Paris Olympic Happy Hour: Grand Prix, le Premier Jour
Today was day one of the dressage Grand Prix individual and team qualifiers. Groups A, B, and C took to the arena…
Wow! John Robinson and Caroline Marks were amazing. Ooops! No, that was surfing.
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How about Coco Gauf? Wait, that was tennis.
I got up at 4:00 a.m. CDT to watch five hours of Day 1 of the Team and Individual Dressage Grand Prix. I am without my Dressage Yoda, so you won’t get all the precise and infinitesimal angles, cues, timing, conformation and synchronization expected at this level of dressage. I just think it’s pretty. The following is what I saw:
Group A/Team:
- “Zepter” for DEN blasted to top with a 78.028 – elegant transitions. Flash.
- “Fame” for GBR close with a stellar ride of 77.345
- “Hermes” for NED – equal, “snappy” front/back legs in Passage. 77.764
- “Nabab” for LTU rider should win “Kisses to the Crowd” award – just happy to compete.
Nanna Skodborg Merrald (DEN) riding ZEPTER during the Grand Prix Dressage Qualifier at the Chateau de Versailles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo credit: FEI/Benjamin Clark
Group B/Team:
- “Bluetooth Old” for GER – 76.118 – transitions, which were hard for many, were relaxed.
- “Jane” from the USA was disqualified for a cut on her leg. First mare. Started with flash. Disappointed, but it’s all about horse welfare.
- “Vayron” for DEN – 76.910 was light, sparkly and big extensions.
Daniel Andersen Bachmann (DEN) riding VAYRON during the Grand Prix Dressage Qualifier at the Chateau de Versailles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo credit: FEI/Benjamin Clark
After “first” three hours.
Group C/Individual:
Korea led with a 70.0 on “Delmonte 7” until . . .
- “Helix” for USA blew me away with a sold 72.593. performance
- “Jagerbomb” for GBR earned 7.8s, 7.9s and an 8.2 for his Pirouette. 74.938
- “Touchdown” for SWE! Neck and neck with GBR. Beauty and excitement. 74.317
Patrik Kittel (SWE) riding TOUCHDOWN during the Grand Prix Dressage Qualifier at the Chateau de Versailles for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo credit: FEI/Benjamin Clark
As an older “ever-student rider,” watching reinforced what all levels of riders need to embrace:
- Ride the horse you are on.
- Riding is teamwork. It’s not about me.
- Earning trust is vital.
- Come back from mistakes. This reflects who you are – the type of teammate.
- Get what you can get not what you judge as great.
- Have fun.
- Love your horse – thank her for every ride.
- Dressage is thrilling. Fine Dressage takes character.
Today Groups A, B, and C took to the arena. Tomorrow groups E, F and G will compete. The two top scores from each group, plus the next six additional high scores, will advance to the Individual Final on Sunday, where they will perform their Grand Prix Freestyle tests.
Here are the team standings so far:
🇩🇰 Denmark with a score of 154.938
🇬🇧 Great Britain with a score of 152.283
🇸🇪 Sweden with a score of 145.870
🇧🇪 Belgium with a score of 145.155
🇨🇦 Canada with a score of 135.574
🇵🇹 Portugal with a score of 133.540
And the individual standings:
Group A
🇩🇰 Nanna Skodborg Merrald & Zepter – 78.028%
🇳🇱 Dinja van Liere & Hermes – 77.764%
🇬🇧 Carl Hester & Fame – 77.345%
🇫🇷 Corentin Pottier & Gotilas Du Feuillard – 70.683%
🇧🇷 Joao Victor Marcari Oliva & Feel Good Vo – 70.093%
Group B
🇩🇰 Daniel Bachmann Andersen & Vayron – 76.910%
🇩🇪 Frederic Wandres & Bluetooth Old – 76.118%
🇫🇮 Emma Kanerva & Greek Air – 73.680%
🇧🇪 Flore de Winne & Flynn FRH – 73.028%
🇸🇪 Juliette Ramel & Buriel K.H. – 71.553%
Group C
🇬🇧 Becky Moody & Jagerbomb – 74.938%
🇸🇪 Patrick Kittel & Touchdown – 74.317%
🇺🇸 Adrienne Lyle & Helix – 72.593%
🇧🇪 Larissa Pauluis & Flambeau – 72.127%
🇰🇷 Hwang Young Shik & Delmonte 7 – 70.000%
Stay tuned for more Dressage results and Happy Hour commentary tomorrow! Go riding!
