AMERICAN rapper and music producer Snoop Dogg caused quite the frenzy at the Chateau de Versailles on Saturday when, alongside his friend Martha Stewart, he showed up to watch the dressage dressed in riding gear; he has an Samshield helmet, tails, breeches and even riding chaps. Snoop, who’s real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, first spent some time at the stables meeting athletes and horses before coming into the stadium to watch the dressage, including Brtian’s Becky Moody. Stewart is an American retail businesswoman, writer, and television personality.

On Sunday, there was more excitement when Ryan Gosling showed up with his wife, Eva Mendes, to watch the Freestyle individual dressage final. Versailles was the place to be!

McIvor in top groom mode

Indian dressage rider Anush Agarwalla made history at the Château de Versailles in Paris last week when he became the first Indian rider to compete in dressage at an Olympic Games. The 24-year-old is based in Germany but grew up in the city of Calcutta, which has a population of nearly 15 million. He took up dressage when he was 17 and his groom is none other than Alison McIvor, owner of Show Grooms International. “She’s amazing,” Anush told The Irish Field. “I’m so so grateful that she’s here with me. We’ve been working together for two years and the day after our first show, I never even looked for somebody else.

“She just a wonderful horse woman. She knows everything about Caramello, she just takes a lot of pressure off me at shows especially at such a huge show. At home I love to do everything on my own, but that shows, and especially the bigger shows like obviously the Olympic Games, Alison comes with me and she is the best.”

Alison McIvor of Show Grooms International was grooming for India's Anush Agarwalla at the Paris Olympic Games \ Judith Faherty

Social media has changed the sport - Werth

Seven-time Olympian Isabell Werth has seen the sport change a lot since her first Games in Barcelona in 1992. The most medalled equestrian athlete of all time, Werth added another team gold and individual silver to her haul in Paris riding Wendy.

Asked how the sport has changed in the last 30 years, she said: “Life was so much easier. I have to say, without on social media, it was so easy, more comfortable and uncomplicated.

“Now you have to expect that if you’re on a horse, that someone who sees in Australia, they know more than you! We have to think so much before we do something because you never know what the reaction will be.”