Ellen Whitaker

Did i call her a silly young girl? No - i said she was a young girl. Which she is. I made mistakes when i was her age, but i was lucky enough not to have to face a bunch of henpeckers ripping me to shreds on a public forum. Surely it's Ellen, Steven and Dawn Makin's business - not the self-appointed jury sat at home on the sofa.
 
I have no intention of shredding EW to pieces as you called it. I have the right however to criticise her behaviour...
I'm afraid when you find yourself as the SJ pin up your conduct will be scrutinised by henpeckers, such is life.
 
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hope she is punished for it-there is no way anyone could think her treatment of the mare fair or just,a slapped arse might just teach her a lesson....

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She would be if it were racing, that is for sure!
 
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I havent seen the footage, but would like to add that Ellen write a column for one of the children's pony magazines (I think it might be H&P?) and as such is fowarding herself as a role model for young riders (I also believe H&P is supported by the pony club?) with posters etc accompanying the magazine and column.

I would therefore expect a WOMAN (not girl, she's no child) of her status to be setting a shining example to young riders.

To use spurs as punishment, a HUGE no no, and perhaps an apology would be in order? To the owners and sponsors?

If she merely gave the horse a couple of quick jabs to encourage it out then thats different.

I do, however, feel she should pick up that pouty bottom lip of hers before she trips over it...
 
i think whether people agree or disagree with what she did they have the right to comment its not being bi*chy, if i posted a thread saying i though something gordon brown had done was wrong people could agree or disagree (more than likely agree
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) thats all people have done here, and thats what forums are for discussing things.
 
I can understand her frustration as her Horse was doing really well up to that point allbeit not the easiest to ride. I've seen Ladina B in Puissance and she does look like she could challenge the record. I have to say I thought she would be in with a really good chance. I've always thought Ellen rides her well actually as she doesn't overly interfere.
As for the Derby today, well, I did think she was a bit mean to the Horse. She tried bravely to get her to go down but clearly the Horse was having none of it at all. You could see her face as the bell went....and not only did she use her spurs harshly after she left the top of the bank she also used her hands quite strongly. I too have felt frustration at my Horse but I know it's pointless doing anything unless it's right at the time of refusal. Letting her away with it for being a 'young girl' I'm afraid is no excuse. She's been riding a very long time and has experience beyond most people's dreams so she really ought to have learned how to deal with things like this in a better way. I also question if any 23 year old should be classed as a 'girl' let along a young one. A young woman yes.
I think one sharp smack right at the time of the disobedience is fair enough (is what I do) but loosing your temper is not on. I said the same of LR last year and got shot down in flames... but she also lost her temper and it was in front of a big family crowd.
A lot is at stake in these competitions, yes. However, people should acknowledge that they are very lucky to have the talent, training, money and Horses to be doing it. Horses aren't machines and that Horse wasn't refusing out of spite.
 
I think we should keep this going so it gets into the magazine.

I have always liked Ellen, and wasn't aware of her reputation for temper.

However, I was really upset by the way she treated her horse yesterday.

I have no problem really with the way she was using her whip and spurs on the bank BEFORE she was eliminated, as she was fundamentaly using them to reinforce her aids, not as punishment.

I was shocked, however, with her behaviour when she was eliminated. The way she jabbed her horse with her spurs made me wince and actually wanted to grab her and shake her.

I am never going to be able to jump the fences she does, but at any level if something goes wrong, it is never ok to do what she did.

One of the first things I was taught was that you have to be very careful when and how you choose to reprimand a horse. I was taught to always check that the horse was being naughty, and that I'm not just giving the wrong message, or that the horse isn't scared or confused. her horse was maybe being naughty, we don't really know, but the reprimand has to be given in a relevent way, and at the right time, and surely never by jabbing with spurs.

That horse didn't know what it was being jabbed for. And every time she tried to move forward she got yanked in the teeth.

And the expression on Ellen's face was evil and childish. I fear for her horses behind the scenes.

What she did was not ok. In any way.
 
Can I just add here, I didn't see it but I certainly know that if I was watching it with my 9 year old daugther who is just starting to do comps off the lead rein and who thinks EW is wonderful I would not have been impressed by my daughter seeing that behaviour!

