Aussie horses clear trot up 28 July 2012

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• Sam Griffiths and his horse ‘Happy Times’ © Lauren Ryan / AOC

EQUESTRIAN: After a turbulent week for the Australian eventing team, losing two of their riders due to horse injuries, the team today cleared their first test at the ‘horse inspection’ at Greenwich Park ahead of tomorrow’s competition.
All horses must be presented to the Olympic Ground Jury (officials) prior to the start of competition to check the horses are ‘sound’ and ready to take on the eventing competition.
With the recent omissions of Shane Rose and Megan Jones, the spotlight was on all the Aussies as they entered the main arena, especially new team member Sam Griffiths and his horse ‘Happy Times’.
Griffiths has quickly settled in with the team, wasting no time to make himself familiar with the course and the venue.
After all horses cleared the trot up, Australian Team Head Vet Graham Potts said there was an air of excitement among the team.
“All horses breezed through the trot up and are looking really good. We were very pleased with how they presented and are now excited to get on with the job,” Potts said.
The first phase of the eventing competition commences on Saturday with Chris Burton, Sam Griffiths and Andrew Hoy set to ride. Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks will compete on Sunday for the second day of dressage competition.