With eventing kicking off the equestrian proceedings on Saturday, it is time for the teams to start to get serious about competition preparations. Today the main arena at the Olympic Equestrian Centre at Deodoro was busy from 8:30am until late afternoon with each team having its allocated time to warm up in the outside arenas and then strut their stuff in the competition arena. They have been in here once before but today the arena is now in competition mode with full decoration, stewards on hand and the feel is much more ‘we are ready to rock and roll’
Speaking to people who were here for the Test Event, the improvements have been massive and the main arena footing is ‘the best you can get’. The popular FEI judge and Ground Jury member Cristina Klingspor is not in the box seat at this particular event but is enjoying a stint as one of the eventing stewards here and was busy ushering the teams in and out
“It’s great fun and you can get much closer to the riders doing this – when you are judging it has to be very arm’s length”
Cristina Klingspor and the 'King of Sand' Christian Bauer
Cristina was very complimentary about the surface in the arenas which have been meticulously prepared and are now being just as meticulously maintained by the ground crew, headed by Christian Bauer, the FEI Footing Expert, also known as the King of Sand or, according to the Brazilians, the Pope of the Arenas
The first team into the arena for familiarisation today was the German team who certainly made an impact. After warming up in the top arena they headed into the competition arena in quadrille fashion and impressed the onlookers with their military precision for the first few minutes before separating for individual work-outs. What has Chris Bartle got up his sleeve now? Was this a way to introduce the horses confidently to the arena (most experienced first with the most nervous at the back), psyche out everyone else, have some fun or just make journalists nosy? A question I shall certainly pose of super coach Mr Bartle at the first opportunity
Jonelle and Faerie Dianimo (above) and the Kiwi boys (below)
The Kiwis were the next in and they all looked pretty relaxed, especially Jock Paget in his shorts and minus a horse however the rest of the team were mounted and putting their horses through their paces with Jonelle doing some pretty fancy moves on Faerie Dianimo
The British riders enjoyed some bright sun for their stint and William Fox-Pitt looked super cool in his shades on a very fit and sleek-looking Chilli Morning; this is probably the lightest I’ve ever seen the chestnut stallion who will be having his swansong here with retirement on the cards. Kitty King’s Ceylor LAN also looked rather sprightly, showing some interesting moves in the arena while Gemma Tattersall’s Quicklook looked positively chilled out. As they left the arena to the Irish team Tina Cook had a face full of smiles and looks as if she is enjoying every minute!
Gemma and 'Pebbles'
More to come soon after a stable visit, course walk and Aussie arena familiarisation
