Inspired by this Para Equestrian Dressage video

It’s easy to come up with excuses for not riding. Maybe the weather’s not quite right. Perhaps I’m not feeling up to snuff today. Then I look at something like this Para Equestrian Dressage video, and I gain a renewed inspiration. Seeing riders overcoming real-life challenges pretty much blows away my own meager excuses.

What is Para Equestrian Dressage?

Para-Equestrian Dressage is similar to standard dressage, although it is designed for individuals with various physical or visual impairments. FEI rules apply to competitions, although certain accommodations may be made for participants, based on their levels of impairment. Riders may use one hand, if needed. Some have held the reins in their teeth. Rubber bands, connecting rein bars, and other assistive riding devices are permitted.

Participants are classified in various grades for competitions, in which they perform pre-established and musical freestyle patterns (much like standard dressage).

Para-Equestrian Dressage is the only equestrian discipline in the International Paralympic Games, as it has been for two decades. Paralympics does not refer to paralysis, per se. The name comes from the fact that these events occur alongside, or parallel to, the general Olympic Games. The same principle holds for Para Equestrian Dressage.

Take a look at this YouTube video, published today by Deloitte US, presenting sponsor of both the US Para-Equestrian Dressage Team and the US Para-Equestrian Dressage National Championships. The team is training now for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

I think I will saddle up tomorrow, kick MS to the curb, and ride that horse again. We’re not aiming for any big-deal competition, but we’re ready to play anyway. Can I get an Amen?

Image/s

Video screenshot – fair use

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Stephen Colbert lampoons Romney's horse Rafalca and dressage

Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann Romney, is an avid equestrian. The Romneys are horse lovers, and they particularly love Grand Prix Dressage.

Now it seems their dressage trainer (and co-owner of Rafalca) Jan Ebeling may take their 1997 Oldenberg to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

Ebeling showed Rafalca in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Dressage Championships this past weekend in Gladstone, New Jersey. The event is recognized as a qualifying event for the US Dressage Team for the London 2012 competition.

Rafalca (Argentinus x Ratine by Rubenstein I) placed third in the USEF National Dressage Championships.

Stephen Colbert chimed in on the news. What would Joe Sixpack say about the Romneys’ dressage feat?

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Take a look at The Colbert Report’s look at Rafalca and dressage:

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The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

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What do you think, horse lovers?

Does the Romney’s interest in dressage affect your political position on the upcoming American Presidential election? Would you vote yea or nay (er, neigh) on a Presidential candidate that dabbled in dressage? How do you feel about a First Lady with equestrian pursuits – and a closet-full of full-seat breeches?

Would Olympic equestrian pursuits take the Romneys off the campaign trail for a week or two this summer, just one month before the Republican National Convention?  Or might they include London's Greenwich Park in a whistle-stop tour? Maybe they could work in a hop over the Big Pond, on their way to Tampa Bay for the late-August RNC.

Regardless of politics, Colbert’s take on dressage offers an unusual angle on this equestrian discipline. And why not?

Ann Romney rides on.

Hey, the lady has multiple sclerosis (MS) and still follows her horsey dreams. Can’t fault her for that.

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Get off your high horse, Colbert.

But not before you crack us all up.

Image/s:  

Romney's Rafalca and Jan Ebeling

Video Screen Shot - Fair Use

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Aids as an Asset

Aids as an Asset

(posted for the A to Z Challenge)

A is for Aids.

Looking forward to the 2011 Midwest Horse Fair this month and a huge stable of expert equestrian clinicians, it seems fitting to start the A to Z Challenge with a super discussion of aids.

Well-used aids are the equestrian’s best friend (except for his horse, of course).

This instructional video by Olympic and World Equestrian Games dressage star Steffen Peters outlines equestrian aids quite nicely.

 

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Watch for more insights from Steffen Peters (if I have an opportunity to meet with him again this year at the expo) and other experts later in the month.

Spring is here. Happy riding!

Image:

Steffen Peters and Ravel

at 2010 World Equestrian Games

Photo by Phil Denton

Creative Commons Licensing

World Equestrian Games - Opening Ceremonies on NBC

World Equestrian Games - Opening Ceremonies on NBC

With Tim Ryan, Robbie Boyce and Donna Brothers at the microphones, NBC Sports will air the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Sunday, September 26th.

