Burghley 2017 conclusion

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Orangehorse

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Well done to Oli.

I am puzzled that people thought that 10 is too young for going round Burghley? At 10 a horse is in his prime. I can remember a time when both Mark Philips and Richard Meade were virtually accused of cruelty for taking 14 year olds around Badminton and Burghley. I know that courses are more technical now and of course the dressage standard has risen immensely - but I thought it was a pleasant change to see younger horses (and riders!) getting well placed.
 
Certainly well done to Oli, nice to see him back in contention at this level.

I think maybe there's 2 issues?

One is that horses can keep going/be kept going to a later age, we wouldn't have seen 17-18 yr olds competing at this level years ago.

Also, as courses get more technical the horse needs to be 'trained' / schooled in more depth so needs far more experience than historically.

Wasn't the first horse to win Burghley about 6, or did I remember it wrong? Don't have time to google, but sure someone will be along shortly who does, or perhaps even someone who knows :)
 
I think if you take things a bit slower when the horse is younger they are more likely to keep competing when they are in their late teens. Of course Oli knows the horse best and they are all individuals.
 
I think 10 is fairly standard, I wouldn't call him a young horse.
The horse's production is interesting- he has only had 1 run at Advanced and spent a long time at 2* level gaining mileage
 
Interestingly Oli said he did go a bit "green" at times xc. Now horses are competing till significantly older due to better management (due to more scientific research), better veterinary care and arguably the demise of long format events, the need to rush their earlier years is less and so reaching their "prime" is delayed.
 
Murphy Himself was 8 when he won Burghley in 1986.
Not 100% sure but think he competed there as a 7 year old too.
 
Kelsall Hill have posted about Balaghmor Class and Oli on their FB page. From competing there in 2012 in the BE100, to winning their September 2016 Open Intermediate class, and now winner of Burghley 2017.

He certainly looked ready for 4* this time, didn't he, though surely his lack of Advanced runs must be unusual for a Big B starter?
 
Michael Jung has won the Europeans on a 9 year old, hasn't he? Don't see many people complaining he pushes his horses too young!

(And yes, I know there's a difference between 3 & 4 star level.)
 
Tiddlypom said:
Kelsall Hill have posted about Balaghmor Class and Oli on their FB page. From competing there in 2012 in the BE100, to winning their September 2016 Open Intermediate class, and now winner of Burghley 2k017.

He certainly looked ready for 4* this time, didn't he, though surely his lack of Advanced runs must be unusual for a Big B starter?
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He has still had to get his qualification though. Record shows 4 x CIC*** and 2x CCI*** in last 12 months. Plenty of prep for 4* on a horse with talent and an experienced jockey. BE advanced classes are an empty run, it's FEI points that counts when you want to get into the big ones
 
Orangehorse said:
Well done to Oli.

I am puzzled that people thought that 10 is too young for going round Burghley? At 10 a horse is in his prime. I can remember a time when both Mark Philips and Richard Meade were virtually accused of cruelty for taking 14 year olds around Badminton and Burghley. I know that courses are more technical now and of course the dressage standard has risen immensely - but I thought it was a pleasant change to see younger horses (and riders!) getting well placed.
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Agreed, I was pleased to see him win.

From the comments I heard/read it was more that the horse wasn't expected to do so well as a young first timer - there were other 10yos in the field too.

Mark Phillips and Richard Meade were riding in the days of long format, where the physical stresses on the horse were arguably greater.
 
MJ's Takinou was 8 years old when he won the Europeans and it was only his third 3 star event. Well, I think when the experienced rider thinks the horse is ready and will cope, then why not try it. You can always pull up if you feel the horse can't cope. And OT's horse looked like he coped very well.
 
I don't think anyone, including Oli, particularly expected the horse to do so well on his first time out at that level (commentators Ian Stark and, I think, Andrew Nicholson were both saying this horse will be up there in the future..). Oli said the horse felt green, but keen and happy going round. I think Oli has matured as a rider and isn't going to overly push a horse.

I was actually interested (not quite the word I want really!) to see Samuel Thomas almost stand up at the top of the leaf pit. He did a couple of nappy stops prior to Oli riding him, I hadn't seen that while Oli has ridden him. He's not an easy horse to ride, yet it doesn't show with Oli.
 
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