We have just 16 of 65 athletes left to complete the dressage phase of Rio Olympic eventing. Headlining the grand finale, there are several team and individual storylines up in the air and exciting performances still to come. This is about as nail-biting as dressage gets, folks!
Are you pumped? Brian O’Connor and the gang at Morningside Training Farm sure are.
Jenni is tweeting the action ringside in Rio; you can check out her lunch report here and of course she’ll bring us a full wrap-up at the end of the day. For those of us following along from home, here’s how to watch the live stream.
The competitors are performing OG 4* Test B – Short Version and will be judged by Marilyn Payne of the United States at C, Andrew Bennie of New Zealand at E, and Sandy Phillips of Great Britain at M.
Be sure to check out Maggie Deatrick’s “Dressage Powerhouses of Rio: Day Two,” wherein she spotlights the combinations that we’re likely to see at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the day. And be sure to cheer extra loud (even if you’re just sitting at home alone — it still counts!) for the North American contingent.
Sunday U.S. ride times:
12 p.m. BRT (11 a.m. EST): Lauren Kieffer and Veronica
3:38 BRT (2:28 EST): Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice
Sunday Canadian ride times:
10:16 a.m. BRT (9:16 a.m. EST): Colleen Loach and Qorry Blue a’Argouges
1:54 p.m. BRT (12:54 p.m. EST): Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master
Keep refreshing and checking back for photos, social links and behind-the-scenes info. Go Eventing!
#Rio2016: Website, Schedule,Dressage Ride Times, Individual Scores, Team Scores, EN’s Ultimate Guide to Rio, How to Watch Live, EN’s Coverage,Twitter, Instagram
Live updates:
2:46 p.m. EST: That’s a wrap for dressage! Here’s the leaderboard scene as we head into cross country…
2:46 p.m. EST: Marcio Jorge Carvalho and Lissy Mac Wayer (BRA) The Brazilian combinations have been some of my favorites to watch this weekend. Not necessarily because they’re blowing it out of the water, but because the riders have clearly enjoyed strutting their stuff in front of the rabidly enthusiastic Brazilian fans. After that final salute, all bets are off!
A roar of crowd approval for Brazil’s Marcio and Lissy Mac Wayer, the final of 65 Olympic eventing competitors. They score a 49.9. #Rio2016 — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
2:38 p.m. EST: Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice (USA)
Phillip showed why he’s our anchor rider today, collecting an encouraging score for a team that didn’t quite live up to its potential in the dressage this weekend. “Happy” isn’t a particularly flash horse, but with Phillip piloting him around he was rock-solid and stubbornly consistent. As commentator John Kyle put it, “His trot work doesn’t set the world on fire, but he’s not throwing any marks away.” They earned 7.0 after 7.0 for a final score of 43.6, good for 15th place. Too bad there isn’t a coefficient for amazing ears! His big floppies would bring the house down.
Here we go #TeamUSA! Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice are next in #Rio2016 #TwoHearts #JoinTheJourney
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
2nd to last rider is Philip Dutton for @USEquestrian who’ll be looking to pull them up the team rankings #TwoHearts pic.twitter.com/9Xv2nn0ibb — The FEI (@FEI_Global) August 7, 2016
43.6 for Phillip Dutton and Mighty Nice for 15th place! That’s a personal best for Happy! #Rio2016
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
2:30 p.m. EST: Ludwig Svennerstal and Aspe (SWE)
51.0 for Ludwig Svennerstal and Aspe to sit in 46th place for Sweden #Rio2016 #TwoHearts #JoinTheJourney — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
2:22 p.m. EST: Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob (GER)
Ingrid and Hale Bob danced in step with William Fox-Pitt’s score for the beginning of their test, but there were just a few too many “meh” sixes to keep them from truly giving the leader a run for his money. They go out with a bang, collecting a nine for their final halt, and move into fourth position.
From high hopes…
Can Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob take the lead? They’re starting their test now! #Rio2016
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
With 4 @Olympics under her belt already @ingrid_klimke will be looking to add to her medal haul @Rio2016 #TwoHearts pic.twitter.com/VVs9F9ZQaO — The FEI (@FEI_Global) August 7, 2016
Germany are on 122.0 just .20 penalties ahead of @FFEquitation in the #EquestrianEventing It is all to play for in the XC tomo #TwoHearts
— The FEI (@FEI_Global) August 7, 2016
… to a still-impressive and competitive score:
39.5 for Ingrid Klimke and Horseware Hale Bob to slot into 4th place. The judges are being very stingy today! #Rio2016 — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
Ingrid Klimke just gave a master class on how to ride a dressage test … Never wasted a mark on a horse that isn’t flashy or wow!
