Cant show jumpers tack up properly

mil1212 said:
hmmmm, this thread has turned out odd.
If one of us were to post a photo where our horses saddle pad was much too short and the saddle too far forward, all hell would break loose.
I agree with OP, some cloths were too short. I assume they were mostly sponsors saddlecloths reserved for shows though, so not everyday pads, and therefore unlikey to cause long term issues.
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Agree.
 
NELSON11 said:
And why do some feel the need to impinge the shoulders so much by putting saddles half way up the neck
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I've been told that they feel that it makes the horse come up through its shoulders more, for instance that Nick Skelton loosens his girth and hotches the saddle forward and tightens girth just before going into the arena sometimes. He must be able to feel a real difference and it obviously works.
 
SnowJumping Superstars said:
What amuses me is that they all wear fly veils... when there clearly aren't going to be any flies given the Arctic temperatures we've got at the moment. :rolleyes:
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They aren't used as fly veils - you use fly spray for that! They are used to deaden some of the noise thus helping many horses concentrate better. Sorry to cease your amusement by increasing your knowledge.

There are also specialist shaped foam ear plugs that you can use either with or without 'ears'.

And in general on this thread, why not just enjoy the thrilling spectacle of watching top class showjumpers compete and instead of knocking them on every little thing you can think of that is different from the 2'3'' unaffiliated crowd and suggesting they reduce their standards to your level - look listen and learn! FFS does it really matter that a groom decides to pull or thin and then trim (omg with scissors) a mane? Does it really matter if someone rides with a sheepskin pad not directly against their horse's back? Does it matter if some people's lower leg moves a little? Many of these riders and grooms probably have forgotten more about horses than you will ever know. Their horses cost many hundreds of thousands of pounds and are world class athletes themselves with support from the best veterinary knowledge and experienced trainers. When you watch Formula One or rally car racing I'm sure they break a lot of the basic BSM driving rules like crossing your hands, skipping gears etc but for those guidelines are meant for beginners to help them get started.
 
lottie1 said:
Their horses cost many hundreds of thousands of pounds and are world class athletes themselves with support from the best veterinary knowledge and experienced trainers.
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The difference between the winner and second was i think one hundreth of a second. Attention to detail is key. A ridge of pressure caused by a saddle pad/cloth could quite easily be the difference between winning and losing. Why spend all that money and skip basic horse management that costs nothing?

When you watch Formula One or rally car racing I'm sure they break a lot of the basic BSM driving rules like crossing your hands, skipping gears etc but for those guidelines are meant for beginners to help them get started.
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Yes, a well fitting numnah is taught to beginners. Thats why its even more amazing that at that level there were many that were too small. The horse may cope with the ridge of pressure but its not the point- it would be better if the pressure wasnt there.
 
lottie1 said:
They aren't used as fly veils - you use fly spray for that! They are used to deaden some of the noise thus helping many horses concentrate better. Sorry to cease your amusement by increasing your knowledge.

There are also specialist shaped foam ear plugs that you can use either with or without 'ears'.

And in general on this thread, why not just enjoy the thrilling spectacle of watching top class showjumpers compete and instead of knocking them on every little thing you can think of that is different from the 2'3'' unaffiliated crowd and suggesting they reduce their standards to your level - look listen and learn! FFS does it really matter that a groom decides to pull or thin and then trim (omg with scissors) a mane? Does it really matter if someone rides with a sheepskin pad not directly against their horse's back? Does it matter if some people's lower leg moves a little? Many of these riders and grooms probably have forgotten more about horses than you will ever know. Their horses cost many hundreds of thousands of pounds and are world class athletes themselves with support from the best veterinary knowledge and experienced trainers. When you watch Formula One or rally car racing I'm sure they break a lot of the basic BSM driving rules like crossing your hands, skipping gears etc but for those guidelines are meant for beginners to help them get started.
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Couldn't have said it any better myself :p
 
You know, teddyt, I think perhaps you should write to the offending riders and inform them that had they had better fitting saddlepads, they would have likely been more successful in the WCQ :rolleyes:

As I said on another thread about this subject, I watch Olympia to enjoy the amazing spectacle of the power, skill and courage of both horses and riders at the very top level of sport. The last thing on my mind is to look for things to criticise.
 
I agree with the OP.

I didn't notice it when I was there but was just watching some bits I've taped on Eurosport and was surprised to see that many of the saddle cloths were way too short for the saddle which means there would be a big ridge under the saddles panels.

I would never ever ride my horse with a saddle cloth that poorly fitting, let alone ride someone elses very expensive horse at a top show like that.

I'm pretty sure that would form a sore on my horses back.

What is the point of having such an expensive saddle and sheepskin thing if your going to ruin it with the saddle cloth?
 
Hahaha I wish some of these idiot pro's knew what they were doing. And dont get me started on that dressage horse Tortillas or whatsitsname - never liked that one, no hindleg whatsoever. Urgh.

;-)))
 
We are all titled to our own opinions of course;
but just because someone is at the top of their league ( i.e in competition sports) doesn't necessarily make them a better horseman!

How many people have issues with rollkur? ( I do!), or had something to say about Catwalk and Parellis? ( I did- I even had a debate with L.Parelli!)- I think that just because someone isn't the top of the competition ranks, doesn't mean their opinions are lesser or not as worthy- or even incorrect.

Amy xx
 
lassiesuca said:
We are all titled to our own opinions of course;
but just because someone is at the top of their league ( i.e in competition sports) doesn't necessarily make them a better horseman!

