But perhaps the biggest news of the day was the surprising decision to pull dressage star Brentina from the individual dressage competition at the 2006 WEG. During an afternoon press conference, Idaho’s Debbie McDonald was candid about the horse’s injury and the tentative future of the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare that has stood as one of the country’s most-loved international dressage stars for some time.
“I have to say she felt wonderful yesterday warming up, and I thought maybe I might have felt something [during the dressage test], so I did ride her a little conservatively,” said McDonald of her Wednesday ride that earned the U.S. team the Bronze medal in team dressage. “She finished through the test, and in the last extended trot I could feel that it wasn’t 100%.”
The horse was checked thoroughly last night, and nothing showed up. This morning was a different story when there was, according to McDonald, “a little bit of filling in the leg and so, in her best interest…we have decided to withdraw and find out what is exactly going on.”
This begged the question of the possibility of a retirement for Brentina. “You know, that’s a tough question to answer,” continued McDonald. “If this doesn’t end up to be something too huge, I would love the opportunity…to do the World Cup again in Las Vegas.” She said that they would take it from there. “But, again, [Brentina] comes first. And, if it means that she needs to retire, she can be a Momma,” ended McDonald. I’m not ruling out anything at this time.”
The withdrawal of the pair leaves the U.S. team’s highest-placed grand prix scorers, Steffen Peters and the 16-year-old Westphalian gelding, Floriano, and the pair of Guenter Seidel and the 14-year-old Bavarian Warmblood gelding Aragon in the run for an individual medal.
Eventing: Day One
Three Americans put in their dressage tests on Thursday, Washington’s Amy Tryon, South Carolina’s Heidi White and Virginia’s Jan Byyny. Each of these ladies laid down solid performances, in spite of Mother Nature’s dreary welcome to Games competition. Thirty-nine international riders participated in today’s dressage test, and 38 are expected to do so on Friday.
Of the 39 horse-and-riders that rode their tests during day one, Andreas Dibwoski and FRH Serve Well (Germany) sit in the lead at first of two days’ dressage (score: 40.9). Australian Megan Jones and Kirby Park Irish Jester are second (44.1), with New Zealander Donna Smith and Call Me Clifton at third (45.4). Denmark’s Morten Haugaard and My Hamlet were retired during their test when the horse never recovered from being spooked.
First up for Team USA was the pairing of Olympic Bronze-medalists Tyron and her 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Poggio II. Taking to the test in a complete downpour, the pair ended their effort in first at the end of the initial seven riders in the day’s first section. By day’s end, they sat with a score of 50.7 and 11th place.
The second American to ride was Heidi White, who did so under more amenable skies. White put in a beautiful dressage test and a score of 50.4 (sitting at tenth place), but it was Saturday's cross-country course that had her attention. Asked to comment on the course that lies ahead for the team of U.S. eventers, White said, "What really got my attention was the double brushes at the end."
Of her afternoon dressage test, White added, "It was as good as we can get. I can always be better, but I'm really pleased."
Third up for the Americans were Jan Byyny and her 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, Task Force, who posted a score of 53.3, and sit at 15th place going into cross-country. An "energy burst" and some flying lead changes seemed to be today's stickler.
On the cross-country course that lay ahead, Byyny said there was a lot out there to do. "I think it all looks doable … you just have to set your tone, and ride your plan," she said.
Task Force bolted down the long side just outside the arena moments prior to starting her test, surprising the rider. However, she felt positive about the test, with a few exceptions, namely, lead changes. "It was a lot of atmosphere for him…. Our horses are not necessarily used to a big applause when they come in. It's a great thing, but not something they're used to," she said.
Making her World Equestrian Games debut, Byyny said, "It's an honor and I'm as excited as anything to be here … I think people sometimes don't realize that how long an effort it is, and I've had him [Task Force] for six years."
Back to Saturday's cross-country, she echoed the same sentiments as other riders in characterizing it as hard, but very fair, with the initial test of getting on your game with the earliest of accuracy questions.
Friday's forecast is calling for more of the same – 100 percent chance of rain and continued cool temperatures. Saturday's cross-country course is sure to keep everyone guessing, especially with more rain expected, as to just who will make it through in the lead heading toward Sunday's jumping phase.
Vaulting: Compulsories
If vibrant colors and loud crowds are what you seek, vaulting is the discipline to be at. Today got off to a very rainy start in the Deutsche Bank Stadium 3 for compulsories for individual women, teams and individual men. It doesn't matter what country you're from or what discipline you're affiliated with, prepare to stand up and scream—loudly. Be sure not to talk during the competition or you will be shushed.
