Britain secured yet one more equestrian medal with group bronze within the Olympic dressage occasion at Paris 2024 however there may be another set of dressage medals up for grabs. Tomorrow, (Sunday, 4 August) is the flip of the grand prix freestyle, which decides the person dressage standings. And there are three out of three Brits certified.
Right here is the lowdown on the 5 issues it is best to maintain an eye fixed out for on freestyle day, which begins at 10am native time (9am British time).
Olympic dressage grand prix freestyle: key issues to look at
1. Becky Moody has been the rising star by this Olympic competitors, qualifying high of her group within the grand prix and producing a shocking take a look at within the particular to assist safe the group bronze for Britain. Becky earned third place within the London Worldwide freestyle together with her home-bred Jagerbomb with a profession finest 83.68%. She’s using the crest of a wave, so anticipate her Intercourse Bomb floorplan to crown a terrific week, even when the rostrum could also be simply out of attain.
“My freestyle goes to entertain everybody,” she mentioned. “The stress is off, so you’ll be able to take extra dangers and we’re going to have some enjoyable.”
2. Carl Hester has arrange a brand new freestyle for Fame, which he trialled at Wellington CDI in June. It’s “a bit French, a bit Greek”, and he mentioned again then, “if I ever make it to Paris, that’s what I’m taking place the final centre line to”. Again in June, Carl was instructing Fame the strikes within the warm-up (and nonetheless gained), however you’ll be able to guess your backside greenback it’s pitch-perfect now.
3. The freestyle has at all times been Glamourdale’s showpiece for Lottie Fry. The world champions scored a private finest 92.38% for silver on the Riesenbeck Europeans final summer time, and are set to press Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB shut as soon as once more.
Lottie has tweaked her “Better of British” music for 2024: “We’ve come to Paris with better of British and a French twang.”
4. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour was excellent on Freestyle in each the grand prix and the freestyle. This new Danish pairing have by no means competed at freestyle collectively, however Freestyle’s personal PB is 89.5% whereas Cathrine has cracked the 90% barrier earlier than on Bohemian.
“I’ve a French take with Celine Dion within the stroll, additionally a particular music between me and my spouse, and Formidable within the passage work,” she mentioned. “I’m tremendous excited, the choreography is a bit totally different, and offers a glimpse into my coach and my personal life, to make it a bit emotional.”
5. Be careful for Isabell Werth who, in Wendy, appears to have one other horse of a lifetime throughout a rare profession – “She combines the most effective traits of some of my high horses,” mentioned Isabell. Collectively the pair have completed two freestyles, bettering 7% to 89% for the second. If their trajectory continues to be rising steeply, be careful the remainder. Isabell bagged a document eighth gold medal within the group contest; can she probably add to this tally?
You may additionally be concerned about:
Lottie Fry and Glamourdale competing on the Den Bosch World Cup leg in March 2023.
Credit score: FEI
Lottie Fry and Glamourdale helped Britain safe the group bronze medal on the Paris Olympics
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB on the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Isabell Werth and Wendy competing within the grand prix on the Paris Olympics.
Credit score: Peter Nixon
All eyes will probably be on TSF Dalera BB (left) and Glamourdale (proper), however who will come out on high?
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Future
H&H options editor
Martha is an skilled journalist who’s mad-keen on canine of all sizes and shapes. After rising up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she loved 14 years with two rescue canine, one a road canine from Gambia who was deserted at three weeks outdated. Now, her fixed companion, whether or not by her ft at her desk or strolling cross-country programs, is Fidget, a particularly energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on subjects as various as a high horse’s clone to the most effective GPS trackers for canine, in addition to equestrian and rural issues for Nation Life, The Subject, The Instances, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
