2004 Olympic Games - Eventing

New Zealand’s Blyth Tait and Ready Teddy (Gold medalists from the 1996 Atlanta Games) were sure to bring their A-game with them to Athens However, the wind and the noise created by the stadium made for a less-than-hoped-for performance by the pairing. 

“He was very, very nervous and scared,” commented Tait on his horse’s performance.  “He’s capable of doing large courses…but he was literally terrified.  He wasn’t trying to be naughty, or looking for a way to be misbehaving.  It was that he was truly frightened.”

So at day’s end it was Chiacchia in fourth; Tryon at 11th and Richards at 28th> among Team members. 

Monday’s Day II of the dressage phase will see Americans John Williams aboard Carrick and Kim Severson aboard Winsome Adante perform their tests in their bids to stand upon the medal podium during Wednesday’s medal ceremony at Markopoulo Center.