. Then yesterday evening he was all good…I discussed with the team vet and he said, ‘OK, we’ll give it a try for the team result.’ But then he felt totally empty and I didn’t want to push him through this. He didn’t deserve that, did he?”
Parzival is 19-years old. The Rio Games were to be his last competition.
so much respect for @a_cornelissen right now! Knowing her horse wasn't right and made the tough decision to pull out! im sure he thanks you!
— Emily Ashworth (@H0rsesandWh0) August 10, 2016
Gunfire was the soundtrack of the day
Military training exercises were underway throughout the entirety of the dressage competition today. Some horses handled the war zone simulation it better than others.
“I was really proud of Dublet,” said Kasey Perry-Glass (USA). “He hung in there really well for me, especially with all the guns and everything going off. He’s a very sound sensitive horse, so to be able to keep him focused and together was a challenge for both of us. But he was there and he was ready to go.”
Military officials have promised to stop the weapon training exercises going forward.
Weather in Rio: Overcast with a chance of gunfire? #WhatIsThatNoise?! #TwoHearts
— Horse Network (@HorseNetwrk) August 10, 2016
Julie Brougham makes her Olympic debut at age 62!
Throughout her career, Julie Brougham (NZL) has trained many horses through to Grand Prix. But she never one that was good enough justify the considerable expense of travelling from New Zealand to Europe to compete at the pinnacle of the sport. That is, until Vom Feinstein.
Today, the 62-year-old rider realized a dream decades in the making.
“I have a fairly sizeable term deposit from selling past horses and I always had that money there. I always said if I get a horse that’s good enough to go, that’s my savings and I’m going. So I did,” said Brougham. “I had that dream and I haven’t ever stopped trying. I’ve still got other lovely horses at home. I’ve sort of got the next world’s in mind. You just keep going.”
#JulieBrougham is literally flawless. 62 years old and still an Olympian in #Equestrian 🏇
— Ryan Thomas White (@ryrysoflyyy) August 10, 2016
#BlameAnky
Allison Brock and Rosevelt delivered a 72.686% in the Grand Prix for Team USA. It’s the Olympic debut for the “old married couple” and a feat long in the making after a “really rough ride to becoming a Grand Prix horse,” said Brock. There was just one hiccup…
“The mistake in the two-tempis was totally my fault, at the end,” confessed the American rider. “I will admit, I heard the music and I was like, ‘This is Anky’s old freestyle music!’ And I even lost count, and I had to kind of guess. My trainer’s going to kill me when he hears that. I literally heard it and started going, ‘Oh, it’s for Bonfire!’ Isn’t that terrible?”
Team USA currently sits in fourth on the overnight leaderboard.
Brock Alison, USA, and Rosevelt make their Olympic debut in Rio. ©Hippo Foto – Dirk Caremans
Germany achieved posted the only 80 of the day
Riding Showtime FRH, a horse she’s developed since he was three-years of age, Dorothee Schneider posted an 80.986% for Team Germany.
“The feeling is amazing,” said Schneider. “He wants to do this with me together. I think that is also where you get points. When the judges can see that you do it in a light way and the horse, he wants to do this with me in a light way together, I think that’s very important. The feeling is amazing with this horse because it’s easy and I don’t have to do anything with pressure. Yes, the left pirouette we had a little misunderstanding but I think the rest was very good.”
The Germans now sit atop the team and individual leaderboards going into session 2 of the Grand Prix.
Dorothy Schneider. You spin me right round baby. #rio2016 #dressage #GER 🇩🇪 🐴 pic.twitter.com/6HswdyiaLZ
— Dakota Melanson (@kitybox) August 10, 2016
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