August 16, 2016 
Just two days into Olympic Show Jumping in Rio and there has been no shortage of controversy. During Sunday’s opening individual round, two riders were disqualified by the ground jury for rough riding tactics.
Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts was reprimanded for excessive use of spurs. Since he is competing as an individual, his Olympics have reached a disappointing end. Jur Vrieling of The Netherlands was also DQ’d on Sunday for excessive use of the whip. After his horse, Zirocco Blue, stopped for the second time on course, Vrieling hit him twice on the flank.
“After he stopped I hit him in a reaction,” Vrieling admitted on Tuesday. “And I really regret it. He’s my best friend and I want to keep it like that. I did wrong two days ago and I will never do it in my life again.”
Vrieling and Zirocco had a shot at redemption during Tuesday’s 1st Team Qualifier, but were eliminated after two more stops at the triple combination. This time, Vrieling only offered his mount a pat.
Two more DQ’s were handed out by the ground jury on Tuesday for excessive spurring by Brazil’s Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Cassio Rivetti of the Ukraine.
And, as fate would have it, Brazil and The Netherlands are currently tied atop the team leaderboard heading into Wednesday’s medal round. Of course, the DQs of de Freitas Barcha and elimination of Vrieling means neither team will have the luxury of dropping a score from the final tally like the rest of the field.
“I was talking to the guys here, and in Barcelona [’92 Olympics], Holland won the gold medal with three riders,” said Brazil’s Doda de Miranda, who’s father grew up riding less than 50 meters from the Deodoro Olympic Park stadium. “It’s more difficult, it’s not the best situation but it’s possible. I strongly believe we are very prepared.”
Dutch rider Harrie Smolders echoed de Miranda’s forecast for the final team round and facing the challenge ahead with a short squad.
“I expect tomorrow will be a bigger course,” Smolders said. “It will be very hard without [Jur] because he’s been our strongest man for the last few years. He was our hero, and he had a hard time, but we carried him through.”
Contrite for his disqualification on Sunday, Vrieling was confounded by his horse’s refusal today.
“We train very hard for a show like this,” he said. “Zirocco was my best mate and then something like this happens. He’s been training great, so it’s really disappointing. This is totally coming out of nothing. The horse has a reason but I wish I knew why. Five years ago, I said this would be my horse for the Olympics. And I came here thinking I had a very good chance for a medal. But I respect my horse a lot and will try to help find his confidence.”
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