Sad! Jess Pheonix wd from Olympics (canadian)

[Foxygrl516]

I'm SO bummed for Jess!!! USEA homepage reported this morning that Digby (Exploring) suffered an injury during training and Jess has had to withdraw and give up her spot on the Canadian Team for the Olympics. :( Apparently it is not a career ending injury and they expect Digby to be competing again next season. But POOR JESS!!!!! She is the sweetest girl and such a good rider! Y'all watch out for her, because she is going to do great things!

So with that, who do you think will get her spot? The alternates are Hawley Bennett with Livingstone, Diana Burnett and Manny, Samantha Taylor and Livewire, and Lesley Grant-Law with Timber Spirit. I really have no idea who will get it, but I would guess it will be between Hawley and Lesley. I could be completely wrong though! Manny is only 8 though, so he is quite young and inexperienced (though VERY nice and capable). What do you guys think?

[clivers]

I know - I'm sooooo bummed about Jess missing the Olympics too. She would have done us proud. Last year at the Pan Am's she had a silly runout on XC and still posted one of the fastest times of the day! With her 3rd place at Jersey Fresh this year I was SURE she would be amazing!!!

I'm rooting for Lesley because she and I grew up riding together at Leitchcroft and she's a friend. Not that Hawley wouldn't be very good - clean and fast at Rolex this year and clean at Badminton last year - She and Livingstone are a very good team.

[flyingchange]

That's too bad.

I would think that it would at this point come down to soundness between Linvingstone and Timber Spirit. Both are proven four star horses. I would think that Livingstone might have the upper edge since he completed Badmintion with zero XC penalties and has done a four star clean this year. But isn't he a bit older? Who knows. They might as well just flip a coin as both pairs seem to me to be equally fit for the task.

[bip]

I'm rooting for Lesley too because I did a clinic w/Mr. Law a few weeks ago and it was awesome. I figure if they are hitched, she's probably pretty awesome too!

[Foxygrl516]

Yeah, I think LIvingstone is like 18. But I think I agree with you that he might have a slight edge.

I know the short listed canadians are on their way to Florida for their Training Camp this week, so I guess they will probably be riding for a spot while they are there. Mike and Billy leave today for Florida. I suspect there will be some competitive riding down in Ocala this week!

[Copper]

Heard about this last week.
Its a shame - she had all kinds of support - fundraising, media - what a bummer.
I think that Livingstone will go - it will be his last chance!

[Jazzy Lady]

I'm so bummed for Jessie too. She is such a sweetheart and worked so hard. Hopefully Digby will be back to rock it next year and we'll be cheering for them at the 2010 WEGS.

Manny is young, but he and Di have done quite well, so I wouldn't count them out. I'd be concerned about the long trip with hank... but they are the obvious choice as far as experience goes.

[Blugal]

Was sorry to see this too. I have nothing against Hawley, but if selection politics have anything to do with it, I don't think she'll go. The only excuse they need is her unfortunate show-jumping round at Rolex this spring (after a long-time history of clears/one-rail rounds).

[sisu27]

Heard about this last week.
Its a shame - she had all kinds of support - fundraising, media - what a bummer.
I think that Livingstone will go - it will be his last chance!

I have one of her fund raising pamphlets sitting here beside me (nicely done btw). I know that her supporters raised a large amount of $$ for her. I wonder if they return the $$??

It's too bad but she is young, a great rider and will have many other opportunities.

I wish Waylon had been short listed speaking of young and talented.

[snoopy]

I do not think that the conditions in HK will suit Hawlwy's horse. Although he competed in athens...the conditions were entirely different, Greece being an dry/arid country. The extreme humidity and heat will not be so good for a big heavy horse like Hank. I believe...and hope....that Timmy and Lesley get their chance. And what a great opportunity to continue to build the Canadian Team for the WEG in two years time.

[flyingchange]

Yeah, Tim is a class act of a horse. A real trier with a huge heart.

[ridexc]

Um.... Hank, a big, heavy horse? He's an OTTB, just about the best type you could ask for in conditions like Hong Kong in August. Sandra Donnelly's Buenos Aires and Selena O'Hanlon's Colombo are both full warmbloods and much heavier types than Hank.

My only hesitation WRT to Hank is his age (he's 18) ... he looked absolutely fantastic at Rolex but either tiredness or age did catch up with him in stadium this year. I would absolutely hate to hear that he had something catastrophic happen to him in Hong Kong ... would much rather he enjoy a long and graceful retirement in a field somewhere. So I'm kind of on the fence with regard to him going .... but then, I'm not the one who has to make that call.

[Copper]

I have one of her fund raising pamphlets sitting here beside me (nicely done btw). I know that her supporters raised a large amount of $$ for her. I wonder if they return the $$??

It's too bad but she is young, a great rider and will have many other opportunities.

I wish Waylon had been short listed speaking of young and talented.

Waylon was not qualified, and given his performance at the WEG, he needs to grow up a bit. Yes I know that my opinion is unpopular - I would give the finger right back if people were booing me, but NOT if I were representing my country - in that case I would suck it up (I do international work, and have had to do this in the past, knowing that I am the face of Canada). I suspect that even if he were qualified, he would have been given until the next Olympics to become a better ambassador for our country. The Olympics are not only about your personal best.

In any case - don't mean to side track the thread - Lesley or Hawley would be really nice! Guess I'm just rooting for Hawley as I like to see the "senior citizens" have a chance.

[myboyludy]

sorry to hear about jess but I wish that sam makes the team.. Shes so sweet and tody is such a good soldier

[fatorangehorse]

Might be a longshot - but rooting for them

[sisu27]

Waylon was not qualified, and given his performance at the WEG, he needs to grow up a bit. Yes I know that my opinion is unpopular - I would give the finger right back if people were booing me, but NOT if I were representing my country - in that case I would suck it up (I do international work, and have had to do this in the past, knowing that I am the face of Canada). I suspect that even if he were qualified, he would have been given until the next Olympics to become a better ambassador for our country. The Olympics are not only about your personal best.

It was the Pan Ams, not the WEG and perhaps you and I would think better in those circumstances but at 17 or whatever he was then I probably would have done the same. So give him a chance to grow up, he is just a kid. If he wasn't a patriotic sort he may not have reacted so strongly. I watched him taking photos and signing autographs for kids after his brilliant xc round at Rolex and I think he conducts himself very well for his age.

I look forward to both he and Jessie representing Canada on the international playing field in the coming years.

[Blugal]

David O'Connor was overheard at a clinic saying that Waylon's behaviour at the Pan Ams would definitely keep him off the next round of teams until he was more mature.

[Copper]

Yeah yeah I know it was the Pan Ams - just a brain fart, and Sisu - he is being given the chance to grow up, and I'm sure when he has, he'll be a great addition to the team.