22/12/2012 Equestrian: Olympia Horse Show

It is a limb here which means it is nearly Christmas. Behind this tour,

a tiny pony called Jack. He is 20 and retires this year. He has

taught them how to be jockeys. This show is about all-round

horsemanship and this box celebrates the success at the

Olympics and Paralympics. Never before has Britain won so many

medals. A team gold in the show jumping, two gold medals in

dressage. A team silver in eventing. Plenty to look back on and reflect

That is a great start. That is good Zara Phillips absolutely screaming

out of the arena. Wow! Move on, Tina. Silver the Great Britain! It

is given us so much and it is Nick Skelton at his very best. It

is a wait and see game now. This could be the first gold since 1952.

Britain has got a gold! Will they see Britain win their first ever

dressage medals? This is gold. She has made history. She has made

history. Could it be British magic as we come to the final Olympic

sport. That is one of the best things I have seen from the British

rider. Charlotte Dujardin. Going Medals in all three disciplines at

the Olympics and the Paralympics, 11 medals in all. Natasha Baker one

of two goals, the rain that Brooks Award for Most inspirational and 23

right. I spoke to the Paris and pins. Sophie Christiansen, who led

the way, how exciting was the experience of London 2012? It was

just amazing. To do it in front of the home crowd, the whole country

got behind us. You just want to do it again! You might have a chance

in Rio but not in front of the home crowd again. What will you remember

most? When we went into the arena, the first day, the crowd absolutely

went mad as we went in, let alone coming out. That was my stand-out

moment, the feeling of support behind us and we haven't done

anything, wickets have fallen off but they were so proud to be

British and be there. There was mike stand out moment. The standard

of competition, Natasha, it is really tough. It really is. We have

such strong competition from all of the grades from all over the world.

And we have some really amazing horses at the moment, we are really

lucky and we can't get complacent. We have to a bid again for Rio.

there were you want to be? Definitely! How many Paralympics is

that? This is my fourth. And how to this compare in terms of standards

and facilities? It has to be the best, there's no doubt about it.

Everything from the other games, the Paralympic village was better,

more compact and easy to get about, the venues were superb. Every

nation in Greenwich said it was the best temporary stabling and they

knew they had been in. Everything was superb. Was that the first time

he felt this is a parallel event? think it was. The home crowd made

it that way. Especially when the press were saying you have seen the

best, now be prepared to be amazed with the Paralympics. They got it

right. The strap line thanks for the warm-up was clever. Very very

clever. Channel 4 did a fantastic job, they put the Paralympics in

such a positive way. We were the soup humans and it really put us on

an even keel the Olympics. Everyone still had a Olympic fever from a

few weeks ago. Everybody's excitement carried on. What is

next? We have the Europeans in Denmark, we are getting up to that,

taking younger horses out and getting them experienced for Rio

and working up to that. It's exciting, new challenges. It is sad

2012 is over. We are looking ahead to the future. You are inspiring so

many more people. You are very very young. You are making girls and

boys younger than you think that's what they want to do, the danger is

they are so good you have to keep improving. That's why you're so

improve -- impressive because you have improved. Yes, it was amazing.

The peak of my game, I want to keep it that way for Rio. I like a

challenge! You rise to the challenge. Well done to all of you.

Thank you for talking to me. That's in the past, this is in the

future. Ben Maher is favourite to win the World Cup. He took last

year, he is on board Triple X. He has a strong international

competitor. We also have individual silver and bronze in a field of 35.

We look back at the puissance, the high jumper horses from earlier

this week. Ben Maher won last year. We also will be showing you

dressage, Charlotte Dujardin Anna taking individual and team gold at

the Olympics, she was in action in the freestyle to music. It is the

new rave sport in terms of popularity. And let's baby in the

golden glow of Greenwich. For the first time in 60 years, the show

jumpers won a gold medal and the team gold medallists will be in the

This is it, backstage at Olympia. We will be showing you the

highlights of the other parts that make the show so popular and so

special. We start with puissance, it is high jump for horses. The

word means power or might all force. It comes from Old English and old

French. You want to know what makes a puissance horse, what makes a

horse perfect for this discipline? Tim Stockdale explains. The

puissance, we call it a test and it is the ultimate test. The key word

is courage. They have to be so brave, the wall is intimidating, so

big, they must take it on and be powerful and not be worried about

it. I do not think there was anything wrong with the approach.

The horse panicked. He thought he couldn't do it and gave up.

The other think his trust in the rider. They cannot see the landing

side so they hope the rider knows it OK so when they take off their

land OK. The one thing big difference -- differentiates it is

carefulness. The Grand Prix horse is more careful, the puissance

horse is braver, willing to take the big fence on. It's a very big

fence. 5 ft 10 is the height in the first round. When the horse jumps,

he makes a pact with his front legs, a backward squat to push himself

upwards, when he gets near the top, he brings the shoulder backwards

and rolls over the top of the fence. Perfect approach and he's there.

That was the business. And then he lands quite steeply,

crates balance, gets organised and canters away. That's how you jump

the big fence. Puissance horses come in all shapes and sizes. The

rider must be cool. They must not frighten the horses or making

nervous. You must position of the horse correctly for take-off,

London, short and, get the right. For take-off, six feet away. There

we have it, the puissance competition, simple really. You

jump it, or you don't. Tim Stockdale back after a broken

neck last year. This was Robert Whitaker in the first round. The

horses jump two fences before they get to the wall. Robert Whitaker's

horse didn't fancy it! The refusal meant he was eliminated and the

field of nine was reduced by one as we pick up with commentary from

ft 4. One thing's for sure, I have never ever jumped anything like

that. A not even on the hunting field.

house all day, world-class driving, water sensation, we have had one

world-class competition all ready. The second round of the puissance.

She has taken it on. That's the way she does it. Just a little path of

the cheeks and eight sigh of relief. I have seen this mare looked more

generous. She is running down to it as if she is running into the

bottom and almost hesitated but she sat on her hocks and had the

decency to push up in the air when she needed to. It makes it harder

for her to jump it when she runs in quite so close. She really had to

slow herself on the last stride. She is tremendously powerful. This

man from Kent, died Williams, a real competitor. As is this lady.

Superb against the clock and she said earlier this is not her

favourite competition but she will certainly give it her all -- guy

starts to jump and believe she can go all the way. That was a

fantastic jump. The most convincing we have seen. The way this horse

jumped. A slightly different technique, a longer stride, not

quite getting to the bottom of it. Using the horses range, a big

cancer, prefer to be off the fence but making it look comfortable. --

she still could win the competition, her husband normally tells her what

to do. Oughtershaw feeling? -- What could win? Yes, if you don't try,

you don't know. We will see how those discussions go, John.

COMMENTATOR: This man has had a very good autumn season on the

indoor shows. I wonder whether you can remember the Rock. Just old

enough. I know what you're going to tell me, short trousers, I know.

That was against the late Alan Oliver and others. Now, can Italy

jump into the spotlight. This horse is very strange with its front end

action. Oh dear! That was a scary one again. A different jump, but

Luca is loving every minute of it. Look at the smile on his face, he

is enjoying himself. But he instils so much confidence into his horses,

the way he rides them. He stand off too far. A big, wild scary jump sh

but getting in the air. This used to be a competition that was part

of European mainland scene and not Britain's. Now the roles are

reversed. The British are very competitive in puissance now.

little touch in front. I think John got him close to make the horse use

his shoulders, he says the competition is about schooling his

horse, to get it in the air, in preparation for the World Cup. You

just see, just caught it slightly in front. But made hymn use his

body and I think John will be pleased with that. I doubt John

will come back for the next round. Kpwrou never know if he smif -- but

you never know if he smif -- sniffs some prize money! Tim Stockdale.

The memory i of Tim this year is jumping at royal Windsor horse show

in May and he had a nasty fall as she was finishing. That was his

first fall after breaking his neck. He got up and realised everything

was work. That was the moment he thought I'm going to have another

back end away. Got the approach he wanted. He should have jumped it.