Live from the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, Kentucky, the coverage will begin at noon (EST), so set your videorecorders, cable television recorders, Tivos and more.

NBC Sports has scheduled 75 minutes (1.5 hours) for the opening ceremonies (and initial reining competitions).

Related Item/s:

2010 World Equestrian Games competition schedule at-a-glance

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be held September 25th through October 11th at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Here’s the complete line-up of equestrian competitions for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Game.

 

2010 World Equestrian Games opening ceremonies feature boxing star Muhammad Ali

Kentuckian Muhammad Ali, the American boxing legend, will stand at center stage on September 25th with other stars for the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, Kentucky.

NBC Sports to air portions of 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Equestrian sports fans: Set your television recorders now for the World Equestrian Games. NBC Sports will offer 6.5 hours of televised coverage of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games this fall.

Farewell, 2016 Olympics

Farewell, 2016 Olympics!


Gee, I was hoping to get the tee shirt for taking tickets, passing out programs or parking cars for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Wasn't every Midwestern equestrian planning to participate somehow?

The equestrian activities were supposed to be at Tempel Farms, in Old Mill Creek, Illinois. Horse owners within a 100-mile radius were plotting to sublet stalls at a premium, simply to make room for the influx of international equines.

But Chicago was voted out in the first round by the International Olympic Committee. Apparently, sending U.S. President Barack Obama and his fashionable First Lady didn't do the trick.

2016 Summer Olympics: Galloping Away from Chicago

Goodbye, Chicago 2016. We hardly knew ye.

At Tempel Farms, staffers will likely remove the Chicago 2016 flag from their front entry sign. Perhaps they will drape the sign in black today to signal mourning.

Photo c2009 by Nickers and Ink.

How do YOU feel about the International Olympic Committee's selection of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the host city of the Summer Olympics of 2016?

Congratulations USA Riders – Team Gold!

American equestrians are jumping for joy, after the USA riders claimed their third Team Jumping Gold Olympic Medal today at Sha Tin Stadium in Hong Kong.

In a 45-second third-round Olympic jump-off, the Americans out-jumped the Canadians for first place. Norway earned the bronze medal.

McLain Ward (of Mt. Brewster, NY) and Sapphire (a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare), Laura Kraut (of Camden, SC, and Wellington, FL) and Cedric (a 10-year-old KWPN gelding) and Will Simpson (of Peoria, IL, and Thousand Oaks, CA) and Carlsson com Dach (a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding) all completed clear rounds to cinch the Gold Medal win. Because of their three no-fault rounds, Beezie Madden (of Mequon, WI, and Cazennovia, NY) and Authentic (a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding) were not required to participate in the jump-off.

Team Canada did lose one Olympic equestrian competitor today, as Mac Cone’s mount Ole was sidelined for lameness from a mishap during Sunday’s team jumping round.

Photo (c) Kit Houghton

Here are the final results (counting faults) for Olympic Team Jumping:

Olympic Show Jumping Team Results

United States - 20 (Jump-off – 0)
Canada - 20 – (Jump-off – 4)
Norway - 27
Switzerland - 30
Germany - 34
Netherlands - 34
Great Britain - 37
Sweden - 38
Australia - 41

Individual show jumping will be completed on Thursday, August 21^st, as will dressage.

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Olympic Dreams

Posted for a variety of prompts:

Heads or Tails (“supply”)
Hump Day Humor (“blond”)
Meme Express (“Olympics”)
Simply Snickers (“play,” “plunge” and “pretend”)

Olympic Dreams
(A Limericked Lament for a Western Event)

If I could just play in the great global game,
The famous Olympics would ne’er be the same.
I’d rope and I’d ride,
Race barrels beside,
And go for the gold without tremors or shame.

But this is a plunge that I simply can’t take;
No rodeos offered, for dear pity’s sake.
It’s still a mirage,
Just jumps and dressage,
But true down-home cowgirls do not belly-ache.

And yet, in the finest of dreams, I’ll pretend
A medal supply from my neck will suspend,
My colt, maned in blond
Of whom I’m most fond,
Will carry me past our wits’ end.

Teddy O'Connor: Mourning the Loss of a Power Pony

Photo by Shannon Brinkman for USEA.

