Ellen Whitaker

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Has anyone elso noticed nobody is taking Ellen W side,

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Perhaps because they know they'll be shot down! I personally do like Ellen Whitaker and I think she is very talented watching any of the Whitakers do a puissance is magic. I completely agree that jabbing it in the sides was completely unnecessary and she shouldn't have done it. However there have been many times when she has rode very well. Unfortunatly lately the bad times have over shadowed these. I think she's going through a 'slump' at the moment and I think, given time, she'll come out back on top. She just needs to iron out all of the kinks in her performance and horsemanship.
 
Well she comes across as the darling of the Showjumping World WHEN she is winning. Its all pats and smiles then but have a fence down and the expression on her face shows what a vicious little rider she actually is.
 
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Well she comes across as the darling of the Showjumping World WHEN she is winning. Its all pats and smiles then but have a fence down and the expression on her face shows what a vicious little rider she actually is.

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Totally agree
 
Violence/force/brutality/beating/ whatever you want to call it is a sign that you have insufficient skills to get what you want by kinder methods. If the horse was trained for the job in hand and happy there would have been no need for it. Not that there is ever any need to treat an animal that way.

It disgusts me when riders abuse their horses like that. It should be a partnership, not one forcing the other through causing pain and fear. I sincerely hope EW gets reprimanded by officials and her peers and takes note. If she cant get round the course without inflicting the poor horse to that then she should give up showjumping.
 
I didn't see the incident, but I am not suprised with her. She often comes over as a spoilt little madam when things get tough, thats not the sign of a good horsewoman, thats the sign of a spoilt horsewoman.

I wouldn't let her ride one of my horses, if I had one of that calibre and if she treated it like that, she'd be getting a spur in the guts too.
 

Shocking behaviour,, she showed herself to be a completely spoilt brat and a bully to boot,,, true colours it appears
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If that was my horse she was riding I would be looking for another rider, no second chances.

I only hope she feels ashamed of her behaviour today
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The difference between guy williams reaction and ellens reaction when things went wrong said it all to me.
One is a class rider who is doing well due to pure hardwork, the other is relying on her family name, rather than jockey skills to secure her the success!
 
I just went and forwarded through the Sky+ to have a look. I must admit that I was expecting to see a lot worse after reading the comments on here. She was obv v peed off, and no, picking a fight at the top of the bank is NOT a good idea
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oh dear lord - look at how bloomin bitchy this forum is?

You cannot wait to pick holes and we seem to enjoy picking women riders apart in here. Guess its always the same when you get a bunch of horsey women together.

Yes she did jab it in the ribs, I've done it after my horse got eliminated jumping. It's not big its not clever, but it happens.

Seen heck of a lot worse at local shows.

Maybe you wouldn't all be so mean if she wasn't thin, blonde, pretty and in a famous family... spit spit spit
 
I'm amazed people are so shocked is it just cos it's her or have you not seen people doing that before? not saying its a nice thing to do but i was more interested in the german horse (think it was german not 100% though) that had a rug thrown on it as soon as it came out of the ring. Having worked for a sjer the only time i had to do that was to hide spur or whip marks. I really don't think the other riders would have batted an eyelid at what she did and if everyone here can say they've never made a mistake with their horse or lost their temper with it then they are either lying or have the patience of a saint. I have seen much worse than that going on behind the scenes, not that that makes it right but some of the things people are saying about her are imo unfair
 
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oh dear lord - look at how bloomin bitchy this forum is?

You cannot wait to pick holes and we seem to enjoy picking women riders apart in here. Guess its always the same when you get a bunch of horsey women together.

Yes she did jab it in the ribs, I've done it after my horse got eliminated jumping. It's not big its not clever, but it happens.

Seen heck of a lot worse at local shows.

Maybe you wouldn't all be so mean if she wasn't thin, blonde, pretty and in a famous family... spit spit spit

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Love it
 
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I'm amazed people are so shocked is it just cos it's her or have you not seen people doing that before?

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I think if it had been another rider people would have shrugged it off but I have noticed most people on the forum dislike EW. So yes I think it's just because it's her..
 
I've marked C before with my spurs - I was horrified! People were just shocked that someone who is supposed to be a professional couldn't contain her frustration, or channeled it in a better way....or maybe they just don't like her?
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Dunno, pretty sure I didn't have an opinion of her before this I don't spend a lot of time watching or being involved in showjumping, so while I've heard her name, I didn't have any issues with her and thought the grumbles I'd read previously were whats described in the above posts, just sour grapes.

Having watched it, now I think she's spiteful, and no I don't like her.
 
Whether people like her or not, when you are at the top of your game you become a role model to others and an ambassador for the sport.
IMHO she did not act like either today.
Hopefully the next generation who were watching her don't think that is the correct way to act.
 
It is just because it's her (for me anyway) - not in the sense that I already didn't like her but more because she is a professional and should try harder not to lose her temper. She is a rider that alot of young girls look up to, so should be setting a better example than losing her temper so quick. I think it is clear that some people already didn't like her on here but I had never seen EW behave like that before.
 
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I'm amazed people are so shocked is it just cos it's her or have you not seen people doing that before?

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I think if it had been another rider people would have shrugged it off but I have noticed most people on the forum dislike EW. So yes I think it's just because it's her..

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Ellen is a professional horsewoman, brought up living and breathing the animals and the nature of what is now her profession.

If she really thinks that that is an acceptable way to behave in a modern, competative world - then clearly she should not be held up to be the role model she aspires to be.

If anyone behaved as she did I would be equally as disgusted. Me not particularly liking her has nothing to do with my comment - nor I believe anyone elses on here.
 
