tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54314537471856426742009-07-06T12:09:42.922-04:00The world's best equestrians head to Hong Kong for the 2008 Olympics Equestrian Games. Who are these riders from around the world? Get to know the glorious winners...and the lovable losers...as EquiSearch.com journalist Fran Jurga goes behind the scenes and through the language barrier to introduce you to new equestrian heroes and their horses!EquiSearch.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12671815112903432584noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-87619083515121248092008-08-21T20:19:00.001-04:002008-08-21T20:19:09.099-04:00

Sunday Morning OlympicsOriginally uploaded by xbluegooxSure the sun was out, but it was night-time in Hong Kong and that meant time spent indoors, biting fingernails...and trying to find out which television channel the equestrian sports were on (if they ever did get shown). For those with updated computers and browsers, live-streaming on the Internet was the answer.

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-16518287174548335462008-08-21T19:42:00.001-04:002008-08-21T19:42:31.856-04:00

Can you see your country?Originally uploaded by MusicPancakeThe steps to a footbridge in Hong Kong chronicle the locations and dates of past Olympics. Guess what's on the top step!

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-73682025502625378002008-08-21T11:54:00.002-04:002008-08-21T12:04:46.838-04:00

Maybe they should turn the jumping finals into a speed round? If a jumpoff for today's individual show jumping is required, it could be a test just to keep the rails up without a horse anywhere near!The reason? Typhoon Nuri is speeding toward Hong Kong and is expected within hours. It will pack winds of over 100 miles per hour and will certainly wreak havoc with the departure schedule from the

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-73657754675269363462008-08-21T00:01:00.000-04:002008-08-21T00:01:02.677-04:00

Will winning the Olympic gold medal in eventing change German dentist Hinrich Romeike? German RTL Regional Television covered his triumphant return home, with some nice footage of his friends and family watching his Hong Kong performances on a tv in his dental clinic and a glimpse of his horse, Marius, at home in his stable.

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-59046599384176808182008-08-20T12:12:00.009-04:002008-08-21T11:42:27.067-04:00

They say that competing in the international arena builds character. And sometimes, it turns out, your strength of character can prepare you for the international arena.To prove that point, after yesterday's individual dressage freestyle, the press was silent when they heard a touching story that none had imagined was transpiring over the past few weeks at the Hong Kong equestrian encampment.Emma

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-57641626245384291782008-08-18T12:22:00.000-04:002008-08-20T12:37:32.568-04:00

Coke in HongKongOriginally uploaded by womblueHorses show up even on the bar code for a can of Coke during the Olympic equestrian events in Hong Kong. How much do you think one of these would bring on eBay?

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-86018567789061264012008-08-17T00:01:00.002-04:002008-08-17T12:59:10.258-04:00

Australian dressage rider Hayley Beresford's Olympic performances have had people from many countries cheering for her! (Equestrian Federation of Australia photo)If you're looking for a hero among the dressage princes and princesses assembled in Hong Kong, here's one you can look up to.Opening the action today was Australia's Hayley Beresford who, long before she ever arrived in Hong Kong this

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-61851206731482881322008-08-16T22:30:00.007-04:002008-08-20T12:30:30.037-04:00

If this horse could talk....(Photo from Reuters News Agency)Someone, quick! Call Disney! Here's a horse worthy of their next animal film!He was bred to be a trotter, but didn't make it as a racehorse. He's performed in the circus ring. He's been a police horse. But a dressage rider spotted him in a parade and thought he might make a good dressage prospect.Meet Balagur, currently in fifth place in

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-62775480522836421682008-08-15T00:01:00.002-04:002009-02-20T00:45:24.891-05:00

Hinrich Romeike (center, with medals) and Ingrid Klimke (red shirt) and the German eventing team were singing, "Hey, hey, hey...we are the golden riders" at their victory party after winning the gold medal. The German dressage magazine St. Georg has a little collection of photos (of which this is one) from the party. You'll feel like you are there...and wonder a bit about what's on Mark Todd's

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-80350846486418188402008-08-14T19:37:00.003-04:002008-08-15T20:37:21.486-04:00

One little town in Wiltshire, England can claim that almost one percent of its residents are Olympic athletes!What might really throw you, though, is that they are there representing three different countries!Great Cheverell, population 588, may have more horses than people. It is the home of Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks, who won the silver team medal in eventing...for Australia. Their

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-23708178365731288932008-08-14T00:01:00.000-04:002008-08-14T00:01:00.757-04:00

Riding the giant 17hh British-bred Miners Frolic, Team GBR's Tina Cook won the individual bronze medal in eventing on Tuesday, and was part of the British team's bronze medal win. This eventing veteran may have won on the merits of her athletic ability and her experience and her horse's fitness and talent but after watching this little video, you may believe, as I do, that Tina has something else

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-25199365379196394752008-08-13T11:05:00.002-04:002008-08-13T11:15:18.566-04:00

Willeke assists defending gold medal holder Anky Van Grunsven as she schools alone in the dark. Anky's teammates have scored highly in today's competition, but The Diva and Salinero don't do their grand prix for the team dressage medal until tomorrow. The Dutch press is reporting the dressage scores frenetically, the country is on edge...and dressed in orange, of course. Will history repeat iself

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-62105215230920126662008-08-13T10:46:00.003-04:002008-08-13T20:14:21.156-04:00

In a few hours, one of the equestrian games' best stories will trot into the main arena and the stands will erupt in cheers.Hoketsu Hiroshi, the 67-year-old dressage rider from Japan, will be making his Olympic comeback 44 years after his first participation in the Olympics in Tokyo back in 1964. Previously a competitor in show jumping, Hoketsu now trains and competes in dressage. The Japanese

