Hate puissance: Am I the only one ?

[flohelf]

The thread in Latest News just revived my feelings about what I hold for the most pointless, useless of all the many other sometimes pointless things we put horses through...

Who can justify the interest of doing this with a horse ?

Who feels the same way I do ?

The few times I watched one in real life, it made me sick !

 

[Madam_max]

Why?

 

[Weezy]

If the horse didnt want to jump it simply wouldnt! The wall is that big there is no WAY you can chivy a horse over it IMHO!

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

err why??

 

[flohelf]

Well to answer your question and react to Weezy's post, because I've seen riders here "medically" helping their horse to do it. Some have horses they keep for doing this specific sort of thing. And horses with big hearts + the right stuff injected into them will do it...

But for those of you who enjoy watching it, please explain the point or whatever it is that makes it interesting to you ?

 

[Madam_max]

I agree with Weezy, that you simply can't make, medically or not make a horse jump those heights.

 

[Weezy]

Thats terrible - yes I remember the days when SJers had a horse specifically for Puissance and I truely thought we had moved on from there - most partakers these days are general SJing animals that are as confident over the biggest of courses

 

[flohelf]

Well, maybe top level riders have moved away from it, but not local professional riders in France -the big fish in a small pond types

- The last time I watched one, this poor grey horse went through almost all the way (poor thing looked like a zombie) and walked away completely lame !

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Of course riders keep specific horses for Puissance. Just like Tim Stockdale keeps Glenwood Springs specifically for speed rounds. Some horses are bred for The National others for The Derby. There's nothing wrong with that. But for you to suggest that

Quote ' horses with big hearts + the right stuff injected into them will do it...

I suggest you put up or shut up. If you are so concerned, and as you are saying:

Quote 'I've seen riders here "medically" helping their horse to do it'

That you take your evidence to the proper authorities & get something done about it. If it is just bluster, then you should really think before you commit yourself in print to the forum

 

[Tia]

[ QUOTE ]
Hate puissance: Am I the only one ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Seems like it, LOL!!

 

[burtie]

I don't hate it and enojoy watching it on the telly, but it is one of my least favourite classes(but I can see why it appeals to the general public) and I do get annoyed when it always seems to end in a draw before the final round. Not much fun for paying viewers. Hopefully as we havea prime time TV slot for the class at Olympia this won't happen.

 

[wizzi901]

I like to see it and even enjoy watching it live and as a big fan of the english "chase me charlie", whilst there is no way I would want to do a whole course of 4ft8 (the highest I was ever prepared to go with my old boy and brave enough myself lol) I can see the attraction.

I would never have jumped my horse at anything over 3ft6 if not for this type of competition, my horse was positively gagging to get at the jump, something he would never do in a normal class!!! - to feel his keeness to have a pop over the huge thing, dancing around and just fizzy in general was something he doesnt usually do, before you say it was fear, there is simply no way, my horse is a habitual stopper and DOES NOT jump anything HE DOESNT want to!!! - trust me on that, we have days where we go home and dont bother even trying with him!!

I imagine the professional horses are much the same and absolutely love the buzz of not only the big wall but the crowd too!

Horses are very perceptive and some are natural "show offs".

Any suggestion that medical intervention makes them jump these heights is very serious and I suggest you wind your neck in.

Most of our professionals would laugh in your face. The majority have very capable and brave horses, coupled with experienced riders, no horse would jump unless either it was able or pushed, but horses are flight or fear animals, if they were that scared, trust me they'd fly away from the fear.....

 

[Rambo]

I'm from the same camp as Burtie. I don't hate Puissance, but if I had the choice of what to watch, it would be a good Grand Prix format class, or perhaps a good Speed class over the Puissance everytime. The reason Puissance has been chosen by the BBC, is because it is the simplest and most popular event to televise. One step at a time...anything that gets equestrianism on TV is good imo.

I don't believe Puissance is cruelty either, and I defy anyone to try and make a horse jump a 7'+ wall that doesn't want to.

