Honey08
Waffled a lot!
Yes I think this would be better, with a smaller course.change the rules and make the riding a make or break part of the competition. A fall of horse or rider and you're eliminated. You cannot go round a fence if you've had 3 refusals at it. You get eliminated instead.
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They shouldn't be in the Olympics if they are not professional in their sport !
Up until recently Olympians were not allowed to be professional and who has ever heard of a pro pentathlon athlete...
Lower the fences to 1m and introduce a mark for horsemanship. So those riders who do the right things, such as not socking the horse in the gob on the approach to a fence or otherwise booting it around, are rewarded. The score for a polished riding performance should cancel out - say - two fences down? That should give some incentive to the riders who are currently winging it to have a few more lessons.
I think the mark for riding is the way forward, but doubt it will happen.
Interesting to hear it used to be XC - I guess that would take more preparation.