Saturday, 04 August 2012 London Olympic GHPC News

Edward, Frits, 75.289% and we are happy!

Your heart is racing. Your hands are shaking, your mouth is dry. Edward is about to start. It is the moment you dream of and fear. Edward Gal has only been riding the good-looking gelding Undercover for six months. Frits, as the team affectionately calls him, is coming on beautifully and Edward is over the moon for his sponsor. "I am very grateful for the chance we got here. And happy! What could be more gratifying than to buy a horse like that and shortly afterwards see it competing at the Olympic Games!"

Now the time has come. Frits is tense. The many people, the noise, the excitement. A powder keg that in spite of everything is supposed to show trust and perfect interaction with his rider.

The insiders know how they should rate the duo. Dressage is many years of work. Cooperation between the horse and rider. Knowing how it reacts and how you should act. The fine measure of aids and their use. The fine measure of performing and waiting. All that grows over the years. "He can't tell me how he feels," says Edward. "You have to learn to feel what the horse feels." The Dutchman looks on Undercover as his friend, he loves him for his cleverness, his pleasant nature and his ambition. "He always wants to push, you have to learn the right measure of holding him back. Success comes quickly but only lasts if you achieve the right measure. It's not just supposed to be fun for me but for him too."

Hardly a pair is under such pressure as Edward. Just as well his team is always ideally prepared down to the last detail. "Everything has to work perfectly on the sidelines," says Edward. "You need an excellent team for success. Sometimes it feels great on the horse but doesn't look great. You need people who can tell you that."

All of them are now standing at the edge of the Olympic arena: Nicole Werner, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Vanessa. Will Undercover perform as he should? He does even when he is nervous. Edward looks tense. The piaffes are magnificent and everything goes like clockwork. There is a small slip in the canter and you can see how agitated the horse is by his gait. Halt. A storm of enthusiasm breaks out. We heave a huge sigh of relief before a feeling of sheer joy wells up inside.

"I really was nervous this morning," Edward can now laugh, "when riding in I could feel that Frits was tense. Of course, you can't practise a situation like that. When you ride up to the arena, the people are still applauding the previous rider. It is a tremendous atmosphere and it fairly got to him." "What caused the little slip?" we asked. "That is the lack of fine tuning. It just takes time. He is still too far back, I then tell him "Forward", he thinks "Yes, great, forward" but we have yet to strike the right balance. But I am completely happy. Getting so far in such a short time. Having such an exceptional horse."

Frits seems pleased with himself. Vanessa starts her pampering programme. He has a rest tomorrow and the Special is on Tuesday. "Another chance for us both," says Edward patting Frits' strong neck.

To find out how Edward prepares for the Special, what a free day is like for Frits, whether the two get into the final and a whole lot more, don't miss the next London Olympic GHPC News.

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