As for the allegations of doping / medical enhancement, there are plenty of procedures in place at both national and international level to prevent this sort of thing happenning. If you have specific evidence, then I suggest you go to the FEI with it, or to your national federation, and let them deal with it. If however, as I suspect, it is just vicious rumour / gossip, I suggest you keep it to yourself

 

[cosmo_sam]

For me the logical side of me WISHES I hated the Puissance, but in reality I can't help but love seeing what amazing things horses are capable of.

I did at one time used to try and comment as though I hated, but if I see it I'm in awe.

I would rather watch a decent competitive round like the others but I'd be a hypocrit to say I hated it.

It's a bit like I wish I hated boxing. I hate the theory, but if my husband/brothers are watching it I cant' help but get gripped by it!

I'd be lying and trying to be self righteous to deny things like this.

 

[druid]

Several riders do still have Puissance horse (and a speed hrose for that matter) - what on earth is wrong with that??

 

[Rupert2006]

I personally love watching the Puissance - years ago i watched it live a HOYS (I think, I was a teenager at the time!) and the winner was a Horse called Butterfly and it literally flew over the wall, I was in awe!

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
Several riders do still have Puissance horse (and a speed hrose for that matter) - what on earth is wrong with that??

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree entirely. Ben Maher for instance only rides Eperlain du Fouquet at Puissance events. The horse is stabled elsewhere the rest of the time

 

[druid]

Exactly, that is what some horses excell at...why make out that it's a "bad" thing?

 

[xEMPx]

I love Puissance the excitement and build up watching the horses and riders approach "the big red wall" makes my heart flutter!! Its brill saying "he will" or "he wont" as there a couple of strides out.

So its cruel for Athletes to do High Jump, Cruel for dogs to do Dog agillity, oh Please!!

 

[SSM]

Not a big Puissance fan, but if it gets horses on TV, bring it on!!!!

Would rather watch a Cleveland Bay ridden class (creeps aways from pc

)

 

[PaddyMonty]

Love watching it and seing as my lad is full brother to a top puissance horse i can dream too.

 

[Sooty]

I find the Puissance absolutely rivetting and stunning, it is showjumping with one aspect taken to extremes. Going to see it at Olympia this year...

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
Love watching it and seing as my lad is full brother to a top puissance horse i can dream too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ooh....which one

 

[PaddyMonty]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Love watching it and seing as my lad is full brother to a top puissance horse i can dream too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ooh....which one <img src="http://horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[/ QUOTE ]

Cruisehill (Irish SJ team). By Cruising out of Breffni Clover (by Clover hill).
Have a pic clearing 7'5 and a half.

 

[Rambo]

How brave do you feel then lol!

 

[Loupride]

Sorry to hijack post but I've watched that mare jump in person; saw her do a puissance demo a couple of years back and she is class

 

[SJFAN]

My sentiments are exactly the same as those of Rambo. And of course it is a case of "horses for courses" - there are some who specialise in this type of class and are not well suited to the more normal technical tracks. Some horses are inclined to be careless over smaller obstacles and really make the effort over Puissance courses. It is true that the class is far less popular with riders/owners than used to be the case. Even in Germany (whose old-fashioned heavier powerful horses of the 50s and 60s used to dominate the Puissance) they have difficulty finding enough starters. Classes there and elsewhere invite extra riders just for the class. This is despite the fact that the wall nowadays is much lighter and knocks down much more easily than used to be the case when some nasty falls, including one involving Eddie Macken's Carroll's Royal Lion. Occasionally horses which have gone very well do frighten themselves and "switch off" in subsequent competitions - it happened in Washington last weekend when the 2005 winner refused the wall in the first round.

Of course in Britain the Puissance doesn't feature at many shows other than our very few internationals. I agree with what others have said that if you have evidence of riders "medically helping" you should certainly report it to the show organisers and the French Federation.

 

[PaddyMonty]

[ QUOTE ]
How brave do you feel then lol! <img src="http://horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[/ QUOTE ]

Not as brave as my boy. Though I'd find out where his limit was when I first got him. I backed off and he was just getting interested.

 

[Chex]

I don't have a problem with it if its a proper, lightweight, easy to fall wall, not a solid, permenant one. The horses seem to enjoy it.

 

[haybales]

perhaps what you're trying to say is not that you hate puissance but those "professionals" that drug their horses/ride them until their lame? which isnt actually anything to do with the competition!