Cortez
Tough but Fair
Hmm, there's a lot of noise about this in the (tiny) dressage circle here, but really and truly - they aren't good enough. I know it's all supposedly about taking part, but why send a dud team?
Horse Sport Ireland chooses not to send a team to Tokyo
- Thread starter shortstuff99
- Start date
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
I'd answer "because they can" to that question... yeah they're not going to bring the medals home but nor are most of the other competitors.
Cortez
Tough but Fair
Have you seen the two combinations we're talking about?
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Yes. But it may as well just be a cut down Europeans if we reduce the Olympics to the ones who might win ?
If the qualifications are set too low that's not the fault of the riders imo ?
If the qualifications are set too low that's not the fault of the riders imo ?
ester
Not slacking multitasking
The olympics would be a very quiet event if only the people with a chance of winning turned up 
ycbm
Overwhelmed
The olympics would be a very quiet event if only the people with a chance of winning turned up
I think there's a bit of a difference between sending a runner and sending a dressage rider, groom, team trainer, horse, equipment, etc.
I suppose it depends whether the money is available, or whether people think it could be better used sending a number of runners, shooters, skateboarders than one dressage horse and rider.
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Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
The expense is eye watering , even with our teams I find It uncomfortable.
teapot
Well-Known Member
Thing is there are the Olympics and then there are the Olympics scaled down it is really worth it 2021 version.
You only have to read up on the ever increasing restrictions being imposed on the athletes/competitors, a questionable risk re Covid, increased costs involved because of Covid (testing, biosecurity, quarantine doesn't come cheap) and it all becomes very easy to find a reason to say 'no thanks, we're not going'.
You only have to read up on the ever increasing restrictions being imposed on the athletes/competitors, a questionable risk re Covid, increased costs involved because of Covid (testing, biosecurity, quarantine doesn't come cheap) and it all becomes very easy to find a reason to say 'no thanks, we're not going'.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
teapot
Well-Known Member
The plot thickens...
ester
Not slacking multitasking
Depends if they have a list of those that can't go if they send 2 extra dressage riders?
It's perhaps a shame they left it so late to mention that they weren't going to send them.
AUB
Well-Known Member
If it was in Paris 2024 I would definitely think the riders should be going. But I don’t think it’s fair for the horses to send them across the world on plane to a crazy clipset so that two old riders can say that they’ve done the olympics when they probably won’t even match the scores of the Asian and South American riders. Of course everybody can’t win, but there’s a difference to participating knowing you’ll probably be last when it’s less stressing for the horses, imo.
ycbm
Overwhelmed
I always respected Milton's owners for refusing to allow him to be flown to the other side of the world for the Olympics. And he would very likely have taken the Gold Medal.
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LegOn
Well-Known Member
Wow really what is the point of putting your foot in the stirrup then?? Dud team?? That's a very defeatist attitude!
You never hear that in football, sure whats the point in running out on the pitch if the other team are 'better' - sure then whats the point in playing at all!
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”
Without the underdog, you never get amazing stories like Cool Runnings or just being able to have a good story like 'Eddie the Eagle'. In Ireland, the Italia 90 football tourament here is still a thing of legend and we didnt even make it out of the quarter finals - it was the community and national spirit and pride in seeing your team go out on the international stage and give it all they had.
We ALL know how things can go with horses - we have all seen them have a bad day or just not perform - so what if someone elses bad day means your good day, its the way competition goes! We have all seen horses just sparkle the second they are on the ring and pull out the biggest performance of their lives, so why not ride - why not dance - why not dream..... it can happen!
I'm just glad I'm a dreamer and supporter and not someone who has the gall to call Olympic standard riders a dud team or just plain not good enough. I hope one day you all achieve your dreams, good luck with it.
