Orlob Dressage News
2 August 2024 Marcus Orlob Reflects on Heartbreaking Elimination
Marcus Orlob returned home from Paris devastated by the elimination of Jane, which knocked the U.S. dressage team out of Olympic contention. However, Marcus remains optimistic about Jane's future and his partnership with the talented mare.
"We'll regroup and figure out what's next," said Jane's owner, Alice Tarjan. Despite the setback, she expects Marcus to continue riding the 10-year-old mare.
For the German-born Orlob, who took over Jane's training earlier this year, the first Olympics was a rollercoaster. He praised the support of the entire U.S. team, including vets, farriers, teammates, and reserve riders. "It was very unlucky," Orlob admitted about Jane's elimination. "There was literally a minor cut on her leg, but life continues. She's healthy and young, so we have to look at the positive."
Dressage, he reflected, "is a humbling sport. You have to enjoy every moment because you never know what's coming next."
The elimination stemmed from Jane's reaction to the Olympic atmosphere. The vast crowds and applause proved overwhelming for the young horse, who had never experienced such a spectacle.
"She can be explosive in this type of environment," Orlob explained. Alice, too, had anticipated challenges with introducing Jane to such a sensory overload.
Despite the early exit, Orlob found solace in Jane's willingness to perform. "She settled nicely and gave me a good feeling," he said. "She wants to do the job and tries as hard as she can. It's not her fault. She's young and inexperienced."
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19 July 2024 Marcus Orlob's Rise to Olympic Dressage in Paris
Marcus & Jane
The upcoming Olympic dressage competition in Paris will mark a historic milestone for Marcus Orlob. Just 125 days after his first Big Tour ride on Jane, the 42-year-old rider has secured a coveted spot on the U.S. Olympic team. This unprecedentedly rapid ascent to the top of the sport has captivated the equestrian world.
Orlob's journey to the Olympics is as remarkable as his partnership with Jane. A native of Germany, Orlob moved to the United States 16 years ago and had never competed for the country until his selection for the Paris team. His selection, along with Steffen Peters, Adrienne Lyle, and Endel Ots, came as a surprise to many.
Orlob's partnership with Jane was equally unexpected. The KWPN mare, owned by Alice Tarjan, was initially intended for Alice to ride at Grand Prix. However, during a coaching session last winter, Alice suggested that Orlob try the horse. Impressed by their immediate connection, Orlob began competing Jane at Grand Prix.
With a series of impressive performances, Orlob and Jane quickly qualified for the Olympic selection trials. Their success in Europe earned them a place on the U.S. team, solidifying their status as one of the most exciting partnerships in dressage.
22 June 2024 Marcus Orlob USA Olympic Team Qualifier
Orlob Secures Olympic Berths
Marcus Orlob and Jane clinched their spot on the U.S. Olympic dressage team with a decisive victory in the Schafhof Dressurfestival CDI4* Grand Prix Special. The pair's score of 75.340% was a personal best and the highest Special result by an American combination this year.
The Schafhof event was the final qualifying competition for the U.S. team. The selection process, which also considered results from the CDIO5* Nations Cup in Rotterdam, Netherlands, left little doubt about the chosen riders.
The U.S. Nations Cup team for the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, has been announced, with Orlob and Jane included.
Other U.S. short-listed riders at Kronberg, Anna Marek and Endel Ots, also performed well in the Special.
The Schafhof event was the second European competition for Orlob and Jane, who have quickly established themselves as a formidable partnership. Orlob began riding under the U.S. flag in 2015 and has previously competed at Grand Prix level on Royal Touch.
The duo's first CDI Grand Prix came in March, after Tarjan decided to hand over the ride to her long-time trainer. Despite Tarjan's success with the horse at lower levels, she felt Jane was becoming too strong for her.
Orlob has continued to impress, winning the Lövsta Future Challenge Intermediate II division and the Grand Prix Special at the TerraNova qualifying competition. His strong performance at the Schafhof Dressurfestival secured his place on the U.S. Olympic team. © Stefan Lafrentz/Sportfotos-Lafrentz.de
20 June 2024 US Olympic Dressage Team
The U.S. Olympic Dressage Team, led by Marcus Orlob, competed in the CDI Kronberg in Germany from June 20-23. Although not one of the required observation events, several horses-and-rider combinations on the U.S. Dressage Team Short List participated. The final team selection is scheduled for June 25.
Orlob and Jane won Friday's CDI4* Grand Prix with a personal-best score of 73.913%. This victory qualified them for the Grand Prix Special. Orlob has only been riding Jane for a short time, taking over from owner Alice Tarjan earlier this year. Their rapid progress has made them a promising partnership.
7 April 2024 CDI Myakka City
Marcus Orlob (USA) and Alice Tarjan's rising Grand Prix horse Jane finished first in the 3* Grand Prix Special on the concluding day of competition at the 2024 CDI Myakka City on Sunday 7 April 2024. They scored 71.894% for the win. On Friday, the pair came in second in the 3* Grand Prix with a score of 70.043%, just .001% behind Jennifer Williams and Joppe K (by Rousseau x Santano), owned by Joppe Partners. The leaderboard was flipped on Sunday, with Williams finishing second to Orlob.
Jane's owner, Alice Tarjan, competed the KWPN mare through developing Grand Prix level and won silver at the 2022 U.S. Developing Grand Prix Horse Championships at Lamplight. After winning the Intermediaire A at the 2024 CDI Wellington in January, Tarjan passed the reins to her coach, Marcus Orlob, as she has taken a step back from riding at international Grand Prix level. The new combination made their grand prix debut last weekend in Wellington and made significant improvements to their scores whilst at TerraNova."
Photo © Sue Stickle
Euro Dressage Original Article:
Marcus Orlob Chasing Olympic Dream
