The Tales Behind the Tails

Getting to Know the Dressage Riders & Their Horses

Article and Photos by Diana DeRosa

August 23, 2004 – Athens Greece – It was Grand Prix Special day here in Athens Greece and it certainly was a special day for our American riders. While none of the three U.S. riders who went in the Special made it to the top three, they all qualified for the Freestyle when the Individual Medals will be contested.

I spoke to all our dressage riders but I also spoke to a number of other riders; not necessarily about their ride but more to find out some interesting bits and pieces about their horses.

The first rider to compete was Russian Alexandra Korelova on Balagur who was not able to stop and talk … because she has no groom.

But a few riders later, Austria’s Nina Stadlinger on Egalite, her Westfalen gelding talked about her being in this Olympics as “wonderful. It’s a feeling you can’t describe. I always tried to imagine what it would be like. It’s the history of the Olympics which makes it so exceptional.” She and her mount have been together for seven years. She says that this had always been her dream and now it’s come true.

When asked what Egalite is like to ride, Stadlinger commented, “He’s very sensitive and he always wants to do the best. Sometimes he’s a bit nervous but today he was concentrating.” They achieved the lowest score of the day (66.148%).

France’s Karen Tebar rides Falada M. Her 13-year-old mare is a “a little bit full blooded.” Tebar recalls her horse’s younger days when she would land on the ground more times than she cares to remember. Apparently, if she didn’t like what the rider was asking of her “Falada would go down in front and buck very very high behind.”

But now Tebar says, “she has a big personality and when she decides everything is okay, she does okay for me. She was afraid today in the ring (it was very windy). She does not like the clapping.” Out of the 25 horses who qualified and competed in the Special Tebar is in the 21st position going into the Freestyle (67.699%).

Britain’s Richard Davison rode Ballaseyr Royale, a Danish Warmblood mare. He was very unhappy with his performance after his Grand Prix Special. “I think I could have ridden a lot better. I had a couple of expensive mistakes in the extended. Otherwise I was pleased. I just feel like shooting myself because I didn’t ride very well. She was alright, I could have been better.”

Davison felt his mare did fine but was “a little bit tired.” When asked what she’s like he commented, “She’s got a lovely personality. She’s a real mare – ery strong minded. She gives you everything she’s got. She’s a trier.”

Around the stable Royale is “lovely. She likes people watching. She loves to check them out.” Before finishing our chat Davison added, “It’s been great, but like anything else, it’s the team you have around you.” He also commented about how the horse park is “out of this world and everybody’s been so great.” Plus, “the arena is very friendly.”

Davison is in the 22nd position after the first two dressage tests (67.351%).

Denmark’s Jon Pedersen rode a Hanoverial gelding named Esprit de Valdemar. After his ride he was satisfied. “I had a few mistakes in my one tempis and the extended trot but I think it was me.” Esprit is sensitive “especially with he spectators, not so much what is going on but he gets distracted.”

He’s had his gelding since he was three years old. They finished 19th (69.080%). She is one of the few horses out of Esprit. But nowadays Esprit is wonderful to be around. “He has a nice character in the stables. He is like a child and likes the attention.” At 18 years old he’s also the oldest horse in the Olympics. This is Pedersen’s second Olympics. He ended up 13th overall in Sydney.