That is really disappointing for Tim. Got the shoulders and the

front legs nicely away. And just did it a bit stiff in his back. A

lovely calm approach. Took off in exactly the right place. Jumped a

bit to the left. Just look at the head-on. Snaked a bit to the left.

That was bad luck. It is a shame to have lost Tim so soon, but you're

riding again, this time last year you had your neck in a brace.

would have to have the wide angles on. It is nice to be back. But

you're right I'm disappoint. I he did his hard work, jumped well in

front and kept his back straight and tipped it off the wrong way. We

want him to tip over and release the back end. We did the hard work

and a silly fault. Will we see you later? Yes the horse did brilliant

this afternoon and it is teaming up nicely for World Cup and that horse

is a nice six-bar horse. There will be plenty of people cheering you

here, nice to see you again. So Tim Stockdale is gone. Four through at

the moment. We now learn that John Whitaker is not going to go into

round three. I think we put a lot of money on that! We have got three

at the moment going through. Now Michael Whitaker. This is Ingliston

more from Michael. Yes and the family will be watching this.

Matt's dad died earlier in the year and John Llany, the Llany family

have done so much for British show jumping. That is the approach, a

exactly into the right place and he kept the horse's body straight in

the air. He is not too bad a rider, Michael, isn't he? He is getting

the hang of it! That was brilliant. Peach of a stride, perfect rhythm.

That is the way to do it. So four through to round three. That will

be the next round and we have still got two to come. Ben Maher and Will

funnel. Just going back to the Llany family, they are sorpblted --

associated with the other great family in British show jumping. A

win for Michael Whitaker would be a lovely touch for British

wall there. In the first round he approach and surprised the horse.

Wow! What a piece of riding! He went right up to the top corner and

cut in, so the horse couldn't think about dodging. That is an amazing

piece of rider. He is a real thinker. He has worked out the

right plan. And had no chance to look at the wall and get a wobble

on. That was incredible. He won in 2010 and Michael Whitaker was third

with CyberSpace. Will the battle be between them stkph The jump he

produced by coming in on theage was perfect. What a tactic. Now Willie

with just three days' riding he adopted what you could daul the

safety seat. He nearly put the brakes on. I think probably Will

will be happy to call ate day. think he is ready to go and have a

beer tonight. That was a hair- raising moment. But no harm done.

He kept his balance beautifully. His stride there, the horse decided

he didn't want to go and Will said, come on, and he ended up as a

result way too far off. He had no chance of jumping it. The horse was

honest to go. He was honest to jump. He was a long way off. Will

realised that, you watch him sit back. Took one hand off the reins

to keep his balance. Let's have another look at this. Half a length

off in the end. The wall did stand at 6 foot 4. It is now being raised.

Bob is the course designer. He makes the call. How high are we

going? 6 foot 8. Do you have a figure of how many horses are

capable of jumping this height? you make an assessment and there is

one twor could go quite a long way. I think we will get over 7 foot.

Maybe 7 foot 2. I hope. It is big enough. You wouldn't want to gallop

into this wall, even if it is collapsible. A massive fence.

here are the ones to do battle in the sec jump off. Round three. I

think Laura Renwick will stick in. Luca Moneta for Italy. What is your

favourite? It is wide-open. If Ben can keep his horse straight. He is

the one with the biggest jump. Maybe that tactic will work. He is

possibly the favourite. But don't discount Ritchie Rich. I remember

when guy won his first puissance on a horse called Oona. Guy took the

horse up and took it over the win.: there is no rider that can instil

more confidence into a horse than took it on. That is a surprise. I

think Guy's approach was better than time than the round before. He

ran into the bottom and she didn't get her shoulders up. If you look

where he took off. It was a good take off. Maybe a fraction cles, --

close, but that is where he was last time. Didn't push up in the

air enough. Just a bit too quick possibly on the way down. That last

stride, tiny bit short. But you would say that's where she normally

gets too. But she didn't make the jump. It is 6 foot 8. It is no

small fence. And I'm surprised we are at 6 foot 8 in round three.

it is a big fence. Once you get past 6 foot 6, it does make a big

difference. Laura Renwick then. On Roller Coaster. There would be a

lot of support from this lady in better and this horse is so brave.

You can see on the way down, never ever thinking about trying to dodge

out of the fence. Only one thought on Roller Coaster's mind and that

is getting in the air and jumping the fence. Sthe jumped three rounds

last year and then called it a day. Will she go again? A bit off the

fence, but that is where the horse likes to be. Jumping slightly to

the right. But again making a how long can she go on doing it as

the war goes up? She needs to be fractionally closer in the next

round. Smiling already. I am impressed by this man. He really

enjoys his jumping. The smile on his face, you get the impression

what will happen next? Some of the riders looks a serious and he has a

big grin on his face, like he is having fun. She has done a couple

of strange jumps so far. Let's look at this one. Very fast. Another

strange, we to jump all over the place. But in the end too much

speed. Could not quite stay in the air with that much pace. He is

grinning even more. He is loving his time here. Fantastic. The

riders love coming here. We have the world's top eight riders, eight

out of the top 10. We have the best field we have ever had here. He has

come down way too fast. A long way off. All sorts of things happening,

twisting, turning, legs everywhere. He was not smiling over the top of

the fence. I think it is relief afterwards. He is sitting backwards

over the top of the fence hanging on for dear life. Look at his face.

He has had fun. It's all good fun. This is interesting because

although Laura Renwick does not want to jump again, she has cleared

the wall. If Ben Maher clears it, it is �20,000 on offer so her

husband will wants to talk her into it. Let's see what happens with Ben.

Ben Maher. Now looking to stay in we are losing competitors rapidly.

Will he come inside again? He is. Taking that very fast. He has

jumped it! It has worked again. We are going again. We are going to

round four. Again, Ben using his experience and knowledge, and it

worked. So much pace, pulling really hard into the jump. Does not

want too much room in front of the wall to lose control. But the power

special nights in the puissance. Gets into the right place, and this

horse really has got the scope and power... We are going bigger. We

are. This is the situation, Laura has jumped clear, Ben Maher has

jumped, it is the two of them in it. If she wants to keep the game alive,

to be competitive, she has to go in again and she knows she has. With

the greatest reluctance will see a Laura Renwick jump again. -- we

will see. This puissance coming down to around four. They could be

one more round. Interesting if they would go again. We've had occasions

where the riders actually decides have had drama since Monday night,

a world record in the first Grand earlier I am not really a fan of

the puissance wall. Not to quit. -- not too quick. She jumped it!

Fantastic. That was a brilliant piece of writing. She got the

stride you're talking about. Exactly, slightly more balanced.

She jumped at, a touch further to the middle of the fence and what a

right. She kept her nerve brilliantly. A fraction closer,

just touched in front, got away with it. She had enough balance to

roll the back end over. If she was quicker it would have come down.

The wall Wobble's quite a lot. But it is very light. She only rubbed

the top of it. If you hit it at all it is light enough to come down.

She got away with it. For someone who doesn't like puissance, you are

quite good. He is a phenomenal horse, he will jump from three,

puissance. He is the most versatile animal. I feel very safe on him. He

will try his best for me and he proves it. You can watch Ben Maher

with me. If he has the wall down, you have won the puissance!

call. They do not come any cooler than Ben Maher. He is almost

certainly going to take the tight inside line so he doesn't get too

much pace up. He doesn't want a repeat of what happened in the

first round when he had a horrible You both jumped clear, there is

another round. No, that's it now. I am quite willing for him to win

this one. I am proud of my horse. This jump, slightly off suits the

horse's technique. He is a big horse, he needs the room. Brierley

run by Ben. -- brilliantly. It looks to me as if Ben Maher is

going to go again it to make it a clear out right wing. If he wants

to win out right otherwise it is a tie. That would be a wonderful

victory, twice in three years for Ben Maher. But this man is a real

professional. He studies, he looks at things in detail. He has the

wins in the past. The triple bar was often the fence that undid that

combination. Inside again. Brits tactic he has used. Very nearly. So

close. It would be nice to finish with a clean sheet. The crowd are

going nuts. What a fantastic competition we have had. Once again

the puissance has come alive. To see a medallist when the big one is

again something this crowd have really enjoyed. Let's have another

look at this. Maybe a fraction quick, slightly off it. Just a

little flick, unlucky not to get away with it. So near, yet so far.