I'm Dun
Well-Known Member
This!
tristar
Well-Known Member
i think there is some sort of decision due today for a final conclusion to this
i have not seen any of them ride, but they are fighting to the last for right to go having reached the standard set for qualification
i have not seen any of them ride, but they are fighting to the last for right to go having reached the standard set for qualification
AUB
Well-Known Member
I’m actually saying that I think they should go if it wasn’t for the wellfare of the horses. If it wasn’t a flight around the world to a crazy climate, definitely! I absolutely understand the olympic dream. But the wellfare of the horses MUST come first and while it’s all nice and good as a nation to rally behind a team or a sportsman, it is a bit different when animals are involved, imo. And that’s why I think it’s the right decision not to send the two riders to Japan just so they can tell their grandchildren they went to the olympics.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
But the horses don't know they are in contention or not, if it's ok for the other team horses it's surely ok for all?
m1stify
Well-Known Member
the issue most people have is the way HSI went about this decision. This wasn't a decision on horse welfare/money. There was no transparency in the decision. The team trainer/selector will not take long haul flights apparently, so would not travel. There are other questions to be answered, a lot of info can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/334405444753672
https://www.facebook.com/groups/334405444753672
LegOn
Well-Known Member
But then why should any of the horses go? I do get horse welfare is of high priority, but it always is - high performance competition horses travel all over the world, all year around. Its up to each competitor to make that decision for their horse and over the course of the Olympic announcements some riders and owners have made that decision for their horse and thats absolutely commendable - including Charlotte Dujardin, her top horse was withdrawn from travel. But some horses do very well travelling and obviously each competitor isnt going to risk the performance of their horse.
The deal with the Irish riders has nothing to do with horse welfare - Heike is travelling her horse safely to the competition. Its to do with the fact that a coach who has never trained or see these riders ride was allowed to make the decision not to field a team to the Olympics and that is wrong. They had qualified by Olympic standards, they want to compete, they are able to compete - they have the funding to compete (not from HSI btw) and they are still being denied.
By the way, the high performance coach isnt even coaching the one rider that is going either - he has nothing to do with their performance.... that is just beyond wrong.
Cortez
Tough but Fair
There is a long history of histrionics with Irish Olympic dressage selection, going back 25 - 30 years (including threats of suicide and all sorts of wild stuff), I wonder why that is?
LegOn, I don't know who you are and you don't know who I am, but suffice it to say that I don't require "gall" to have an opinion, I have experience at olympic level and do know what I'm talking about.
LegOn, I don't know who you are and you don't know who I am, but suffice it to say that I don't require "gall" to have an opinion, I have experience at olympic level and do know what I'm talking about.
LegOn
Well-Known Member
Love this!
https://www.eurodressage.com/2021/0...ZLwSUxIkR2iBtnhE26ot59_gmnnlSQEYtC5lG00eLbA98
' I have always thought that "staying at home", which I see as retiring before trying to compete, was never a good idea. I always thought that "staying home", i.e. retiring before trying, would only be frustrating for the whole movement and development of the sport.
To conclude, the team trainer and selector must never become a judge of the performance of his riders but must, with a serious and honest program, transform himself into a driving force for the whole team. S/he should instil in everyone the feeling that with work and proper planning it will always be possible to represent their country with honour.
In some people's eyes this might look as too romantic a concept, but I have experienced down my belt that it works.
- Michele Betti
https://www.eurodressage.com/2021/0...ZLwSUxIkR2iBtnhE26ot59_gmnnlSQEYtC5lG00eLbA98
' I have always thought that "staying at home", which I see as retiring before trying to compete, was never a good idea. I always thought that "staying home", i.e. retiring before trying, would only be frustrating for the whole movement and development of the sport.
To conclude, the team trainer and selector must never become a judge of the performance of his riders but must, with a serious and honest program, transform himself into a driving force for the whole team. S/he should instil in everyone the feeling that with work and proper planning it will always be possible to represent their country with honour.
In some people's eyes this might look as too romantic a concept, but I have experienced down my belt that it works.
- Michele Betti
