USA Equestrians Strike Gold in Team Jumping
American Equestrians Jumping for Joy
In the third-round Olympic jump-off, lasting just 45 seconds, the American riders out-jumped their Canadian competitors for first place honors in Team Show Jumping. The team from Norway earned the Bronze Medal for third place.
At the Olympic level, with horses flying through the Show Jumping course at top speed, a clear round is truly a remarkable occurrence. Witnessing this phenomenon during the high-tension, tie-breaking third-round jump-off, spectators and home-viewers perched on the edges of their seats, even as the riders perched atop their close-contact saddles on their finely tuned mounts.
Could 45 seconds ever hold more excitement for equestrians or horse enthusiasts?
The American team displayed equestrian excellence. McLain Ward (of Mt. Brewster, NY) and Sapphire (a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare), Laura Kraut (of Camden, SC, and Wellington, FL) and Cedric (a 10-year-old KWPN gelding) and Will Simpson (of Peoria, IL, and Thousand Oaks, CA) and Carlsson com Dach (a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding) all completed clear rounds in the Show Jumping arena to cinch the Olympic Gold Medal win.
Because of their three no-fault rounds, Beezie Madden (of Mequon, WI, and Cazennovia, NY) and Authentic (a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding) were not required to participate in the Olympic equestrian jump-off.
"It was really moving to be on that podium with Will, Laura and McLain and hear The Star Spangled Banner," blogged Madden. "I will never forget a second of it. We have spent a long time together now and have really become a team."
Team Canada did lose one Olympic equestrian competitor today, as Mac Cone's mount Ole was sidelined for lameness from a mishap during Sunday's Olympic Team Show Jumping round.
"I want to say, too, how happy I am that Canada did so well. It's a great day for North American Show Jumping," Madden added.
Sources:
http://teamusa.usatoday.com/bmadden
http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=3420
http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes
http://www.savvyequestrian.com/horsenews/details.php?unid=1359
Published by Linda Ann Nickerson - Featured Contributor in Sports
Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of reporting and a globally minded Midwestern perspective to a host of topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor. View profile
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your Horse Crazy Child Involved in Equestr...With monthly dues generally under $150 and scholarships available from the American Vaulting Association, recreational equestrian vaulting is accessible to most children who lon...- Alfred University Equestrian Summer CampA review of the Alfred Unviersity Equestrian Summer Camp.
- Round Two of the Show Jumping FEI Rolex World Cup FinalsAs some of you may recall, after the first class at the Rolex FEI World Cup Final, USA's McLain Ward was on top of the leader board after his super win aboard his great mare, Sapphire.
- Horseback Riding and Western / English BiasAfter putting in a day at a local horse expo, my husband asked me about the difference between Western and English styles of horseback riding. He said it seemed like Western was more "just for fun" and English seemed...
Selecting a Stud: Choosing a Stallion to Breed with Your MareBreeding horses is not a complicated science, but several variables come into play, if you wish to increase your odds of gaining quality offspring from your mare. Before you sel...
- What is Jumping the Shark?
- Become a Certified Horseback Riding Instructor
- Buying a Horse: Key Terms You Should Know
- Team USA - Over Confident for the World Baseball Classic?
- Hawaii Horseback Riding is an Unforgettable Thrill
- Online Dating: Guide to Equestrian Lovers Niche Sites
- USA Basketball: What Happened?
- Could 45 seconds ever hold more excitement for equestrians or horse enthusiasts?
5 Comments
Post a CommentThe beauty of the horses and the talent of the riders makes this event special to all. Thank you fer sharin'. Mizpah. ;-}}>
great reading!
Excellent coverage!
Great coverage!
It took me five tries to get into this one but I'm glad I finally did. Good work, Linda.