I'm probably going to get shot down in flames but....

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Ziggy_

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.... was anyone else really annoyed by the standard of some of the riding in the hickstead speed derby?

the guy near the beginning (of the tv coverage that is) on the chestnut horse kept slapping the horse with the whip on the approach to every fence, then at the last fence he gave it a couple of smacks resulting in it taking off too early and falling.
There were a couple of riders like this and one that was 'sawing' really hard on the horses mouth, with a strong bit too.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I could do better, and i understand that the horse might need a bit of encouragement from the whip, or it might get really strong during a speed class, and that the riders are going all out to win, I just thought that the standard of horsemanship was less than usual.

You get some show jumpers who sit so still and quiet and still win speed classes by riding cleverly and letting the horse carry them round, then you get people like this who slap kick and yank their way round the course.

I think the guy who won was ok though, it was just 1 or 2 that made me cringe.

OK rant over!
 
yeah that guy on the chestnut, even my little sister said that he was slapping the poor horse too much... i mean if you need to beat the horse before every fence, surely there is something wrong?!?
 
I thought that Ellen Whitaker (sp) did a splendid job of pissing her horse off so much that he fell off the side of the bank!!!!!

I didnt realise it was her, she isnt usually so handy with her hands!!!!
 
And she did so well at the Bank today !
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I don't know, I,ve seen Ellen give her mount a bloody good yank in the mouth in temper on more than one occasion when a round hasn't gone her way! My daughter will kill me for writing that, she's her hero, but I'd kill her if I ever saw her treating her pony like that!lol
 
[ QUOTE ]
I thought that Ellen Whitaker (sp) did a splendid job of pissing her horse off so much that he fell off the side of the bank!!!!!

I didnt realise it was her, she isnt usually so handy with her hands!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I was quite impressed that when he stopped at the other bank she gave him a pat, not 3 hard smacks like I've seen her do in the past when a horse has run out after her giving it an appalling line.
 
yes, i thought some of the riding was shocking. standing a horse with that much scope so far off the last fence that it sprawls on the floor is a bit too competitive, imho. some of them looked truly class, don't get me wrong, but some looked as if they were wild on adrenalin and competitive fervour. Ellen did a horrible job at the first bank on that horse, was very lucky it didn't fall over, but i was impressed that she didn't beat it when she got it wrong to the second bank... plenty might have.
the winner was a very classy round, excellent stuff.
 
I think that is one of the places that it is not a great idea to give a few good slaps, and neither her nor Michael were in the mood to do a leaper today! Wasn't particularly impressed with her riding today. WIliam W was really good I thought though - was very forgiving I thought.
 
Glad its not just me, wish I could edit the title of the thread now! I thought ellen whitaker was a perfect example of what happens when you get too competitive.
 
Just thought I'd have a go at editing subject line to see if could do it lol
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Didn't get to see Hickstead today
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so does anyone know if they are showing highlights or anything later?
 
I've seen Ellen yank horses in the mouth and saw at it after a bad round before leaving the arena too many times. I dont like her much. William Whitaker I think is amazin. He's always so cool and calm and even with a bad round he gives the horse a pat. Ben Maher I like too for his quiet riding.
 
Not sure but maybe they'll put it up on BBC iplayer - they haven't yet but might be worth keeping an eye out...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/

Oh and ..... I thought the guy that won the speed derby was brill - he looked like he was about to hop out of the arena and go hunting, I thought it was a great round. I think the competitive edge got to Ellen W (and probably rounded off a pretty pants week for her with the Olympic selection). Have to say I'm glad I was in on my own as I was screaming at the TV at William Whitaker, Will F and and Geoff B - thought they all rode lovely rounds and I was sat on my own like a nutter clapping when Will F finished his first round!
 
I didn't see Hickstead but at Bramham this year some of the showjumpers were diabolical.

I could only stomach twenty minutes or so before I had to go and do something else before the XC got going. One girl hit her horse hard before one particular jump, having seen many horses spook at it before her. The horse refused and she clobbered it again, only to be eliminated. On the way out she cracked it three times in anger.

If I had had access to the public address system I would have wanted to expose her poor attitude and poor riding. No idea what happened to the horse once it left the arena, if she beat it up like that in public.
 
It is so disgracful these are meant to be professional riders and what example are they showing then they are physically bullying a horse into going faster and jumping higher. I think rules should be more stricter and they should be given a penalty or disqualified for beating their horses. As it not a good example for young kids competing they see these professionals and think they have to hit their horses like they do to win the shows.
 
I couldnt agree with you all more.

I particularly thought EW was a disgrace on the bank.

Also was not impressed at some of the bitting configurations.
 
Comparing Ellen with Michael - what a difference. He handled that bank really well and did the right thing not to push too hard. At least he knows when to give in gracefully.
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I honestly felt a bit emotional when I saw Ellen Whitaker's horse on his knees at the bank and then she made him carry on to the second bank, he could have hurt himself. She was obviously trying to make up time when she went up the side of the second one but surely the horse should come first?! She clearly likes the showing off aspect of show jumping and winning everything but can't take it when things go wrong, not surprised she didn't get selected for the Olympics - she's very talented but immature, I think.
 
i was absolutely gutted watching that belgian guy on the chestnut - that poor horse didnt deserve to be whipped like that at each fence - it was bound to end in disaster - so glad that it was ok though (until the next time).
thought william was class as always and he so deserved to win.
 
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