Teddy O’Connor:
Mourning the Loss of a Power Pony

Olympic hopes have ended suddenly for a promising American pony. Theodore “Teddy” O’Connor, the prized pony prospect for equestrian eventing in the 2008 Olympic Games, was humanely euthanized on Wednesday, May 28, 2008.

Teddy O’Connor had sustained catastrophic and crippling injuries in a tragic accident at Karen and David O’Connor’s equestrian center in The Plains, Virginia.

In May 2008, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) named Karen O’Connor and Theodore “Teddy” O’Connor to the 14-entry short list for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Karen O’Connor has competed in three Olympic Games.

Sincere sympathies and condolences from The Mane Point to Karen and David O’Connor, as well as Max Corcoran (Teddy O'Connor’s groom) P. Wynn Norman (Teddy’s breeder), the Theodore O’Connor Syndicate and all of Teddy’s fans.

Here’s the whole story:

Click here to read “Teddy O'Connor: Olympic Equestrian Prospect Euthanized: Karen and David O’Connor Mourn Prized Pony’s Loss.”

Related Items of Interest:

Chicago 2016 Olympic Planners Choose Equestrian Venue

Grieving a Gelding

Horses and Ponies – What’s the Difference?

My Copper Champion; A Horse with Heart

USEF Names Olympic Equestrian Eventing Team - Short List

Winning Ways

Zero to Fifty-Five

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Or click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!

USEF Names Olympic Equestrian Eventing Team - Short List

Announced in May by the United States Equestrian Federation, the U.S. Olympic short list for equestrian eventing for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, includes:

Steven Bradley (46) and Brandenburg’s Joshua (Thoroughbred)

Bruce Davidson, Jr. (32), and Ballynoe Castle RM (Irish Thoroughbred)

Phillip Dutton (44) and Connaught (Irish Sport Horse)

Phillip Dutton (44) and The Foreman (Thoroughbred)

Phillip Dutton (44) and Woodburn (Thoroughbred)

Will Faudree (26) and Antigua (Australian Thoroughbred)

Becky Holder (39) and Courageous Comet (Thoroughbred)

Gina Miles (34) and McKinlaigh (Irish Sport Horse)

Karen O’Connor (50) and Mandiba (Thoroughbred)

Karen O’Connor (50) and Theodore O’Connor (Sport Pony)

Kim Severson (34) and Tiperary Liadhnan (Irish Thoroughbred)

Amy Tryon and Leyland (Thoroughbred)

Amy Tryon (38) and Poggio II (Thoroughbred)

Heidi White (42) and Northern Spy (English Thoroughbred)

Chicago 2016 Picks Proposed Olympic Equestrian Venue

Chicago 2016 Picks
Proposed Olympic Equestrian Venue

Chicago hopes to host the 2016 Olympic Games, and the Chicago 2016 Committee is saddling up for the challenge.

On Saturday, May 3, 2006, the Chicago 2016 Committee announced the selection of Tempel Farms as the proposed site for the Olympic Equestrian Complex.

Located in scenic Old Mill Creek, Illinois, Tempel Farms is a Lake County equestrian landmark. The family-owned property boasts 4,000 acres, including several outdoor riding arenas, an indoor arena and an Olympic-quality cross-country course.

Click here to read the whole story, “Chicago 2016 Olympic Planners Choose Equestrian Venue: Tempel Farms is Selected for Proposed Games Site.”

Photo: Tempel Farms

Related Articles of Interest:

Endurance Trail Riding Gear

Equine Insurance: Do You Feel Lucky?

Great Gifts for Horse Lovers

Horse Show Ribbon Displays Made Easy

Illinois Highway Accident Kills Horses Likely Bound for Slaughter

Making a Grand Prix Entrance – Preparing for a Horse Show

My Copper Champion

Mystified – A Rhymed Roundup on Saddling Up

Thoroughly Thoroughbreds

Tress for Success (Braiding Your Horse for a Show)

Winning Ways

Love poetry? Check out Simply Snickers, a brand-new weekly poetry prompt. Or click here to visit Linda Ann Nickerson’s poetry and humor blog, Nickers and Ink.

Click here to subscribe to an RSS feed for this writer's helpful Helium content. If you wish, click here for a free subscription to this author's online AC content, so you won't miss a single post!