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What/When/Where: Equestrian, Greenwich Park, July 28-August 9
There are few other events which epitomize traditional English sport than equestrian. So for the Olympics to be in England…Well, it’s just quite fitting, I should say. Equestrian is the epitome of the traditional gentleman’s or lady’s sport. Why, I even find myself talking in my “Downton Abbey” voice when mentioning the sports events: dressage, eventing, and show jumping. Each of these events are competed as both individual and team events. Unlike most sports, men and women compete against each other. There all sorts of rules to the three equestrian events. Points can be deducted for exceeding the time limit, missing a checkpoint (i.e., obstacle), knocking down a pole when jumping, and so forth.
Equestrian wasn’t in the 1908 Olympics that London hosted, but the sport was present at the 1948 Games. The 1948 Olympics was the last time equestrian was exclusive to soldiers, as in 1952 civilians were allowed to participate. While equestrian largely depends on a rider’s skills, success is also dependent upon the horse. Riders usually are paired with their horse early in their career, building a bond with the animal to ensure that their partnership allows them to perform well. Which is why there is much heartache and disappointment when a rider’s horse is unable to compete. In 2010 Olympic hopeful Charlotte Springall’s horse was murdered. (A suspect is yet to be caught.) Because of losing her horse only two years before the 2012 Olympics, Springall did not make the Olympic team. There just wasn’t adequate time to train a new horse and be competitive. Zara Phillips, who rode to a world championship on horse Toytown, missed both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics because of injuries to her horse. With Toytown finally being retired in 2011, Phillips has had to use another of her horses, High Kingdom, who is not as strong a performer as Toytown. Because of these events, Phillips barely made the Olympic team and is a long shot to win.
Of the three events (dressage, eventing, show jumping), I’m fonder of eventing and show jumping. In addition to the fabulous venue at Greenwich Park, I’m excited to see Olympians both old and young competing! Equestrian is one of the few sports where age is not always a factor for making it to the Olympics. Just ask Canada’s Ian Millar (age 65) or Japan’s Hiroshi Hoketsu, who at 71 is the oldest Olympian competing in London! Britain has a great chance of medaling in almost all events. Michael Fox-Pitt is one of two favorites for gold in eventing (the other being Andrew Nicholson of New Zealand). Laura Bechtolsheimer andCarl Hester are possible for a silver or bronze in dressage, and the team events also look promising for the host country. Its biggest rivals in team competition? Germany, Netherlands, and United States.
Faster, Higher, Stronger.
