London 2012 Olympic Games - Dressage

Italian Individual, Valentina Truppa produced a good test to the very entertaining Italian folk/popular music theme, (O Solo Mio etc) for 15th place with78.21% riding the home bred, 'Ermo del Castegno'.

Valentina Truppa was pleased with 'Ermo Del Castegno'. "I was happy, I really enjoy the Freestyle and so does my horse".

Sweden's Patrik Kittel produced a really entertaining test to the music of Depeche Mode and Billy Idol riding the Dutch stallion,'Scandic'. They earned 78.73% for 14th place.

Patrik Kittel was pleased with Scandic's test, "We both enjoyed it. He is a very special horse. He has a lovely personality , but he has to have everything as he wants it. When I look at him in the morning, I can tell how grumpy he is and I do what he wants".

Denmark's Anna Kasprzak rode the beautiful 'Donnperignon' to a Phil Collins medley to earn 76.44% for 18th place in the Freestyle.

Anna Kasprzak commented after her test, " I am very happy. This is only the second time I have performed this test. Phil Collins is my favourite. I must have listened to the music 20 times this morning and the hard part is remembering where to do everything".

The Lusitano stallion , Rubi ridden by the equally popular, Goricalo Carvahlo again produced a super test to a Black Eyed Peas theme. They were a little hard done by with a score of 77.60% and 16th place.

Austria's Victoria Max-Theurer rode the impressive Oldenberg stallion, 'Augustin' . Victoria is another rider to owe a debt to Phil Collins for his inspiring music. They took 13th place with 79.05%.

Sweden's Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven rode the elegant 'Don Aurello' to Freestyle music created by Dutch composer, Cees Slings to earn 79.28% for 11th place in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

" We really enjoyed being in there and we both love the music. Don Auriello loves to show off and he loves attention. He gets upset when I pat the horse next to him" declared Vilhelmson-Silfven after the test.

USA rider, Steffen Peters is always a pleasure to watch. His Avatar theme was entertaining, but Peters was not so happy with the test. "There were just too many mistakes. That is it for Ravel, he is retiring now to his owner's stud in California. I will remember him for his great career. He has given us so much and it is so sad, but it was not quite happening today".

Dutchman, Edward Gal is always wonderful to watch. He rode 'Undercover' to a dramatic Joost Peters score for ninth place with 80.26%.

Edward acknowledges the cheers of the many Dutch dressage fans in the stands. Of his test Gal commented, "that was my first time with the music. It was written two weeks ago and I saw the DVD for it yesterday. I rode it for the first time today, that is why I am very satisfied".

Princess Nathalie Zu Sayn Wtitgenstein earned 79.08% for 12th place riding her home bred,' Digby'. The entertaining music, a medley of Glen Miller and Michel Legrand is new. "This is the second time I have preformed to this music; it is completely new and arranged especially for London. Digby is still in great form. he still wants to do this and so he still has one more year of competition in him".

Anky van Grunsven arguably produced the best Freestyle ever riding the very well performed, 'Salinero'. Anky's always entertaining music and absolutely spot on timing earned the sixth place with 82.00%.

A delighted Anky commented after her test; "I am very happy, it was a good test on his last competition ever. I am so happy that he kept going for four days and did everything for me. I am not sad, it was always in my head that it was my last time and I wanted to enjoy it".

Of course it was always going to be an entertaining Spanish themed test for Juan Manuel Diaz and the Andalusian stallion, 'Fuego'. They earned 79.32% for tenth place helped no doubt by one handed passage and one time changes..

Spaniard, Juan Manuel Diaz riding the beautiful , 'Fuego' acknowledges the enthusiastic crowd. "My horse felt very tired and it was very hot out there. He is going on holiday now and I am having a week off myself. I have performed that test many times, it just wasn't great today".

German Silver Medal Team Member, Kristina Sprehe produced a good test riding , 'Desperados' to take eighth place in the Freestyle riding to an especially composed score by Erdmann and Heidecke with 81.37%.

The changing of the German dressage guard. Twenty-six year old Kristina Sprehe was delighted with 'Desperados'. "He loves to work every day and he is very ambitious He is friendly and never does anything bad. I am very proud of him, that was my best Freestyle ever and I rode the passage pirouette one handed".

German Team Member, Helen Langehanenberg is pictured riding the beautiful 'Damon Hill'. The Donnerhall stallion was riding to another especially composed score written by Erdmann and Heidecke. They took fourth place with 84.30%.

The youthful looking 30 year old German commented, "I wanted to enjoy every second of this last ride at the Olympics. There was a brief moment of Hiccup at the Piaffe, but the rest was perfect."

Dorothee Schneider rode the impressive, Don Frederico mare, 'Diva Royal' to a classical theme with the odd mention of "Do you like the Black Swan"? They took seventh place with 81.66%.

Team GB member, Laura Bechtolsheimer rode her, Danish bred, 'Mistral Hojris' to an entertaining Lion King theme. They claimed the Bronze Individual Medal with 84.33%. "For a horse of his age, 17, to move like that and give his all is beyond words. He is so full of energy and power, I could ride every move to the maximum. He is not a tennis racquet, he is a lving animal; he is part of the family and the furniture. He has a well earned rest in the paddock and he will make the decision himself if he is still supple enough to go on".

Team GB Gold Medallist, Carl Hester's 'Uthopia' was a little flat today after a long show. He rode to a sound track that included a patriotic Rule Britannia for 82.85% and fifth place. Apparently the rumour is true, as both Uthopia and Valegro will be sold after the Games.

Carl Hester was a little subdued after his test riding 'Uthopia' that was perhaps a little flat after the competition at the Games. However the crowds were none the less thrilled with the performance of the talented duo.

World Cup Champion, Adelinde Cornelison from Holland produced a super Freestyle riding , 'Parzival' by Jazz to an entertaining and on the money score from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Sweet. They earned 88.19% for the Silver Medal. World Cup Champion, Adelinde Cornelison from Holland produced a super Freestyle riding , 'Parzival' by Jazz to an entertaining and on the money score from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Sweet. They earned 88.19% for the Silver Medal.

A delighted Adelinde Cornelissen commented after the test; "Parzival felt great and this was one of his best tests ever; he gave it all".

Twenty seven year old Charlotte Du Jardin is surely an inspiration to ever girl that has ridden in the show ring. Charlotte started out riding show ponies and has now claimed Team and Individual Gold medals riding the beautifully educated, 'Valegro'. To the sound of Big Ben and Elgar's Land of hope and Glory', they produced their signature cool and beautiful test for 90.08% to claim the Grand Prix Freestyle and a hat trick of Grand Prix competition at the London Olympics.

Dressage training is all about control, obedience and softness and Charlotte Du Jardin has it all in spades with Valegro pictured here in her lap of honour. Valegro just cantered around the arena with the screaming crowd setting the other medallists afire. A relaxed Valegro demonstrated his amazing extended trot. "I've had three amazing rides and I couldn't have asked any more of him" she commented after the test.