But he takes the prize pot. It hung on for a second, the top brick in

the balance and down it came. It doesn't matter. Ben Maher wins the

puissance again. Some great names have won this famous puissance.

Michael Whitaker won it twice in the late 1980s, Robert Smith. The

Australian also won it. Won it twice in the late 1980s. Freddie

Welsh, another one who won the puissance when it first came back

here in the early 1970s. This is one, Robert Whitaker in 9th place.

Then there is the winner again after a gap of a couple of years.

It heated on the edge. I had... It was more important he went and

stopped. I was a little bit far away. It is OK, I was happy. It was

enough. I am proud. It was a good night to finish it. A good effort

considering the state York one is in. Yes, I have not thought about

it because of the adrenalin. I'll put some ice on it. Thank you very

the spotlight, what a year for Ben Maher. This is a man who has the

greatest respect from his colleagues as a really really top-

class jockey. An all-round horseman. His brilliance in the quick-

thinking to make the turn into the wall to get his horse to jump it is

what won the competition tonight. Ben Maher on his horse, it's quite

a mouthful. He wins the puissance again. He is flying this week. He

really is going well. You will see him later life this afternoon. He

will be writing Triple X. -- riding. The show has been going for 40

years, it was restarted in 1973 by a former BBC commentator. His son

runs the show and some of the key ingredients are the puissance,

beautiful in their simplicity, it maintains an appeal to all age

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groups and here are some of the Beautiful. It is the classic

mixture of entertainment and sport. Graham Fletcher competed at the

first Olympia. Simon Brooks Ward also here. This was you, Graham in

1973. What is it lime coming here? Fantastic. Since it started it has

always had a special atmosphere. It was a brave move to come here. The

show ran spring to late autumn. And it was very brave of Simon's father

to you know... Put such a show on. It has always, it has alwaysed a a

special atmosphere. Simon, when your father made the decision to

reinvent this, there was first showjumping in 1907, people thought

it would fail. They thought it was thought he was mad. I sent up the

high street in a squirrel suit to give away tickets. You couldn't gir

them away. And now look at it. do you keep it fresh? One act is

Jean Francois Pignon who, seems to control wild horses with no bridle

no, saddle. He just does it through instinct. He is an amazing man and

so good to work with. You should see his horses in the stable,

they're so calm and collected. And that is what we need. We like

people to see this displays. You go around Europe to find new acts?

it could be Russia, Spain, France Italy. We have had some from Japan.

This is the Barcelona police, who finished their routine with the

horses all lying down. And the children and I brought my God

children and they sit there gripped by it. I'm glad to hear that. They

should buy more tickets! When they start young and we have had

generations coming here and granny's treat, she was probably a

child at the first one. Do you enjoy rung it, or is it a massive

stress? I'm unemployable anywhere else. It is a family affair. It

wouldn't be the same. It has basis in ending up in training people for

real life sport. The Shetland pony Grand National, both Sam Twiston-

Davies and Willie Twiston Daveies learned to be jockeys in this. That

pony in second, he is 20 years old, in the queen's colours. He retires

this year and he is the pony that Sam 5 Willie learned on. It is fun,

but it is competitive. All the kids want to win. Everyone that comes

here, yes they want to have fun, but it is competitive. And you know

you will see in the world cup following, everyone wants to win at

this show. And big prize money on offer. Tell me how you think your

wife, Tina, will get on? It was a tough call getting here, she had a

bad fall. She was in the jump off. A real bad accident. We are lucky

to get her here. But she was second on the first night and clear

yesterday. So it is a tough call. But she is a tough girl and she

should have a chance. Simon, in term of the quality of showjump, we

have the Grand Prix to come, but the World Cup Qualifier is the big

one. Yes with eight out of the ten -- top ten in the field, it the

jump off will be special. Thank you for talking us to. We look forward

to the World Cup this afternoon. But the big growth sport in terms

interest has been dressage. In the last few years, European standards

have got higher and Britain has been leading the way. They won a

gold at the Olympics for the first time for the team and Charlotte

Dujardin took the individual gold. She was in action in the free style

fressage to music. We will see her and Carl Hester among those

thrilling the crowds. COMMENTATOR: Carl Hester for Great Britain with

Uthopia. A lit of a Hick up at the start there. -- hiccup at the start

free style. A man who has been national champion seven time and

won 63 national title. If you want to know how to ride an extended

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trot, you just saw it. Hopefully he great combination of Uthopia and

Carl Hester weren't at their best, but tonight I get the feeling

they're on top. That was unbelievable. Such harmony.

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Incredible. It is into the lead hand the title over to the Hester

stable on a plate. She is very determined. She will make the most

of this horse. It is interesting, because when Britain first hit gold,

in the European Championships in 2010, Carl Hester and Isabell Werth

did have a real battle. On that occasion, Carl Hester won. Will he

tonight? This is another horse that has improved a lot on his

performance yesterday so far. He is more relax add more together, a

more a unit. Yesterday, he looked a bit disjointed and the hind leg

didn't come up underneath the horse through his suple back. Today, he

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fantastic ride tonight. Technically, to me, it looks at standing. It

just lacks that star quality somehow. Am I wrong? No, you're not

wrong. It does not have the fluidity and harmony of Uthopia for

me. For me, there is still a little hitch and a slight tendency to

stiffen and some of the movement's. But she is a phenomenal competitor,

this lady, and she is giving it everything she can. OK, OK, OK.

What she did there was like a half pirouette and came back and it did

not flow as it should have done. Here she is varying the angle in

compare her extended trot, it is not with a hind leg. This is a lady

who has been at the top of her game. A great competitor. Carl Hester has

done it and now Isabell Werth has done it. Could they will be chasing

Charlotte Dujardin? Now it is the Marks. Has she beaten Carl Hester?

Yes, she has. Now it is the Olympic champion, Charlotte Dujardin. Is it

had turned tonight? -- it is it her better. Charlotte yesterday was

feeling very under the weather with bronchitis. She is better. Let's

hope it is good enough. Nothing like a world record to make you

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feel better. That is much better He is a very on edge and happy with

himself. Yes, this horse had not competed since London until last

night. I think everyone was amazed how much the horse was on song for

the lack of competition. To Nat, as you rightly say, Judy, he is a

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on edge in London. The last part of got. She is now what top of the

world. It must be a wonderful feeling for you. I am so proud of

her. The crowd around their feet, so they should be. Here is the

score. Charlotte Dujardin wins for Our gold medal-winning team are

here, still bathing in the glory. Karl, you are the team captain, how

much does it mean to you now, that you did it? Be his historical for

starters. That will remain, I think with dressage fans for the rest of

their lives. I can remember, I do not know them, but I always

remember the gold medallists from years ago so I think that is how

people will remember us. It has been non-stop. The promotion has

been fantastic and the fact that everyone seems to know what

dressage is now is more unbelievable. It does not step --

stock. You think winning the gold medallist the end but it is the

beginning. And the important thing is to build on that. You and

Valegro seem to be getting stronger and stronger? Yes, last night was

the first time he has been out since the Olympics so it was very

exciting. The atmosphere was buzzing in there. He was very

excited to be in there. Were you happy with him? Yes, the beginning

was a little bit of a Neth, something spooked him and he got a

bit frightened, so the start was a little bit tense, but the rest that

I was happy with. Only in the week, you set a new world record? Yes, in

the Grand Prix I set a new world record so I had a fantastic ride.

He was really good. I was absolutely over the moon with him.

It is amazing how the standard of British dressage has improved.

