(CNN) - Her husband, the presidential candidate, may be better known for his ties to the Olympics, but this year, Ann Romney will have some skin in the games.
Rafalca, the horse she co-owns, and trainer Jan Ebeling earned a spot on the U.S. Equestrian Team on Saturday in the sport of dressage and will advance to this summer's Olympic Games in London.
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The horse placed third in the Olympic Grand Prix Special Test, held Saturday in Gladstone, New Jersey. Rafalca scored an overall 73.169%, placing behind competitors Calecto V and Legolas, and ahead of nine others.
"It's great to be part of the Olympics again," Romney tweeted. "We are so proud of Jan and Team USA. Now let's bring home the gold!"
Dressage requires a combination of "the strength and agility of gymnastics with the elegance and beauty of ballet," according to the U.S. Equestrian Federation. The sport takes place in an arena and routines are judged on "accuracy of the transitions (changes of gait), obedience, suppleness of the horse, quality of the gaits, and the rider's use of aids."
Mitt Romney's presidential campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
– CNN's Rachel Streitfeld and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report
Also see:
No mention of Romney as Palin serves up anti-Obama red meat
Back in the spotlight, Cain invokes rabble-rousing routine
From CNN Politics
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Wow this guy is succesful beyond any liberal imagination.
He has my vote...
"Recovery summer coming 2010" – bo
From the NYT "The Romneys declared a loss of $77,000 on their 2010 tax returns for the share in the care and feeding of Rafalca, which Mrs. Romney owns with Mr. Ebeling’s wife, Amy, and a family friend, Beth Meyers".
More than most American's make yearly.
As a horse person, I can own a winner, or certainly a contender. All it takes is a lot of money and that is one thing the Romneybots have in abundance. Yep, just regular folks!
Meant to say, "anyone" can own a winner or contender if they have enough money. That wouldn't be me!
Mitt, just a regular guy with a car elevator and half-million dollar horses.
LOL Romney tickles me trying to relate to ordinary people. President Obama became successful inspite of his humble beginnings, including being raised in a single parent home. Romney had the usual upbringing you would expect with his dad being governor. The very priviledged Mr Romney will never understand what ordinary Americans go through to survive year-to-year. It would be more honest if he stopped trying to connect and just concede that he would do his best to help us.
And they call the Obamas elitists? You can't get much more elitist than "dressage."
Everything that the Romney's touch or get involved in is successful. They exude competence and success. Obama exudes failure, blame and divisiveness. The choice could not clearer. Only a fool would vote for four more years of failure. Then again, most liberals are fools so Obama will always have a base.
Why is this a "TRENDING" story?
Obama 2012 – The Only Trusted Way Forward and he does not have to TROT to get there!!!
Just another symbol of how out of touch with reality, and the average working American Romney really is.
When I was younger I worked for a catering company and we had to do events for "horse people". They are the most insufferable, arrogant, self-absorbed bunch of morons you can possibly imagine.
Must be nice,fine horse,fine care,better than most middleclass and poor citizens get,probibly not a bad place to live either,much more palatial than most of our homes I believe,at least in my middle class neighborhood.Only the best for their four legged friend,tax write offs included,I couldn't write off child support for two kids,isn't that crazy,but that's the elite again getting something for nothing at tax payers expense..Do they pay tax on their profits from their horse ,stud service,horses winnings,I bet not,they probibly incorporated the horse ,writting it off for five years,ain't IRS statues great...
You would want a regular unaccomplished guy to be your president? When does American become a country that is full of people who thinks being successful is a shame? It is easy to blame something else other than your own for your failure. Be a grown up, stop being a whinner.
Isn't that just precious? George W. Bush won votes, and probably the 2004 election, because "Joe Six Pack" thought that he'd be a better Guy to have a beer with. No danger that they're going to describe effete, elite Willard that way.
As a horse owner for twelve years I think it's great that the Romneys support an Olympic caliber horse. But I still won't vote for a blatant liar.
@Joseph- You are saying that the Romneys are declaring a loss on their tax returns for a HORSE?
When Romney is spouting that he will take deductions from middle class families, give tax credits to the wealthy and make students pay more for college. He can claim his horse but we lose out on claiming our children?
If the American working middle class does not see thru this disinterested, out of touch, tax evading money to Bermuda and Cayman islands, upper class, wealthy tax cutter, than we have much to be desired as a country.
@Four more years- I just want to say yeah no more Republican congress they are holding up the recovery of the American people. Do we really want 8 more years of Bushs' failed policy and bad ideas for the people? No. Romney is Bush incarnate? No. If a square peg does not go thru the round hole the 1st time, the second time is a definite NO.
Hey, maybe Mittens can ride the horse and do all of the intricate dressage moves - that would explain both how Mittens can maneuver sideways from one position to another, while simultaneously proving how "in touch" Mittens is with the concerns of ordinary Americans.
"Dressage", now there is a sport the 99% views on the widescreen while sitting back "waitin' for the guvmint check"!
Dressage = horse ballet.
At least they got the horse part correct.
Dressage vs. basketball.
This sputtering economy has dragged on for way too long, I'd like to ask Romney to set a realistic timeline for when we can expect the economy to be running on all cylinders again....-one year, two years, four years? And I ask because if he is elected, and there's about a 50/50 chance of that, He too will be inheriting a bad economy the way Obama did, so what will he do differently?
And people say the Romneys aren't just like the rest of us...
@MDNA- The 99% is the workforce of America. The 1% should not rule the masses, the masses will rule the 1% though. People now have a clue that the wealthy know nothing about the lives and hopes of the true American people. The republican congress must be ousted to restore the country with work, healthy food,( EPA), and the right to have a say in government. The do nothing congress must go.
The repeal of the Steagal – Glass Act that Newt Gingrich championed is the root of the wall street debacle. The further deregulation in the Bush era further made it a rule of the wealthy would profit and be bailed out while the middle class is left with the tab.
Well, perhaps Romney can show the "average workin' joe" financial ability, and make the horse ride in economy instead of first class?
I for one, ALWAYS insist my Olympic bound dressage performers go the cheapest way commercially available, we take the Lear jet.
@erich-He has put his economy speech together and it all involves wealthy tax cuts and Bush ideas but again no way to pay for it.