OLYMPICS REPORT / 26 DAYS TO THE GAMES : Seidel Wins, Gibson Gets Free Pass

Guenter Seidel of Encinitas, on Graf George, won the Grand Prix at the equestrian trials at Gladstone, N.J., to solidify his chances of making the U.S. team. He was second after the first two trials last weekend.

Michelle Gibson of Roswell, Ga., an impressive winner last weekend on Peron, was given a bye on Saturday, along with an automatic berth on the team. The move disappointed many in the crowd of 10,000 who had come specifically to see Peron.

But the eight riders remaining in the competition all agreed to giving Gibson and Peron the weekend off since Peron had been slow to adjust to the heat and humidity of New Jersey after arriving in the United States from Germany just 10 days before the start of the trials.

“We’re horse people. After his scores last weekend, we want to see that again in Atlanta,” said three-time Olympian Robert Dover of Lebanon, N.J., who placed second on Metallic behind Seidel and Graf George, 71.08% to 67.44%, in Saturday’s Grand Prix. Steffen Peters of Escondido, on Udon, was third.