Supertrooper
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know how horses/riders are? Looks like there were alot of problems!
Scuse me - not all of us are slating him
No and neither am i, but theres a fair few who seem to think so.
This. I don't particularly care about his reaction after the fence, there were people there immediately who took care of the horse, but it was clear that the horse just didn't have enough oomph left to get over Cottesmore (I was sat right by the fence: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100152668977554&l=c6206ac6c3)Actually - even though I'm an eventing fan - watching that horse hit that fence - I felt it was wrong to be asking this of horses. You could see it coming too.
I was crossing steward just before cottesmore leap. I don't think I have ever seen it ride so badly. Horses were coming up the bill at a canter being pushed and hassled along, with no engine at all when asked to take on such a big fence. A few were pretty lucky there!
My heart goes out to Paul Hart. I helped grab the horse and untack it, and was with him when he was put to sleep. It was heartbreaking.
I was there at the Cottesmore Leap when Clayton hit it. I have never heard such a loud crack in my life, we were on the landing side and we were sure the horse would be dead. People were starting to cry, we were all much relieved to see his little face appear round the fence and appear to be ok. I didn't think Clayton (whom I a not a fan of) do anything wrong after the fall. I was much more disappointed with the rider who fell at the steps the fence before, his horse was clearly tired. I said to my friend, he looks tired, then he fell. The rider was not that bothered, the horse looked sore behind, was checked by a vet, then he got back on the poor horse to ride it back! I thought that was not on, the poor horse fell because it was tired so why ride the poor animal home.