His cup combination is unusual but I guess practical:
Robert's "cup combination" is a useful prompt to again say thank you to all who have supported the USET Foundation. The Rio Games have been extremely complex in terms of logistics and the paperwork demanded has kept many of us at the USEF very busy for months. However, the Games have also been extremely expensive: The cost of the Games combined with the need for the teams to prepare professionally (and for Jumping and Dressage that meant preparing in Europe), has placed a huge burden on the budget. Without the generosity of the USET Foundation donors, USEF members and sponsors, we would not have been able to put in place the plan we have. I fear that Rio has been even more expensive than we predicted (especially around ensuring everyone has the quality of food they need) so all donations would be very gratefully received!
Winding the clock back to yesterday, it was a day of Hello Hello and Goodbye. Hello, hello our dressage riders and horses that are on fire, and goodbye to the eventing horses and grooms.
The departure of the eventing horses saw the arrival of a new piece of Plant Hire...the Rio Forklift:
The Rio Horse Muck Removal System has also been another new innovation at the Games. These guys have done a great job moving the muck out of the stables. Perhaps unusual but certainly effective.
I am happy to report that all eventing horses have landed safely in Miami where they will now undergo the completely unnecessary 7 days Screwworm. Unnecessary because they have been in a bio secure area for the last two weeks and have been subject to veterinary inspection on a daily basis - I think we can be more than certain that no naughty little critters have piggybacked a ride back to the States.
Eventing horses saying goodbye to Rio:
Yesterday was the conclusion of the Grand Prix phase of the dressage. Kinda wishing it was still the old format and the Team medals were decided on the Grand Prix scores - that would have saved some angst and sleepless nights! USA in 3rd heading in to the Grand Prix Special is a huge achievement and great credit goes to all. Today will be a nail-biter as the Dutch seek to leapfrog us.
I suspect Gold and Silver are preordained unless there are serious whoopsies. For me, today will be fascinating to watch from an "environment" point of view. What do I mean by this? Well, the teams in 4th, 5th and 6th run this morning in a rotation and the teams in 1st, 2nd and 3rd run this afternoon. So, does this make for a more pressured environment for the top three teams with number 4 already having their scores "in the bag" before the top three start? Or does it make it more difficult for number 4 not knowing what they need to do to overhaul number 3? Let's face it, everyone riding in the teams today have the technical know how to deliver so is the deciding factor going to be a combination of the mental factor and the unknown factor, aka what will our equine friends make of the whole shebang?
Jumping horses have crossed the start line with their horse inspection this morning. They have their training session tomorrow - so all a little more drawn out than they are used to!
So the countdown begins to a very special Grand Prix Special.