Laura, you were a part of that but now you have the challenge to find

a new horse? Yes, certainly before Rio I would like to have a new

project which makes it onto the team, hopefully home-bred if I am a

lucky. Alf is not retired. He did not compete here, he is a bit older

than the other horses, so he has had a longer break. He is pretty

chirpy back home. How has a life changed for you? Have you been

going round to schools talking about dressage? Are I have been

doing a lot of things. I got to compete in a Olympic Superstars

which will be shown on BBC after Christmas. I have been doing lots

of fun things and trying to keep the momentum up and promoting

equestrian sports. I think people really appreciate the beauty of

dressage now, you said everything - - everyone wants to talk about it,

bring on the dancing horses, they love it. Yes, dressage is about

this beautiful partnership, harmony, the horse looking like it is doing

on its own. It is like a perfect marriage really. That is how it

should be. I think the three of us have managed to be well married to

our horses this year. We have had a lot of praise for the way the

horses go which is fantastic. And hopefully, a new era of likeness in

dressage. It is not that complicated. The fact that we can

show it, explain it in this easy way with an easy way of riding

makes the sport more accessible. is accessible and successful as

well, well done, all of you. Carl Hester is the Co owner and

trainer of Valegro, Charlotte Dujardin's horse so he will be

pleased. Charlotte takes home the prize money, adding to the success

in the Grand Prix the night before. She was performing the same routine

to the same patriotic music which won had the Olympic individual gold

medal. Valegro is a hot horse. He takes a fair bit of handling. Andy

Austin is alongside me. I am getting lots are queries on put her

about how to train a horse to do that level of dressage. The cities

the same as in show jumping. A starter for years old and build up.

It is layer upon layer. It takes five or six years of really hard

work. So, Kauto Star which has just retired from racing, he is now,

they are thinking of training him for dressage. He could not be this

level, could he? There is no chance of that. There is the breeding for

one. He is a racehorse. Many generations of breeding gone into

producing him to be what he is. The warm bloods which you do dressage

on, they are specifically bred horses to do that job. Five or six

years of training to get to that level. You are not going to take a

marathon runner to be a gymnast. That is a very valid companion.

Kauto Star is 12 years old now. What kind of level could he get to

within the next 12 months? He can certainly do a bit of novice star

at the lower levels with correct paces and if you can get him to

have a happy life and enjoy himself, stay supple, keep his mind and body

working, which every horse should be doing, there is no good just

chucking them in a field, but don't expect to see him in real! No, but

let's hope we see Charlotte Dujardin that. They are looking for

a buyer for Valegro, they are hoping an investor will come in to

share the costs. When you watch a, a lot of people say they get really

emotional, because it is such a beautiful thing to see and the

connection between the horse and You see the UNISON between horse

and rider. It looks effortless. You can see that sometimes with certain

showjumping riders. But it is harmony and the horse and rider

working together. That is what you want to see all the time. A couple

of questions about whether the horses actually listen to the music.

Do the horses react to the music and the beat, or only listening to

the rider? They're only listening to the rider. It is very much to do

with the rider's aids. The music certainly works for the audience.

They loved that. And another success for Charlotte Dujardin. The

showjumpers are warming up we will bring you live action. But what is

special about Olympia is the other stuff that happens. Here is the

Fopp top top # Sofrt brown eyes that seem to say, stay a while I

someone oh so good # Someone who will take him home for everyone to

see! # Christmas time, a Christmas tree, with the happy family # Pity

him he's got no pup. He's a lonely pup in a Christmas shop! # Mr Santa

if you would, send him someone oh so good # Someone who will take him

home # For everyone to see! # Christmas, a Christmas tree, with a

happy family # Pity him, he's got no pup. # He's a lonely pup in a

If you want to see the show in full, you can do that tomorrow on the red

One of the additions this year has been World Cup driving. And Boyd

Exell is the star of that team of four horses. An Australian

born, but now lives in Leicestershire. Four gates, there

is a ball on the top of the each marker. If he knocks it down, it is

seconds to add. There is little room for error and it is all

against the clock. There is just 1.50 metres wide. There is very

little room for error. He goes into the first of two hazards. They have

got to go through gates in the right order. Through A and now

doubling and look thousand horses turn on a six pence as a team. And

watch Boyd, his hands, it is as if he is doing knitting with the reins.

suspension. He is still clear. It is the fastest who wins. This man

has won four World Championships. This is the sixth leg of the World

Cup. Eight in all. The final in dor bow in February. -- Bordeaux in

around. That is all part of the skill. They fly home over if bridge.

Two more gates to go and the man is going to get a qualification again

for final. Look at the crowd, they love it! This man is a maestro.

Boyd Exell with his lovely team of horse, winning the World Cup here

in London. What a performance. You really don't see anything like that

very often in your life. This man Now the arena is full of coloured

poles. Andy you have had a walk around. It is the course for the

qual Fer -- qualifier. Well this is very big. It starts off big early

on. There is two huge fences, three to four are a wide trim bar, a huge

oxer and the London Olympic wall at the end of the line. That is right

at the beginning. Some tight turns. And big spreads. This, look how far

they have to stretch across this parallel. That fence is coming out

of a combination. That is how tough it is. So the beginning of the

course is very much about power. Will, can I grab a word? If you

look at this fence here, this plank, the entrance is right there, they

have got to go past the entrance and jump this huge plank, trying to

keep the concentration. It is tough. Will Funnel is here. How has your

week been? They have been jumping well. Could do with a bit of luck.

It would be nice to have a good round. It is tough, you're straight

into it, big jumps. There is a lot of committed distances. It is big

and tall and it will take a bit of jumping. Sorry, I disturbed you.

You will see Will pacing out, so he knows how many strides between this

fence and the next one. Also Andy, riders needing to understand their

own horse and whether they're a naturally long striding horse, or a

short, choppy one. That is what we are talking about. You heard Will

mention the triple bar. You need to open your horse up. If you have a

horse with a big stride, they will open themselves up and find it very

hard to get balanced again for the wall. Now let's have a chat with

Nick Skelton and Tina Fletcher. Tina the particular challenges for

you? Its all. It starts off big. The first fence is square and wide.

It is great to see you back, you have had a bad injury. Yes it is my

first show back after three and a half months. Tina was a reserve for

the Olympics. Nick was there. He won a gold medal. How is Big Star

indoors? He is quite green indoors. He is still only nine. It is quite

difficult for him this horse. Especially the fences down the side.

He doesn't like the crowd so much. They're tight to the ball. -- wall.

This distance is quite short. many strides? It is five, but it

will be tight. You have to keep wide. But he is coming off the

crowd. It will be a fight. Good luck. We will show you what Nick

means, unlike outdoor courses, the crowd are right here and could

almost lean over and touch a horse. We were talking about how quickly

this comes off the corner by the entrance. Nick said this stride f

you go directly, it is a bit short for five and you have to come out

close to the crowd. The horses get spooked, Big Star is still green

indoors. We saw him get spooked. Peter chars is here. He went last

in the jump off and sealed the gold for Britain. He is here. Think I

will go last today. It is a big, straight forward course. Plenty to

jump. Not over technical, but very big jumps. You're Olympic horse you

have sold to Bruce Springsteen's daughter. What are you riding?

chancing my arm, punching above my weight with a ten-year-old mare

called Odi. How do you ride this will give her as much help as I can.

I am the teacher today and I have got get some mileage for the future.

She is a nice prospect educational round? Yes. Now talk me

through this, Andy, this is coming from eight to nine. Up to nine here.