— Laura Collett (@CollettEventing) August 7, 2016
And that’s what the German fans thought about @ingrid_klimke‘s test!! The German’s are back in the lead for the team pic.twitter.com/Ow2Iu71vkx — The FEI (@FEI_Global) August 7, 2016
2:14 p.m. EST: Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo (NED)
When this mare is on, she is ON, but she doesn’t seem to be in the mood to play in Rio. They are penalized by a string of twos for their not-extended extended trot, and it was a roller coaster ride from that point on with marks running the gamut from eight to four. They’ll be New Zealand’s drop score but will be useful to the team tomorrow; Jonelle is one of the fastest cross country riders in the world — she posted the fasted time at the notoriously muddy 2014 WEG in Normandy — and she’ll do well to put that to use around Pierre Michelet’s twisty, turny Rio course.
Here’s one who can challenge the leaders! Jonelle Price and Faerie Dianimo are entering the ring now for New Zealand #Rio2016
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
Three 2s for Jonelle in medium. Breaking in extended too. Olympic dreams vanishing here. NZL also under pressure. — EquiRatings (@EquiRatings) August 7, 2016
Three 2s for Jonelle in medium. Breaking in extended too. Olympic dreams vanishing here. NZL also under pressure.
— EquiRatings (@EquiRatings) August 7, 2016
Oh crikey, is the atmosphere bulding in the arena @ Rio? Faerie Dianimo really not settling in the trot work, & tense. #EquestrianEventing — e-Venting (@e_Venting) August 7, 2016
Poor Jonelle Price just wasn’t her day :(
— Eventing Worldwide (@EventingWWNEWS) August 7, 2016
Disappointing for Jonelle Price with 49.50 and into 41st place with just 4 riders to go! #TwoHearts #Rio2016 — The FEI (@FEI_Global) August 7, 2016
2:06 p.m. EST: Merel Blom and Rumour Has It (NED)
A tense and ultimately disappointing test for Merel and Rumour Has It in their Olympic debut. This horse is a cross country machine, though, and this isn’t a dressage show!
54.4 for 48th place for Merel Blom and Rumour Has It #Rio2016
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
1:58 p.m. EST: Kitty King on Ceylor L A N (GBR) A couple of mistakes — a break in the medium trot and a botched flying change — prove costly for Kitty and Ceylor L A N, who had an otherwise lovely test. This is Kitty’s Olympic debut, and this will be 9-year-old Ceylor’s first crack at a four-star track. While their ice in their veins may not quite be solid, yet, they’re clearly a talented pair and we wish them luck in the remainder of the competition.
Poor Kitty. Just when you’re about to do the test of a lifetime, they leave her outside the arena for 5 minutes & then stick Rick Astley on. — GJM Eventing (@GJMEventing) August 7, 2016
Huge bummer. A break in the medium trot to start for Kitty King and Ceylor LAN #Rio2016
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
Kitty King and Ceylor LAN score 46.8 for 24th place. A costly bobble at the beginning #Rio2016 #JoinTheJourney #TwoHearts — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
Kitty King scores a disappointing 46.8 and that puts the Brits at best 4th overnight but the XC will reshuffle things #TwoHearts #Rio2016
— Horse & Hound (@horseandhound) August 7, 2016
1:50 p.m. EST: Aleksandr Markov and Kurfurstin (RUS) Despite what was surely a stressful and uncertain leadup to the games — the Russian equestrians didn’t get official clearance to compete until Thursday afternoon — Aleksandr and Kurfurstin looked at ease in the ring today. All of their trot work earned at least one seven, although their walk was a bit lacking in overstep with not enough differentiation between the medium and extended.
Aleksandr Markov and Kurfurstin score 48.9 for 36th place #Rio2016 — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
1:26 p.m. EST: Shane Rose and CP Qualified (AUS)
Consistency has been richly rewarded in this phase of the competition, and Shane leaves nothing on the field in his test with last year’s Adelaide CCI4* winner CP Qualified. Not a brilliant test but a rock-solid one, good for 12th place as we head into the final dressage session after the break.
EVENTING Shane and CP Qualified now on the dressage arena. Standby for their score #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/rb3ByI3TE4
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) August 7, 2016
42.5 for Shane Rose and CP Qualified for 12th place. We’re now on a quick break for the final group! #Rio2016 — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
He’s waited a while for some good luck at the Olympic Games but maybe this is Shane Rose’s year #eventing #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/swDiRdgUrc
— An Eventful Life (@eventfulifebook) August 7, 2016
1:18 p.m. EST: Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo Van De Wendi Kurt Hoeve (ITA) Stefano and Apollo put themselves at the front of the leaderboard after dressage at the London Olympics with a beautiful test that scored 38.5. Their test today was on track to shake up the tip top of the leaderboard, but a stray low mark here and there kept their score from being their personal best. It’s still good enough for the top 10, though, and he looks happy with that!
Stefano scored 35.5 at Rolex in 2010 and 38.5 in London. Can they produce another big one here?#EquestrianEventing #TwoHearts — EquiRatings (@EquiRatings) August 7, 2016
Italian is such a sexy language. Mandatory tweet in native tongue:
La bellezza di Stefano e Apollo…. grazie alla proprietaria Giovanna Mazzocchi per aver messo a disposizione un gioiello come questo!
