posted Aug 20, 2008

Yes but my point is that popularity attracts money, and raises standards of competition.

I am well aware, thank you very much, that we have many talented riders in this country, and that what we need is to improve the standard of horses and training, but surely the more people participate in a sport, the more advertising, sponsors, potential owners and money it attracts. It's not rocket science.

And as has already been pointed out, the Canadians managed to do alright with only 3 riders in their team, so I hardly see that it's Derek Ricketts' fault that we didn't get a medal.

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posted Aug 20, 2008

I'm not sure that I want equestrianism to become more popular, and to attarct sponsors and marketing men.

There are more important things in life than winning medals.

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posted Aug 20, 2008

Got to think you are right about knowing the rules. I read an article by Derek Ricketts on the BEF (I think) web site, and I reckon they should have played the game, done a couple of circles and lived to fight another day, thereby also showing up the daftness of the rules. Still hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I think we do have the trainers, it is just that they are training everyone else!

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posted Aug 20, 2008

"Popularity attracts money" does it Sam? "and raises standards of competition"
I can assure you pally that there are plenty of very good young (and old) riders in our country.
i can not believe that you think we should scour the country to find even more. Surely you must know that you need mega bucks to reach the top in any equestrian sport. Getting a few thousand more riders competing is NOT the answer.
International Show Jumping competitions are won and lost on where and how hard your horse touches the poles.
The Canadians were lucky on the day...their horses touched, rubbed and knocked the poles in the right places....the Brits didn't.
You obviously know next to nothing about the way in which equestrian sports are run in this country.
My comment about Ricketts going is valid.
The Canadians lost a horse which was unfit...we lost one because our team maanger did not do his job properly.....for goodness sake, what else was he there for?

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posted Aug 21, 2008

The modern pentathlon points the way for equestrianism if it wants to be truly representative.

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posted Aug 21, 2008

I'm a Brit living in the USA but remain a staunch supporter of the British Equestrian Teams. It is a great disappointment that our teams didn't have greater success, but there are a few things to remember: 1) The 3-Day format was changed to be more friendly to those who excel in dressage. 2) All the British teams were struck by injuries to their first choice horses, and 3) If you've ever ridden/competed a horse you know there are days when things just don't go right. Riders have to anticipate their horses reactions - unlike other sports where it is just the human mind that has to be controlled, and no amount of training, conditioning or experience can convince a horse to be perfect if it doesn't want to be!

So, I congratulate all the athletes - human and equine - for their efforts and dedication.

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posted Aug 21, 2008

I don't understand why the IOC includes equestrian events, I was under the impression that the Olympics were all about inclusiveness for all. I really don't see the need for this dull elitist rubbish, replace it with some real sport.....darts perhaps.

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posted Aug 21, 2008

napolitaff, you are mistaken on all counts. The show jumping and three day event competitions are a display of skill, courage and stamina, for both riders and horses. I assume you feel the same way about rowing, cycling and sailing. If by elitist, you mean it's just about who has the most money then it is less elitist than say athletics, because I could dream of winning the loto and riding in a three day event but at 5ft 6" I could never dream of running in a 100m race. Which excludes me completely.

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posted Aug 22, 2008

I agree wholeheartedly, and agree with contrasts with german riders. I think a team bronze for the eventers is a failure considering the money thrown at them. But the answer lies in the selection process. The German team were selected on current form having used Luhmuhlen CIC 3 star in June as a selection trial. GB use a short and long list system which relies on past form, for example Daisy Dick's Springalong which went very well at Badminton in 2007 but was way off the pace this year. This was obviouslt put down to an off day, not that the horse was out of form! The one member of the team selected purely on current form as a result of the late withdrawal of Zara, Tina Cooke, who wasn't even long listed two months ago was the stand out performer from the GB team. Why on earth wasn't Ollie Townend sent out there, he's won nearly everything this year, just look up Flint Curtis' results on the BE website for this year, top 5's everywhere at CIC level.
As for the dressage, we cannot hold a candle to the Germans until the way riding is taught in this country changes. Even ordinary livery yard riders have better core strength and stability in their seat and position than many competitive british riders. Agree with all other comments re Chris Bartle, think it was criminal for BE to let him be poached by the Germans, but good luck to them, you can't fault the results.

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posted Aug 22, 2008

Flint Curtis's owners withdrew him from selection, as many owners and some teams (eg.Switzerland's dressage team) did so Olly Townend couldn't take him.
I get really fed up of people jumping on the backs of anybody as soon as things are slightly less than perfect.
Anybody who's ever competed with horses at any level knows that it's far more unpredictable than events with just humans competing. That's why you never get one combination dominating for years like you get in other sports.
The "gold or bust" mentality just doesn't exist with horses as there are so many variables, so I don't think team bronze is a failure at all. Things happen with horses that you can never predict or understand. Mary King's horse hadn't hit a show jump for 2 years and then had 3 down in 2 rounds! You can't say he was out of form going into it. Likewise, Parkmore Ed's dressage has been great all year but he got spooked by something in the arena and that was that. The same management team has led them to world championships and seven consecutive European championships (no mean feat when you consider Germany, the current Olympic and World Champions are in those) so I don't think you can blame them for anything. Yes there are a lot of Brits paid to manage other teams but the Brits don't exactly have a bad team. Yogi Breisner is considered one of the best trainers in the world.

As far as the rules in the showjumping go, Michael Whittaker was entitled to do what he did and enter the last round and was told as much by the officials. They then decided otherwise when the other teams complained. You have to question the officials for allowing the situation to happen rather than the British team management - they took advice and acted on it in good faith.

Yes we should strive to be the best but 3rd in the world in Eventing really isn't a failure and the showjumping was just very unlucky. Let's celebrate it for now and aim for better in future. Miner's Frolic will only be 14 in London and imagine how good he can be by then when it's all old hat to him. Add the fact that the horses won't have to travel and get unsettled(although nor will many others as so many are based in Britain) and they should be able to do better.

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