Being an event rider's mum...

flohelf

flohelf

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A French junior rider died on XC at Jardy horse trials today
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Skawl and Icare d'Auzay died at Badminton
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Not to mentioned Le Samurai and of course all the tragic and fatal accidents on various XCs lately...
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Son is at this very moment riding CCI* XC in the US with rather green mare for her first *....
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Can't wait to receive the "I'm alive" text message which is the signal that XC went ok for him and his ride. (Damn 9 hour time difference too...
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Gosh the sport is getting too much for event rider's mums
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Sorry if my post sounds soppy but all of the above does make the sport look so scary at times...
 
As an eventing junior, I know my mum gets very worried, luckily I'm always and always have been on good horses who never have any problems, yet, but very scary really to think of
 
Thanks Weezy, TripleSandH and Teapot...Your kind words help me cope with the wait; should come any minute. He knows I get worried and never fails to send message.
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I think it's just because of what has been happening XC these days or am I just getting old....
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[ QUOTE ]
I think it's just because of what has been happening XC these days or am I just getting old....
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[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think you're getting old - just being a mum!
 
From my point of view my daughter and I started eventing at around the same time - after I'd been out of riding for 25 years and come back to it and she was starting out. I am extremely nervous before my classes due to my age and lack of bounce and fitness and the fact that I have hurt myself a couple of times. However, the nerves go as I start and it's brilliant fun.

When it's time for my daughter's classes I am MORE nervous than for myself and the nerves don't stop when she starts - it's bad for me all the way round.

My ex-husband and current husband both used to race motorcycles and I hated waiting for them to finish that as well.

It's too scary - why do we put ourselves through it!
 
Blackeventer, I sincerely hope your son is okay, and did well today.

I have been away from the sport for a lot of years, and today watched my first Badminton in a VERY long time (Pippa hadn't even gone round on Barnaby the last time i watched
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). I was quite shocked by the technicality of the course nowadays, and also by the number of half-strides / missed strides that riders and horses were getting today......and even more so by the state of the ground. To me, Badminton has always been a wet event, and it used to be lots of big, bold fences, but nowadays it seems, it's technical complex after technical complex, and horses having to put half strides in here there and everywhere
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I really don't see the appeal of it anymore.....and i'm surprised more riders weren't damaged as a result
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I shall now be sticking to the knock-down variety of fences for the remainder of my days...
 
Thanks Rambo ! See my other post: Son's fine thank God.
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Agree with you on the ever increasing technicality (although I am still in total awe -and petrified of course-
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when I see son riding XC )
What we have seen with the recent accidents in France is that the victims are all very young and all in that class where things start getting really "technically serious". Wonder if junior riders aren't tackling high level eventing too fast and too soon...
 
I'm an eventing mummy whose daughter has just moved up to Novice (Jrn) ATM she is riding her 14,2 hunting pony who has the best brain and a fifth leg, as well as a telepathic connection with her rider (been together for 4 years).
I am dreading the day she tackles the bigger courses on her horse, although she can't wait.
 
That's wonderful for your daughter and I'm sure she will do well. Good luck to her on her future events !
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I love what my son is doing, making his life and a living with horses. But I actually get more worried now that as a pro, he is riding other people's horses
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, as opposed to his younger days when he was riding his own with the "best brain and a fith leg" + an amazing bond which never failed them !
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As a pro you don't always end up riding your "dream horse" but that's the way it goes I guess
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So sorry to hear about yet another death - what a sad time for the sport.

Also very, very happy to hear your son had a positive day.

My 12yo son watched at our local BE HT today and also the screening from Badminton when we got home and now says he'll never event as he doesn't want to risk his ponies or himself. What a wonderful experience he'll miss if he sticks to the decision as he grown up, but god am I glad in some ways! Somehow after this weekend the showjumps arn't going to seem quite so difficult..
 
I know where you're coming from, every time I watch my daughter hare round a Xc course I have my heart in my mouth, but tell myself she and the horse are always prepared to the best they can be, she's meticulous about walking a course sometimes up to three times, and if I felt the horse wasn't up to the job I'd ask her not to run. I was more worried at a recent Hunter Trial where I soon realised the 2' 6" course was abominable than at a BE event.
For my part I try to find horses I personally have faith in which eases my fears a lot, but it is a high risk sport and there is no way I would ever expect her to stop doing it to appease me.
It doesn't help having a Father who also hares Xc country, when they do a Pairs' Class I don't know who to worry about first!
Watching Badminto yesterday I cursed that accident with the fence pole, yet how many events have we done over the years with identical poles? Hundreds actually..
I doubt the small events can afford to replace all their flags anyway so it's a risk we will still take.
Horse/rider falls are probably the worst thing that can happen, but you can fall over here cantering round a field when the horse puts it's foot in a mole hole, so it has to stay in perspective.
As Mum's all we can do is ensure the practicalities such as equipment/back protectors etc are the best they can be, after that it's like you, a nail biting wait until they finish.... (and as I often tell myself, which would worry me more, her clubbing in a seedy town at 4am or jumping a Xc course..?
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No question, the walk to her car afterwards is far more dangerous.
 
Agreeing with you on all accounts Henryhorn. But I'm just wondering if not being around and so far away when son is riding is what seems to make it even more nail biting
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+ not really knowing some of the horses he's competing.
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Was spoiled too with Blackeventer who was your full proof XC machine type
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I agree totally with you Henry horn.

Everything in life has a risk. A few years ago Bee was crushed and injured when a horse slipped and fell with her warming up for dressage.

My OH flies helicopters often taking one of our kids with him. Son plays rugby, I have climed mountains and jumped out of aeroplanes.
We all ski, OH and kids do so very extreme off piste stuff.

As I get older i become more aware of the risks but I still keep at the back of my mind that the most dangerous part of any day is when we are in a car on the roads.
 
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