Olympic flags seen through the clover on Blackheath.
Just look at the view! The weather stayed dry on Saturday, though it did not on Sunday, and one of the British riders rode in torrential rain and did really well!A bell rings, the little fence is moved back, and the riders then have 45 seconds to enter the dressage area. They ride around the outside of the area before this.
I loved the part where they did their little bow to the judges. This is one of the moves they are marked on-the horse must be perfectly still for this.
This horse is doing the extended trot I think.
One of the Japanese riders just after dismounting.
I think this horse is doing a collected canter. The horse is Ringwood Magister, ridden by Tina Coudray for the USA. The horses follow a route involving lots of turns. They go perilously close to the little fence.
This is Nicola Wilson of team GB on Opposition Buzz.
When he went out of the arena he had some fans waiting, so he went over for a little chat!
This is Mary King from the British team. This is her fifth Olympics! I was very impressed by the amount of older riders in this sport-the ages ranged rom 20 to 53. No ageism in Equestrian Eventing!
I say it has been a busy few days, as I have been glued to the telly watching the rest of the eventing. The second day of dressage on Sunday, the cross-country yesterday-thrilling, scary and amazing, and the show jumping today! You probably already know, but just in case you don't-Germany got gold in the team event, GB got silver and New Zealand got bronze. The individual eventing gold was won by Michael Jung of Germany (and today is his birthday too!), the silver by Sara Algotsonn Ostholt of Sweden and the bronze by Sandra Auffarth of Germany. The medal ceremony was lovely and I felt quite emotionally involved with the whole thing! The Princess Royal presented the team medals, giving one to her daughter Zara Philips-who was riding in her first Olympics on a beautifully named horse-High Kingdom.
As we left the park and went into Greenwich, the sun was shining and catching the flags. The Cutty Sark sailed on a bed of wild flowers and we enjoyed our sandwiches before going home to have a long nap!
There is more Equestrian sport to come I am happy to say! Although it is not as good as being there, it is not bad sitting on my sofa crocheting, drinking coffee and watching horses!