They think its all over.............

Don't believe the hype! Tabloid fever has finally hit the British equestrian press, first we had a shake down of the frustrations in Hong Kong and now we have doom and gloom over the future of the "horse sports" in future Olympiads. Quite a few sports have passed through the games over the last century or so, but many more have stood the test of time, including the key equestrian disciplines.

Popularity (or rather lack of popularity) is being sighted as the reason for a potential drop of the horse events, but European, middle east and western nations are huge "horse lovers" (the French perhaps more than we'd like to admit!), and I'd be very surprised if any of the horse disciplines are dropped (even pure dressage).

Personally I'd like to see us get rid of the farce of the "team event" and just run the individual medals. - It just doesn't make any sense at all. Bring back Polo - a true equestrian team sport.

Anyway, we're host city now so let's get on with putting on a great show.

Now back to Burghley, Flint Curtis is currently leading (what a great horse).

Great British Weather

Meanwhile back home, Highclere Horse Trials has been cancelled. Bugger - I was really looking forward to brightening up my blog with a few recent photos (and highclere is such a picturesque setting).

Note to Self: always have a back-up entry.

Post Mortum Result - Inconclusive!

Predictably, one week on, and everyone is blaming everyone else for the the much criticised Hong Kong XC event. It's all proving inconclusive.

What is conclusive however is nobody trained for such an event, some were more prepared than others for the conditions, there are too many "old boys" wearing too many hats in this sport (official, trainer, course designer, event organiser, policy maker, etc, etc, etc)

Oh well! [sigh deeply] Let's take up Modern Pentathlon.........

Modern Pentathalon - On ya Garde!

Like most of the sports loving world I've got completely caught up in 'Olympic Fever'. So what's this modern pentathlon all about? 

Before these olympics I have to confess to being something of layman when it comes to the pentathlon, I knew it covered 5 events (the clue was in the name!), but I didn't really understand how the competition was organised. I have the BBC to thank for educating me on this bizarre event. 

Here's a sport that really could be one of the most exciting of the whole games. You shoot a gun, wave a sword, swim, ride a horse, and run a few miles - a true gladiatorial test! But, and here's what I find completely bizarre, competitors don't ride their own horse, they draw lots to ride horses they've never sat on before, and judging by the horses provided this can be a ropey old lot (see BBC Comic Pentathlon video). 

Imagine what Usain Bolt would say if he was told he'd be wearing a pair of hand-me-down plimsoles to run the 100 Metres

What a great event so poorly implemented, it doesn't do itself any favours by giving the media such ammunition to ridicule the sport. 

What a great event, and Team GB picked up another Silver - hurrah!