If you haven't been keeping up with the Olympics, you can check out all of the goodies here. But one of my favorite events (naturally) is Equestrian Dressage Freestyle. Anky van Grunsven, and her beautiful 14-year-old horse Salinero took home the gold in the event that was completed on Tuesday.
What is Dressage? It's a form of performance that shows the horse's athletic ability, grace, and form. Often described as a "Horse Ballet" it truly is a joy to watch. Horse and rider must perform tasks like trot, canter, half pass, and canter pirouettes (a full 360 degree turn) with minimal directional aids, and do it all choreographed to music. Sorta like So You Think You Can Dance, but with horses! I was able to TiVo the broadcast, and was totally taken by the beauty of the winning team. Congrats to the winners!

John Lewis
Giorgio Armani
Balenciaga
That horse is so beautiful!!
1My favorite event too!!!
2i thought wraps weren't allowed in dressage? and bell boots on front and back? hmmm. don't know much about freestyle, or even upper-level dressage, to be honest. my heart is in eventing (and even there dressage is our weak point, lol)
i can't wait to watch this and the show jumping (both recorded).
3The United States won TEAM GOLD in Show Jumping! For the first time in over 30 years a person (Will Simpson based out of El Campeon Farms in Thousand Oaks) from the WEST COAST competed in the Olympics. Not only was it his VERY first olympics, Will has only had the ride on the horse for a little over a year. Definitely incredible. Will is a great rider and really, really deserved the win.
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