ONLY IN HORSE & HOUND
Mark Phillips on the final countdown to the Paris Games and FEI issues
LAST weekend was the final chance for pairs to complete their qualifications or impress selectors before longlist Olympics entries had to be made on Monday.
Let’s just say there was a little tension in the air out at Strzegom in Poland.
Meanwhile, over in the USA, horses had their final outing at Stable View, over an advanced track that I laid out.
Next weekend most British hopefuls and UK-based overseas riders will tackle another special advanced course that I’m designing at Aston-le-Walls, while many of the European nations will sample the electric atmosphere at Aachen, over Rüdiger Schwartz’s last track there. Giuseppe de la Chiesa takes over next year before designing the course for the 2026 World Championship at that venue.
By then, all the appeal windows for selection will be closed and we’ll find out who’s off to Versailles.
OPINION
Although countries fielding teams have the expense of sending four riders to Paris, only three will start. The fourth waits in the wings as a substitute. Nations can substitute between phases for medical or veterinary reasons for 20 penalties, with additional penalties for a pair not completing a phase – 100 in dressage or showjumping and 200 in cross-country. In certain circumstances, no substitution is allowed.
The overreach London 52 suffered in Luhmühlen, which stopped him showjumping, highlights the fact that such an injury can happen to any horse and the folly of the three in a team and all-to-count format. We got away with it in Tokyo, where none of the major players had to substitute, but eventually this will bite a team. A rider could win a medal having done only the showjumping phase.
We all need to hope for a safe and successful competition in Paris, because the decision on the inclusion of equestrian sports at the Los Angeles Games has now been put off until December. We are at risk.
At 126 metres per jumping effort, riders have never been asked to tackle an Olympic track faster than in Paris and the multiple sharp turns and four water jumps will only accentuate the problem. I’m not quite sure where this sits with the FEI risk management policy!
BIT DRAMA
THE FEI is in trouble over the Myler combination bit (news, 13 June). The focus seems to be the cord
