Olympian Monica Theodorescu & Grunox Grand Prix Dressage Freestyle 1996

Grunox developed from a terrified pussy cat into a German Olympic team gold medalist.
From Sport Invalid to Comeback Kid
In 1994 the second World Equestrian Games took place in The Hague as the highlight of the dressage season. Also there the individual competition was split in a freestyle and a classical (Special) division, so hopes were justified for Grunox to crown his career there.
”After several months in the almost dark we more and more accepted the fact that Grunox would remain a sport invalid and would not return to the show-ring," Monica looked back on that nerve-wrecking phase of her career. Of course the horse had given her already much and he didn’t owe her anything to be pushed back at any price, but as Grunox was a horse who just loved to work and give his best day by day it was in his own interest to come back to full health. “When we had already given up all hope we finally got a diagnosis which turned out to be the right one. Grunox’ lameness was caused by a knee injury," she said.
The horse was treated effectively and very carefully began to be trained again to see if the leg would stand more serious work without the danger of renewed damage. A small miracle happened and when Monica and her father noticed that Grunox had come back to full fitness without any sign of wear and tear, they decided to start him at a national show at Aachen prior to the CDI Dortmund. After being out of action for almost two years Grunox placed 4th and 7th, but was really his old self at Dortmund, winning both classes and proving that he restarted where he had involuntarily stopped many months ago.
The year 1996 was not only Grunox’ comeback year, but also an Olympic one and after several very high placings, two wins at Wiesbaden and a silver medal at the German Championships Monica and her horse were nominated for the German team for the CDIO Aachen. It was a clear message from the selectors that they had faith in Grunox’ health and his ability to score highly. After a fifth place in the Grand Prix, the now 15-year-old finished second in the Special and kur. His second Olympic nomination was a formality then, very unlike to the selection of Rembrandt who was only chosen as reserve horse. Uphoff considered this unacceptable and as title defender she managed to get permission to start as an individual in Atlanta.
The German horses flew to Atlanta shortly after Aachen to have sufficient time to get used to and train in those climate conditions which were feared to be very hot and humid at the same time. Monica knew from former experiences in Barcelona that Grunox had no problem performing to his best in hot weather. The German dressage horses (Grunox, Goldstern, Gigolo, Durgo and Gracioso as travelling reserve) flew out on 3 July 1996 and had to endure the usual quarantine at the airport in Atlanta. After that all moved to the Merichase Farm to have some focused team training. Monica and Grunox were supervised by George Theodorescu, but also team trainer Harry Boldt, who did his last championships in that function since he took up the job at the beginning of the 1980s.
His year-long consistency continued with two wins at CDI Dortmund in March before he returned to Aachen where two second places safely landed him a team spot in his third year running. Instead of travelling to Holland to represent Germany Grunox’ career was seriously threatened, if not over, when all of a sudden he went mysteriously lame behind. In Grunox’ case a quick and safe diagnosis for effective treatment turned out to be wishful thinking. For months vets tried to fathom the origin of his failing soundness. Finding the cause took months in which it an early retirement loomed behind the corner.
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Olympian Monica Theodorescu & Grunox Grand Prix Dressage Freestyle 1996
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[@hallhv01]

Look at that minimalist saddle. Before the huge seatbelt blocks and excess mass. Nice!!!

[@polianathes]

yup

[@jonjonwp]

Nice horse. She is heavy handed and rides with maximum curb contact. She sits badly too.

[@suerue7353]

The horse seems very tight and tense...especially thru head and neck area..and the constant tail swings shows vast discomfort.

[@aremedyproject9569]

Just Fists and Spurs. Hurt my own neck from the tension in the ring. Poor horse so bottled up. Couldn’t watch it all.

[@debdunster5471]

Tight routine...fairly clean performance...however seems a bit rushed and a lot of tail wrangling..sense a bit of tension in rider but more so in the horse.

[@angelachristina]

They never were my favorites back in the days. She's not light in the hand by any means and Grunox is tense. The transitions are not clean and the piaffe is hardly recognisable as piaffe. And so on. No, I never enjoyed watching them.

[@sarahwagland1559]

I get no pleasure watching this. I become aware that I'm scowling, frowning, and at times even grimacing. I watch it, however, because I want to see how I don't want to ride. I see a very unhappy horse.

[@polianathes]

would you mind sharing what are clues of seeing a unhappy horse?

[@bembem508]

Horrible to watch......nothing nice about it......except the saddle.......look at the curb bit......pulled up... and the terrible piaffe at 1.02 .....pulling the rein and kicking with the spurs ...the tail of the horse......the overall tension of the horse....the short pulled up neck.....Poor horse......

[@lynni3461]

Ro it’s the breed