Kentucky XC

[Honey08]

I think if you’re a volunteer at a televised, international event you are going to have the eyes of the world on you. And if you’re too heavy for your horse it will be talked about. Saying that as someone who no longer rides because I feel I’m just to heavy.

Edited to add, I’ve seen quite a few dumpy/portly hunt staff riding around Badminton and Burghley on Xc day that I wouldn’t let on my horses.

 

[Honey08]

Cracking job Yas.
Id give her a place at WEG

Could you expand, for those of us that can’t watch it? Did she go clear?

 

[teapot]

Second for Yasmin - fantastic result.

My question now is should someone be winning a 5* by almost 12 penalties?

-awaits rotten tomatoes-

 

[clinkerbuilt]

Could you expand, for those of us that can’t watch it? Did she go clear?

clear except for time faults. and a little like Jung, the pair came out looking like they were completely fresh today.

 

[Michen]

Second for Yasmin - fantastic result.

My question now is should someone be winning a 5* by almost 12 penalties?

-awaits rotten tomatoes-

What do you mean? Am i missing something?

Pleased for MJ, such a beautiful rider.

 

[ihatework]

Second for Yasmin - fantastic result.

My question now is should someone be winning a 5* by almost 12 penalties?

-awaits rotten tomatoes-

Yes, if you put in a performance worthy of those 12 pens, which he did. It was others failings that created the gap

 

[Nicnac]

Wow - show jumping was too quick to be on here at the same time. What a fabulous result for Michi and Yaz. Gutted for Boyd though.

Another great Kentucky done - see you all at Badminton. Lorry is immaculate, packing has commenced!

 

[ihatework]

The mayhem of Badders begins ?

 

[BunnyDog]

VERY much in love with Yaz and Sarah B's horses. Great ride for Yaz and I mean.... Michi Jung is just such an amazing horseman. I watch his show jumping rounds on ClipMyHorse a ton. He's worth watching, I would imagine even grooming a horse would be fascinating.

Boyd, it's tough. But honestly 3 packed USA men in the top 5, we'll enjoy that a bit.

Will be fascinated to see Badminton next week. I'm interested to see how the ascending broken bridge will ride. Makes me more than a bit happy to only be a show jumper.

Em

 

[teapot]

What do you mean? Am i missing something?

Pleased for MJ, such a beautiful rider.

Yes, if you put in a performance worthy of those 12 pens, which he did. It was others failings that created the gap

My point is a musing that ihatework has got in one - do dressage scores by everyone else, though Sarah B was only 5 points off, need to improve across the board, or does the xc need to be tougher to even get the likes of MJ thinking? I’d have loved to have seen that horse rider combo over Badminton’s course.

I’m just musing - can’t take away any of his talent or results.

 

[Honey08]

clear except for time faults. and a little like Jung, the pair came out looking like they were completely fresh today.

Thank you.

 

[ihatework]

I think you are over thinking it?
Fast double clears should be rewarded - the dressage should just order the fast double clears.
Just look at the rise of Doug from 25th after dressage to 3rd. That’s how it should be.

 

[shortstuff99]

I've only ever seen Jung at Burghley and he had a a XC refusal....maybe he avoids the British 5stars for a reason (I jest ?).

 

[ihatework]

I've only ever seen Jung at Burghley and he had a a XC refusal....maybe he avoids the British 5stars for a reason (I jest ?).

Part jest, but in part it’s true. It’s no secret Kentucky is a bit softer than the British 5*, and it’s a good choice for some horses especially in the run up to WEG. Chipmunk isn’t actually an experienced 5* horse. Hopefully we will see him on British soil next year!

 

[teapot]

I think you are over thinking it?
Fast double clears should be rewarded - the dressage should just order the fast double clears.
Just look at the rise of Doug from 25th after dressage to 3rd. That’s how it should be.

Probably!

I've only ever seen Jung at Burghley and he had a a XC refusal....maybe he avoids the British 5stars for a reason (I jest ?).

Distinct lack of Germans at Badminton this year... but then again who wants to sit at Calais for six hours?

 

[BunnyDog]

To be fair, he's got an insane record here in Ky. It's softer competition against him historically and why not? I choose softer competition with bigger money when I can. Not like going head to head with a strong field of more experienced riders is a 'better' idea than NOT going head to head with as strong of a field and getting paid anyway. I don't fault him for coming here when the man has already won over a half a million dollars worth of prize money over his years competing at Kentucky. Will be interesting to see if we can lure him 20 mins down the road this fall to the Maryland 5*, in it's second year of existence.

Em

 

[shortstuff99]

Probably!



Distinct lack of Germans at Badminton this year... but then again who wants to sit at Calais for six hours?

Lots of French though, do they get special treatment ?

 

[teapot]

Lots of French though, do they get special treatment ?

Hahahaha who knows! Judging by how many though, could be being used as a team thing pre Worlds?

 

[Honey08]

To be fair, he's got an insane record here in Ky. It's softer competition against him historically and why not? I choose softer competition with bigger money when I can. Not like going head to head with a strong field of more experienced riders is a 'better' idea than NOT going head to head with as strong of a field and getting paid anyway. I don't fault him for coming here when the man has already won over a half a million dollars worth of prize money over his years competing at Kentucky. Will be interesting to see if we can lure him 20 mins down the road this fall to the Maryland 5*, in it's second year of existence.