How many people have issues with rollkur? ( I do!), or had something to say about Catwalk and Parellis? ( I did- I even had a debate with L.Parelli!)- I think that just because someone isn't the top of the competition ranks, doesn't mean their opinions are lesser or not as worthy- or even incorrect.
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Exactly. The OP has a fair point. As someone else said, if a 'normal' owner posted photo's of the same thing they'd get shot down in flames. Why should the pro's be any different? Their horses aren't some magical machine that feels no pain or discomfort.

I'd been on a couple of pro yards and seen things I wouldn't even contemplate doing to my horses - poor feet, terrible saddle fitting, ripped mouths. And their management in general - some spend their whole lives in a stable. They may be out winning money and prizes but horses are very tolerant, stoic animals and their emotinal needs are often not met. But because it's a Big Name doing it it makes it ok?
 
Kallibear said:
Exactly. The OP has a fair point. As someone else said, if a 'normal' owner posted photo's of the same thing they'd get shot down in flames. Why should the pro's be any different? Their horses aren't some magical machine that feels no pain or discomfort.

I'd been on a couple of pro yards and seen things I wouldn't even contemplate doing to my horses - poor feet, terrible saddle fitting, ripped mouths. And their management in general - some spend their whole lives in a stable. They may be out winning money and prizes but horses are very tolerant, stoic animals and their emotinal needs are often not met. But because it's a Big Name doing it it makes it ok?
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I'm with you totally Kallibear- I've seen some pretty nasty things and it makes me cringe, but if you're top dog- it's almost as if it's okay. Which I think is a little unfair!

Hitler was the top dog in Nazi Germany, but it didn't necessarily make what he did correct.

( Not comparing any showjumpers to Hitler lol!!!)
 
couch criticism - very funny
i think a lot of the saddle-pads looked so small as the sheepskin half-pads looked so long.

a lot of the saddle were stubben shaped (high back)so i doubt the rear of the saddle touched the horses back much anyway.

and OK some of the riding wasn't exactly pretty but it was bloody effective.
how many of you would've jumped 1m60 in a hackamore.

there are lots of gadgets used and not just by show jumpers !!!!!
id hazard a guess if it wasn't against the rules dressage arenas would be full of it !!
 
teddyt said:
:)

How many pads and numnahs are too small for the saddles???? Its Olympia, not the Pony Club, and ive counted umpteen numnahs or pads that are underneath the panels of the saddles, far too small.
:confused:
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I commented on that too - if it had been the PC they'd have been sent out! I've seen top riders with saddles padded up to try to make them fit when they simply didn't - I think sometimes a rider prefers a saddle to his horse and uses the same one regardless.

And yes, fame -or even skill - doesn't always make you right about everything. There's no way I would be out there doing what they do, but if I'm behind the scenes, I'd make darn sure the horse's comfort was my priority.
 
Seriously, you lot are so incredibly high and mighty! who are you lot to sit and judge from your sofa's hmm?? knowbodies that's who! jealosey is pathetic.
 
Saddle pads too small?? I hate ones that are too big. As long as the saddle isn't in contact with the horse's back I think it looks much, much neater to have one just peeping that one of the hideously huge ones that seems to be the fashion at the mo. How come they need to be so big? So we can see how matchy matchy they are???
 
lassiesuca said:
I'm with you totally Kallibear- I've seen some pretty nasty things and it makes me cringe, but if you're top dog- it's almost as if it's okay. Which I think is a little unfair!

Hitler was the top dog in Nazi Germany, but it didn't necessarily make what he did correct.

( Not comparing any showjumpers to Hitler lol!!!)
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Wehey! We've made it to Hitler already :D
 
Wow, pity theres not a "like" button on here. It would make life so easy to click like instead of posting, when everybody else has said what you already wanted to say!!!!!

Show jumpers suck sometimes, but feck can the horses jump!!!!!!!!
 
PapaFrita said:
Yes indeed! And I'm sure with all the collective knowledge on the forum we can recommend more suitable bits.
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The only suitable bit is a snaffle (with a drop noseband of course). If they can't jump round a 1.60 World Cup Qualifier in that, they seriously need to put some time towards schooling. Though I guess they'd only put their horses in draw-reins, as they can't really ride on the flat! They should also have the horses teeth, back and saddle checked. And take the shoes off their horses - barefoot is the only way to keep a horse sound. And they should stop wearing those stupid cycling-type helmets. And tight jackets, they look SO cheap. Why can't they just wear some nice tweed? And have they never heard of hairnets? In fact, all show jumpers should have their licenses withdrawn and only reinstated after spending a few months learning from HHO.
 
lottie1 said:
They aren't used as fly veils - you use fly spray for that! They are used to deaden some of the noise thus helping many horses concentrate better. Sorry to cease your amusement by increasing your knowledge.

There are also specialist shaped foam ear plugs that you can use either with or without 'ears'.

And in general on this thread, why not just enjoy the thrilling spectacle of watching top class showjumpers compete and instead of knocking them on every little thing you can think of that is different from the 2'3'' unaffiliated crowd and suggesting they reduce their standards to your level - look listen and learn! FFS does it really matter that a groom decides to pull or thin and then trim (omg with scissors) a mane? Does it really matter if someone rides with a sheepskin pad not directly against their horse's back? Does it matter if some people's lower leg moves a little? Many of these riders and grooms probably have forgotten more about horses than you will ever know. Their horses cost many hundreds of thousands of pounds and are world class athletes themselves with support from the best veterinary knowledge and experienced trainers. When you watch Formula One or rally car racing I'm sure they break a lot of the basic BSM driving rules like crossing your hands, skipping gears etc but for those guidelines are meant for beginners to help them get started.
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Well said!
 
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