Maybe you wouldn't all be so mean if she wasn't thin, blonde, pretty and in a famous family... spit spit spit

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Uhuh ..No.
I wouldn't give one if she was the most desired woman in the world. Appearance and looks do not feature in my calculations. I don't care if she comes from a famous family. I care about the fact that thousands of young children look up towards these famous riders, live their careers, aspire to be them, want to be as successful as them and try to refine their technique on these riders.
You can't behave like that, since when has it been acceptable to wind your horse up after a refusal and jab it with spurs. Pfft, label me jealous if you will, but I know who I want to emulate and it certainly is not her. I just hope one day she realises the error of her ways and to reassure her horse, there is no need for what she showed today. She's a role model to younger people -and so she should start behaving like one.
 
sorry elle but anyone that has anything to do with showjumping at any reasonable level knows exactly what goes on behind the scenes. i am no animal rights activist and the mare proberly wpold have forgotten what had happened by the time it got back to the stables. However what she did looks bad in the eyes of the public, it makes normal people think that showjumping is full of stuck up brats that spit there dummies out when the game doesnt go there way. more importantly ellen has been doing this job a long time and maybe just accept that the mare is not a derby horse, thats all it looked like to me. I also, as i have said before think she is over rated as a jockey.
 
I think that Ellen is a good talented rider, but I just thought it was a little unfair how she treated her mare today. The mare only needed a pat at the end of that round just to get a little reasurance, that's all I'm going to say
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Well i for one am amazed that so many people on this forum have either

a) Spent time with Ellen Whitaker (enough to be able to comment on her personality)

b) Have ridden Ladina B (again, enough to know her personality and how she is to ride)

or
c) Watched Ellen at every competition she's even done (in order to justify summing up and then ripping apart her riding style)

Really quite astounding that you've ALL done at least one of the above. I mean, i'm guessing that if you haven't then in no way you would have felt able to comment on Ellen in the way the majority of you have...
 
I would be scared if asked to go down that derby bank!
All that horse needed was a pat not a dig in the ribs it said no because it was scared, and when ellen dug it in the ribs with her spurs on the way down the easier way it would have just confirmed the horses view that was scary! Ellen should have known that and should realise that sort of behaviour especially in front of the tv cameras is totally unacceptable.

Inciedently I like Ellen Whitaker ( well always did before this incident, hopefully she will change her ways and I will like her again )
 
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oh dear lord - look at how bloomin bitchy this forum is?

You cannot wait to pick holes and we seem to enjoy picking women riders apart in here. Guess its always the same when you get a bunch of horsey women together.

Yes she did jab it in the ribs, I've done it after my horse got eliminated jumping. It's not big its not clever, but it happens.

Seen heck of a lot worse at local shows.

Maybe you wouldn't all be so mean if she wasn't thin, blonde, pretty and in a famous family... spit spit spit

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Err Amy Tyrone?
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I imagine the reason everyone is annoyed is because she is a role model for young riders and behaving like a stroppy baby because things didn't go her way is setting a bad example.

I also find it funny that if the person is question is pretty/skinny/blonde/rich ect everyone is accused of being jealous *rolls eyes*
 
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I would be scared if asked to go down that derby bank!
All that horse needed was a pat not a dig in the ribs it said no because it was scared, and when ellen dug it in the ribs with her spurs on the way down the easier way it would have just confirmed the horses view that was scary! Ellen should have known that and should realise that sort of behaviour especially in front of the tv cameras is totally unacceptable.

Inciedently I like Ellen Whitaker ( well always did before this incident, hopefully she will change her ways and I will like her again )

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Can i suggest that this wasn't the first time Ladina B had seen a derby bank. Ellen has access to a couple of banks for practice and i daresay she made good use of them in the run up to this competition. Ladina B is primarily a puissance horse, and jumps 7 ft + for fun. Puissance competitions, however, are few and far between, leaving plenty of time for practicing for this Derby.
 
I don't agree with Ellen's actions, however it seems unfair to make her sound like she is the only one who does this kind of thing!! there was an irish rider last year at hickstead who was boo'ed by hickstead crowds for over use of her whip, but that didn't get nearly the attention this has.

Also this happens in much worse forms in the lower level stuff, even the outer rings on hickstead had plenty of that to show. I was someone beat there horse so hard she scared it so much it took off with her round the ring! this was at this week's hickstead! the shouting that came from the woman was extrodinary!
 
The only time I've ever seen riders style questioned on here is when the horses welfare is an issue.
Amy Tyrone- Galloping at a maximum height table causing a rotational fall
Laura Renwick- Approaching a fence at speed on an unjumpable angle and smacking the horse 3 times with force enough for whip to fly out of hand
Ellen Whitaker- Punishing horse excessivly AFTER being eliminated.

Whips and spurs have uses but when they are used quickly so horse assosiates action with aid not as some random action after the event.
 
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I would be scared if asked to go down that derby bank!
All that horse needed was a pat not a dig in the ribs it said no because it was scared, and when ellen dug it in the ribs with her spurs on the way down the easier way it would have just confirmed the horses view that was scary! Ellen should have known that and should realise that sort of behaviour especially in front of the tv cameras is totally unacceptable.

Inciedently I like Ellen Whitaker ( well always did before this incident, hopefully she will change her ways and I will like her again )

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Can i suggest that this wasn't the first time Ladina B had seen a derby bank. Ellen has access to a couple of banks for practice and i daresay she made good use of them in the run up to this competition. Ladina B is primarily a puissance horse, and jumps 7 ft + for fun. Puissance competitions, however, are few and far between, leaving plenty of time for practicing for this Derby.

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It doesn't matter if the horse has been down it (or a replica) a million times. Today she said no - and her rider threw her toys out of her pram.

I get the feeling you think the behaviour was acceptable........
 
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