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LONDON — Equestrian sports are getting a lot of attention in London, primarily because the queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, is a contender in the events. But there is an American star at the Olympic venue too.
Jan Ebeling is a German-born American representing the United States in the equestrian discipline of dressage. And while he may be famous among horse people, his horse is famous for something else.
The 15-year-old mare Rafalca is owned in part by Ann Romney, wife of the Republican presidential candidate, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 14 years ago.
In addition to being an international competitor, Jan teaches clinics across the country, and that's how he and Romney met.
"She took a lesson," Jan recalled. "The lesson was very short, 45 minutes of talking and maybe 30 seconds of riding — she was that sick. She had very little control over her right side."
That lesson would turn out to be the chance of a lifetime for Jan when his wife, Amy; their friend Beth Myer, and Ann Romney bought Rafalca. The women then hired Jan to train her and compete on the international circuit.
The rest, as they say, is Olympic history. Jan and Rafalca surprised everyone by making the U.S. dressage team.
"Never in our wildest dreams" did we think we'd make it to the Olympics," Amy Ebeling said.
Dressage dates back to the ancient Greeks and has roots in the cavalry. Until 1952, only commissioned officers could compete. But today it is an event for men and women, competing on equal footing.
The horses are doing a lot of work, but so is the rider. It takes years and years training to get that body control and get that balance.
–Jan Ebeling, dressage rider
Experts say one of the biggest misconceptions about this sport is that the horse does everything.
"The better you get at it, the more it looks like the rider just sits there and goes for a stroll," Jan said. "And the horses are doing a lot of work, but so is the rider. It takes years and years training to get that body control and get that balance."
As for Jan, at 40 years older than some Olympians he's happy to be able to compete.
"I'm not quite sure how I feel about being 53 and walking next to a 13-year-old who may or may not win a gold medal," he said. "It's quite amazing, but just making it to the Olympics is so unbelievable."
Jan will find out Wednesday when he and Rafalca will compete. It will be either Thursday or Friday, and you can bet that three women will be cheering at the ringside.
