HONG KONG —

Japanese dressage rider Hiroshi Hoketsu said Thursday after his first individual dressage competition at the Olympic equestrian games that his chestnut mare Whisper did not perform as well as he expected. Describing his performance as ‘‘disappointing but nothing much could be done,’’ the 67-year-old veteran finished 35th with a score of 62.5 out of 100. ‘‘(Whisper) was scared of the screen,’’ Hoketsu, completely drenched after the program, told reporters on the sidelines of the field wearing a relaxing smile on his face. ‘‘I expected she would make a mistake, but I didn’t expect she would turn around and run away in an extended walk.’’ A screen fit for a sports stadium is located on one corner of the field to show details of every rider and the program.

Hoketsu said he has no idea yet on whether to set his sights on the next Olympics. ‘‘I don’t know whether my physical condition (can) last another four years or not,’’ he said, adding that after the Olympics he will ‘‘go back to the normal riding life.’’ Hoketsu said both Whisper and he were not much affected by the hot and humid summer weather. Hong Kong is hosting the equestrian games because it has the world-class equine quarantine facilities that Beijing could not offer.

Kyodo

2 Comments

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  smithinjapan at 10:44 AM JST - 15th August

  Damned if that's not an excuse.... Hope he doesn't send it off to the glue factory.

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  cleo at 10:55 AM JST - 15th August

  ‘‘(Whisper) was scared of the screen,’’ Hoketsu, completely drenched after the program, told reporters

  Not the horse's fault. Who was it didn't train the horse to be easy around all the glitz and bling of an Olympic arena?

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