Hello! This is a big power jump. If you look at the front rail, it is

just as high as the back rail. This fence is about one metre eighty

wide. It is a very wide fence. This opens the horse up. When you have

opened it up. It is difficult to get them rebalanced. That is the

course builder's strick -- trick all the way round. Here we have the

red wall. The red bus. Look at this fence here. Because on the top of

the wall there is some very light bricks. And they, they will come

down easily. If we come and have a look at them. You're going to tap

them are you? This brick here. is like leg kpwo. -- Lego. Hev e

they have had to jump wide fences, open the horses up and then some

quick strides and that could be difficult. I have just seen the

youngest member of our Olympic team, Scott Brash. How much have you done

since Greenwich? I have done a couple of the World Cup shows. But

he has had a month break. So this is his first show back. But he is

in great form. How much of a difference does it make to you to

ride here and they announce you as an Olympic gold medallist? Sniet

mace makes a great -- It makes a great difference. Good luck this

afternoon. I keep thinking it is tonight. Do you think you have a

chance of winning? I don't want to say too much. But yeah, if I ride

the lines right, my horse jump as good as he can, he felt good the

other nights, well he has a chance. He will be very cool in the saddle.

Good luck, Scott. Bob Ellis is in charge of designing the course. I

have asked Andy about it, what do 0 have in your mind when you were

planning the route and the size of the fences? It is a course from the

Netherlands. It is a tough course. It is big, very uncompromising.

Distances vary, you have some long and short distances. Wide oxers and

I think it will take some jumping. But I think it is fair. You can get

at everything. I think it is a fair course. Are you allowed to say who

you think might win? As you know from the Olympics I'm unbiased.

That is true. I think Mark Houtzager has a chance. Of the

British riders who do you think will make the jump off. I think six

clear rounds all Brits. No, I think Nick with Big Star has chance.

Scott, he is going well. Ben is going amazingly well. So they're

all in with a good chance. Thank you. I hope it goes well for you.

Andy, we will keep wandering. are going to look at the last part

of the course. That is another vertical. You imagine what the

horses are seeing as they take off. There is a huge amount of

distraction. This is a light and narrow fence and it comes down

easily. So when they have jumped that, they swing around the corner.

Come into is in big parallel? fence is very close to the end of

the arena. They need a lot of power. There is no room to get any pace

and they have to jump it off the hocks with power. As soon as you

jump that, here is the last part of course, the combination. It is

rights at the end. How tired do horse get. One would think not so

tired. They get fired -- tired because of the intense effort.

Because the jumping comes so quickly, they don't get a chance

for a breather. If a horse is short of power, you look at this. It is a

blur of colour. All you see is green and yellow. It is hard to

This is the first part of a combination so it is a delicate

fence jumping in. There is another vertical straight after it, once

dried. Right at the end of the arena, shall we have a look at the

Oxo? Yes, show me. It is lucky that the cameraman is very tall. This is

the second vertical. They will do one stride in here and then two

here and we were talking about Square oxers and Power jumping,

right up to the end of the arena, the very last fence on the course,

a huge oxer to jump there. It is a proper test. This is the last

fence? It is part sea of the combination. They set a time of the

first-round, it is not about going the fastest but is the time a tight

enough to make that a factor? always tight. I think they have to

get round in 64 seconds. If you go over that time, you get time faults.

It means the riders have to keep up a strong rhythm all the way round.

You definitely get time faults if you dally about. A lot of questions

about what the courses where and why they have little hats on. Is

that about indoor jumping? There is a lot of noise in the arena and

there is a real buzz and the Tannoy and everything. He is really to

keep the sound out. Sometimes they put cotton wool in the horse's

beers so it deadens the sound. -- in the horse's years. The horses

are sensitive. They react to the noise and the crowd. Most of the

riders will walk the course two or 3 times. They will make sure they

know their distances but it is an advantage to go later and see it

written? Over the years, you can walk courses and it is fascinating

because everybody says that is how it will ride but until a couple

have been round, you're never quite sure. Also, with the time allowed,

you never know how quick it will be. As soon as you see five or six go,

you get a good idea. It is an advantage to be at the end. They

say the golden era of showjumping was in the 1970s and 1980s but I

think we are witnessing a new golden era now. Are all four of our

gold medal team from the Olympics will be competing in the Grand Prix

-- in the Cup and there is added glow because of what happened in

the summer. Told it is, Nick Skelton, Ben mare,

Scott Brash and Peter Charles. -- then there. This is the moment they

have all been dreaming of for so many years. What do you think has

made the difference from three years ago to now? Three years ago

we had two Olympic courses and the aim was to be to improve the number

of horses we had and build on the team of riders. We took conflict

out of the team and we introduced competition. Younger riders with

the older riders. The older riders have got the experience they need

and the older realise -- the older riders realised there had to fight

for their place. And it was dramatic. I think it was fate. I

had even planned four-way jump-off in the way I had set the team off

and for all that comes together was unbelievable. He has got us off yet

again to a tremendous start! That was Nick Skelton at his very best.

For all I have been through over the years and winning world

championship medals and a World Cups, to get an Olympic medal, that

is the cream on the cake. Especially to do it at a later

stage in my life. I think we are lucky, Nick and Peter have waited a

whole career until they have won and Olympic gold and we have

managed to do it earlier. It is a great boost and hopefully we can

keep the momentum going in our sport. To do it in front of your

home crowd was unbelievable. I think for the whole games, I have

not been to a bet against them back. I think I favourite moment was you

jumping up onto the podium. We all got brief bout site. Everybody was

excited and it went in one year and at the other. I thought, I am not

missing this opportunity. Peter, it all came down to you. It did. When

I look back on it now, every morning I have got my gold medal

and now and then I look at it and get a tingle down my spine. What a

tremendous crowd! 80 something as a rider that you really want to be in

a position where you want to test yourself against the best. You want

your standards and expectations to be as high as possible and I am

glad I had that opportunity to do it. When you went back home, what

was your welcome like? I live up a valley. There was a gold postbox in

Peebles and that there were two up the valley and they are painted

them all gold. I went down to the village and the local bakers had

made a big cake with my face on it. I could not believe it. I get

recognised a lot in public places now a lot more than we were, it is

not just small kids, it is adults as well. I think our job is to try

and promote the sport as much as possible. Everybody, young kids,

the riding school people come up to. It has made a massive difference to

the equestrian community in general. When I took the job, the only thing

I wanted was to win a gold medal. We have achieved that. It is

difficult to get their next step and build the motivation again but

it is building now. There will be some changes in our nation's Cup

format and then the World Games at the year after and then we are

looking ahead to Rio. Britain have delivered gold, and memory for a

lifetime. Even if I had not won gold, it would be fantastic but the

not the same as London. I loved every minute of it. Those memories

will be with me for the rest of my life. Are it was totally magical,

wasn't it? The whole thing, right from the start. The atmosphere, the

crowds, the venue. Everybody was a little unsure about doing it in

Greenwich in London but it worked, and look at the memories we have

got. The challenge now is finding the next generation of show jumpers,

the younger ones to join the life - - the likes of Scott Brash and Ben

Maher, so in the you have got fresh blood. We have got the old guard

which are hanging in there and they did a brilliant job but the two

young lads, they are coming through. We need more. Unique competition

for places and we have certainly got that coming through now -- you

need competition. A few years ago it Scott was in a class for riders

under the age of 23. The winner this time round was a 13-year-old,

Emily Ward. She took on riders ten years older. She went last in the

jump-off and she was faster than all of them. She is with me now. A

fantastic round, well done, you. Tell me about the horse you were

riding. She is a bay mare called Which. She is very fast and a very

careful horse. Who is is she? is owned by my dad and Michael

Whitaker. Obviously Michael Whitaker is a big influence in your

riding? Yes, he has helped me since I was six or seven. Ever since I

started showjumping, he has been there and supported me with the

best tactics as he can. Is this the biggest success so far, it has to

be, doesn't it? Definitely, I was totally amazed. I think most of the

people who support me where amazed how well I did yesterday. What next

for you? Hopefully next year we can come and hopefully do the same as I

did yesterday. Not much that I can say. And presumably, you're on your

school holidays and back to school in January? Yes, back to school in

January. Great to talk to, I hope that is the first of many

interviews. That is Emily Ward who is only 13 at the moment and I

think that is the beginning of a really successful career. I hope so.