USA's Megan Benjamin got off to a beautiful start by winning the compulsories phase with a score of 8.015 on the horse Leonardo that she co-owns, longed by Lasse Kristensen from Denmark. Benjamin also has the honor of being the only American in Aachen competing as both an individual and also a part of the F.A.M.E. team.
Benjamin said of her go, "I was actually quite surprised by how well I did, because the women I beat, are the women I look up to. I owe it all to Leonardo and Lasse."
Mary McCormick was the first American to vault and received a score of 6.596. She was aboard Calisto 4 with owner/longeur Betina Gross. Elizabeth Osborn had the middle spot and received a 6.481 aboard Milan 123 with owner/longeur Hannelore Leiser. In January of this year, Devon Maitozo traveled to Europe to search for horses that the U.S vaulters could use at WEG.
The competition is going to be tough, with vaulters from 23 countries taking part, including newcomers Columbia. In total, this competition will see 15 teams, 28 individual men and 52 individual women. The Germans will be an ominous force, having won every individual female world championship for the past 20 years, nearly every team world championship and more than half of the individual male world championships. However, anyone who deals with horses knows that anything can happen. The top German woman is coming off of a second knee injury, which could leave the door open for Benjamin or any vaulter who is hungry enough for Gold.
Today's required compulsory movements were the mount, basic seat, flag, mill, scissors, stand and flank. The vaulter needs to hold each move for four strides, no more, no less. The horse has a key role to play in that they need to canter, counter clockwise, fluently in the same 15 meter track. Half of the total score is based on the horse, the other half on the vaulter's execution of the movements. Some horses reacted to today's crowd, which cost their vaulters.
In team compulsories, each team has six minutes, starting when the first vaulter touches the horse, to complete each of the same seven compulsory exercises, one at a time. The F.A.M.E. team earned a 6.647 in today's compulsories aboard Grand Gaudino, putting them in fifth place. "Dino" is an 18.3-hand Hanoverian, owned and longed by Dr. Silke Bartel. Two team members also had a little falter when the performed part of the scissors move.
"The horse was a little nervous," said F.A.M.E. team coach Emma Seely. "The vaulters dealt with it well. It wasn't our best showing, but it wasn't our worst."
The F.A.M.E. vaulters include Megan Benjamin, Blake Dahlgren, Elizabeth Ioannou, Devon Maitozo, Rosalind Ross, Annalise VanVranken and Katie Richie as the alternate. The music selection that F.A.M.E. vaulted with today was a mix of Middle Eastern music and a piece from Cirque de Soleil.
Dino was not the only horse that let his nerves get to him in the raucous arena. The only all-girl teams of Switzerland and The Netherlands also longed on a horse that was less than steady. The Swiss horse tried to gallop out of the arena with the longeur attached and then threw in a few caprioles, barely missing the heads of some of the team vaulters. The Netherlands' horse cantered rapidly through their performance, constantly looking around, making it very difficult for the vaulters to put in a great performance.
On the flip side, the German horse trotted in, completely unphased, by screams that could rival a Super Bowl crowd, and it was obvious why they have won 23 of the last 30 world championships. The music was elegant and classic. Toes were pointed, legs were straight and high. Movements were smooth and effortless. The horse and vaulter were one. But they too had mistakes. They currently have the lead after the team compulsories, with a score of 7.183.
The U.S. men started out with a bad draw, going first, third and 19th. Todd Griffiths was the first up with Campina 6 and longeur Andrea Weber. Unfortunately, the horse started out very rattled as he jogged in and ran off the pathway. He was just as upset on the way out. All of that combined meant a score of 6.773 for Griffiths. Chris Littmann was the next American up, vaulting aboard Milan 123, longed by Hannelore Leiser. Their score was 6.993. Kenny Geisler was the last American of the evening and vaulted aboard Campina 6 with Weber as longeur. Their score was a 7.367. Campina, again, was quite excited and would barely stand still for Geisler to salute the ground jury.
Matthias Lang of France is currently in the lead after the men's compulsories with a score of 8.107. Just behind him, in second place, is Kai Vorberg of Germany with a score of 8.096.
After tomorrow's freestyle performances, the top 15 men, top 15 women and top 12 teams will be invited back for the technical and freestyle on Saturday and Sunday.