Trying to get your horse on song
For some it's musicals, for others it's Pink Floyd
An endless Pachelbel 's Canon it is not. In both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special, horses and riders have completed their tests to what might best be described as a soundtrack of elevator music. But in tonight's individual dressage medal finale, the 15 combinations who advanced to the Grand Prix Freestyle have selected their own routines and music. Elevator music is at the rider's discretion.
But as the judges mark both technical ability and overall artistry, riders put careful thought into their music selection, with some using a medley of Broadway musicals or Hollywood soundtracks, others combining a selection of various classical music and a few having a piece composed for their test.
Leading the competition is Germany's Isabell Werth, who will ride Satchmo to Hymn of Emotion by Markus Lehmann-Horn and Michael Erdmann. With that music, Werth won an important pre-Olympic competition. Neither compatriot Heike Kemmer (third) nor Anky Van Grunsven of the Netherlands (second) have altered their freestyles. The freestyle is a chance for riders to play to the strength and personalities of their horses. For example, Danish rider Princess Nathalie zu Sayn Wittgenstein chose a selection of music from West Side Story.
'I think the music and how we've set it all up fits my horse very well,' Zu Sayn Wittgenstein said. 'He's sort of a light horse with not extravagant movements so I have to be careful not to take music that is too voluminous that will press him down. I need to have light music that is not too boring.'
Finland's Kyra Kyrkland will also ride to a musical, having decided on a mix from Cabaret. Kyrkland had always wanted to create a freestyle to the Liza Minnelli soundtrack and decided to record the selection in London using a 17-piece orchestra. 'I love the music, it's quite fun,' Kyrkland said.
Most riders film their horse's movements and then adapt music that best suits a particular technical element. Some beats are better suited to certain elements than others and judges are sure to notice if the timing is off.
While some riders will ride their test to classical music - Van Grunsven had Dutch pianist Wibi Soerjadi compose her Dance of Devotion - others have decided to ride to pop and rock music. Kemmer is using a selection of pop and American Courtney King-Dye will ride to a piece based on a Cat Stevens song. And then there's Denmark's Andreas Helgstrand whose music includes Guns N' Roses.
'I have a freestyle with rock music, it's very good for the horse,' said Helgstrand, who will compete with Don Schufro. 'He's a big stallion and he's powerful so it's Pink Floyd and stuff.'