Thank you. And maybe one day we will see her in the line-up for

this World Cup qualifier. The line-up includes the individual

gold medallist from the London Olympics from Switzerland. We also

have the individual silver and bronze medallists. Burka Schroder

From Britain we have the big names, Nick Skelton on Big Star, his

Olympic horse. He is also good indoors. The favourite is Ben Maher,

he rides Triple X, his Olympic horse. He has been in flying form

at Olympia this week. How much his former important? Ben Maher has

been winning everything. He is in flying form and form and confidence

since showjumping has everything. That goes through to the horse. He

is the man in the form at the moment. Who for you at the top

three to look out for? Gerken Schroder, he is one to look out for.

A world-class force. Big Star with Nick Skelton. He will be keen to do

well today for a start I just love being backstage here, being able to

see everybody warming up. Cian O'Connor is one of the early ones

and Tim Stockdale coming towards us. Last year he was standing next to

make with his neck in a brace, having broken his neck in a

horrible fall. He said he would be back and he is back riding in this

class. Let's have a look at the virtual course map. Here is Mike

Tucker to talk us through the whole 12 fences in all. Down across the

arena, a big are bright at one point 60 the maximum. Left-handed

coming back round the arena. A big oxer in the middle and then down to

another are bright, this time the London bus at 1.6 again. As we come

round to the big spread fence. One stride in there. And another big

fence. Round the bottom and become to the virtual water ditch. That is

a big fence on the other side of the arena. The upright and then to

the final line across the arena with the treble combination. Then

be big light oxer out to compete -- complete. It is a big course but it

is also a world-class field. So, let's look at the start list. It is

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 137 seconds

This is a competition which will have us on the edge of our seats

throughout. The World Cup first started here in the late 1970s. We

have had a roll of honour second to none. For me, Andy, this is the

best field I have ever seen here. There certainly is an abundance of

champion riders and Olympic medallist. All the top riders we

can expect to see here. This is definitely the biggest, toughest

competition held in Great Britain throughout the year. It is worth

making that point very strongly. We get a lot of top riders. This

indoor competition has more of the top league than any others. That is

Eleven Olympic medallists. That is fantastic. You couldn't get any

better. This is showjumping at the top of the tree. Who are we seeing

there? David bain on the right. And there they all are. Edwina and

a fascinating competition to get us under way. Rob Whitaker the first

to go. He is ranked nine in Britain. And he was ninth in a World Cup in

Cal gri. It is a horse that was tried as a potential horse for

London, but didn't quite make it. But it is a very capable horse.

the early riders is the time allowed is 64 seconds. This is not

the biggest striding horse, let's see if he can get round in under 64.

faults. And a big mistake at the pulled up and I'm not sure if he

has quite made his mind up. Yeah, he is going to just pop another

fence and things getting a bit too hot for him. Sensibly retiring.

That gives you some idea, Mike, of how tough this course is. Rob just

popping USA today over an easier fence to give the horse some

confidence again. As you said, they come up thick and fast and they're

big. And it is where horses can lose their confidence if they start

struggling. It is the technicality of the courses, the distances and

the fences coming so thick and fast. That was too much for Rob. We still

haven't seen what the time is going to be like. Now the turn of Guy

yams Williams. He sold his horse this time last year to Edwina Topps

Alexander. She didn't get on as well with it and it has come back

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 137 seconds

to Guy. The impression is the horse 63.88. You can call it good

management, or call it a bit lucky. But he is inside. It doesn't matter,

as you say, he has jumped a clear round and that was a brilliant

piece of riegd. Look at the scope and power of the horse. We know he

can jump the big, wide fences. He did well to balance him for that

delicate wall. There he is, over the last fence. Squeaked inside the

time. He is through. This combination looking better than

ever now. It has taken some time to get back. But now beginning to look

the sort of international combination they looked in the

European championships of 2011. Now man from Ireland who won individual

bronze, Cian O'Conner. He wasn't in the list of riders qualified for

the last individual day in London. Then Bengtsson had to withdraw and

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he got the place and ended up with first ever World Cup that this

combination has jumped in and they have struggled. Clare is talking to

Guy. Yes, our first clear round. Everyone else struggling, but you

made that look all right. Yes, I had him before and he has just come

back. Well, he jumped super. you know how close you were to the

time? Yes but I have to jump the Phelpss F you go too forward too

early, he gets a bit strong. I would settle for a time fault.

Great to have you back and rebuild that relationship? Yes, Wen you

sale horse, you don't expect to get him back. I didn't want to sell him,

but you have to feed the family and do the job. I'm lucky to have a

second bite of the chry. Good luck. riders. Remember that great grey

lors of Nick Skelton's, - horse of Nick Skelton's, that has been sold

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 137 seconds

Down to the spwin nation. That last line, it comes at the end of a very

big track. So it is four. The time actually a little better as you

were suggest. There is the scope and power. You see the shortening.

Had to really fight to jump that wall. But towards the end of the

course after that oxer, he is having a big argue: Once the horse

has got out of shape, she's got her head in the air and that vertical,

first part of combination, coming down. Now for Norway. She is very

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horses. He only has a bitless are pretty light. That is an

understatement, they're unbelievibly light. Eight faults

for Geir there. They have got to keep going. That puts the pressure

on. That is when the mistakes come. Yes, you see Geir riding very

forward out of the corner. Just a bit too much pace and that is why

he had that front rail down. A bit unlucky at that fence. Now the

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Austrian rider. With a horse we time. He didn't get away with that

one. He did everything right. He just touched it. Those light poles

again. It is four, but it is a good round. One feels they're beginning

to get the hang of the course. An early draw in a competition like

this is not always the best. There is the power and scope. Just felt

that as he was coming down to that last line, having opened the horse

up, didn't quite, he jumped the first one, very unlucky in the

middle. Riding for his life all the way. But it is a very fast four

faults. That might count. A good point. I think he was 49 seconds.

49.6. It is worth remembering that. That could be involved. Now Peter

Charles he has had a busy day. Two of his youngest daughters were in

the ponies this morning. They have a family who are very talented and

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 137 seconds

Peter Charles' best. This man is certainly focused for Rio 2016. The

other exciting thing is all a white. She has been a super own and to the

was not sure about jumping this horse in this class but she has

come good there. He will be thrilled with that. Peter is so

fired up after London and so he should be. We turn our attention to

the lady who had to be reserved for London, Tina Fletcher. This is an

outstanding horse owned by Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham. What super

owners they have been. Tina is recovering from injury. She had a

real confidence boost here on Wednesday night. She finished

second. She was in two minds. Her injury had taken a lot out of her.

She went so well but not this than the first fence coming down.

The horse not quite focused. Only two clear rounds. Tina has got to

make it to the Olympics. This is a power jumping horse. As a reserve,

you play a part in the team and Tina did that 110 %. She did a

wonderful job at supporting the will be interesting. Not quite the

fastest. But still quicker than many. A very well-built course. A

proper test towards the end of the course where you have got to be

very careful over the two huge verticals. It is particularly

different -- difficult on power jumping big striding horses. Here

is one of the superstars of Swedish sport. She has been very successful

for Sweden and won an Olympic medal before the Olympic Games. The horse

got a knock and so missed the Games. The worst fortnight that the horse

could have been off. But this is a very talented competition and there

lady rider. But she rides to her inside the time. The word scope

comes to mind. There is enough for Great Britain. -- clear round

number 3, 4 Sweden. Let's talk to the man who recorded the second of

the clear rounds. You were worried that she was not up to the level.

You cannot keep an old dog down like myself and I had some belief

in her. My word, you had to write her. That is the biggest trouble if

you run out of rooms in the middle. She likes to go forward but we had

to shorten her. You said, come back, come back, yes, get her back.

I land from A to B, I make room. A lot of riders ran out of room. That

is the hardest fence on the course to jump. He did brilliantly well,

well done, Peter. -- you did Maria Moneta or, he is making his

mark. Italy have rarely been without a major star for a number

popular sport. This guy is a big favourite with the crowds. You can

sense his enthusiasm and love for Charles made about the extra stride.

