Team USA can’t catch a break at the Paris Olympic Games.
Following a “disappointing” 7th place finish in eventing, as per chef d’equipe Bobby Costello, the Americans have been eliminated from team competition on Day 1 of Dressage.
Marcus Orlob and Jane, the first American pair in the ring in Paris, had their test stopped by the judge at C during the canter zig-zag due to blood on the horse’s leg.
According to a statement issued by the FEI, the mare hit herself in the leg just before entering the ring, resulting in a “small knick” on the right hind fetlock that began to bleed during the test. Under the FEI’s “blood rule,” fresh blood anywhere on a horse’s body during the test results in automatic elimination.
“She is currently back in stabling, relaxing in her stall, and the cut is no longer bleeding,” continued the statement.
“I was happy, excited to go down centerline. Clearly Jane [was] too,” said Orlob of the mare’s reaction to the crowd upon entering the arena at the Palace of Versailles.
“It was a little bit of a, I would say, explosive entry. I believe she may have nicked herself in the entry, because I never had this issue. She felt in the ring amazing. I was super happy with her. Once she went down centerline, she settled nicely.
“It’s the beginning, the crowd, that’s where she gets nervous. And then once I got going, she felt more and more relaxed. I was really happy. I said, ‘OK, I got this now.’ And then I was really, really sad to hear the bell, because I knew something’s not right.”
Under the unique three-member team format of the Olympic Games there is no drop score. As a result, Team USA is now eliminated from team competition and Orlob’s teammates Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper) and Adrienne Lyle (Helix) will now compete as individuals in the Grand Prix test.
Lyle and Helix scored a 72.593 in the Grand Prix. Peters will compete as part of Group G on Wednesday.
The Americans won team bronze at the 2016 Rio Games and the team silver at the Tokyo Games in 2021.