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We will be updating this post throughout the day, so keep checking back for more updates as we get them!

Patti B writes:

Hi Everyone,

It seems that not all of you were bored out of your mind by the step by step ravings of a dressage groupie, and would like more of the same.

First, I have been asked to put a little background to our interest in a less than popular sport – that, of course, is before we won a Gold Medal at the Olympics!

Some of you know that Alice is a professional dressage rider and trainer, who has also trained to Grand Prix level, but you may not know that she worked for Carl Hester for a year before University and has been in continuous training with him for the last fifteen years. In that time, we have become good friends with him and have watched all the hard work, tears and tribulations that have been associated with his journey to a Gold Medal. So we have obviously taken a keen interest in these games. I have also been his chief cake maker – always making sure he has ‘slimming’ carrot cake when he is watching his weight!

Today, I shall be sending you quickie reports as they are happening.

Just a little info about today’s competition, so that you can be more knowledgable than the nation’s journalists, who are making an absolute pig’s ear of anything to do with dressage.

Today’s competition is for an individual medal and is known as a ‘Kur’, or dressage to music. It’s a bit like ice skating freestyle. The rider puts together an individual floor plan of steps, which has to include certain designated dressage movements. This is then put to music of the rider’s choosing.

In simple terms, marks are given both for technical difficulty of the floor plan, the standard it is ridden and the artistic interpretation of the music. Traditionally, anything vocal has been frowned upon by the judges – but like anything else, the young riders are breaking new ground and you will be hearing interesting things today that break the old moulds. I know that Charlotte and Carl have spent the last year perfecting and honing their Kur, which should wow the supporters. Let’s hope the judges agree.

So that’s just a preliminary intro to today’s dressage. I’ll fill you in as the day progresses.

06:33 – Weary dressage reporter
Hi folks – I wrote that first post in the early hours of this morning, as we went to see Parwich’s own Tom Chambers at the Aldwych – a fantastic foot tapping performance.

Now sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to summon up energy for today’s competition. Just worked out that we shall have watched 100 tests – no wonder my brain feels dead. I know it will be thrilling when we are there. I daren’t think about the medals but…….I’m sure you know what we’re wishing for. It’s going to be a long day.

I promised Carl Hester a cake with medals, so I have come down with a cake decorated with Olympic symbols (breaking all the copyright laws) and a multitude of medal permutations, all made in icing sugar. Have been able to put on the first three – hooray, hooray – all gold, and now have to take another gold, silver and bronze with me to Greenwich, as we will be going straight on to a party with the competitors afterwards. Lucky us!!

With luck, we will get to touch the real gold medals and I will try to send some photos.

Got to get ready now. Wish you were all here to share history with us.

12:05 – Here we are again.
Well, we are here and the whole place is rocking. We have been meeting all our friends on Hester’s Hill and are already getting mildly hysterical. We have seen the army boys and the marines on security, so we are happy. Somebody should put those people in Heathrow – they have been so cheerful. Have been trying to get a strip search, but no luck!

Back to the task on hand. Carl and Charlotte are cool and cheerful, and they are really going for it. Tom has been doing a few last minute tweaks to the music, which will really please the crowds. The sun is boiling and we are going to get burnt, but who cares? Let’s party…

13:13 – Great so far.
Four tests gone. The riders are being very technically ambitious – great to see, but they can’t always pull it off. The Portuguese Goncalo Carvalho has just wowed us with some really pressing piaffe. I swear those horses come out of the womb doing piaffe. Sadly not enough of the rest to make it a medal contention.

I might possibly get a bit blasé now and not say much until the Brits come in the last five. Anything outstanding and I’ll let you know.

Except of course they are all outstanding – just not outstanding enough. Trying hard here to be politically correct!

13:37 – One third gone.
It’s really hot now and we are cooling down under the stands in the ten minute break. The kur is the riders’ chance to really show off – and true to form, they are all blinged up with diamanté crystals wherever they are legal. The patent boots are sparkling – but in this heat, the riders will be losing their circulation in their ‘made to measure’ boots which are stiffened with whale bone and vanity skinny. New boots are known to make the backs of your knees bleed.

Drinking water like it’s going out of fashion. Right – it’s time to go back for the next third. Marks should be getting higher, with a few potential threats amongst them.

14:07 – A fantastic test.
Edward Gal, who trained the best dressage horse in the world (Totilas) has just ridden for the Netherlands – great test. Mark now gone up, and it’s over 80%. All heating up now…

14:16 – Dressage diva.
Now we have Anky van Grunsven, three times Olympic world champion!

14:22 – Another fantastic test.
Amazing and breath taking. There is no doubt why this woman is a world champion. Lovely, lovely – I could weep. BUT is it going to be enough?

14:25 – A great score.
82% – but not enough, I think.

14:42 – Medals?!?!
This is it now. The last break before the final six – three of whom are Brits.

I suspect I will not be able to text much, as my brain has gone to mush. Hoping the First Responders here are as good as in Parwich. Feeling all dizzy and peculiar, and I don’t think it’s just the heat.

Even the Dutch and Germans are looking at us with respect in their eyes. Come on Carl, Charlotte and Laura – sock it to them babies – we know you can do it.

15:11 – The Germans.
Helen Langehanenberg – great technical test, with a mark of 84%, but needed a lot more excitement – got to go ….

15:21 – Oh, oh, oh…
The black swan has just danced for Germany. Superb! But here come the Brits – Laura B followed by our hero Carl. Everyone deathly silent…..

15:43 – Well, one in the bag!
Laura and Alf rode an experienced test to take a definite medal, but the inexperienced and much younger Utopia lost the plot after a brilliant start. Carl will be disappointed, but as ever will be the consummate professional. It’s all to play for with the Ice Queen, Charlotte.

16:07 – The shining golden end.
We did it, we did it. That fantastic test that Charlotte did to such patriotic music has left us all in tears. I can hardly type for crying. What a girl and what a horse.

Gold and bronze – we are the Olympic champions. Now maybe the b****y press will get it right.

Just waiting for the ceremony and then off to party.

Thank you Parwich, for letting me share this with you.
– Patti B.