Today we had the second and last day of Team Dressage. Two days is enough. I feel that after seeing the horses doing flat work over the past week, that dressage needs a streaker or two to make it interesting.
Nicola Cassidy on Mr. Mullins did her test at round 10.00 am. Nikki did a nice test. Mr. Mullins is not an easy horse. He is quite highly strung. However, Nikki contained him to produce a score of 59.20. Overall Mary and Helen were happy. It was a good test, tactfully ridden and well executed under the circumstances.
Virginia did not have a happy time although she rode him extremely well and with courage. The Yellow Earl gave her no help. Over the last week he has been getting fitter and fitter. Consequently, he is getting more active. This makes him difficult in order to get his back down. He came into the arena wired and did his test in that frame of mind. Ginny forced him as much as she dared, however in the back of her mind is that the horse
would brake. He did on two occasions. She got a mark of 62.40. Mary and Helen were pleased with the mark as they felt that it could have been much worse. At this stage I feel that Ginny should be philosophical about it. I personally appreciate the time, work and dedication that has gone into training The Yellow Earl, but today he let us down. You can't change the past, you can only influence the future.
The team scores are tight enough. They are as follows:
Australia 112.60
Great Britain 115.20
U.S.A. 125.40
France 140.20
New Zealand 143.60
Germany 150.40
Belgium 160.40
Italy 170.40
Japan 171.60
Ireland 175.80
Spain 199.60
Brazil 215.00
The time on the Cross-country is going to be critical. We have blood horses. The course is designed for the galloping horse. Hopefully we can shine
tomorrow. The early part of the course is undulating. The track goes out in a loop over small hillocks. Every fifty to seventy five meters it either rises or falls. After the first water the course rises for approximatley half a kilometer. Then it falls gradually
to fence 20. Fence 20 to 26 are level and galloping from 27 to 28 is a gradual incline. Fence 28 to 29 is one kilometer of a strong incline. This is where the horse's fitness comes into question. The last two fences are not too difficult but the horse will be tired.
We are still in with a fighting change and a very good one at that !!!!
The Yellow Earl gave her no help. Over the last week he has been getting fitter and fitter. Consequently, he is getting more active. This makes him difficult in order to get his back down. He came into the arena wired and did his test in that frame of mind. Ginny forced him as much as she dared, however in the back of her mind is that the horse
would brake. He did on two occasions. She got a mark of 62.40. Mary and Helen were pleased with the mark as they felt that it could have been much worse. At this stage I feel that Ginny should be philosophical about it. I personally appreciate the time, work and dedication that has gone into training The Yellow Earl, but today he let us down. You can't change the past, you can only influence the future. 
We have blood horses. The course is designed for the galloping horse. Hopefully we can shine
tomorrow. The early part of the course is undulating. The track goes out in a loop over small hillocks. Every fifty to seventy five meters it either rises or falls. After the first water the course rises for approximatley half a kilometer. Then it falls gradually
to fence 20. Fence 20 to 26 are level and galloping from 27 to 28 is a gradual incline. 
Fence 28 to 29 is one kilometer of a strong incline. This is where the horse's fitness comes into question. The last two fences are not too difficult but the horse will be tired.
We are still in with a fighting change and a very good one at that !!!!