• Eventing Highlights

"Three-day eventer Gina Miles carried the American flag during the Olympic opening ceremonies."

Gina Miles was the top American eventer, earning an Individual silver with her horse McKinlaigh.

         "Throughout the three-day eventing competition, American riders struggled. During the cross-country phase, Amy Tryon riding Poggio II took a spill on course, which eliminated the pair from further Olympic competition. Several days later, Tryon was admitted to a Hong Kong hospital for injuries she sustained during the fall. Poggio II was unharmed. "

• Dressage Highlights

"The big media story going into dressage competition was Japan’s Hiroshi Hoketsu riding Whisper. Hoketsu, 67, was the oldest equestrian to ever compete in an Olympic Games. But he has a long Olympic history. He competed for Japan in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games at age 23, placing 40th in the show jumping competition. In 1984 he was a reserve member of the Japanese equestrian team that competed in the Los Angeles Olympic Games. He was 43 then. Hoketsu didn’t medal this time around, but there’s always 2012—he’s not ruling it out."

Courtney King-Dye and Harmony's Mythilus led the United States equestrians to a fourth place finish in Team Competition.

                    "Americans Steffen Peters aboard Ravel and King-Dye riding Harmony’s Mythilus advanced to the Grand Prix Special. Peters paid a special tribute to his teammate Debbie McDonald by dedicating the ride to her. “I dedicate this to Debbie and Brentina,” Peters said. “I feel so terrible about what happened to her, and I admire their performances so much.” Peters scored a 71.80% and landed in fourth; King-Dye scored a 70.80% for an eighth-place finish."

• Show Jumping Highlights

"American riders were favored going into Olympic show jumping competition. Two 2008 riding combinations, Beezie Madden aboard the 12-year-old KWPN gelding Authentic, as well as McLain Ward riding the 13-year-old Belgian warmblood mare, Sapphire, were all part of the 2004 Olympic gold medal-winning team, and they proved they could strike gold twice. The United States won Team gold again, helped along by fellow teammates Will Simpson riding Carlsson Vom Dach, a12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, and Laura Kraut riding Cedric, a 10-year-old Dutch-bred gelding. Canada claimed Team silver while Norway grabbed Team bronze."

Beezie Madden and Authentic will bring their hard-earned bronze medal back home to the U.S.

     "McLain Ward, who made it to the Individual finals, but didn’t medal, was happy with his sixth-place performance. “I wanted to win a medal and we tried our very, very hardest,” he said. “We gave it everything we had.” Kraut and Simpson didn’t qualify for the Individual finals."

For more Info. please go to:

 http://horsechannel.com/horse-news/2008/08/22/look-back-2008-olympic-games.aspx

JenMarie~*