大象传媒

Sha Tin, Hong Kong

Horses are all about highs and lows - and the Olympic Games just magnify that fact.

We had them in the eventing where Team GB started badly, and ended up on a high winning two bronze medals.

We've just had them in the dressage as Jane Gregory did what was in her words a "disappointing" test only for Emma Hindle to pull out all the stops and produce a superb test putting Britain second overnight (more on that later).

And we've already had a blow with the show jumpers as Michael Whitaker's horse Suncal Portofino has been withdrawn from the games due to lameness.

So all I'm hoping and praying is that we're owed another high, ideally in the shape of another medal!

It's a shame Michael's replacement, Nick Skelton, won't be riding his top horse Arko.

He was removed from selection some months ago due to a mixture of concerns over fitness, and the inevitable strain an Olympics might take on his duties as a top stallion.

Nick will therefore be riding his other stallion, Russell.

There's still no word on what is wrong with Portofino.

All we know is that she left the UK sound, and was sound until two days ago, when she developed some sort of problem which made her lame.

So to the new GB show jumping team of John W, Nick S, Ben M and Tim S.

All four brought out their charges this morning for the first show jumping vet's inspection and I can happily say they all passed.

I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Tim's gorgeous mare Fresh Direct Corlato do her stuff when the show jumping starts on Friday.

Now back to the dressage - and what a first day it was for Emma Hindle.

Anyone reading this who saw her test will know what I'm talking about.

It was magical and the second best of the night.

Britain currently lies in the silver position which sounds great on paper, and I did get a bit carried away thinking maybe GB could sneak the team bronze.

But after a good night's sleep I'm seeing the impossibility of Britain winning what would be their first ever Olympic dressage medal.

There are five gold medallists still to come from Holland and Germany and to hold off Denmark and the USA for third would involve someone in each side having a complete shocker.

Hmmm, fingers crossed then! It's all happening tonight - the final session of the team competition starts at 1215 BST time.

Laura B, Anky, Isabell and Andreas, a feast of "dancing horses" as they say here in Hong Kong.