Olympic Fever

by Terri Rocovich

Olympic Fever


Like I am sure most of you, I am obsessed with the Olympics and can’t keep up with the recorded coverage on my DVR. I can’t even watch the news for fear that they might announce the results of something I have not watched.

Of course the Eventing coverage has figured prominently in my attention. I am disappointed that the U.S. has not done better, but how about that Mark Todd. He is ageless and is clearly riding as well as he ever has which is saying something since I believe that he is perhaps the greatest Eventer of all time. At 56 years old, London is the sixth Olympic team he has been named to and he remains the only equestrian to ever win back to back Gold Medals on the great horse Charisma in 1984 and 1988.

For me, the other great story is Ingrid Klimke being tied for the lead going into stadium. Ingrid Klimke is the daughter of Reiner Klimke, the most decorated Dressage Olympian of all time with 6 gold and 2 bronze medals. Talk about Olympic equestrian DNA. Actually, it was watching Klimke, senior, at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics that first started my fascination with Dressage. I was lucky enough to have front row seats when he won the gold and I was merely feet away when he took his victory lap performing flawless piaffe/passage transitions one-handed while waving to the crowd. I was hooked at that moment. I was amazed and determined that one day I would learn how to do that, so now that Uiver and I are learning piaffe/passage transitions, I think of that moment on occasion.

A sad result from the Eventing Cross Country today was the fall of Hawley Bennett who competes for Canada on a horse named Gin & Juice. I got to know Hawley a little bit last October when I went to the Pan Am games in Mexico with a friend whose horse was being ridden in the games by her Son in Law, James Atkinson. James also competes for Canada so we were all honorary Canadians that week.

 Hawley is a lovely person who cares passionately about the horses and her sport. Even though she is Canadian, she is headquartered in Southern California just about at hour away from me so I often see her riding and coaching at Horse Trials. She never fails to be gracious and kind to fans, especially the kids, and is well respected by other riders. Reports on the internet say that her mount “Juice” is fine and Hawley will be fine but remains in the hospital tonight with a concussion and a stable sacral fracture. I know that Hawley is one tough cookie and that she will bounce back, but I a sure that she is disappointed that things did not go better.

Well, back to the TV I go. I can’t wait for Dressage to start! How about all of you?? What have been your highlights so far?? I am going to be more sleep deprived than usual but I am determined to watch as much as humanly possible.