By Nancy Jaffer

San Juan Capistrano, Calif., June 30, 2008 -- It's hours after the Olympic dressage selection trials ended, but I still have goosebumps when I think of the thrilling freestyle rides I was privileged to see.

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Grand Prix Champion Steffen Peters and Ravel © 2008 by Nancy Jaffer

Read the bulletin I posted last night for the details of performances and results, etc., because I'm just going to go ahead and elaborate on what happened.

To get you up to speed quickly: The trials were part of two very busy weekends called the Collecting Gaits Farm/U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Dressage Festival of Champions.

I wasn't here at Oaks Blenheim with its beautiful mountain backdrop last weekend. I'm told it was very, very hot. That presented quite an appropriate test for the horses being aimed at the Olympics in Hong Kong, where it will not only be very, very hot, but also very, very humid, as in "typhoon season."

This weekend, happily, the weather was just warm enough and beautiful, the perfect stage for an audience to watch sporting history.

Excitement had everyone at fever pitch. That's understandable; making the team is special. For so many people, the Olympics are something to which they aspire, but never reach. The lucky ones who get to go know how momentous the opportunity is.

"To represent our country is such an honor," said Debbie McDonald, who is on the team with Brentina after finishing second to Steffen Peters in the National Grand Prix Championship and trials. Steffen swept all four classes (two Grand Prix, one Grand Prix Special and one musical freestyle) with the undefeated Ravel, who is the color of melted bittersweet chocolate and just as slick. They are being joined by Courtney King-Dye on the light-footed Harmony's Mythilus, third overall in both the rankings and the freestyle.

While Debbie is thrilled, she also noted that in making this team, she has mixed feelings. "As far as the trip, I think we're all a little concerned. It's a long journey for the horses. We just have to have a little luck for the whole team to get there safe."

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Debbie McDonald and Brentina © 2008 by Nancy Jaffer

Debbie, who got a standing ovation for her freestyle, was perfectly in sync during the ride with Brentina, who is obviously her best friend. The simpatico between those two is so obvious. They very definitely are having a conversation, and Brentina certainly was on her game.

"She was really ready," said Debbie, who lives in Idaho but has spent a lot of time in California this year. "I always kind of judge (from) that first circle of twos (the two-tempis at the beginning of her freestyle)...how she's going to do. When she stays really on the aids for that, then I pretty much have to say I'm usually very comfortable in knowing she's going to be with me for the rest of the ride."

Asked why she requested the fans to clap to the rhythm of "Respect" as she ended her ride, she said, "For me, the fun part of the freestyle is to get the audience involved...I've got a horse who loves it, so why not."

Listen: Debbie McDonald talks about Brentina on the final day of the trial.

Steffen, a Californian, knows how to get the best out of his horses. His magic touch has worked wonders with Ravel. He has great admiration for the horse, who I suspect will get even better in the weeks before the Games.

Listen: Steffen Peters on riding Ravel in the trial

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Courtney King-Dye and Harmony's Mythilus © 2008 by Nancy Jaffer

Selectors will decide today how many horses head to quarantine in Aachen, Germany. It seems more than likely that Idocus (he had another terrific freestyle) and Lombardi, the second horses of Courtney and Steffen who finished fourth and fifth respectively, will be making the trip. Leslie Morse and Kingston also should be going, and possibly Michael Barisone and Neruda, who finished seventh.

The USEF wants as many horses as possible to make it through quarantine, because you can never have too many at your disposal in a case like this. As examples, there already have been several horses from the eventing Olympic short list who won't be going on, and the same just happened to a key horse in show jumping.

The way things went for Michael this weekend illustrate the type of problems that can crop up. Here's what happened to him.

Listen: Michael Barisone on why he didn't compete

Since Michael couldn't compete, he had to rely on his scores from last weekend and his qualifiers for the selection trials to get ranked.

If all goes well, the U.S. should have a good shot at a medal. To confirm that, I asked judge Axel Steiner what he thought.

Listen: Judge Axel Steiner discusses the team's chances in Hong Kong.