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-51284008465777862292008-08-13T08:57:00.003-04:002009-02-20T00:49:49.623-05:00

Portofino 63 will not have many fond memories of the Hong Kong equestrian games. The British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Olympic Equestrian Team have decided to withdraw her for veterinary reasons.Ridden by Michael Whitaker, Portofino is bothered by a lameness problem. The team veterinarian has carried out an extensive investigation but as yet has been unable to target the

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-9385317569316995472008-08-13T01:42:00.006-04:002008-08-13T02:05:21.796-04:00

Germany's Hinrich Romeike is a dentist who trains his horse at night after work.A gold medal. Now there's something you can sink your teeth into!Two gold medals? All in an evening's work for the night rider from Germany.Tonight's show jumping finals for the eventing at Hong Kong were held under the lights, so Hinrich Romeike and his horse Marius felt right at home.The story of the 2008 Olympic

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-20524470037790211662008-08-10T21:24:00.001-04:002008-08-10T23:12:21.374-04:00

As his website says, he is "1 in 1.3 billion": China's only three-day event rider. Alex Hua Tian speaks English with a Chinese accent...or is it the other way around? The Eton College student rode the German-bred Chicco to a personal-best dressage score in Hong Kong  on Saturday. He is the youngest competitor in the equestrian events, and is the first Chinese national to ever compete in eventing

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-25527777333150798442008-08-10T17:13:00.004-04:002008-08-10T17:35:19.555-04:00

Anky had plenty of time to look around the arena while she schooled Salinero in the rain last week.Dutch dressage diva Anky van Grunsven sent home an email to her Dutch fans that says a lot.As previously reported, Anky has been out in the pouring rain and scorching sun to school Salinero in the main arena. She has written home about the scary video screen, the misery of riding outside during a

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-47481132170771237202008-08-10T16:24:00.005-04:002009-06-03T15:26:56.186-04:00

Karin Donckers rode beautifully to hold second place at the end of eventing dressage. (FEI/Kit Houghton photo)Belgium? In second place? In Eventing?Nestled between Australian and German high-powered team efforts lies Karin Donckers, the individual rider in eventing for Belgium. You may remember Karin's spectacular fifth place finish at the 2007 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Ahead of her were

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-45748407273435509612008-08-10T16:05:00.004-04:002008-08-10T16:21:18.209-04:00

The horses that will compete in the Dressage competition of the Olympic Games later this week took their turn to trot before the Ground Jury and veterinary officials on Sunday at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.A total of 54 were presented, and while some made a low-key appearance, others took full advantage of the opportunity to turn on the style and flash those fetlocks to maximum effect.Sweden's Solos

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-13747964605468254222008-08-10T15:31:00.006-04:002008-08-10T17:49:28.591-04:00

Germany's Andreas Dibowski received a congratulatory hug from teammate Ingrid Klimke after his dressage test put him in 11th place...and the German team within striking distance of the Australians. (Hong Kong Jockey Club photo)After yesterday's end of the dressage phase, the Eventing horses were transported to Beas River, located some 40 minutes away from the core Olympic equestrian venue at Sha

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-72019967058903141252008-08-10T12:23:00.001-04:002008-08-11T15:31:41.458-04:00

We interrupt this blog to bring you the Rolex commercial! While this Rolex commercial is not directly linked to these Olympics games in Hong Kong, this one will take your breath away!Don't forget to watch the re-cap of the cross-country phase of the eventing tonight (Monday) on the Oxygen network (cable access required) from 6-8 p.m. Eastern time!I won't talk about the standings in X-C until

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-9943699426025506332008-08-09T13:21:00.005-04:002008-08-09T18:58:42.418-04:00

Galan de Sauvagere and Nicolas Touziant. I already had them pencilled in on my medal list. Touziant (shown at left) has been all but unbeatable in world-class company for the past year, including a win at Badminton. But today we learned that France's "heavy medal" individual eventing favorites withdrew in the warm-up because of his horse's hind leg lameness. According to USEF's Joanie Morris, a

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-62898191963656313672008-08-09T08:10:00.003-04:002008-08-09T21:55:18.826-04:00

Mary King is an anchor of experience and talent for the British eventing team.Great Britain's Mary King began riding in her fifth Olympic Games eventing competition when she entered that dressage arena today. That's as many as Andrew Nicholson and Mark Todd. It's one more than Karen O'Connor. Mary is without a doubt one of the world's leading event riders and also one of the most consistent. If

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-49943725653158030062008-08-08T12:45:00.008-04:002009-07-06T12:05:52.121-04:00

There was disappointment for Chile's Ricardo Stangher and Brazil's Fabricio Salgado when their horses – Literal and Butterfly – failed to pass the first veterinary inspection for Eventing horses at the Olympic core venue at Sha Tin in Hong Kong this afternoon.There was also a nervous moment for British fans when William Fox-Pitt's ride, Parkmore Ed, was dispatched to the holding area for closer

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5431453747185642674.post-59773087859356299372008-08-08T11:40:00.002-04:002008-08-08T12:08:03.859-04:00

Feast your eyes!If you had ever told me when I got out of college that part of my job description as a horse-specialist journalist would include watch Chinese television, and (try to) read Chinese newspapers...I would never have believed you.Is there anything in the "world" you would rather do for the next two weeks? Yes, the horse sports are exciting, but in the bigger picture, history is

Fran Jurgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05714349624852287450noreply@blogger.com0