IGREW up in Finland and every Finnish person is mad about the Olympic Games. Any Finn who won a medal at the Olympics was more important than the president. The most famous athlete was probably Lasse Virén, a long-distance runner who won four gold medals. That's why when I was young, there wasn't really a sport I didn't do. But I was a bit impatient, so if I didn't become good at something quickly, I stopped.
We had an Olympics in Helsinki in 1952 and I started riding at the riding school set up in the old Olympic stables. It's also where I rented stables and started my business, and I stayed there, in the old Olympic venue, for years.
Moscow was my first Olympic Games in 1980 with Piccolo who, as far as I knew, was the only horse then doing grand prix in Finland. So I knew if Finland could o go send someone to the Games, it'd be me. Riding was still quite small in Finland and I think our last rider to go to the Olympics was in 1952.
The Moscow Games were, of course, boycotted by most of the western world, so there wasn't much competition there. The Russians, of course, wanted to win team gold so they sent horses and trainers to countries like Poland, Bulgaria and Hungary so that they could bring teams to Moscow to compete against the Russians.
For the arena, they'd put sand on a grass field and it was really deep at one end and then not so deep at the other, which made all the horses look a little mediocre.
And there was one grandstand and it was full of spectators, but most were not at all interested in dressage and had been marched there to fill the seats.
Denne historien er fra June 06, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra June 06, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
