HORSE DEALS COVERAGE 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hong Kong

Anky van Grunsven and 'Salinero' led the Dutch Team with a Grand Prix score of 74.75%., but "hoped for more". The combined scores of the three Dutch Team members, Imke Schellekens-Bartels and 'Sunrise' (70.87%) and Hans-Peter Minderhoud, 'Nadine' (69.625%) averaged out to 71.75% and was good enough for the Silver medal.

Australia's Kristy Oatley with her talented and exuberant Quattro B stallion, 'Quando Quando'. During a competition noted for its tough marking and a below par performance, Kristy finished on a disappointing 65.750%. The Team of Kristy, Heath Ryan and Greenoaks Dundee (62.54%) and Hayley Beresford riding Relampago (65.583%) finished the Olympic competition in eighth place.

Isabell Werth and 'Satchmo' produced an almost faultless Grand Prix to anchor the Gold medal German Team. Their 76.41% combined with Heike Kemmer and 'Bonaparte' (72.25%) and Nadine Capellmann with 'Elvis' (70.08%) earned Germany the Gold Medal with a combined percentage of 71.75. The Danish Team comprising, Andreas Helgstrand 'Don Schufro' (68.83%), Anne van Olst, 'Clearwater' (67.37%) and Natalie Zu-Sayn Wittgenstein 'Digby' (70.41%) took the Bronze medal with an aggregate of 68.87%.

Always charming,the Spanish combination of Juan Carlos Munoz and the Andalusian stallion, Fuego X11 earned 63.08% for 22nd place after the Grand Prix.

Canada's Jacqueline Brooks rode the Oldenberger gelding by Grannox, 'Gran Gesto' to score 63.75%. The Canadian Team finished in ninth place with an aggregated percentage of 63.514.

(Princess) Natalie Zy Sayn Wittgenstein was delighted with her ride on her home bred gelding, 'Digby' by Donnerhall The second rider for the Bronze Medal Danish Team, she is in eighth place after the Grand Prix with 70.41%.

Julia Chevanne riding for France earned 63.25% with the Hanoverian gelding, 'Calimucho' by Cavalier. They finished in 32nd place individually with the French Team, seventh with a aggregate score of 65.40%.

Nadine Capellman and 'Elvis' were the second out for Germany. Certainly not mistake free, the reining Team World Champion members, nonetheless earned a solid Team score of 70.083% for ninth place individually.

"Vincent' a stallion by Weltmeyer is one of our favourites, in fact one of everyone's favourites. His rider, Bernadette Pujals riding as and individual for Mexico got the horse in a divorce settlement. We think she got the best deal! They were ungenerously marked for 69.25% and 12th place.

Jordi Domingo from Spain chose to ride a stallion son of Ferro, 'Prestige', to earn 64.04% and 28th place. The 11 year old looks to have a higher percentage in him. Spain did not have a Team.

The much anticipated re appearance of US combination, Debbie McDonald and the Brentano II daughter, 'Brentina' was a disappointment, especially for McDonald. The star of the 2002 WEG in Jerez received for them a rather shocking 63%. "She started spooking at something on the side, I have no idea what it was. All she wanted to do was get out of the arena" commented a dejected McDonald.

Poor Miguel Duarte from Portugal did nothing to deserve this. However, the Lusitano mare, 'Oxalis' was seriously not happy in the arena. Despite efforts to calm her, Duarte eventually opted to retire.

Experienced Swedish international and one of the crowd favourites, Jan Brink earned 68.87% with his long time partner, the Swedish Warmblood stallion, 'Briar' by Magini, to be in 13th place after the Grand Prix. The Swedish Team finish in fifth place with an aggregate of 67.37%.

British Team member, Laura Bechtolsheimer's Danish Warmblood, 'Mistral Hojris' by Chellino was one of quite a few horses to be unsettled and spooky on the second day of grand Prix competition, which was quite a contrast to the relatively calm first day. They did not produce their best for 65.91%. The British Team finished in sixth place with an aggregate of 66.80%.

Certainly capable of a much better performance, Japan's 62 year old veteran, Hiroshi Hoketsu had to contend with a very spooky 'Whisper'.The talented Wolkenstein II mare, took one look at the decorative Pandas and wanted to be out of their. Their percentage, 62.54% is no indication of their ability.

Certainly at least one horse took one look at this charming ring decoration and wanted to leave, the sooner the better.

Finnish individual, Kyra Kyrklund's 'Max', a Swedish Warmblood by Master 850 had only been worked for about four days before the competition "and then very carefully". As always the super talented rider produced a wonderful performance from the elegant horse, for 70.58% and sixth place after the Grand Prix.

Canadian Team member, Ashley Holzer finished in 19th place after a good performance with 'Pop Art', a Dutch gelding by Amsterdam. They earned 67.04% for 19th place after the Grand Prix.

Sonja Risa from Sydney gets into the Olympic Spirit.

Hentry David from Sydney Henry David from Sydney having "a good time" at the dressage..

Members of the Bussleton Pony Club from Perth, Emma Courntney-Bennett, Olivia Lodge, Rebecca McGregor and Freya d'Espeissis, literally wearing their support for the Australian Team.

The wonderful Russian ex police horse, 'Balagur' ridden by Alexandra Korelova. Being used to crowd control, the 18 year old stallion, behaved well in the atmosphere to earn 68.50% for 15th place after the Grand Prix.

Austria's Victoria Max Theurer and 'Falcao' by Feiner Stern were another combination to be adversely affected by the atmosphere. They did not produce their best and received 65.33% for 27th place after the Grand Prix.

Hubert Perring from France produced a good test with his Selle Francais gelding, 'Diabolo St Maurice' for 66.83% and 20th place after the Grand Prix.

Polish combination, Michal Rapecwicz 'Randon' held firm when many fancied combinations fell away in the atmosphere. They earned 57.50% for 16th place after the Grand Prix.

USA Team anchor, Steffen Peters and the Contango stallion, 'Ravel' produced the expected goods for 70% and tenth place. The US Team finished in fourth place with and aggregate of 67.81%.

Looking rightly very pleased with themselves. The German Gold Medal Team, L-R Nadine Capellmann, Heike Kemmer and Isabell Werth.

The German Gold, Dutch Silver and Danish Bronze medal winners, intermingled in a spirit of international friendship. Despite the rumours, Isabell and Anky seem to get along just fine.

The Aachen WEG hero, Andreas Helgstrand, produced a super Team anchor ride for Denmark. He earned 68.83% riding the well known Donnerhall stallion,'Don Schufro'. Denmark took the Bronze with an aggregate of 68.87%.

HRH Princess Haya bint al Hussein, IOC member and President of the FEI.