— EventingItaly (@Eventing_Italy) August 7, 2016
Some stunning trot work for Stefano Brecciaroli and Apollo VD Wendi Kurt. 41.9 for 9th place #Rio2016 — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
Dopo 3 cavalieri l’Italia aveva 154;
Stefano Brecciaroli 41,9 e l’Italia migliora il punteggio chiudendo con 140,9! pic.twitter.com/1kicEBp9ko
— EquiRatings (@EquiRatings) August 7, 2016
Swoon! 1:10 p.m. EST: Mark Kyle and Jemilla (FRA) Now three-time Olympian Mark may feel that he could have done a bit more out there today but will take comfort in the fact that their score of 58.7 is his personal Olympic best.
The Irish flags are out for our next rider Mark Kyle #RioOlympics2016 #TwoHearts #JoinTheJourney — Eventing Worldwide (@EventingWWNEWS) August 7, 2016
Another Olympic PB for @TeamIRLEq – 50.4 for Mark Kyle & Jemilla beats his former best of 58.7 at London 2012 #TwoHearts #EquestrianEventing
— EquiRatings (@EquiRatings) August 7, 2016
50.4 for Mark Kyle and Jemilla to move into 37th place for the Irish team #Rio2016 — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
Solid work @queenholme, a useful score if the team need it and it won’t be a dressage competition. #Rio2016 #EquestrianEventing #TwoHearts
— John Kyle (@JohnKyleSpeaks) August 7, 2016
1:02 p.m. EST: Mathieu Lemoine and Bart L (FRA) It’s been a big day for the French! Mathieu and Bart’s very consistent test — they’ve got “7.5″ down to an art — earns an excellent score of 39.2 that will rattle the top of the leaderboard and move them into bronze position. They’ve been trending lower on the flat in each of their FEI appearances for the past two years, and this test follows in that trend, their best yet at the level.
The French are on a tear! Mathieu Lemoine and Bart L earn a 39.2, which moves them into third. #Rio2016 — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
12:54 p.m. EST: Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master (CAN)
Rebecca and “Rupert” have come such a very long way together in their partnership and now find themselves on the world’s biggest stage, contesting their first Olympic Games. Their test is fairly consistent, averaging marks of 6.5 and 7, but their flying changes will hold them back from a better score today. Rebecca tends to pick apart even the smallest mistakes, and she probably stomped her way back to the barns today, but that’s what makes her such a fierce competitor. We expect to see them jump their way up the scoreboard over the next couple days.
Rebecca Howard and Riddle Master score 49.4 for 34th place Canada #Rio2016
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
Beady eyes, furry heart, can’t lose!
Chinch loves Rebecca, Rupert and Canada! #Rio2016 #eventing #equestrian #TwoHearts #JoinTheJourney A photo posted by Eventing Nation (@goeventing) on
Aug 7, 2016 at 10:16am PDT
12:46 p.m. EST: Pawel Spisak and Banderas (POL)
Pawel puts in a workmanlike test in his fourth appearance on the Olympic stage. He’s riding Banderas, a horse he’s produced from a youngster, and their lack of that final bit of polish coupled with a bum flying change — penalized by marks of 1, 4 and 2 — will relegate them to the lower end of the scoreboard today.
Slightly unsettled 9 yr old, Banderas (POL), Polish Horse Breeders Assoc, looks a little tense, no doubt will be a fast runner tom #Rio2016
— #HorseHour (@HorseHour) August 7, 2016
Pawel Spisak and Banderas score 53.6 for 39th place for Poland #Rio2016 #TwoHearts #JoinTheJourney — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
12:38 p.m. EST: Karin Donckers and Fletcha van ‘T Verahof (BEL)
Karin and “Fletcher” never throw away a mark, and their consistency throughout the test boosts them into the top five.
Karin Donckers produced the 4th best Test in modern Olympic eventing history (31.7 in 2008) – can she get close to that in her 5th Olympics?
— EquiRatings (@EquiRatings) August 7, 2016
Anybody else just hear Karin Doncker loudly say “Whoooa”??! — StreamHorseTV (@StreamHorseTV) August 7, 2016
Karin Donckers and Fletcha Van’t Verahof score 41.0 for 5th place #Rio2016 #TwoHearts
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
My very punny friend Mary Hollis Baird continues to be on point in the afternoon session:
German fans going Donckers for Karin!! #TwoHearts #EquestrianEventing — Mary Hollis Baird (@LittleBaird) August 7, 2016
Karin Donckers and Fletcha Van’t Verahof score 41.0 for 5th place #Rio2016 #TwoHearts
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
12:30 p.m. EST: Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro (CHN) What an elegant picture this pair presents. Alex is a lovely, classically correct rider and his horse is green to the level, with only one CCI3* completion on his resume at Boekelo last fall, but looks as keen as they come. They pick up some great judges’ marks today, including a 9.5 on his extended walk, but a couple blips will keep them from the tip-top of the scoreboard.
We’re back with the afternoon session on day two of dressage at #Rio2016! Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro are first out for China — Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016
42.4 and into 8th place for Alex Hua Tian and Don Geniro #Rio2016
— Eventing Nation (@eventingnation) August 7, 2016