Centerline Goes to the Olympics:
An Amateur Rider's Journal by Maureen Crump

Day 7: Grand Prix Special: Game Face, Riding for the Kur

Today was the most extraordinary day of dressage I have ever seen in my life. 25 riders and every single rider presented a performance that proved they are all Olympians. The level of riding in every instance was of a standard I have never seen before. Technical correctness, precision, clarity, and risk were seen in every ride. The horses were of a quality that has to be seen to be believed. One has to ask, where will it end--will the horses actually take flight? Making the cut to the Special is a win in itself and the culling showed. 15 (60%) of the 25 scores were over 70% ranging from 77.80 to 70.560. The overall range was 77.80 to 64.920.

Through The Fire--I Digress

What do canoeing, sailing, and dressage have in common? The Greek Maltemi wind!!! The canoers hate it--they tip over, the sailors love it--they go faster, the dressage riders...have mixed reviews. I got off the sub at Markopoulo Equestrian Center on Special day and was greeted by a strong cool wind. Mind you, for the last 5 days it has been sweltering and still, and so since my blood had already thinned, the gusty wind made me actually feel...well...cold! So imagine how refreshed the horses felt!!! Flags line the entire top of the stadium and during the wind they would fill and snap in unison speeding up and slowing down with the wind. In addition there were large flower boxes filled with ferns and these went from having been perfectly still in previous days to a riot of movement. In addition the crowds are just different than here in the US. Cell phones with every possible custom ring went off throughout the competition--and the person would take the call right in the stands! They were setting up umbrellas on the second level during the rides and so every now and then a gigantic falling clang would occur and echo throughout the stadium. This was a new level of focus in my experience of watching dressage competition and I have learned from it.