David Marcus of Campbellville, ON, was eliminated during the opening phase of dressage competition on Thursday, August 2, at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Competing during a heavy downpour of rain, Marcus, 31, of Campbellville, ON, was mid-way through his Grand Prix test when 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.”