Bracket Battle of Event Horses: THE FINAL MATCH

WOW - what a final pairing. This is one of the hardest decisions probably ever. It's tough because as an amateur, you are always hoping to sit on that once in a lifetime horse that will all of a sudden find you propelling you to the International ranks; like Dan...but then you have the little horse that could in Podge; who inspires us all to grow the necessary body parts to be able to do what we love... and I thought deciding on xc colours was difficult.
I'm still torn...

tough augh!!!

But I went for Podge
First the inspiration then all the awards to back it up.
And after watching that video you had up the other day it reinforced it for me. What an amazing animal!

I went for Dan, on the thinking that the Rolex wins should count more than the Olympic showings. I know this is heresy, but hear me out ...

The Olympics courses attract competitors from all over the world, including countries that don't have as robust eventing programs. A significant number of those horses have to get around, which means the x-country has to be easier. By comparison, the Rolex course is a true, world-caliber test. And I've heard course designers and big-name trainers make the same distinction.

That said ... two Olympics ain't nothin' to sneeze at. :) And they're spaced further apart, so making it twice is a big deal.

Tough one!

Charisma all the way - Los Angeles he breezed round when other great horses such as JJ Babu had xc faults. He was unlucky at Badminton to finish 2nd, grade A show jumper and dressage up to Prix St George. The Olympics is a far tougher competition than Kentucky as the best target it all year and horses from all over the world go including NZ, Australia and Europe which you do not get at Kentucky. There can only be one Olympic Champion every 4 years. What a horse to win it twice. Even the best event horse ever Priceless could only get a bronze.

I was Dan's groom throughout much of his career, and I can attest to what an incredible athlete and competitor he was. The xc course at the '02 WEG in Spain was the scariest thing I had ever seen, and it was amazing to watch Kim and Dan, the last pair of the day, clock around effortlessly with the fastest time, no less. I never worried about Kim and Dan when they were on course-it always looked so easy for them.
Dan is now retired and actually shares a paddock with one of my horses. I'll be happy to give him a big pat for everyone who votes for him!

Agree with lec. There was absolutely no question who I was going to vote for- Charisma all the way.

No brainer - Charisma all the way. Not taking anything away from Dan but Podge is one of the best there ever was. Double Individual GOLD Olympic Medals, 2nd place at Burghley and Badminton, British Open Champion and on and on. He competed with all the top horses in Europe over and over again, and beat them over and over again. I can't believe the votes are this close. Heart of a lion at 15.3h...Charisma is an inspiration and a legend.

Charisma will always get my vote!!
After this, how about a battle of the best event rider of all time?? Many great names come to mind - Mark Todd, Lucinda Green, Ginny Holgate, Ian Stark, Bruce Davidson......

Wow, another no brainer, yet some EN readers are still amazing me with their logic or lack thereof!

No contest at all. Charisma all the way!

Absolutely agree with Lec. I saw them in LA and it basically sealed the deal with me that I needed to find out more about this eventing thing. Never knew it existed! But my mom found the cheapest eq. tickets she could find and has regretted it ever since!
I personally think Charisma would be running circles around Dan if they competed in the same time period. I wish you young 'uns could have this this little one go.

This was a tough one for me, since I'm a big fan of Dan and Kim. But I voted for Charisma, for all the big wins, and for the amazing duration of his career at the top levels of the sport.

right now I am looking at the scores and it is an even 50 - 50!!! like WOW!!!

There is much to be said for Charisma. Only one other horse has won back-to-back Olympic gold medals in eventing. Charisma also competed successfully in other spheres (dressage and showing) and he retired sound.

I think from the long view, the horse that will be remembered is Charisma and so, he has my vote.

I heard a story about you and Dan over in England with the queen crossing? That earned my vote right there!

Wow... I've been reading the comments all day from my phone (can't view the poll results) and I would have never guessed Winsome Adante was actually LEADING! When I checked this morning before work, Charisma had a pretty solid 56% of the vote. But clearly the tide has turned... can Dan hold on??

I LOVE reading all your comments, by the way. I never saw Charisma compete, myself, and it's really neat to hear from those who did. Also thanks to Lili for her sentiments, there is a special bond you develop between groom and horse.

Seriously? Charisma is by far the better horse. Lets keep in mind that not only did he win back to back golds he won the 2nd at an older age than most horses and he did this back in the 70's when we didnt have the same tech for horse care and when there was not nearly the same saftey restrictions on xcountry corses making them much harder and much more dangerous. Just look at WEG in Australia when Charisma fell. That fence (which was the scariest thing I have ever seen), wouldnt even make it on to the drawing board today, I mean all but 2 horses that went the straight way fell and one of the ones that made it through (Torence Watkins horse) fractured his skull on it. He did twice the events that Dan did and no horse was better known or loved than Charisma. Dont get me wrong Dan has a good record as well but when you match them up? Charisma all the way. And he did it all being 15.3