SPOILER ALERT!!! STUNNING UPSET IN TEAM DRESSAGE!!!!

[magical thyme]

For 40+ years the Germans, Dutch and Swiss have dominated international dressage competition.

This year, led by a 27 year old woman on a young horse, Valegro, who is owned by her coach, the British have broken the stranglehold the Germans had on Olympic gold. Her coach, Carl Hester on Uthopia, placed 3rd in this mornings Grand Prix Special.

In London...just frosting on the cake!

In 2 days the top placing horse/rider teams will advance to the individual competition in the musical freestyle. This is where they perform the Grand Prix movements choreographed in timing with music, in a ballet-like presentation that demonstrates the precision of timing, balance, and complete synchronization of horse and rider partners.

In other news, Rafalca trailed the 7th placing US team, coming in 28th out of 32 and will not advance to the individual finals. Stefan Peters and Ravel appear to be the only US partners advancing to the finals.

[Raine1967]

1. Please Change the title of this Post? It should warn people of a spoiler. EOM

[Egalitarian Thug]

2. Thank you. I wasn't going to be so polite. n/t

[WorseBeforeBetter]

4. It seems to be quite a difficult concept for some to grasp. (n/t)

[magical thyme]

5. yikes...I'm sorry! I was so excited I forgot...

and just the other day I was reading the spoiler requests and totally agreeing!

[Raine1967]

7. Thank you. I do understand Excitement!

[nichomachus]

10. I know. I lay awake all last night wondering who was going to win dressage.

[progressivebydesign]

16. really, people get their panties in a bunch because of dressage results?

Or the olympics, for that matter? Olympics, unless you're in it, is a spectator sport. I can't imagine getting to intense over it.

[riderinthestorm]

3. .

I just burst into huge laughter at your post. This is gonna set off a whole 'nother round of it here on DU. Are you ready to take on another day of dressage-wrestling??!!

LOL!!




(but seriously, this is really excellent news. Its fantastic that the Brits are finally figuring it out)

Peace!

[magical thyme]

6. not working today, so I have some time....

Bring It On!!!!!!

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. dressage-wrestling - it could be bigger than chessboxing

After 2 minutes of precise horse-riding, the competitors have to rip off their hunting pinks to reveal leotards underneath, and go into a cage match for 4 minutes. If either are left conscious, they must return to the dressage arena, this time in the leotard, and attempt to look serious on a horse for a further minute.

[grantcart]

8. In other news

Rafalca goes on suicide watch

[riderinthestorm]

9. Bwahaha!!

[hifiguy]

15. Hell, the horse is probably happy to get back

to being a regular ol' horse grazing and galloping around in the pasture.

[klook]

17. If it survives the punitive wing-ride home.

Romney, face screwed up in rage at the window of his private jet: "Bad horse! You call that dressage?!"

[SDjack]

11. 28th out of 32 -- ouch!. Be careful, Rafalca,

you disappointed rMoney, as you do not have a future as a brood mare. Your maximum value now lies within your life policy. And, rMoney does maximize his returns.

[riderinthestorm]

13. She's already breeding - via embryo transfer, AI and surrogacy.

And nobody - least of all Ann Rmoney or Rafalca's rider Jan Ebeling - ever expected Rafalca to do much better.

For them, it was actually pretty impressive they made the team in the first place, even more unbelievable the mare stayed consistent and calm for the ride (she's been known to be temperamental and difficult).

[cthulu2016]

12. The headline should not contain the information (!)

Knowing there is an upset is, itself, a spoiler

[flamingdem]

14. Message from Rafalka Romney