BioStar Heads to the Olympics

by BioStar Staff Writer · July 2, 2024

Team BioStar rider Marcus Orlob has achieved his life-long Olympic dream aboard his newest superstar mount, Jane (Desperado x Zandra).

Over the course of six months, German-born Orlob found himself on an unlikely trajectory towards the short list for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games aboard the 10-year-old KWPN mare owned by Alice Tarjan.

Tarjan purchased the mare sight-unseen and handed the ride off to trainer Orlob at the beginning of 2024. The pair made their first Grand Prix appearance in Wellington in March, scoring a 64.478% in a CDI3* Grand Prix. From that point forward, the duo rocketed to the top of nearly every CDI competition, only growing stronger and more competitive with each appearance.

Susan Stickle Photography

Most recently, Orlob and Jane recorded personal-best scores at the final observation event prior to team selection in Kronberg, Germany. The duo started off winning the CDI4* Grand Prix with a first personal best score of 73.913%, before they went on to win the CDI4* Grand Prix Special with another personal best score of 75.340%.

Following this appearance, the final team selection was announced listing Olympic veterans, Steffen Peters and Adrienne Lyle as well as wild card slot, Marcus Orlob to the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team, with Endel Ots as the traveling reserve.

Orlob began his riding career in his home country of Germany, competing across Europe and debuting at the Grand Prix level at age 21. After working extensively in Europe and earning his Bereiter FN title from the German Riding School in Warendorf, Germany, he moved to the U.S. and began his own training operation. Since then, Orlob has successfully competed across all young horse levels with up-and-coming young horses, including wins at USEF Festival of Champions in the 5-year-old, 6-year-old, and Developing Grand Prix divisions.

The 10-year-old mare, Jane, owned by Alice Tarjan, is the youngest horse on the U.S. Olympic Dressage Team. The Paris Olympics will mark both she and Orlob’s championship debut.

Stefan Lafrentz/Sportfotos

Orlob and Jane will make one final appearance prior to the Olympics competing in the Nations Cup CDIO5* representing the U.S.A. at CHIO Aachen, July 4-6 in Germany.

The equestrian events at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled to run from July 27 to August 6 at the Palace of Versailles, featuring 200 riders across three disciplines for both individual and team competitions, namely dressage, eventing, and jumping.

We will be watching closely as the events unfold!

Stefan Lafrentz/Sportfotos

Header photo: Stefan Lafrentz/Sportfotos

Orlob has been a friend and believer in BioStar for years. His favorite products are our pastes, which are easily portable, fast-acting, and packed with powerful and healthy ingredients.