Badminton, the loss

Kenzo

Kenzo

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This is probably not going to sound too nice and I don't mean in the way that some people might take it (before anyone jumps on me) I'm not very good at explaining things but for those that know kinda know me, you might 'get' what I'm trying to say.

Looking back, after seeing what happened on Sunday, I'm glad in way that I witnessed it, I think seeing something like that brings home what eventing is, it's a dangerous sport (which of course we all know), but when people talk about a sport being dangerous, their often referring about the danger to person and therefore seeing something happen that probably most of us only read about from time to time and it really does bring home a few things.

We all go as spectators to enjoy watching the sport, the glory, the excitement, the talented riders and the beautiful horses, the passion etc but perhaps forget about what goes on behind the scenes/public view, the sacrifices that are made that the riders and owners have to live with, the disappointment, the accidents ....all the bad stuff that happens, unfortunately it's all part of the sport and to people that what to do this, be successful event riders, people of can only dream of riding round Badminton, I personally do think its important to see things like this, even the younger people, it toughens you up makes you realise there’s more to it than in the riders smiley faces punching the air at their victory in the glossy magazines, not only is there tears of joy but also tears of great sadness, the loss, the stress, the impact it must have on a yard and the staff and you learn to appreciate the good, the bad and the down right ugly side of the sport.

Hats off to them all I say, its made me think twice about everything and everyone involved, it wasnt nice to see but in a way, I'm glad I did, I needed to see it eventually, however as I type this, I say that with a huge lump in my throat.
 
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Yep completely agree. All too often people judge the "surface" image, without knowing/caring enough of what has gone on in the background....just really feel for Louisa, as she is incredibly hard working and treats her ponies as individuals. Not that anyone deserves that even if they're not, but you know what I mean!
 
Well said. They are very brave people and I dont think it is something I could ever do again.

I had a fair bit of success on junior teams eventing and was hoping to become a "professional" eventing rider if all went to plan. Then had a very nasty fall XC where my horse broke his neck, pelvis and stifle and was very nearly PTS (our vets told us if he could walk get him into the lorry and back to them as the vet at the event would certainly just put him to sleep!!), it really brought home to me exactly what the risks were. I'd had falls of course and had some nasty injuries myself, but its a whole different reality check when you get off injury free (broke a finger but thats it, horse threw me clear) and your horse nearly dies. I lost my taste for eventing after that, though i love to watch it.

They are very brave people to take part in the event at that level and they have worked very hard and sacrificed a lot to get there.
 
I camped at Badminton from Thursday to Monday. I didn't have one of those Radio Badminton ear pieces on, but I had no idea a horse died on the course - I only found out today from the H&H website.

Was I walking about the site for two days with fingers in my ears or was this accident 'very quietly' covered? I feel awful about it - and totally agree with the comments that this is what can happen in the sport - but I would hate to think this was hushed up? Someone please tell me I just wasn't paying attention : )
 
Nope. I was only one fence down from huntsmans when it happened and I only found out when I walked up there passed woman dragging her children out and rounded the corner to see poor louisa devastated crying next to a pile of horseless tack on the ground. The screens were up but there was a gap and I saw a motionless horse. Even that was horrific and I didn't see the accident.

The BBC (I watched all the coverage when I got home) only said Desert Island had been injured and was being taken off site for investigation.... she was actually PTS within minutes of the accident. It was very badly handled. I did have badminton radio and all they said was there was a hold on course....

Out of respect for the rider and all involved it should have been acknowledged even if it was only at the end of the highlights or SJ on BBC2 yesterday.
 
Agreed, to hear she was crying carrying DI's tack is just heartbreaking and brings it home to you how amazing the highs are - but how low the lows are too.
 
Absolutely the loss of Desert Island ought to have been acknowledged. Louisa will wake with the awfulness hitting her for a long time to come - and I'm guessing sleep won't come too easily for her either.

I hope she finds some strength to carry on and to put this devastating loss to a place where it doesn't hurt so badly. I wish there was something to take the terrible pain away. To lose a friend through old age after many happy years is bad enough - to lose your team-mate and the one to partner you through the stuff of dreams, like Louisa has, must be unbearable.

Would it be too gory to have an 'In Memorium wall' somewhere at Badminton, that the real heroes might be remembered for having paid the ultimate price? Might bring it home just how brave these horses and riders truly have to be.
 
brighteyes said:
Would it be too gory to have an 'In Memorium wall' somewhere at Badminton, that the real heroes might be remembered for having paid the ultimate price? Might bring it home just how brave these horses and riders truly have to be.
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Well put, OP, and an interesting discussion. I can't see this happening but agree it would be a heartbreaking tribute. I just wonder how the riders of those horses would react :( And it would be hard to 'market' it right otherwise it could come across the complete opposite to how it was intended.
 
