[chemteach]

Can't we all just get along... I love Rafalca... And I am happy for the extra spotlight to our sport...

Ditto.

[betonbill]

I liked her go in the first round. And it was a pleasure to see somebody (rider) who was so obviously thrilled to be taking part in the Olympics.

Wishing her luck in the Special.

[mayhew]

I love Rafalca's page. Hilarious.

[Huntertwo]

Who cares? She has now become the Democrats' joke. Some TV reporter said she is necessary to Anne Romney's well-being. What a joke. I don't know of a single therapeutic riding center that uses Grand Prix horses as therapy animals. I don't know of a single one that spends $77,000 a year on any of their horses.

I wonder if Romney will bring Rafalca home in a crate tied to the top of the jet, the way I read that he travels with his dog--the dog in a crate tied to the top of his car.

If you want to cheer for someone who actually had to WORK to get to the Olympics Cheer for all the people who benefiit from therapeutic riding on non-Grand Prix horses. Cheer for all the people who donate their non-Grand Prix horses to therapeutic riding centers. Cheer for all the people at your show who have just one horse and hope that one doesn't go lame the morning of the show. Get real.

Typical liberal comment. Very classy and becoming....
Even talking "Horses" brings out the hatred...cripes!

[Beentheredonethat]

Hunter--I will follow you, my friend. Stop stalking anyone who says anything about Romney and IGNORE it. If I said "typical right wing nut case Faux News brainwashed comment," how would you feel? Why are you going back and bringing up political comments when everyone else is commenting on HORSES?

ON TOPIC--Rafalca and Jan did a respectable job, as did ALL of the horses and riders, I say, though they are outclassed with this superb bunch of horses, so I don't think we'll see much hype on their results. ALL publicity is great for dressage, though!

[Hippolyta]

Good grief. Like Jan E and Rafalca didn't "work" just because the mare is owned and supported by some rich people? Same as most of the other combinations in the olympics? There's something wrong with people wanting to see how the horse does?

I'm not hugely into dressage, and I'm not a Romney fan. But the interest and coverage they've brought to the sport makes me want to see her, too. So shoot me. sheesh!

(and since when does having interest in rafalca mean people aren't cheering for people "who deserve it" or do therapeutic riding? I am so confused!)

I am with you on all of this.

Aside from the Olympics discussion, I am impressed that Anne Romney can start riding as an adult and do what she has done (yes, with more $$$ I could certainly get farther than I am, but she def. put in work!) I can also connect with her, as I am sure many of us can, when she explains how her horses gave her a reason to get up in the morning. If statements like this get attention in the press, I am all for it, as it may help others understand where we horse nutjobs are coming from.

I don't dislike Romney, personally, but I dislike his party. To me, this is irrelevant.
I, do, however, like horses, and I assume others on this board do, too. Don't you want to pat her (horse, not Anne) on the nose?

Rafalca is a lovely horse, she did a nice job (which does not just happen, no matter how much money is involved) & the attention surrounding dressage at this Olympics has been fun.

I would like to see more in the news about the sport & less about the $, but that was another thread.

[Huntertwo]

Hunter--I will follow you, my friend. Stop stalking anyone who says anything about Romney and IGNORE it. If I said "typical right wing nut case Faux News brainwashed comment," how would you feel? Why are you going back and bringing up political comments when everyone else is commenting on HORSES?

ON TOPIC--Rafalca and Jan did a respectable job, as did ALL of the horses and riders, I say, though they are outclassed with this superb bunch of horses, so I don't think we'll see much hype on their results. ALL publicity is great for dressage, though!

BTDT,
Nice try, but I'm not stalking anyone.

When I see an asinine, irrelevant comment on the "Olympic Forum", solely for the purpose of picking on Ann Romney who has Multiple Sclerosis and happens to own a Dressage Horse, I'll call out the stupidity.

I don't have to worry about being called a right wing nut, as I wouldn't be so insensitive to bring something like this up on the "Olympic Forum".

"Why are you going back and bringing up political comments when everyone else is commenting on HORSES?"

I assume your above quote is to the poster who first made several political comments when everyone else is commenting on the horses?

[Beentheredonethat]

Yes it is, and it was addressed and dropped days before you picked it up again. And this has been dropped for days, and now you're picking it up, again.

You're the one going back to OT after everyone else swerved it away and ignored Hippolyta trying to bring it up again. I'd be GLAD to discuss the "picking" on the poor Romneys on OT day, when it is appropriate.

Care to discuss Rafalca's go, or did you watch it? Like I said in the threads of the Olympic trials, I think the mare is good, but going to be way outclassed here. She was. She had a very good go for her, though the extensions were weak, but there are just way too many horses better than here.