If she had've seen it I would've made it completely obvious to my daugther that EW's behaviour was unacceptable and that in no way would I ever condone my daugther doing that to her pony (not that she rides in spurs but the behaviour, IFSWIM).
 
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Yes but it does the reputation of this forum harm, puts the existence of the forum itself in jeopardy, and hurts a number of people's feelings!

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The reputation of this forum is actually based in part around the strong discussions had about all sorts of issues.

I fail to see how it puts the future of the forum in jeorpardy.

And I also fail to see how hurting someones feelings by pointing out poor behaviour is also an issue.
 
someone mentioned a lot on here didnt have such a great reoutation when I was younger.... And from what I know, I could see a lot from the horses reaction when it was caught.
 
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Did i call her a silly young girl? No - i said she was a young girl. Which she is. I made mistakes when i was her age, but i was lucky enough not to have to face a bunch of henpeckers ripping me to shreds on a public forum. Surely it's Ellen, Steven and Dawn Makin's business - not the self-appointed jury sat at home on the sofa.

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I presume you have read all of the posts because you said that. Most of the users have said that she was childish - which she was, she lost her temper - which she did and that what she did was unnecessary - which it was and ok some of us may have lost our temper before BUT we didn't do it on tv and we aren't a major role model for young girls and boys. As said earlier, she has done posters and columns for horse & pony magazine and she know that she has a huge young audience looking up to her.
Someone said in an earlier post that her 9 yr old daughter adores EW and many other young children want to be able to ride and compete like her.
 
EW is a role model for kids, this wasnt acceptable behaviour from anyone at any level, never mind her, if she wants to continue being a role model she should seriously look at her actions, my friend who doesnt ride commented on her actions, this kind of behaviour does nothing for the sport
im 23 and wouldnt realy appreciate people calling me a girl, i am a woman and i am responsible for my own actions, i do not take out my frustration on my horses after a event and i would expect that if i did people like the folks on here would let me know about it, from my opinion of EW she is not a sportsperson, as she shows no sportmanship, as other have said you only have to look at GW to see this, i honestly think she should be punished in one way or another for her actions, be it she reads this and realises people do not support this kind of behaviour
 
I thought her behaviour petulent and childish, and i think she was B....y lucky that her horse stayed where it was, on top of the bank. With all the kicking, and use of whip and spurs, if that horse had jumped off the top we could all have witnessed a tragedy. She didn't take her whip hand off the rein, so every time she used the whip the horse's mouth was being jabbed. It was a poor display of horsemanship and left her looking a bad sport. I hope the stewards were keeping an eye on her in the collecting ring afterwards.
 
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My point is you gain NOTHING from talking like this. Add georgie spence on facebook and her page is littered with friends saying theyve emailed HHO complaining. Its not giving us a good name... and highlighting this does no good!

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Bull. If it gets back to the professionals, it lets them know their actions are being watched and judged by people and they gain a reminder that the respect of their audience and consequently their supporters needs keeping in mind. If it lets them know that their behavior is widely disapproved of it might give them the nudge they need to improve it. Oli Townend's attitude, for example, has changed and its shown in his results. If public opinion can change the attitudes of other well known riders we may actually improve a lot of our national talent.

Although if GS is anything to go by, then a change of attitude, however it might help her popularity, didn't look likely. Although at least her treatment of horses was never under scrutiny. EW needs a serious attitude adjustment and if she takes in any of people's comments and acts on improving her behavior, amidst the bickering and bitching, HHO has done some good in the world. If she just ignores public criticism and cries about her hurt feelings, thats her loss and her problem.
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I just re watched ellens round and i have to say this whole thread is way over the top, she kicked ladina in the ribs twice after she had been eliminated, once straight away and once just after she'd come off the bank, she didn't saw at her mouth the horse always throws her head about all she did was flex the mare both ways as she was cantering out, a common thing to do when a horse has been disobedient, in my opinion she did nothing wrong and i would have no problem with her riding one of my horses. She's hardly likely to jump off the mare and give her a big hug when she's been eliminated is she. She's had a hard time the last couple of years and she's probably putting huge pressure on herself never mind the pressure coming from many other directions all she did was show her disappointment. Like it or not spurs are used as a punishment it happens it's always going to happen so there's really no point attacking one person for a relatively mild use of it
 
oh dear. i was next to the back- right underneath it almost and ellen barely used her legs on the bank at all! more used her bodyweight to try to influence the horse. goodness knows where you were all watching!!
 
