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Saturday, October 02 2021 / Published in General

Eventing with Boyd Martin: An Olympic Games Like No Other

I was lucky enough to compete at the London Olympics and the Rio Olympics, but I’d have to say that the Olympics we experienced in Tokyo was one like no other. Obviously, it was quite a tricky event to get prepared for: Exactly a year ago, we were ready to go and fired up to execute, and the Olympics were delayed by a year. Thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it was still quite tricky in 2021—even in the lead-up this year, there was talk that it might all be canceled. 

Beyond that, the American horses had a heck of a challenge even getting there: We flew to Germany to quarantine for 10 days before we flew to Tokyo, so it was a marathon to even get to the “starting line.” There was a fair bit of negative press leading up to the Olympics, but I decided to go with the mindset that I would enjoy every moment. I knew it would be awkward and inconvenient, but in future years I’ll look back at photos of the empty stands and all of us with masks on and think, What an extraordinary time. 

Tokyo itself was an unbelievable venue. When we got there, the first thing that really took my breath away was the heat and humidity. We had to ride early in the morning and late in the evening. Everything stopped in the middle of the day when it got really hot. In the 10 days leading up to our competition, we’d get a bus to the venue at about 5 a.m., ride the horses, go back to the hotel and swim, read books and have a nap, then go back to the barns for another session at 6 or 7 p.m. 

It was quite a small team compared to my past experiences: We had three on the team and Mai Baum as reserve. I feel like the riders all got on well and there was good, positive energy amongst the group of Team USA. 

The event was an exciting one: Team USA selected three strong horses and riders, with an emphasis on finishing a team. In other Olympics, sadly, we’ve had a few unfortunate rounds and America didn’t compete at team. Being completely honest, I went to Tokyo with aspirations of getting in with the top placings, but it wasn’t to be. Right from the start, things didn’t go well for me and Thomas, with a less-than-stellar dressage test, but I will say on cross-country he was very good and in show jumping our first round was brilliant. Sadly, in the last round of show jumping, to decide the individual placings, he definitely felt tired and overwhelmed by the massive course, and we had a couple of rails down. 

It was a bit of a weird feeling coming home: It was a moderate success, finishing the team in sixth place, but I felt a bit empty at missing my goals for a top finish. I can honestly say no stone was left unturned in my training and preparation, and it just didn’t come off on the day. This is the nature of competitive sport, and Thomas and I will bounce back. 

I feel like the USA is in a very strong position coming into the World Equestrian Games next year. The group of horses and riders that were at the mandatory outing at Great Meadow in Virginia was a good, strong group of nine or 10 horses. If they all keep trending well over the next year, America will be a force to be reckoned with. 

I will add that Thomas has been an incredibly special horse for me. I must give thanks to his owner, Christine Turner, for her ongoing support. Thomas is an absolute tryer and a very resilient animal. I don’t believe there are too many horses in the world that have done a WEG, Pan Ams and Olympics, as he has, and I feel like there’s still plenty left in the tank. He’s 14 years old and I think if I play my cards right, there will be plenty more big events in his future. 

Caption:

Boyd Martin and Thomas, owned by Christine Turner, competing on the cross-country course at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Photo by FEI/Christophe Taniére

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Tagged under: boyd-martin, eventing, summer olympics, Tokyo Olympics, Tsetserleg

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Hello April!!! 🌻🌷 This month's edition of Si Hello April!!! 🌻🌷
This month's edition of Sidelines is our eventing edition and it will not disappoint! Of the many things happening this month one of the most exciting things coming up is Sidelines will be at The Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event held in Lexington KY 🤩

This month's issue of Sidelines features the beautiful and talented Liz Halliday-Sharp and her never-give-up attitude!!

Of the many lessons that Elisabeth “Liz” Halliday-Sharp learned from her father, resilience was perhaps the most important. Liz’s innate ability to overcome adversity has served her well in her quest to become one of the top event riders in the world. Through the highs and lows of a career with horses, Liz’s “can do” attitude has helped propel her through both triumph and defeat. 

Liz, who has won more events globally during the past three years than any other rider in her discipline, continues to set records—with her sights set firmly on the 2024 Olympic Games.

This is truly a can't miss article! Read more in the link in our bio! 

Never miss a moment with Sidelines by following all our social media and subscribing to get your own edition of Sidelines, the magazine for horse people about horse people 🦄

📸Portraits by Melissa Fuller

#olympics #tokyo #sports #tokyoolympics #sport #india #olympicgames #athlete #olympic #figureskating #athletics #horses #fitness  #training #usa #goldmedal  #motivation #athletes #teamusa #skating  #champion #love #sidelinesmagazine
Sports Psychology column🐎 By Margie Sugarman I Sports Psychology column🐎
By Margie Sugarman

I just bought a new horse. I think he’s amazing, but I miss the feeling of just “clicking” with my old horse. I know that it takes time to grow that connection, but do you have any tips that can help me be confident and in tune with my new horse in the short term?

You kick off your sneakers and realize that there’s a big hole in the sole of one shoe. Well, you’ve had them for quite a while and have worn them everywhere, from hiking to riding. They’ve served you well but it’s time for new ones. (It’s time to move on to a new horse.) You turn on your computer and order a new pair. You wait in anticipation. You’re excited, they’re cool looking. (He’s pretty!)

Upon arrival, you quickly open the box and slip your feet in. They’re great sneakers, but they aren’t as comfortable as the pair they’re replacing. They don’t bend as well—the sole is stiff. They don’t feel as comfortable—they have to be broken in. They don’t fit like the others did—the old ones were so well molded to your feet. (He’s a new ride, a different ride. He needs some suppling work.)

Of utmost importance in the human/horse relationship (especially the ones with the strongest bonds) is the horse looking to their owner as the leader and respecting their personal space. This important dynamic comes from groundwork—no matter what discipline you’re involved in. Just as it is with friendships, there needs to be respect. Respect is developed when one is on the ground and not mounted.

The things you do might seem small, but if done consistently and in a positive way, the results are huge. The confidence and trust you develop between the two of you will carry your relationship to wherever you want it to go.

To read Margies full column click the link in our bio! Never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄

Photo by Ali Kelman

#psychology #mentalhealth #love #therapy #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #motivation #psychologist #selfcare #mindfulness #selflove #life #mentalhealthmatters  #mindset #wellness #meditation #inspiration #mind #Sidelinesmagazine
Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! W Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.
 
Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.
 
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Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.

Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.

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❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

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