Albert Court Ltd.

Olympic Bronze Medalists No Strangers to ACL

Many top trainers have graced the grounds of Albert Court, and the current roster includes some of the best Equestrians in the world.

It was an exciting competition at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. For Albert Court, Ltd. the thrill was even greater since many of the winners had familiar names.

In the Individual Show Jumping competition, Khaled Al-Eid of Saudi Arabia rode Khashim Al-Aan to a Bronze medal behind Dutchmen Jeroen Dubbeldam and Albert Voorn. The Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation purchased Khaled’s mount, formerly known as Eastern Knight, from Albert Court in 1999. Eastern Knight also competed successfully with Al-Eid in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

The Saudi Arabian’s finish was the country’s first ever equestrian medal, and the second medal overall, of the Sydney Games. Khaled and other members of the Saudi Arabian teams spent many years training at Albert Court’s facility in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

Meanwhile, in Dressage, the US team secured the Bronze Medal after team member Christine Traurig accomplished a personal best score of 1745 with Etienne. Germany captured the Gold while Holland received the Silver.

Christine Traurig, of Carlsbad, California, is no stranger to Albert Court. She and her husband Bernie were the resident trainers at the facility during the early 1990’s. During that time, Bernie won several show jumping Grand Prix under the colors of Albert Court, with such great mounts as Maybe Forever, Eastern Sunrise and Corsair. Christine returned to the sport of Dressage in 1997 after a four-year absence.

Guenter Seidel, another member of the Bronze Medal winning US team, is currently the resident Dressage trainer at Albert Court. For Guenter, Sydney was his second Olympics and also his second Bronze Medal, following a magnificent performance in the Atlanta Games. Seidel’s horse Foltaire overcame serious illness and was able to help the US team to the Bronze.

A third member of the US Olympic Dressage team, Sue Blinks, who had the highest score of any American in Sydney, currently trains at the ACL facility as well.

At the 2004 Games in Athens, the US team of Guenter Seidel, Robert Dover, Lisa Wilcox and Debbie McDonald had a brief overall lead but ended up taking the Bronze Team Medal. The group had to overcome the disadvantage of going first, but eventually fought off the tough challenge from the Dutch to secure a spot in the winners’ podium. The medal was the third bronze in a row for the highly successful US squad.

Albert Court wants to congratulate all the riders for their enormously successful showing.