Dressage Day Nations Cup 2024 in Millstreet. Why wasn’t the test stopped ?

[Ceifer]

It’s been doing the rounds on social media but why wasn’t stopped - Patrick Whelan

Time stamp 59:27
The commentator states (who is the commentator actually?) that there was nothing the rider could have done. Well he could have stopped.
She says the rider is doing a good job and the horse doesn’t seem worried. The horse looks pretty uncomfortable.
She then does mention it looks a bit uncomfortable.
I definitely could not jump around a 4* track but I wouldn’t want to thump round a dressage test with the saddle slipping back.

 

[Dave's Mam]

That horse was very accommodating. Dave would have made his opinion very clear.

 

[Orangina]

I saw that and thought it was weird they kept going. Assuming it was selfishly because they wanted to avoid a retiral/elimination so they could do other phases?( was there other phases or was this just a dressage comp?)

 

[silv]

I saw that and thought it was weird they kept going. Assuming it was selfishly because they wanted to avoid a retiral/elimination so they could do other phases?( was there other phases or was this just a dressage comp?)

to be fair, the horse didn't seem that bothered, not ideal, I imagine had the horse started objecting he would have retired. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Ducks with tin hat.

 

[Needtoretire]

Kind and generous horse.

 

[abbijay]

Playing devil's advocate...
Where in the rule book does it state how this should be dealt with? Ok, I'm not an expert on the rule book and I appreciate this is run under FEI rules, which I definitely don't know the intricacies of, but the head judge would have been hard pushed to ring the bell when the horse is only showing the same resistance (tail swishing) that can often be seen by other horses. Nothing has become detached, the rider is still on board and performing all the movements. I presume if the rider had stopped to fix the issue he would have 40 seconds to fix it (without getting off) before he was eliminated and then couldn't have continued to the next phases. And I'll bet this rider will check and recheck his girth on every ride from now on!

 

[Landcruiser]

I don't know much about dressage but the constantly swishing tail was a giveaway. That horse wasn't happy or comfortable, and in his place I would have stopped and retired, it's just not fair on the horse to do otherwise.

 

[ester]

Playing devil's advocate...
Where in the rule book does it state how this should be dealt with? Ok, I'm not an expert on the rule book and I appreciate this is run under FEI rules, which I definitely don't know the intricacies of, but the head judge would have been hard pushed to ring the bell when the horse is only showing the same resistance (tail swishing) that can often be seen by other horses. Nothing has become detached, the rider is still on board and performing all the movements. I presume if the rider had stopped to fix the issue he would have 40 seconds to fix it (without getting off) before he was eliminated and then couldn't have continued to the next phases. And I'll bet this rider will check and recheck his girth on every ride from now on!

It was posted on Pammy Hutton's group and the rules when checked indicated that rider could have got off and sorted saddle and received a 0 for that movement then carried on.
It could have gone downhill very rapidly, I think the judges were negligent not to get speedy rules advice and stop it, it is also really not a good look when horse welfare is at the fore ATM.

 

[ycbm]

I don't care how accommodating the horse was. We don't ride sat on the loins because the loins are too weak and the risk of damage to the back is too great.

He should have stopped and if he cared about his horse more than he did about competing, then he would have done.

Instead, I'll bet he got heartily congratulated for horse abuse finishing.

 

[Fransurrey]

The saddle was well back before he got anywhere near the ring. He could have dismounted halfway along the long side and sorted it without any penalties whatsoever.

 

[Beausmate]

The saddle was well back before he got anywhere near the ring. He could have dismounted halfway along the long side and sorted it without any penalties whatsoever.

This. Slipped back 'slightly'? It was in the next county before he entered the arena! Good horse for putting up with that - mine would have told me to sort it or shift!

 

[Tiddlypom]

For anyone who hasn’t seen the video, this is the pair at the final halt. We are not talking about a smidge of a saddle slip.



What a generous horse. The judges should have rung the bell and paused the test rather than allow it to carry on to the end, even if the rider was going to carry on.