He gets the extra one. He is getting a little bit of a rattle on.

I think he said, bother, with the last two fences down. He did

everything right and Toll Bar point. Although he got the extra stride,

the balance and rhythm did go. It with his granddaughter. He is one

of the course designers, part of the team. This is very much a

family show. There are huge numbers of children here. They love it. We

see one of Great Britain's leading lady riders, Laura Renwick. My word,

is she in form. She spent a lot of time in Europe this summer. Five

against the clock. He is not a very big horse but he has a massive

stride and the heart of a lion. Renwick of Great Britain. Clare

Balding is now talking to the Swedish rider. She has the

brightest jacket of the lot. Under fast-track. I had to run him to get

the distance is right. He is a fast horse. I thought I would let him

cut the corners of a bit to make sure we were inside the time.

cannot walk the course for the jump-off so will you go and study

the map to see if you can cut corners? Yes, I will. Hopefully

there will be not many more clears for my sake! But I will go and see

where I can catch them. Good luck. bell goes to get through to the

starting line. He does that sensibly and easily. This horse was

4th in the Olympic Games in Athens. This man hails from Munich, a long

drive to get here. 4th from the Grand Prix in Munich. He has

already jumped in Helsinki and Oslo powerful scallion -- stallion will

have no problem with power and scope. He looks to be obedient on

the Flat. You should be able to get He kept going, he did not back up

in the middle. That second part of the combination is causing a lot of

German show jumpers. A big striding horse. Quite short between those

two verticals. No chance of all jumping the middle part.

Stockdale and the crowd love him. This time last year, you might

remember he had his neck in a huge collar. He had broken his neck

earlier in the season. When you think both Nick Skelton and Tim

Stockdale and of course Peter Charles have all broken their necks

and are still riding as well as ever, it is amazing. Results show

jumpers are a tough breed. Wake you coming back? I am right with them,

of course! Our generation, if you break something, you just bandage

it up and keep going. Tim, they do when the horse stride and he had a

combination and it has all gone wrong. He wanted to add the stride

and lost his rhythm completely. Under a lot of pressure towards the

end of the course. It is not his day, unfortunately. No, it is not

and he is going to retire. When he started riding again after his

injury, he really did show some good form. I think we will see more

of the combination in time. Tim is disappointed with that but

showjumping is them up and down sport. You have to shrug your

disappointments of and regroup. Let's have a look at this early

ended up on half a stride and it is regularly this year. He will not

Oxon, it is not the biggest fence but it is easy for horses to not be

focused at the beginning of the flowing forward. Horses that cannot

shorten a speed are out of their comfort zone and that's where the

problems are coming from. You're getting great technical virtue of

spot on! It is a fluent course but they need to sit on their hocks for

the last combination. Coming down again there. Started out as a

promising international event or the for show jumping. His cousin

was in the Swedish team in London. A very good Swedish a question

family. John's a good round until the combination. It is the middle

part, if you keep coming level to the first part, the horses are

travelling forward and they don't manage the middle section. The

riders have to decide whether they add a stride to the combination.

Belgium one of several teams with France and Germany who really

performed way under their potential. This horse has been in a number of

Nations Cups for Belgium this year. Certainly showing formatter very

everything he can but starting to the way to jump the combination.

Two down. is a huge boxer. If you don't have

pace, a lot of horses cannot jump it. If you do have pace, can you

get a balance for the combination, a great piece of course building.

A young Swiss rider making a big name for herself. When very well in

Stuttgart and then a few days ago was fourth in a strong Grand Prix

in Paris. She has jumped some lovely grounds on this horse here.

Nowadays there are very few horses jumping at this sort of level but

are not well bred. -- that. It's interesting looking at the breeding

of show jumpers. Some of the horses are way out on top when you start

looking at the best horses in the world.

The Dutch studbook. Wonderful down the combination. Four faults for

the young swoosh -- Swiss rider. Clare is talking to Tim. It is all

well saying well done but you had a shocker. Not a good day at the

office. I thought he was operating well, the fence, the white fence,

he made a large rackets and he shot off. That frightened him and you

saw he was unsettled by it. He is quite a sensitive horse. He is a

sense of false. I am sorry for you but we make benefit from your

wisdom. For wine. Thank you. leading rider from Egypt spends a

Arab riders who on making a name stallion. The power and scope,

that's what can sometimes cause you a problem jumped to begin to the

they are scarce up a moment. -- clears. He has made this a round

worthy of the World Cup. It is asking all the questions of the

horses and riders. The World Cup or part for the other riders. Guy

Williams as close inside. That's the first rider that's been over 64

seconds. This track is billed to write fluently. As you heard

earlier,... Steve Renoir looking 1998, 1999. He has been close

the same tactics then, he did a couple of rounds in the puissance.

He says it gets them in the air for this class. Crystal clear at the

with the idea of getting into the British opening team. It wasn't to

be. Did not click well enough to make it. Riding as well as other.

Tried to get the balance here. But this time it was the first part of

the combination, those dreaded verticals catching John Whittaker.

Rob is developing a wonderful relationship with the riders.

Really part of why everything has gone so well. Another of the

Olympic medallists. He has been world No. 1 over a number of weeks,

currently in third. He won the round in Verona in great style. He

was placed in the first won in Oslo. Again, very much in the money this

close to Marcus for elegance and light touch of riding. That first

part of the double, very square on a flat stride. Just a couple of

unexpected fences. The faults can come all round the course. Always a

in all and that is a surprise. He was France's, he has been in form

and has had a win here. It's not to be in the World Cup itself to leave.

-- this afternoon. It is on a five Open strides, slightly unbalanced

for some of the horses. It is a big fence and the planks we have seen,

the horses go past the entrance at take their eye off the jump a

little bit. The Australian lady who won this competition in 2008.

Riding a lovely young horse this afternoon. Only an eight year-old

mare. She's been in tremendous form. The winner for the second time of

the global riders, a tremendous performance, consistent in the

world class league. She's recently been winner of the Geneva World Cup.

She is bang in form. A bit of commentary that has a fence again.

It is the build up. This is a young horse, and eight year-old. Probably

a little bit skipping forward. Sometimes the young horses don't

quite know how to control the power they've got. It's a learning curve

for this young mare. You see how quickly Edwina had to rebalance the

horse because defences are so tight faults for you but proving you are

in there. To you go on and on? The eternal man. Yes, I feel good. I

can still win. I might as well keep going. It was a good round. He is a

big horse and some of those distances are quite tight. He is

still learning. The size is not a problem but it is the tricky thing

he has difficulty sorting out. It was reasonable round. How many

Whitakers are there competing? But altogether about 14, competing.

An extraordinary dynasty. Thank you. The Frenchman already with a fence

down. I experienced French international. Was in the silver

world medal team behind Germany. He's been a top rider in France for

things. Tail swishing. Not concentrating today, unfortunately

horses have all the ability but you need a horse that focuses on every

first fence she kicked out. Very, very annoying when they did that.

But she has got her own opinion. When she wants to, she can really

Some very good ones to come. Here but here in Britain. This horse has

been one of the flagships, very jumping indoors. Will have had him

on the World Cup circuit in the last month will two and he has been

determination to jump the first part of that double. That was

desperately unlucky. He looked to be over the planks but dropped his

back legs. It is incredible. The last clear round was ages ago.

