Canadian Dressage Rider David Marcus Puts Olympic Experience in Perspective

David Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital have some good moments before the rain, movements of the crowds, and camera proved too much. photo: Susan J. Stickle

London, England – Competing during a heavy downpour of rain, Marcus, 31, of Campbellville, ON, was mid-way through his Grand Prix test on Thursday, August 2, at the 2012 London Olympic Gameswhen his mount, Chrevi’s Capital, spooked and went off course.  Marcus was not able to regain his horse’s attention within the 10 seconds allowed under the rules, and was eliminated from competition by the head of the ground jury, Stephen Clarke of Great Britain. “He was trying so hard in the first half of the test but, at that moment, something triggered him,” said Marcus of Chrevi’s Capital, a 12-year-old Danish Warmblood owned by Deborah Miculinic.  “I am not sure if it was the camera in the corner swiveling to see him, or the umbrellas, or the amount of rain he was dealing with.He just got scared, ultimately. I don’t know what I could have done differently. I don’t blame him at all. It is just an unfortunate circumstance.”  Marcus, 31, continued, “Anyone who is involved with horses has gone through something like this in their career.  It is just unfortunate that it was here at the Olympics.

I feel terrible for Canada, for my team, and for everyone who has been so supportive of me. This is life with horses, and we can put it all in perspective by knowing that both Capital and I are going home healthy.  He is going to have a long career in front of him.”
 
Marcus and Chrevi’s Capital ranked second on the Canadian Olympic qualifying leader board to be named to the three-member Canadian Olympic Team for Dressage.
 
Miculinic of King City, ON, said, “We are very blessed to have been given this opportunity and we don’t take that for granted. We had an incredible experience and we are truly grateful. We will be there to cheer on our teammates tomorrow.”
 
With the elimination of Marcus, his teammates Jacqueline Brooks of Cedar Valley, ON, and Ashley Holzer of Toronto, ON, are eligible to continue competing as individuals.
 
For more information, please visit www.davidmarcusdressage.com.

From DressageDaily's Olympic Reporter Diana De Rosa

David Marcus does not blame Chrevi’s Capital for the reaction to the rain, movement of the crowds, and camera during his ill fated Olympic test. photo: Diana De Rosa

The rain in England is real and happens at a moment’s notice. We as photographers have to be prepared to cover our cameras and ourselves when those drops start coming. The same goes with the people in the stands. They are all in the ready with their umbrellas.

On the day when Marcus was eliminated it was only he and one or two other riders that had to ride under rainy conditions but those were not just raindrops, in fact it poured for about 10-15 minutes. During that time you could hear laughter in the stands. I thought something funny had happened when I heard all that laughter but it was just the people laughing about being caught in the rain and hustling to pull out their rain coats and umbrellas.

It was that noise and a TV camera that upset his horse, Capital. “Things were going fine until he spotted a TV camera in the corner,” he explained, “and the crowd was moving around in their seats due to the rain, and it all went wrong. He doesn’t normally do anything like that. It was totally out of character and I am desperately disappointed.”