Debbie McDonald and Brentina - Grand Prix Freestyle

[enlighteneduk]

What a shame that she never won the medals she so richly deserved.

[McKaylaDonald]

SUCH and amazing woman! I could only hope that maybe in my next life that I could be half as talented!

[in2horses247]

Brentina looks a little stiff in her left fore - the commentator was making comments about how the transitions and movements were more difficult to the left. Was she injured there?

[SpiritWanderer91]

everybody check monty python : ministry of silly walks and tell me humans are smarter then horses

[burninup4nick9]

i love hilda :) and one person is a hater!!!

[MetalSiicken]

I never realized how huge she was.what is she 17.2? 17.3?

[huntrjumpr2416]

@MetalSiicken at the beginning of the video they say 16.2 hh. :)

[xemily09x]

@MetalSiicken They said in the video 16.2. She only looks huge because Debbie is so little haha.

[LorriLockyer]

Loved Hild's comments too.

[heidismutti]

It's exactly how she talks to you when you're in a lesson. LOVE Hilda.

[svleopold]

I've always felt like Hilda is talking us like she would have been giving comments to her scribe. :-) She can't help it - she's a school teacher and a judge. :-D

[em1676]

Wonderful horse and now in foal to Moorlands Totilas! I must agree however with a number of people on here. The commentator did detract from the performance.

[VivaLaEquus]

@em1676 she isn't in foal to totilas, in dressage today it says they have yet to breed her to him and she isn't going to be bred in 2011

[Bellzee18]

THis is truly an inspiring ride, makes me want to get out there and enjoy communicating with my horse, more...

[vixitrixalina]

i agree that the comentry got pretty annoying. this is a kur so i think there should only be limited comentry - people watch the kur so that they can hear the music and see it fit to the horses steps, not to hear people talking over it every second. if it was a regular grand prix test, and the special, then comentry is fine because there is no music.

anyway, i adored the use of Diana Ross' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" in the canter work, and of course Respect! i loved everyone clapping :)

[maclaychaser]

Gorgeous test. :)

[ewolfbalto]

I had wonderful pleasure of meeting Debbie McDonald last June at PVDA Ride for Life. That woman is probably the nicest dressage rider I have ever met!! She was so kind and accepted any kind of questions, including one that I asked, which was, "has anything totally random happened to you that is funny?" she told us a story about at a jog, she had shoes that were too big and nearly hit the judge with the shoes. Just a wonderful and inspiring person!! She is really my favorite dressage rider!

[xxhorsecrazygirlxx]

This is one of the most inspiring horse and rider I have ever seen. Debbie and Brentina are amazing especially in this freestyle round!

[jentutors]

I am currently reading Debbie's book "Riding Through". Her story is sooo inspiring. Her relationship with Brentina is incredible - they are a very special pair, and I wish I had started following dressage years ago so I could see more of them.

[anagilmour]

What an Eye Hilda has... I could barely see that short first change in the ones!

[equinegurl]

@anagilmour Haha I was thinkingi the same thing! I watched it twice to see if I could see it and nope.

[Dressageriderrobin]

ReALLY GOOD!!! BUt i have to say my opinion is that the horse really drags her feet. U should see Adelinde Cornellisen also really good especially hind quaters. But really good work

[thebluebot]

if you ask me, brentina moves more like a hunter horse, hunters dont move their knees as much as dressage horses do and she doesnt rlly use her hind end as much to kind of give her that extra umph, but i def love her, shes sooooo cute

[jentutors]

Ummm...if that were the case, how the heck did she kick butt in all those Grand Prixs? Why do we have to stereotype horses based on our disciplines? Brentina is awesome no matter how you look at it!!

