Friday, Feb. 7, 2025

The U.S. Team Gets The Job Done

Hello everyone,
 
It was a big day for the U.S. in the Samsung Super League Final in Barcelona, Spain.  We  are in [for next year’s series] and Sweden is in for next year. France is out--amazing as they also failed to qualify  a team for the Olympic Games. Our sympathies are with them, but as their chef d’equipe, Gils de Balanda, said to me, “That is sport, and we will be back!”  And I believe him.
 
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Hello everyone,
 
It was a big day for the U.S. in the Samsung Super League Final in Barcelona, Spain.  We  are in [for next year’s series] and Sweden is in for next year. France is out–amazing as they also failed to qualify  a team for the Olympic Games. Our sympathies are with them, but as their chef d’equipe, Gils de Balanda, said to me, “That is sport, and we will be back!”  And I believe him.
 
[U.S. chef d’equipe George Morris] was thrilled with the outcome, as he says the Olympic trials and preparation next year hinge on being able to compete at the Super League shows in 2008. The U.S. team had a good showing, ending up tied for 4th in the final competition and also fourth overall in the series standings. It could have been better to be quite honest, but not for lack of good riding for the most part.
 
Laura Kraut started things off with Anthem and tallied 4 faults at the front rail of the second fence, which was quite a substantial oxer. She did a great job of holding things together for a clear the rest of the way as Anthem was basically trying to run off.
 
Christine McCrea was next with Vegas, and in her words made a “stupid mistake” at the liverpool line, chipping in for 4 faults. Vegas wanted to go clear and did from then on, ending up with 4.
 
Todd Minikus rode third on Olinda and was masterful in his ride, but Olinda didn’t want it as badly as Todd and rubbed the back rail of the oxer in the middle of the triple combination for a four-fault score.
 
We were having four-faultitis until Beezie Madden rode a brilliant clear on Judgement, who today came through in spades and was super.
 
We finished the first round with 8 faults and tied for second with the Netherlands, Sweden and Spain, all of us behind the Germans on 0.
 
We could definitely still win it with clear rounds at this point, but it was not to be. Laura started the slide with 8 faults and then Chris, Todd and Beezie all followed  with 4 each, placing us tied for fourth with France, and fourth overall. One less rail would have had us second overall in the series.  The Germans couldn’t mathematically lose at this point, it appeared, without a total meltdown. They were great and deserved to win.

Our riders rode beautifully for the most part, and I still maintain that it doesn’ t matter what horses you have or don’t have–it boils down to being able to ride a clear round when it matters most.  It is you against the course, not the other riders. Clear rounds win. Four-fault rounds just place you–that is mediocre. We need to strive for clear rounds and winning, always!
 
I believe all the riders felt a sense of relief for being able to stay in the Super League, but they were obviously not satisfied with the final result, and that is a good thing. We have to want it more.  We need to figure out how to make it happen when it matters most, and  I think we are making headway in that direction. I liked what I saw here–the team spirit and the desire to be back at the top once more.  I believe we can do it and we will!

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Melanie Smith Taylor

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