Just logged on to watch dressage on BBC

online - he said "you don't see many iberians at this level"

Although he defo looks like a fresian -a marmite breed :p

Lol, he just confirmed it is a fresian :) Knew it looked like one!

I do not like fresians! :p
 
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Severely disappointing to see horse after horse tense, on the forehand, and with blocked backs.

Emile Faurie presented an 'extended walk' that was pure rollkur position on a poor horse that just could not cope with the 'riding technique' and Ross Davies was just everywhere.

What happened to the notion of the proper position of the rider? And how come nobody cares about the incapacity of these Grand prix riders when it comes to show a decent halt?

A halt is not just a stop - it is indicative of the whole manner of training, whether the horse is genuinely collected or just a tense monkey (in Heuschmann's entertaining but apt phrase)?
 
I think the atmosphere dosent help the horse relax!

After all, if one can win gold with no halt but a shuffle, then why should mere mortals complain? :p

Fanny's test was brilliant - a relaxed contact the entire way, and elastic :)
 
Severely disappointing to see horse after horse tense, on the forehand, and with blocked backs.

Emile Faurie presented an 'extended walk' that was pure rollkur position on a poor horse that just could not cope with the 'riding technique' and Ross Davies was just everywhere.

What happened to the notion of the proper position of the rider? And how come nobody cares about the incapacity of these Grand prix riders when it comes to show a decent halt?

A halt is not just a stop - it is indicative of the whole manner of training, whether the horse is genuinely collected or just a tense monkey (in Heuschmann's entertaining but apt phrase)?
Erm, ever heard of atmosphere? :rolleyes: Emile's horse was about to blow, I'm not surprised he didn't attempt the extended walk.

Funny though, isn't it, that those pictures of Heushmann with the severely overbent horse were ok because he was just getting the horse under control...
 
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The friesian just looked like fantastic fun to ride and he made it look easy- far more pleasing to my eye than these big warmbloods which are winched in to give the riders control.
To me the Belgian rider was riding it hideously overbent in the trotwork
 
Severely disappointing to see horse after horse tense, on the forehand, and with blocked backs. QUOTE]

They probably don't usually go that way, but Olympia is a very, very spooky atmosphere and Emile's horse especially just needs more mileage. I don't compete to that level, but when the horse is really on the edge, there is not a lot you can do about it. Tense backs are the first thing to happen in such cases, much like we might tense up if we are nervous. I think Emile was absolutely spot on in his handling of the situation, and Anna was also sympathetic on a relatively new horse to her. And if you ever go to an Emile demo, he's quite vocal about not doing an 'Anky'...make of that what you will. I don't think for one moment the tense way of going is a training issue, just atmosphere getting the better of them.

And Alf is world class, but he still can't cope with a prizegiving...tell Laura she is blocking and riding him on the forehand, when in reality, she's just surviving, lol! Or did do...she tends to ride a different horse for that purpose now.

Going back to an earlier post, has anyone been able to find the running order?
 
Sweet expressive horse- looks a bit like an over-grown show pony!!

Cant abide the bum shuffling piaffe though Yuck!
 
Am here at Olympia and WOW! Have you guys seen the PRE (big apologises if it was a Lusitano) and the Fressian? So nice to see these breeds here at this level, (this from a warmblood fan) don't want to sound unpatriotic but the Fressian (forgotton how to spell sorry) in my opion outshone the first few Brits, at least these 2 didn't try to exit areana at first halt! but judges not agree with me
 
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