There are faults coming all the way will -- William Funnell and Billy

rail came quickly off the corner. A bit of an unlucky round. Had the

next one will be interesting, Marc Houtzager. Of he is right at the

top of the world rankings for the Netherlands. He was part of the

team who chased Great Britain for the Olympic team gold. He has been

in the last two Olympics for the good form, he won the Grand Prix in

Paris 10 days ago. He also won the Grand Prix in Rotterdam which is

one of the bigger ones in the horses but there are some fight

extra power in the tank which the part of this game and confidence

was oozing from everywhere. Lovely. Yes, but for him it is easy but it

is easier to be that confident when you have a horse of this kind of

talent. Their height and scope and classic shape in the air. Really

careful over the middle part and loads of scope to come out. This is

another horse which has got a lot of thoroughbred into it. Yes, the

Dutch put a lot of thoroughbred into their horses 30 years ago and

you can see it. It comes from the race course and gives the courage

powerful horses. This is one of the to the jump-off. Four clear rounds

at the moment. You watch this effortless, clear of style and you

think sometimes he should put a bit more effort into it but that is his

way of writing. He sits ever so quietly. -- that is his way of

They are the biggest competition there is in the calendar. Las Vegas,

Kuala Lumpur and Geneva, he won all of them. He won the Olympic Games

in Sydney in 2000 but he has not had a great Olympic record since

then. But he is still one of the world's very, very best from

Germany. It is fascinating to watch Marcus ride because he six as quiet

as ever down to that vertical. competitor for France, Roger-Yves

Bost. He won the Grand Prix here in London in 1991. He is still at the

top of French show jumping. He has rankings. He has been in great form

this week. He has been very hard to this sport is not about style, it

is about being effective. We just saw the most Irish rider, now we

will see a guy who does it all his own way -- the most stylish rider.

His legs go everywhere but the happening. There he is. Fighting.

The first part of it has gone. that occasion you could say it did

not work. That is one of the favourites out. A tremendous round

last night but not to be in the Rolex World Cup lead here. Let's go

back to Marc Houtzager with Clare Balding. I will talk to him later,

actually. There are still only four clear rounds. These are the three

children of a Peter Charles. Are you show jumpers as well? Yes.

have you been up took us we have been up to a competition. Was that

this morning? Yes. How did you get on? I had four false. How will your

father get on? I think he will do really well and I hope he can win

it. Who is your favourite show jumper? How my dad. That is lucky!

He has put in so much work and to see him win a gold medal was really

special. Is that what you want to do? Yes. Good luck to you and your

inspired, Gerco Schroder, riding the horse where he was a silver

of quality and so far cruising round this course. Unbelievable

to come. My word, they are certainly good ones who are going

through at the moment. No doubt, Andy. That was pure class all the

way. Allowing his horse to float forward. Poetry in motion. He gets

a fluent four strides, softens his hands. It does not get much better

than that. Here is a combination, trusting his horse and allowing him

to jump. That is wonderful. promised you the best of the best

and here they come, thick and fast. will certainly have no problem with

the power fences. Having to shorten up with a little bit of a change of

his mind there, Steve. Like so many French horses, a bit fussy in her

head. She sticks her head up at the back end. What a pity, one-down. It

would have been great to have the Olympic champion three but it is

not to be. Five clear rounds. Here Now is Marc Houtzager with Clare

A quick look at the jump-off, how will you write it? IAA will have to

ride fast. I have to give everything. Two of the clear rounds

are Dutch, yourself and Gerco Schroder. Who is the bigger danger?

He has had a good year. Meet to. The first two places, it does not

matter, first and second. We will watch with interest. Good luck.

has been in 10 World Cup finals and ridden in more World Cups than any

other rider competing. He is riding and very spooky. The ears are

protected from the sound to try and calm the horse down a little bit.

Not quite concentrating. You could see at the beginning of the round,

Michael was having trouble getting settled. He is struggling down

there. Not quite staying straight in his body and it is all to do

with the horse looking at the age of the arena and not focusing on

but there is only so much he can do. Struggling to get into that corner.

And the concentration has gone to pieces in the combination. Not an

easy ride for Michael. No, very much a novice with the big fences.

You do not associate Novices' Windies courses. -- with these

courses. This horse is a talented jumper. A big future in the sport

but they have to go through this process of being at these shows.

You cannot simulate it at home. You have to get them in there and used

to it. He will come out fighting medallist on this horse. Hello

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 137 seconds

wall. Scott normally sits quietly, middle. He will be OK for time.

That boxer, a Scot trying to make sure he wasn't too forward but he

was too close. A very good round. All the riders have taken this on

bought. He has been someone who has ridden to superstar status. He has

matured into a Big Star. This was desperately unlucky, a tiny bit

close. Quite eight rangy horse. -- quite a. Scott Brash will be a

superstar, a big part of the British team for many years.

Discipline and written all over his style of riding. She had to pick up

the pace. Those four strides across the middle quite long. He is

probably the smallest horse in the competition. She has to generate

the extra bit of canter on the open distances. She will add a stride to

the combination quite easily. Really had to work hard. Jumping

cleanly. When you've worked that Highly talented lady rider. What an

interesting round from the American. She really did write bravely. She

had to ride for her life. -- ride. It is difficult to jump the next

vertical, slightly forward and out of balance. It's a shame. A

wonderful partnership, but what about this partnership? Nick

Skelton, still only a nine year-old. Not always the easiest inside but

the week when he spooked away from the edge of the arena. He looks a

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 137 seconds

ability to be comfortable around before her partner Nick Skelton.

She was watching with interest. You have to work hard. Yes, today's

course did not suit him because he is so small. The beginning of the

course is forward. I was doing a lot of galloping. It had an

unsettled. When I went to slow down, I got to do. And you pleased to see

in Nick with Big Star. Yes, he has been a little nervous because the

crowds are so great, this green and makes a much noise. He was worried

but he handled it great. We will see him in the jump off. Thank you.

The stylish rider from Portugal, born in Brazil. She finished 17th

individually in London. She's been horse has looked very impressive

here in the build up to this Rolex hanging a little bit in the air.

Getting strong towards the end of Smiles there but I am afraid a grim

look on the face of Scott Brash. Yes, I was disappointed, to be

honest. It is 5 1/2 to the combination. I wanted a deep shot

to get an up-and-down jump. But I was too deep. I could not jump it.

But as a Laura we just saw. Your words painted the picture. We

bother watching the jump off? I will watch and hopefully we will

get a British win. I am disappointed because the horse is

on form. A great shame. Peter Charles and Nick Skelton are into

the jump off. Could we see the fourth and final member Ben Maher

joined them? Scott Brash is a really good team man. In comes Ben

Maher. This man has been on fire. His performance last night in the

Masters was one of the best I have seen. A wonderful piece of riding.

What can he do here? He won last year, a home-bred which is more

amazing. He was a winner of the problem down the distances

That's a shame. So, two of the Olympic team members of through.

combination, shortens nicely, what a shame. A great show it so far.

You can see his leading Rider award. In flying form, Nick Skelton.

there is out of the World Cup qualifier but Nick Skelton is

through to the jump off. He has memorised the cause. Well, luckily

I am in the end so I have the two favourites in front of me. They

have been going really well. It is not easy in here. He has such a big

stride and he is quick way from the jump. It is tight. We will give it

to go. I hope you do, it will be exciting to watch. Good luck.

excitement is as good as ever in London. Now, two French riders.

Both stylish and capable of joining winner in Helsinki. She is on form

has a strip on her nose to get more oxygen into her system. You can

as she goes around. A big double bridle and she will need it to get

have to have a bit of luck and she Ben Maher to and get away with it.

Going into the double, fell all over. The back rail got a proper

Rattle. Beautifully done. Balance and shortened up for the

combination. She really is a class act. France are very much in the

next. A World Cup leg that is worthy of the competition. In comes

rankings now for many years. Can he finished it off for France and put

is very elegant and stylish. But that oxer going into the double has

Just the one for France, that will be Penelope Leprevost. No Kevin

Staut. Finishing on four faults. Giving us the nine clear rounds

that will go through to the jump will go through. We will have a

look at those in a moment. Here they are. Britain come up in a

moment. Britain with two of the eight. You can see the kours being

changed. -- course being changed. A great team out there that quickly

change it all around. Well the eight that go through, the two

British riders will go first. Guy the winner today. Diniz will be the

name there for Portugal. Penelope Leprevost giving us the final round.

Marcus Ehning misses out with four faults snoo. I Tim stock --

Stockdale is with me. Nick Skelton said he has a great draw. He can

see what the Dutch riders do first. What do you make of it? It will be