[thebluebot]

what the hell did i just say? shes a great mover! you are just like every other person out here, you dont ever look into the meaningness of the comment, you only see the surface! i said 'but i def love her' im not bagging on her at all, im just pointing out something that she does with her legs, that she doesnt use her back end to get more point with her front end

[RollTideButch]

My family was honored to have Debbie do a symposium at our facility in Mississippi in 2007. I guarantee that you will never meet a sweeter, more humble champion ever. Ever. She signed posters of herself and Brentina for hours. And spoke with everyone as if she was just another clinician. Except that she's not. Just watched Brentina's retirement ceremony. Cried like a baby. Thank you Debbie. And thank you Brentina.

[FFjoni]

i cant help but smile when i watch this

[xBornToGallopx]

sorry... I didn't know that you knew her!!! relax, people are entitled to their opinions you know

[BridlePathProduction]

No, it's okay...It was my fault for flying off the handle like that. I'm sorry.

[maplelump]

Yeah, I'm sorry, I just was commenting on how I would like to hear the music, and enjoy the freestyle without commentary.

I could have phrased my comment better, but the reply i got from you was over the line rude. I'm sorry if I offended you, I did not intend on doing so. But your comment in return made you look like a class A bitch.

Good bye.

[xBornToGallopx]

its ok! :) no harm done

[xBornToGallopx]

I love both Brentina and Debbie, they work so well together. If someone who doesnt ride watched this video, they would just think that Brentina is dancing and Debbie is just sitting there. The announcer lady should have shut up though... I couldn't hear the music. GO BRENTINA!!! and happy retirement

[bcbeaupied]

I love Brentina and I love Debbie McDonald, but I hate that stupid announcer lady.

[bcbeaupied]

Well, I feel that she did nothing but interfere with there performance for those that whatched it here and know about dressage. And you know, there really is no need to be nasty to me, because I said nothing to you. It would really help you get your point across to others if you weren't so nasty. Im glad that you have had the opportunity to go, but for those that didnt go, her speaking is a little annoying.

[bcbeaupied]

Also, I just realized that I am subscribed to you, but i'm not sure if I will continue to be, if this is how you treat people. But, I do hope Polo is doing better.

[DressagexGirl]

So..so incredible. I still have shivers.

[misschrisss2010]

makes me cry every time, she deserves every bit of respect we can give her. Truly an amazing horse.

[primetymdressage]

Goosebumps and tears at the end. That was AMAZING.

[rodeoqueen1300]

that was gorgeous. simply gorgeous. i agree with dressagediva2, i get goosebumps watching her and anky. i hope brentina had a happy retirement too :) anky and debbie are my faves. debbie and brentina are simply amazing. that was just... wow. im sure the announcer lady would have bothered me if i knew all the steps in dressage. lol. but i don't know anything about it so i enjoyed knowing what all the moves were called. lol :P love it.

[horsegeek1313]

Thats Beautiful, just beauitful

[TheEquestrianStar]

Amazing!!!

[MajiksGurl224]

i thought it was a mare XD lol

[indiaismygirl]

brentina is a mare

[TonkaGirl726]

Wow!!! Bretina and Debbie are very harmonious... BEAUTIFUL!!!

[all4ellie]

Absolutely breathtaking- I'm almost in tears!  I'm so proud to be from Idaho- way to represent! They'll be very missed in the show ring! I'm in training level dressage with a OTTB, and Debbie and Brentina make it look so easy!

[my0arabs]

I feel the same way about them being a great representative of Idaho!

[linnyfan2]

We'll miss you Brentina and Debbie! maple, that was Hilda Gurney doing the commentary -- I'm sure she was asked to provide it from her expert point of view -- not pretentious at all when you have her knowledge and expertise. I think many appreciate hearing her thoughts on this amazing performance.

[maplelump]

It just felt pretentious from my point of view. I had no idea who she was, and I'm sorry if I offended you. I just wanted to hear the music, but it was near impossible with Hilda's commentary.

[maplelump]

Amazing, but the announcer woman needs to SHUT UP. I want to enjoy Brentina and Debbie, not your pretentious judgment.

[dressagediva2]

i get goosbumps whenever i watch her freeystyle. I wish brentina a happy reitrement

[skymeadow08]

Now THAT'S the stuff dreams are made of....