I must admit that I was upset that nothing was said at all, I think out of respect for horse and rider, an acknowledgement should have been made, however small and quiet.
This was my sport as a lass and I still dabble a bit, I love the sport, I am passionate about my horse(s). To lose one is devastating and as many of us know, takes time to sink in, and longer to come to terms with. It is devastating but we have to deal with this reality, and hopefully the sport will carry on progressing towards minimizing risks. However, this is eventing, it is a extreme challenge and this is why we love it.
I think this is not the way to deal with the situation, ignore it and not tell anyone. It is a reality that horses are lost, and we know not only in eventing, just in everyday life. Sometimes (maybe it's my age) I resent being cushioned from such things by certain media streams and worry that we are being 'babied' by the press far too much.
I ask for clarity and honesty. This is the reality of our sport and of life. I don't want to see the accident, I don't want the other extreme. Just facts.
My heart goes out to Louisa and all at the stables. Hold on in there. It does get easier. And yes, we should have seen an acknowledgement of the loss.
(sorry this is so long, but I have been thinking about it all day!)
Glass of Rioja to all and a pensive toast to say goodbye to Desert Island.
 
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Destiny95 said:
I camped at Badminton from Thursday to Monday. I didn't have one of those Radio Badminton ear pieces on, but I had no idea a horse died on the course - I only found out today from the H&H website.

Was I walking about the site for two days with fingers in my ears or was this accident 'very quietly' covered? I feel awful about it - and totally agree with the comments that this is what can happen in the sport - but I would hate to think this was hushed up? Someone please tell me I just wasn't paying attention : )
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I too knew nothing about this untill i read about it on here today, was very sad to hear, cant imagine how she must be feeling :(
 
Very well put Kenzo, I totally get what you are trying to convey. Totally agree that sometimes the sport itself can be conveyed as all smiles, glory and success,particularily seeing that as a nation its a sport we do very, very well at. Both myself and mini TheoryX keep our horses on an event yard, our YO is an experienced rider and her business partner was privileged enough to ride around Badminton this year. YO does love to gossip about the eventing world, and its very obvious that its not all smiles and success.

Even on a personal perspective, mini TX has just moved up to Novice level - she is struggling, and on top of that we are getting the vet out as our mare probably has a virus. She's had some knockbacks in the past few weeks out eventing - which for a 14 year old are hard to take, particularly as she did really, really well doing PN. We've decided to get virus sorted out and downgrade to PNplus for a while, but YO made a very salient comment today, which echoed in a way Kenzo's comments. She told me that with eventing you were either up on the clouds or eating the dirt, and as long as you kept that in mind and kept perspective, all would be ok. Also, your luck must run out at some point - poor old OT being a case in mind recently.

Poor Louisa, it must have been devastating for her, particularily on a parther who had taken her to places that most of us can only dream of.
 
I knew nothing about it either and I was there camping as well.
I can understand that perhaps that from the view of the organisers and the sport it is bad publicity, but if a rider had died it would have probably been reported and there would have been silence in memory, so why not for the horse-they are central to the sport.
It is so sad to hear.


mik said:
Sometimes (maybe it's my age) I resent being cushioned from such things by certain media streams and worry that we are being 'babied' by the press far too much.
I ask for clarity and honesty. This is the reality of our sport and of life. I don't want to see the accident, I don't want the other extreme. Just facts.
My heart goes out to Louisa and all at the stables. Hold on in there. It does get easier. And yes, we should have seen an acknowledgement of the loss.
(sorry this is so long, but I have been thinking about it all day!)
Glass of Rioja to all and a pensive toast to say goodbye to Desert Island.
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I agree (so maybe it is not just your age) well said
 
Umm, I wasn't at Badminton (worse luck, I had to work on Sunday) but I know I read (possibly on H&H website) on Sunday evening that there was a horse killed and I THINK they named said horse (and rider). There certainly didn't seem to be any 'hushing up'. I can't see that it was handled badly - the poor girl certainly didn't need a media circus descending on her, as would probably have happened if more attention had been drawn to it. Heaven knows Clare Balding seemed like a Jack-in-the-box as it was. I'll bet Louisa got loads of support from everyone at the event (I hope so anyway).
 
I watched the 'live' coverage on BBC 301 - lots of staring at the lake and not a mention of the reason behind the hold. I guessed really, that it had to be something serious.
I hope that is how Louisa wanted it handled.
 
Hopefully it was handled how lousie wanted it to be handled.- Very true

I don't know, at the event there was no mention of it so it felt quite 'hushed-up' maybe I just missed it.
 
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