Dougie Hannum doesn’t stress.

But when the red foam finger feeding frenzy kicked off today - he may have gotten slightly agitated. It didn’t last long.

The SmartPak/USEF Foam Finger “Dressage is #1” Initiative has really taken off. These things are everywhere and everyone wants one.

The British are so polite. They say please, they insist on paying, they ask if they can have their photo taken with Sarah Paull who is actually running around wearing a giant foam finger outfit.

I asked her today if she ever imagined that she would be at the Olympics dressed like a giant foam finger and she said, “No, but I always knew I would be doing something weird.”

Well this is weird.
So despite inspiring a Red Foam finger nation, we actually have been watching dressage. And some of it has been really inspiring.

Some Highlights:
Ravel (duh)
Valegro (he really did inspire a real nation - and set an Olympic record)
Fuego (the coolest little horse who tries so hard his nose wrinkles)
Rafalca Make No Mistake RomneyCalecto (one big buck before he went in the ring to make sure his spine was aligned)
Wizard (enough energy to power a small nation - like Litchensutein)
Undercover (green as grass but believed every word that Edward Gal told him)
Donnperignon (even with rain pouring down his ears, he never stopped trying)

The jumpers also (finally) got going. They jogged up well on Thursday and despite the fact that we went last so we waited and waited and waited and it was worth it. They had a schooling session last night and they all jumped incredibly well paying no mind to the distractions and occasion.

We are heading out now to the First Individual Qualifier. Clark Shipley was ready for things to get going (See below)...