 

[Fjord]

As I watched it, I realised my face was doing this

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Any further and he would be sitting on the horses arse that's terrible.

I'm not being funny but most horses would have really objected to that I know mine would have done.

 

[IrishMilo]

The video and photo is so preposterous I genuinely burst out laughing. What on earth was he thinking? How could he even ride like that?!

 

[IrishMilo]

It’s been doing the rounds on social media but why wasn’t stopped - Patrick Whelan

Time stamp 59:27
The commentator states (who is the commentator actually?) that there was nothing the rider could have done. Well he could have stopped.
She says the rider is doing a good job and the horse doesn’t seem worried. The horse looks pretty uncomfortable.
She then does mention it looks a bit uncomfortable.
I definitely could not jump around a 4* track but I wouldn’t want to thump round a dressage test with the saddle slipping back.

I think it's Natasha Baker. Whoever it is I find them very annoying whenever they're on!

'The saddle has slipped back ever so slightly' - love it's gone back about 1ft!

 

[vhf]

The saddle was well back before he got anywhere near the ring. He could have dismounted halfway along the long side and sorted it without any penalties whatsoever.

This. It's very obvious long before entering the arena. Surely, someone must have spotted it before entry? Please don't say this is Normal for this combination?

 

[ester]

It was said that there’s quite a bank to go up to get to the arena, so it likely started moving then. But yes weird to not sort it before you start. I suspect there was a mass oh shit we don’t know what the rules say about this situation what is allowed/isn’t but head judge should have made that call .

 

[tda]

I'm more concerned that the rider didn't seem to notice!

 

[Sprogladite01]

My first thought was 'that has to be a really nice tempered gelding' my mare is a lovely girl but if that happened while we were riding both me and the saddle would end up on the floor...one way or another

 

[Rowreach]

His horses generally look relaxed and go well for him, which is probably just as well! My heart did stop a bit at the rein back (I'll just prod you in the stifle with my spurs here lad).

 

[SEL]

When I first saw this I thought I bet the rider was thinking, oh my saddle has slipped a bit. Then its slipping a bit more, then you're wondering if you should pull up, whilst also remembering you're supposed to be trotting at C so you trot at C then the next move comes along and before you know it you're halting and saluting whilst sitting on the horses a*se.


I suspect the judges were also desperately trying to remember whether they could ring the bell whilst commenting on his medium trot and whether his rein back was straight.

Very generous horse. I think both of mine would have been a bit more "surprised" at the saddle placement and would have told me so very clearly.

 

[Dave's Mam]

His horses generally look relaxed and go well for him, which is probably just as well! My heart did stop a bit at the rein back (I'll just prod you in the stifle with my spurs here lad).

Yes! He was sitting that far back his aid was wayyyyy back!

 

[Kat_Bath]

I think it's Natasha Baker. Whoever it is I find them very annoying whenever they're on!

'The saddle has slipped back ever so slightly' - love it's gone back about 1ft!

I think the commentator is Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes.

What a kind horse - very tolerant.

 

[Needtoretire]

The ever stoic good as gold gelding, the rider would have been sat on top of the judges box if the horse had been a mare, probably wearing the saddle as a necklace.

 

[ihatework]

What a lovely kind and tolerant horse!

And a timely reminder for both judges and riders to swot up on the rules you never realise you may need to rely on!

 

[Fransurrey]

I'm more concerned that the rider didn't seem to notice!

No way he didn't notice. The rein length alone would have made him think WTF??

 

[southerncomfort]

Any further and he would be sitting on the horses arse that's terrible.

I'm not being funny but most horses would have really objected to that I know mine would have done.

Especially where the girth ended up. He was lucky he didn't get launched!

 

[teapot]

And on the eighth day, God invented the breast plate...

Commentary is by Nicole Brown.

 

[vickyb]

Having seen, as many people have, what happens when a saddle slip back and then slips round underneath by the back legs, I think he was unwise not to correct it. It's too late to say, oh perhaps I should have done something, when you are on the floor and your horse is galloping off in a wild panic.