I did actually watch her round, and i have to say i did not notice her digging her spurs in at all?!

I'm with prittstick!
 
A really spoiled woman with a nasty streak in her. Need teaching some manners on how to conduct herself and appreciate her horses.
 
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I did actually watch her round, and i have to say i did not notice her digging her spurs in at all?!

I'm with prittstick!

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This is exactly what i mean... the bitchiness of the forum seems to escalate issues such as this one, and i doubt it will change EWs attitude as im sure she didn't set out to hurt the horse. Most people have done something they regret at the spur of the moment (excuse the pun!) and would rather forget about it. Im sure she made a mistake and the words of some forumers will not change her attitude; because, overall, she does not have an attitude problem. Has anyone repeatedly witnessed her mistreating her horses? No. And even if they had it would be at the discretion of the appropriate board (BSJA) to warn her and possibly punish her (i know something similar, yellow cards, is in place in BE). Obviously they did not think this warranted a 'telling off', so i think you should all get off your high horse (excuse the pun AGAIN!) and leave her alone!

Btw i am not an EW fan, and as someone who has no huge interest in showjumping i am not really biased at all.
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I did actually watch her round, and i have to say i did not notice her digging her spurs in at all?!

I'm with prittstick!

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No, she actually gave the mare a lovely ride. It was the petulance afterwards that many of us are complaining afterwards
 
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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.

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They would indeed-but it's not getting pi55ed off thats the issue,how she handles her anger IS.
You do NOT take it out on the horse.
 
I agree with many others on here i thought the behaviour was unacceptable and would attract criticism. If you put yourself in the public eye you must expect to be scrutinised it is human nature - what is worse is the fact that she is a Whittaker - who often are seen as having the throne of SJ-ing and looked upto by adults and children alike, we expect the highest class of horsemanship - so she needs to learn to remember that.
What with this and Micheal I think the whittaker throne may be in jeopardy of a bad rep.
 
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Like it or not spurs are used as a punishment it happens it's always going to happen so there's really no point attacking one person for a relatively mild use of it

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I can't believe that someone has actually typed a sentence like that. Is it honestly your opinion that if something occurs which is wrong there is no point in discussing it because discussion won't change what happens????
 
And I just read that will whitaker has been suspended for doping aswell (post in comp. riders.) Oh dear, not a great week for the whitakers but no doubt they'll be back on top soon.

ETS - I think the poster got it wrong actually and was talking about Michael, not will.
 
I try not to say anything on here that I wouldn't say in person. On reading through here I've seen terms such as spoiled, wicked, cruel, witch and evil used about the person in question. I wonder if the posters would be prepared to say these things to the persons face?

I can't comment on the incident in question as I haven't seen it yet. I was busy doing a prelim test yesterday afternoon (don't ask me why, I don't know either!) and I can't get it on iPlayer until I'm back from Belgium. However, BSJA have rules and procedures for this and if it was bad then I would expect some form of action there. Maybe someone should ask the BSJA about it?
 
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Like it or not spurs are used as a punishment it happens it's always going to happen so there's really no point attacking one person for a relatively mild use of it

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I can't believe that someone has actually typed a sentence like that. Is it honestly your opinion that if something occurs which is wrong there is no point in discussing it because discussion won't change what happens????

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No i'm just saying that calling Ellen names is not going to solve anything it just makes the forum look bitchy and petty imo
 
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No i'm just saying that calling Ellen names is not going to solve anything it just makes the forum look bitchy and petty imo

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I think it just shows the strength of feeling of people who view using spurs as a form of punishment - as well as the unprofessional attitude of someone who should know better.
 
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Oh my word! You don't seriously mean that comment re:spurs? i'm lost for words i really am............

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No i probably don't and in no way am i saying that it's a good thing to do but i personally have been told by a respected trainer to kick my horse in the ribs with my spurs take whatever you want from that. In my view the issue with ellen is not what she did but the way she did it in admittedly a bratty way
 
I read this before watching the re run on I-player. I was expecting to see something far worse than what I actually saw!! people certainly exagerated. She rode a nice round and the spur moment people are referring to could as just as easily been to make her horse go down the other way off the bank! as I have seen many a time where people get completely stuck on the top of the bank!!
 
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