[Mardi]

Rafalca goes in the GP Special at 10:45 am London time on Tuesday August 7.

That's 2:45 am Pacific, 5:45 am Eastern.

Class starts at 10:00 am, and ends just after 4 pm.
Dablino goes first, Parzival goes last.

Now that's alotta dressage !

[Huntertwo]

Yes it is, and it was addressed and dropped days before you picked it up again. And this has been dropped for days, and now you're picking it up, again.

You're the one going back to OT after everyone else swerved it away and ignored Hippolyta trying to bring it up again. I'd be GLAD to discuss the "picking" on the poor Romneys on OT day, when it is appropriate.

Care to discuss Rafalca's go, or did you watch it? Like I said in the threads of the Olympic trials, I think the mare is good, but going to be way outclassed here. She was. She had a very good go for her, though the extensions were weak, but there are just way too many horses better than here.

Yes, I saw her perform. But, I know very little about Dressage to make an informed decision about her performance, but she looked great...

[NOMIOMI1]

I thought her test was very correct (in a basic way) but VERY conservative and not filled with enough impulsion and at this level...

She was not forward enough IMO, or really active enough in most every movment. It all just seemed very plain but very nice for what it was

I though she would score higher but at the same time I felt like the judges were seeing more obviously then I that she was not quite using herself enough for the better scores.

She sitill did her riders/owners proud!

[caffeinated]

I thought she was very nice, but it seemed to me she had less flow, or fluidity to her movement, or something, than some of the other horses. I'm not a dressage person so don't know how to phrase that But still, what a gorgeous mare

[Fred]

BTDT,
Nice try, but I'm not stalking anyone.

When I see an asinine, irrelevant comment on the "Olympic Forum", solely for the purpose of picking on Ann Romney who has Multiple Sclerosis and happens to own a Dressage Horse, I'll call out the stupidity.

I don't have to worry about being called a right wing nut, as I wouldn't be so insensitive to bring something like this up on the "Olympic Forum".

"Why are you going back and bringing up political comments when everyone else is commenting on HORSES?"

I assume your above quote is to the poster who first made several political comments when everyone else is commenting on the horses?

Lovely horse,and great to see dressage (any equestrian sport !) get some media attention.
I agree, we should be able to discuss a horse and her performance without politics inserting itself.
However, realistically?
This is an election year and one of the co-owners (wife) is running for President.
Every single thing they do is under a microscope and open for comment.
On another BB I even saw some RW person in an uproar because Michelle Obama was wearing Jimmy Choos. ...
Can you imagine what Glenn Beck et all would have to say if she had an expensive dressage horse????

The scrutiny and attention in terms of Rafalca is increased due to the fact that Romney (for some reason) has refused to release his tax info - but one of the ones that IS available shows a claim for $77,000 for the upkeep of the horse.

Not surprisingly there is increased scrutiny.

I would also suggest that the OP's OP is not without political motivation.
Her FB posts are a pretty clear indication.

Politics aside however - lovely horse!

[Ravencrest_Camp]

The scrutiny and attention in terms of Rafalca is increased due to the fact that Romney (for some reason) has refused to release his tax info - but one of the ones that IS available shows a claim for $77,000 for the upkeep of the horse.

!

Give the guy a break. He made millions of dollars a year, and paid 13% tax.

What could possibly be wrong with that.

[Mardi]

Cannot for the life of me figure out why people want to see other's tax returns. As history has shown, someone's tax returns have little to do with how well they lead the country.

[bauhaus]

Cannot for the life of me figure out why people want to see other's tax returns. As history has shown, someone's tax returns have little to do with how well they lead the country.

Well since you asked, for one thing - and this is actually a small thing in this particular context given that a man who claims to have paid as little as 13% for 10 years is running on the idea that the wealthy should pay lower taxes - because it proves that he has a documented history of lying.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/0...01-Tax-Returns

[allison finch]

Typical liberal comment. Very classy and becoming....
Even talking "Horses" brings out the hatred...cripes!

NOT a typical "liberal" comment. I am liberal and an Obama fan. But almost as important is my love for the sport. As such, I am pleased about any talented horse. Yes, I can rant about this dollar or that dollar....but to what purpose. Sadly, that poster seems to be a sad and sour person. Glad they are not at my barn.

[KBC]

But almost as important is my love for the sport. As such, I am pleased about any talented horse. Yes, I can rant about this dollar or that dollar....but to what purpose. Sadly, that poster seems to be a sad and sour person. Glad they are not at my barn.