HORSE DEALS COVERAGE 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hong Kong

No prizes for guessing that this girl is a supporter of the Dutch Team!

And no prizes for guessing that Cathy McCarthy from Brisbane is an Aussie supporter.

German Gold medal Team members, Nadine Capellmann and 'Elvis' did not produce their expected form. They produced a "disappointing" 67.24% for 17th place, missing out on the Kur.

Australian Equestrian Life editor, journalist and photographer, Annie Lever clearly coping well in the heat.

With the last minute withdrawal of Dutch combination, Imke Schellekens-Bartels and 'Sunrise' , Australia's Haley Beresford and 'Relampago' earned a place in the Special and she certainly made the most of the opportunity with the 11year old Lusitano stallion. First out, they produced a harmonious and pleasing test, only their fourth Grand Prix Special. Considered ungenerously marked, they finished in 19th place with 66.32%,; an outstanding achievement.

Two of the three Australian horses through to the Grand Prix Special was a great achievement. However, Kristy Oatley's 'Quando Quando' just could not regain his usual form, The heat and nervousness took its toll on the talented stallion, that earned a disappointing 66.08% for 20th place.

Until this point, just into the first piaffe directly in front of the judge at C, Isabell Werth and 'Satchmo' were on track for a score of 84%. It was nothing short of a disaster. Apparently 'Satchmo' has misbehaved in the past, but it was thought he had grown out of such nonsense. Apparently not. Horses eh? Despite this they still won the Special with 75.20%.. Anky thought she had lost the chance of Gold with 'Salinero' producing his own bit of dressage drams, wanting to canter in a left trot half pass. Their score of 74.96& has them still well in the hunt.

Here comes the judge! On a night of high drama and conflicting scores, (in the case of USA combination, Courtney King and 'Mythilus' the placing ranged from third to 18th!, which would seen unacceptable at this level of competition.)

Uncle Peter. Western Australia has played a large part in producing the Australian Olympic Equestrian Team. Jumping Chairman of Selectors, (pictured) Peter Cooke is Hayley Beresford's uncle. Hayley as a pony clubber had lessons from Clayton Fredericks, who in turn was a protege of Jumping Team member, Laurie Lever. They all come from the West.

Great Britain also had two through to the Grand Prix Special. Laura Bechtolsheimer rode the Danish Warmblood, 'Mistral Hojris; into 18th place with 67.16%.

Sweden's Tinne Silfven rode 'Solo Carex' a Danish Warmblood by Castro to earn 69.24% for eleventh place and a start in the Grand Prix Kur.

Riding for France, Marc Boblet rode the Belgian Warmblood, 'Whitini Star' by Pik Solo to earn 65.64%and 21st place in the Grand Prix Special.

The charming Spanish combination, Juan Manuel Munoz and the Pura Raza Espanole stallion, 'Fuego X11' just missed a place in the Kur lineup. They finished in 16th place with 68.16%. (The top 15 go through to the Kurd).

Youthfully, handsome and talented, Patrik Kittel from Sweden has been dealt a strong hand. He rode the Florestan 1 stallion, 'Floresco' to earn 64.36% and finish his first Olympic appearance in 24th place.

Ashley Holzer and the delightful 'Pop Art' by Amsterdam from Canada, just made it through to the Kur, finishing the Special in 15th place with 68.76%.

Danish Bronze medal Team members, Anne van Olst and 'Clearwater' by Carpaccio were another combination not to produce their best. They earned 65.32% for 22nd place in the Grand Prix Special.

Representing Poland, Michal Rapecwicz and the Polish gelding', Randon' received 65.12% for 23rd place in the Grand Prix Special.

The Russian ex police horse, trotter, 'Balagur' is one of the judge's favourites. Ridden by Alexandra Korelova they finished in fifth place with 71.40%.

Bernadette Pujals and her popular Weltmeyer stallion, 'Vincent', representing Mexico produced a really good test for 71% and sixth place. We look forward to their Kur, in fact we look forward to everyone's Kur.

Dutch combination, Hans Peter Minderhoud and the elegant mare by TCN Partout, 'Nadine' are in seventh place with a improved performance in the Grand Prix Special for 70.72%.

The elegant combination of Jan Brink and, 'Briar' by Magini. The well known 17 year old breeding stallion was feeling the effects of the heat, but none the less produced a solid 68.96% to make it through to the Grand Prix Kur on Tuesday night.

Danish pin up boy, Andreas Helgstrand with another hard working stallion, 'Don Schufro' by Donnerhall. The dressage horses have suffered from the heat somewhat more than many of the others. A stallion with a bit of age from a cool climate, does find the Hong Kong climate taxing. They finished the Special in 14th place with 68.8%.

The elegant combination of Denmark's Natalie Zu Sayn Wittgenstein and 'Digby' by Donnerhall earned 69.12% for 12th place in the Special. The Princess was a "little disappointed" with the mark, and felt that the "horse was affected by the heat".

USA combination, Steffen Peters and the Contango stallion, 'Ravel' were one of just a few that produced near their best. They finished the Special in fourth place with 71.80%. However the lack of judicial harmony saw them placed from third to tenth.

Courtney King with her unmistakable son of Ferro, 'Mythilus' produced a super test. Again the judicial disharmony which saw him placed and unreasonable 18th by the German judge (the others had them, third, fifth, sixth and eighth!) They finished the Special in eighth place with 70.80%.

The great Kyra Kyrklund appearing in their sixth Olympic Games for Finland. The test was not without mistake and with placings from seventh to 14th , they finished the Special in tenth place with 69.72%.

Even Anky van Grunsven could not make it look easy. 'Salinero' was very strong and attempting to canter in one of the trot half pass tours, did not help their percentage. However, they were placed no worse than second (first by three judges) for overall second place with 74.96%.

Emma Hindle's super Wenzel 1 stallion, 'Lancet', that made such a good impression in the Grand Prix, looked tired in the Special. With marks ranging from fourth to 12th they took ninth place in the Special with 70.44% and insured Great Britain a place in the Kur on Tuesday night.

Heike Kemmer and 'Boneparte' produced a wonderful Grand Prix Special. Given the drama all around them the German pair were certainly not generously marked for 72.96% and third place.

At this point, Isabell Werth and 'Satchmo' were cruising at a comfortable 10% ahead of their nearest rival, Anky. Had that remained the situation, it would have been doubtfull that even Anky and 'Salinero' could have overtaken them for the Gold medal. Now it will be neck and neck in the Kur, which is Anky's 'tour de force'.