Anyone else watching Badminton and cringing?

Darremi said:
Thanks for clarifying. The photos are unavailable at present.

I think the 21 penalty rule is designed to prevent riders taking the pinned fences for granted. Knowing you need a clean jump at a frangible pin hopefully makes the riders respect the fence and ride it in a safer manner.
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The sequence is on e-Venting now and it's easy to see why the Ground Jury made the decision they did. Basically, if they think the horse would have fallen without the pin it gets the 21pp. The review process is a bit cumbersome but it's still something that the sport is getting used to.

Really, the sport is damned if they do, damned if they don't. The pins were introduced to lessen the risk of serious injury while still penalizing bad jumping. Now some people seem to be saying we should just let 'em crash because that's clearer. :rollseyes:
 
TarrSteps said:
The sequence is on e-Venting now and it's easy to see why the Ground Jury made the decision they did. Basically, if they think the horse would have fallen without the pin it gets the 21pp. The review process is a bit cumbersome but it's still something that the sport is getting used to.

Really, the sport is damned if they do, damned if they don't. The pins were introduced to lessen the risk of serious injury while still penalizing bad jumping. Now some people seem to be saying we should just let 'em crash because that's clearer. :rollseyes:
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Right fence design. Right rule and right decision for NW in this instance I feel.

Badminton this year has truely demonstrated the safety brilliance of these frangible pins.
 
First fence me and my friend went to was the quarry, people who had been there for a while said they'd hardly seen any horses come round because they had all fallen off or retired before!
And I don't know who it was but one Australian rider fell in the warm up, horse hanged a leg on a big spread and both took a tumble. Horse and rider were back on their feet and he got back on board but not sure if they competed or not.
 
I found it very interesting to watch, one of the best Badminton's in a long while. It was really tough and asked a lot of questions of the horses and riders, but no one got seriously hurt which is exactly what you want from 4* isn't it?
 
TheMule said:
Some terrible lines being ridden, very disappointing. Think course just a notch too complicated, no true let up, beyond the capabilities of most of the horses. Not how it should be imho
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Years ago, this would have been a normal Badminton, big and challenging. Perhaps riders are so used to the ugly technical courses around now they've actually forgotten how to ride them with a bit more intuition.
 
Maesfen said:
Years ago, this would have been a normal Badminton, big and challenging. Perhaps riders are so used to the ugly technical courses around now they've actually forgotten how to ride them with a bit more intuition.
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I went to Badminton years ago and thought the fences were terrifying, haven't been since and thought maybe it was just the fact I was watching on tv in recent years made the course look easier but obviously not.
Interestingly, I was at the Rolex Kentucky last month and although I wouldn't have volunteered to go round it the course was not as scary as I anticipated and there were a lot of clears, and the talk was it was too simple. It was also lovely weather, sunny but a breeze which no doubt also helped, but it seems course designers really can't win with regard to keeping people happy.
 
Cracking Badminton XC, reminds me a lot of the 80s and 90s when you had to be very good across the country and not just an excellent drassage rider. I also think a lot of the horses just weren't quite fit enough - losing the 2 x roads and tracks and the steeplechase seems to have effected that.
 
ihatework said:
Right fence design. Right rule and right decision for NW in this instance I feel.

Badminton this year has truely demonstrated the safety brilliance of these frangible pins.
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I agree. I think Peter Flarup's horse would certainly be dead now without them - and quite possibly Peter Flarup too. And they weren't the only ones helped by the pins on that fence.
 
Iownayetti said:
Claire Balding has just said Nichola got her penalties for the pin breaking at the pond ...
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Which is totally incorrect if you looked at the actual results last night. Not that it matters anyway she withdrew.

Classic Badminton and the riders seem happy about the course. Think Ian Stark was spot on.
 
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I am a '93 baby so am more used to the "easier" Badmintons of recent years but I am really glad it was that difficult in honesty. Badminton does not have this terrifying reputation because it is a course that any CSI*** horse can get around. In my opinion there should be a distinguishable difference between the class of horse (and rider!) that can make it around a four star, and I think that difference was outlined yesterday. Lots of silly mistakes and irritating things like poor Tina Cook's run out that really was a nothing moment, and poor Foxy's random fall.

I also thought it was interesting that having the top names such as Mary King, Mark Todd and WFP out of the running meant that some of the younger riders, such as Harry Meade and Izzy Taylor got a chance to shine a bit! They're the next generation coming through so it's nice to see that we do have another wave of talented riders :)
 
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