Badminton XC!

AN said yesterday after finishing xc that Nero had lost one of his front shoes, so probably a bit sore this morning from that. He’s normally a very sound horse so I expect it was the shoe To blame this year!
 
only_me said:
AN said yesterday after finishing xc that Nero had lost one of his front shoes, so probably a bit sore this morning from that. He’s normally a very sound horse so I expect it was the shoe To blame this year!
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it's a shame, would have loved to have seen them jump.

Will Furlong presenting now, not sure on the shoes.
 
Fragglerock said:
I thought one of them probably was as I did hear one called Matt, not sure who the other is. My husband said it sounds like they just pulled two random people off the street.
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Rupert someone and Matt Ryan, they just announced it.

Paul Tapner still in his red lol
 
Looks like all but Nereo passed, what a shame for Andrew and will this be the last time we see Nereo at badminton.
My fingers are totally crossed for poor Alex Bragg and team Bragg, all lovely people , let’s hope he has a clear with Zagreb. 🍀
 
Tiddlypom said:
Statement on the news section of the BHT website.

'The Ground Jury interviewed Oliver Townend (GBR) regarding his riding of his horses Cooley SRS and Ballaghmore Class at Badminton 5th May 2018.

They gave him an official warning regarding his over-use of the whip on both horses and told him that the horses would be checked very carefully on Sunday morning for the horse inspection for their fitness to compete in the jumping phase.'

Quite right too.
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Good.
 
Just watched the re run on bbc. He hit the second horse at least nine times. That was full on hits. He should be eliminated. No excuse.
 
Just watched it and heard Ian Stark say there aren't really any rules to deal with the situation! I've never really liked Townsend and hope he doesn't win. If he's doing that in a competition what does he do at home?
 
Sandstone1 said:
winning is clearly more important than his horses well being.
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The amount of money he had/has a chance of winning - Rolex plus Badminton purse is a life changing amount. The horses are a tool of his trade. The mistakes lie with there being no proportionate punishment for the ragging he gave his horses in his efforts to win the money.

His second horse is running, not withdrawn according the commentary so he may well win the life changing amount of money yet.
 
Yes I thought his interview made him look worse. If he'd have said that the horse hadn't felt tired to him or that he got a bit carried away I'd have thought more of him, but the "sometimes I win pretty, sometimes I win ugly" and the blaming the horse for napping just made it worse for me. He sure did ride ugly. It was all about the money and not a stuff for these two lovely but inexperienced horses that were actually trying very hard for him. If they were my horses I'd be finding another rider.

Very disappointing. I thought he'd grown out of that.
 
He's issued a statement (not on his website or his Twitter account, or yet)

No, Oliver- it didn't just look bad, it WAS bad.
A rubbish statement, though I'm not sure what he could have said to make things better, even without that appalling interview with Claire Balding, where he made Harvey Smith look like the Vicar of Dibley in comparison.

"He also issued a statement on Sunday night, apologising “wholeheartedly if it looked bad”. “They are both young [horses] and inexperienced at this level,” he said. “I did have to work hard to keep their concentration and get them home in one piece as they tired in the heavy going. I hope that the way they both showjumped today demonstrates how fit, well and happy they are.” "

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/equestr...ns-badminton-amid-furore-oliver-townends-use/
 
A little late for a statement, the damage is done, there is a facebook chat going at the minute on a National Hunt group page condemning him. Giving any horse a hard time in public is never a good idea and it is ludicrous the governing body has nothing in its toolbox to punish him with other than a written statement.

The National Hunt group is comparing it with what happens if a jockey thrashes a horse, a lengthy ban for the jockey.

In Mr Townend's own words - I am number 1 in the world. Sadly the only way he will ever learn humility is if owners take the horses away.
 
He doesn't really give any credit to Jonelle for her riding or training just that the mare is a "freak of nature" which is hardly generous, he came across really badly today and I thought Ian Starks comments were surprisingly frank in his interview on his use of the whip and the fact that no rules were broken because there were no rules to cover how Oli rode both horses, hopefully new rules will be written before next season similar to those in racing where the use of the whip is restricted and a ban will be imposed immediately on a jockey that is seen to be outside the rules.
 
Glad OT didn't win. I've never liked his aggressive style of riding and his heartless attitude to his horses, plus he doesn't know when to shut his big mouth! Of course I don't know him personally, he could be a lovely bloke but I kind of doubt it.
 
Being no.1 in the world does not give you a licence to push a tired horse or use a whip in the manner he did. According to comments in here, it is not the first time he has been spoken to about use of the whip. Perhaps it is time the rules are revised?
 
I expect that there will be some rule changes after this. There needs to be. Yesterday I wondered whether the authorities hadn't eliminated him because they wanted the grand slam attempt and battle for the winner. If Mary King was banned for three months at Bramham for dangerous riding, surely Oli flogging a tired horse home is dangerous too?

Today, watching Classic Moët rattle practically every show jump and yet leave them up, we joked that Badminton had glued the poles on after Oli to make sure they didn't have to deal with the backlash of Oli winning!
 
The last sentence on the Telegraph article says 'it is unlikely the whip furore will affect Townend's inclusion on the British Team.

Personally I think it should, and it would serve as a very big reminder to him that he is only as good as his horses. Of course he could compete as an individual but being barred from the Team based on his welfare standards would be a decent kick in the rollocks for him. But would be unfair on the owners who plough the money in.
 
It was an appalling interview, where he showed that being warned by the Ground Jury was irrelevant to him, I fear nothing short of being immediately banned would make a dent in his attitude.

Its also exceedingly ungenerous to just call Moet a freak of nature, Jonelle rode all three phases beautifully with a smile on their faces, she and Moet were deserving winners.
 
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