Equestrian 2020 Discussion Thread

[heywoodu 16,465]

Damn, he looks like he's about to announce it's Groundhog Day...again.

[mrv86 3,266]

On 22/04/2020 at 10:44, dcro said:

An interesting read about the dressage competition at the 1980 Olympics.

 

An Affair to Remember: the 1980 Olympic Games

An Affair to Remember: the 1980 Olympic Games - Three Persepectives

Equestrian events in Moscow must have been some of the most bizzare competitions in recent Olympic history. I mean, Bulgaria and Romania both made the team podium. 

 

 

and also in the podium for the last time...  

[dcro 10,211]

Severo Jurado didn't feel like waiting and decided to leave Helgstrand Dressage and start his own business.

 

This of course means he loses his ride on a rising shooting star and Tokyo 2020 hopeful Fiontini.

 

Big blow for Spain, but possibly a boost for Denmark, depending who takes over Fiontini (if anyone for the time being).

[dcro 10,211]

 Juan Matute (22 yo, 2018 WEG participant, rising talent) collapsed suddenly and was taken to a hospital. Apparently he suffered severe brain bleeding.

 

He is in critical condition. This sounds really bad. 

 

 

 

[dcro 10,211]

Further updates coming through that he was struggling with severe headaches all week, but apparently they assumed it was due to allergies. That is, until he collapsed yesterday.

 

Unfortunately, it looks like the quarantine regulations turned out to be detrimental in this case. You don't pay a visit to a doctor unless it seems absolutely necessary...

[dcro 10,211]

Apparently the cause of bleeding was arteriovenous malformation...

 

His condition has improved ever-so-slightly, but still it is critical. Second brain surgerly is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow...

 

Here is a lovely interview with Juan from just a month ago.

[dcro 10,211]

Sam Griffiths decided to retire his star Paulank Brockagh. Looks like she will be just another one of those horses for whom Tokyo 2021 proved to be a bridge to far, as the initial aim was to retire right after the Games...

 

Career highlights include a victory at Badminton Horse Trials (2014), and team bronze + individual 4th at Rio Olympics. I can still remember their fantastic Rio showing.

 

https://eventingnation.com/i-couldnt-bear-the-thought-of-something-happening-to-her-badminton-winner-paulank-brockagh-retires/

 

[dcro 10,211]

Shocking news this week... Out of nowhere, Daniel Bachmann Andersen "decided" to leave the Blue Hors stud...

 

With this "decision", he loses all his top horses (including Tokyo hopefuls Zack and Zepter). This sadly means Denmark is no longer a near-lock for a team medal next year. Unbelieveable.

 

I said "decided" and "decision" because I don't believe the official reason for a second. Apparently he left the Blue Hors so that he can start his own horse-training business. Oh, come on! Who in their right mind would give up on a potential Olympic medal to start a business during a freaking coronavirus pandemic?? What the hell! Surely there must be some more sinister reason behind it all. Probably some internal conflict between Daniel and the Blue Hors...

[dcro 10,211]

All of a sudden... Bernadette Pujals switched allegiance to . Granted, she was born in Spain, but still seems sudden.

 

She has actually earned Tokyo qualification for Mexico, but luckily that one can be transferred to another Mexican competitor...

 

https://www.fei.org/bios/Person/10013217

 

@mrv86

[mrv86 3,266]

1 hour ago, dcro said:

All of a sudden... Bernadette Pujals switched allegiance to . Granted, she was born in Spain, but still seems sudden.

 

She has actually earned Tokyo qualification for Mexico, but luckily that one can be transferred to another Mexican competitor...

 

https://www.fei.org/bios/Person/10013217

 

@mrv86

 

Well, I'm not mad, after all it's her place of birth and she only became Mexican after marrying one.

 

Can't forget her performance in Beijing, which was the best and will be for some time, the best by a Mexican dressage rider.

 

Always wondered if she could have improved her ranking competing for a "major" federation.