Badminton virtually cancelled???

Thats positive to a point then. It doesnt do to get hysterical about these things till we have a fact or two! I can see Hugh and the team working their rocks off all night tonight.

I can totally understand people not wanting to run if the ground doesnt suit their horse but some like it deep and some like it like rock, no two are the same so Im sure we will still see a fine competition whatever happens. If the course has to be modified or the time allowed lengthened than so be it.
 
It wasn't that they just didn't think about it, but that apparently watering the ground would have been at huge expense so they didn't do it as they really didn't believe that there would be NO rain...
 
By the way, Zara will very probably not run - she is apparently pretty upset (understandably) & has gone home to ride some other horses!!!
 
I know, I know - apparently the chances of rain on SUNDAY are very good
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Would be such a shame if more riders pull out
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- but understandable that they don't want to risk injuries!

For those who are members, there is a video about the ground conditions (with Stuart Buntine) on eventriders.com. (Might take a while to load unless you have very fast connection.)
 
Theres no way Toytown could run on that, he has delicate legs. So disappointing for Zara but lets be honest we really cannot control the weather and can only do so much to imitate it!
 
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By the way, Zara will very probably not run - she is apparently pretty upset (understandably) & has gone home to ride some other horses!!!

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TBH, to me going home to ride some others wouldn't suprise me anyway even if the going was perfect and she was definately running tomorrow - she had an early time and lives so near and is so laid back.

Although I agree - I doubt she will run - this just isn't an indication IMO!!!
 
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i might pops down there with my hose and give the ground a little sprinkle!!

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STOP STOP STOP! All this negative talk is getting me down!! i think i might pops down there with my hose and give the ground a little sprinkle!!

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Ditto. Ruth Edge did very well - she got 39.6!
 
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By the way, Zara will very probably not run - she is apparently pretty upset (understandably) & has gone home to ride some other horses!!!

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According to Zara's article in the Telegraph today, she's going home every day anyway
 
I KNOW!!!!!!


I will go and wash my car....that always brings the rain!

I will wash it twice AND put laundry out on the line!!!!

How that then?!
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Also, don't forget, if they had watered earlier, let alone about the expense, with the ground being so dry, it would have just run off, it wouldn't have soaked down and would have given very false ground; imagine if riders had come off the lines, that would be a sure recipe for pulling something; the same with aerating and it then raining; that could almost have been worse.
Whatever they had done, the ground staff would be in the wrong; I feel very sorry for them as they will have been working so hard for this.
 
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I KNOW!!!!!!


I will go and wash my car....that always brings the rain!

I will wash it twice AND put laundry out on the line!!!!

How that then?!
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evryone hang their smalls on the line!!
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This perhaps is a silly question but when I worked at the racecourse we used to water as soon as the ground started to get firm. The watering was done in conjunction with the weather forecast to get perfect ground on the day. Could the same not be done on eventing courses - I can't believe them saying they could not do anything until the day before in case it rained - that's ridiculous!
 
I am devestated really that this has happened, but I do feel that the groundsmen will not sit back and do nothing - surely they are doing the most they can - there are pics of them watering and also laying soil down.

I suspect too, that all riders, owners, grooms etc, do not want to see mass withdrawls, and those that took the gamble to start the competion surely had made that decision knowing there wasn't going to be all that much rain. anyone who withdrew before that - probably did so because they knew they wouldn't make it through XC. If they have meetings, they will come up with some solutions - be it extending the time, or asking for some fences perhaps to be taken out?

This is the biggest money maker in the eventing world (I'm guessing but must be close) and they will endeavour to do all they can to ensure riders do get round and do so safely.....

Fingers crossed for tomorrow - May take the Bon Monster up there for schooling if the others all pull out!
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Bx
 
They have been watering all along - but there is a limit to how much you can do. Obviously they had planned the topsoil option for a while as well - you can't buy tonnes and tonnes on a minute's notice, but you can't put it on in advance if it is going to rain, otherwise it will all run off (anyone remember geography GCSE deforestation). As rain is not forecast, now they can now get on with spreading additional topsoil and aerovating.

Who would have predicted zero rain for April in England - the first few events cancelled through waterlogging (within 50 miles of Badminton!).

Let's wait and see how it looks tomorrow when they've finished their plans.
 
It does seem to me that if they started, then surely they would have an idea of what the ground was going to be like - it hasn't really changed all week!
 
This sort of problem is going to become more and more common place if the global warming theories are proved true. What will be the solution for our horsey sports then?

How do they handle the ground in countries that already have a much drier climate - like Spain, South of France, Italy, parts of the USA etc?

Maybe part of the solution for this years Badminton is to increase the time limit on completing the course? Riders could then choose to go round much slower so putting less punishment on their horses?
 
CM - it's not just a rumour I'm afraid, I've heard several riders say they are likely NOT to compete. Zara's interview was much earlier this morning...

They have NOT watered up until now.
 
I hear the going at Pyecombe is going to be spot on this weekend.....they've spent minutes grading the sand and rubber surface prior to the show
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Seriously though, it will be a great shame if the spectacle is devalued as a result of the weather, but also good in some respects to see professionals putting the welfare of their horses first....particularly in view of recent events across the water
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