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2004 Olympic Games
Germany Earns the Team Gold for Sixth Consecutive Time
 The Nations competition at the 2004 Olympic Games was a tough competition with the powerhouse German Team and their undeniable national dressage heritage taking the Gold with an average score of 74.653. The ever-improving Spanish Team took the Silver (72.917) and a determined U.S. Team brought home the Bronze (71.500).
Spain was in the lead before the fourth rider of each team rode their Grand Prix. It was left to Ulla Salzgeber with 17 year old Rusty to secure the win or Germany with a score of 78.208. Salzgeber showed as she has done never before. Her piaffe looked clean, her transitions were excellent and Rusty excelled as usual in the flying changes and pirouettes.
"I don't think that I improved from previous Games," Salzgeber commented after her ride. "I only didn't make mistakes this time. I believe that the other thing that contributed to my success is that Rusty likes the heat. I like the place here and we both feel like home."
 Spain won its first Olympic Dressage Medal with a score of 72.917, pushing the United States back to bronze.
"All four Spanish riders had the ride of their lives," said trainer Jean Bemelmans, who has worked with Spain since its Olympic debut with Spanish horses in 1996.
Top-scoring for the United States was Debbie McDonald with Her mare Brentina, who worked together better than ever. "I was hoping for a better score," she said at the end of her performance, "but I am quite happy with my performance. I felt very good out there and kept the energy going, but felt a lot of pressure."
 In what should be described as a Herculean effort, Team USA brought their best to Athens to bring home a medal – and they certainly did not disappoint anyone. The team composed of Debbie McDonald of Hailey, Idaho, riding the mare Brentina; Robert Dover of Lebanon, N.J., on FBW Kennedy; Guenter Seidel of Del Mar, Calif., on the young and promising Aragon; and Lisa Wilcox, a Los Angeles native residing in Germany on the stallion Relevant, stood on the medal podium and proudly received their Bronze Team medal.
On his Bronze medal Team victory, six-time Olympic veteran Dover said, “We are always happy to have any medal. We’re excited to show that we are in the top three in the world. We are proud of our team.”
Salzgeber leads the individual ranking ahead of Beatriz Ferrer Salat (ESP) and Anky Van Grunsven (NED) heading into the second qualifier.
Images copyrighted: Dirk Caremans
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