Em

He’s just broken the record for the most wins there, hasn’t he?

Kentucky looks a nice event to visit. Where would the closest international airport be? Is there plenty of accommodation around? And when/where is the Maryland one?
(sorry for all the questions!)

 

[teapot]

He’s just broken the record for the most wins there, hasn’t he?

Kentucky looks a nice event to visit. Where would the closest international airport be? Is there plenty of accommodation around? And when/where is the Maryland one?
(sorry for all the questions!)

Lexington's the nearest airport, but not sure where you'd fly into to then fly on? Atlanta maybe?

Maryland/Fairhill 5* is mid October

 

[Honey08]

Yes most places can be accessed via Atlanta, although I hate the airport.

Ive just had a look, the Maryland one would be pretty easy to get to, and a nice time of year too.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

At the risk of gaining some ruffled feathers..... I don't know that commenting on the size of the outriders or their horses is entirely appropriate, in the way it was done here. If I had done the same about people I saw on either the Badminton live feed or Blenheim, I would expect that you all would barbecue me for insulting your fellow countrymen while many thousands of miles away. And I would likely deserve it. Moreover including a picture of one person and their horse, yes I know face was obscured, felt more wrong. I know who that person is. And I'm sure this wouldn't go over well to tell them, "Hey a bunch of folks in the UK think you're way too fat and so is your horse." Just imagine if I'd said that about one of you. There would be no way to salvage any respect for me as a person.

I believe there are better ways of discussing what is perceived is an issue, and maybe allowing for the fact that this issue may even exist in your own backyard and not just in ours. A dedicated discussion with all involved talking about the influences and causes and talking about possible ways to evoke change and help those who need the assistance, would be the most beneficial if you are concerned about it. And maybe you have done that, I just might not have seen it. But for sure the discourse of a conversation on the H&H forums would be unlikely to make it stateside without some intentional assistance.

FWIW, most of the outriders at the Kentucky Three Day are repeat riders and that is a very prestigious volunteer position to be chosen for, based largely on the sanity of the horses. Our hunt season ends on April 1st and given the extended winter closer to KY that happened this year, I would think many of those hunts stopped earlier than that. As such my point being they could have been given a holiday and allowed some time to just enjoy their fields for a bit. They don't have to be fit again until cubbing season in September and the bluegrass has just started to become quite lush. Standing at the Kentucky Horse Park and being quiet for 8 hours is not exactly a job you would want to leg up and be super fit for. They need to be half asleep all day, and only respond in the most unlikely conditions.

We have had a LOT of discussions over here about "fat shaming" and though I am not obese, I feel for riders who have health challenges that have changed their physique. For riders who have had bouts with depression or life changes that affected their ability to be as trim as they might have been before, or even those with the less than super model DNA who have always fought to be lighter and it's been a continual challenge. And don't get me started on all the things that we know can cause a horse to store too much weight.

Respectfully, my only point is that judging others from a few minutes of video and condemning their appearance and existence without knowing a thing about the challenges they face in life is not the kindest thing. But for sure discussions about how we can improve obesity in humans and horses should be discussed. But maybe with a bit more intention and respect to the difficulties that are a part of the issue.

Many thanks for listening.

Emily

I posted the screenshot of the woman on the obese horse - and before I say anything else I would like to clarify that I didn't utter a word of comment on the woman herself and redacted her face from the photo so as not to identify, comment or publicise her - it is simply an image of a chestnut horse.

That particular horse was in the screenshot as it was the one on screen when my live stream froze and the condition of the outriders' horses were being discussed in the thread, nothing more personal or judgemental than that - there were worse horses out there but they weren't on my screen at the time, some don't agree with the posting of the photo and that is their perogative, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have to admit that if it were a HHO owner on their horse I wouldn't have posted it prefering a less public manner of addressing it, but I hold my hands up to forgetting that the horse world is small, and being half way around the world doesn't mean that she won't see it.

It has absolutely nothing to do with race or country of residence, as evidenced by extensive discussion on other places on the forum, it is both a pandemic in the UK horse population as in the US and probably other places too.

Your offense at the commentary does not negate the fact that the horse is overweight to the point that it looks to be at risk of metabolic disease. Highlighting obese horses imo isn't a bad thing as it stops the normalising of this condition when it is seen all over social media/on TV now/in the show ring etc.

 

[BunnyDog]

I'm not sure the best routes you have from the UK for airlines but Kentucky is not far from New York/Charlotte/Chicago and Atlanta.

Likewise the Maryland 5* is 20 mins from me which makes us close to Philadelphia (1hr) Washington DC and New York (2 Hours, train options exist for all of these.)
The Maryland event is held at the same site as the former Fair Hill CCI****. They just made new arenas on a different spot and shifted the XC to be over a different part of the property.

For Kentucky there are literally TONS of hotels, for all price points.

For Maryland there are also many hotels, though not quite as many as close by as Kentucky. But late October makes things a bit easier as it's not a hotbed for travel at that time of year. You just have to look out for activities at the local University of Delaware.

Also we have lots more Airbnb and VRBO options at both now also.

Em

 

[SibeliusMB]

He’s just broken the record for the most wins there, hasn’t he?

Kentucky looks a nice event to visit. Where would the closest international airport be? Is there plenty of accommodation around? And when/where is the Maryland one?
(sorry for all the questions!)

It's heaven and the Kentucky Horse Park is an absolute dream. Most efficient flight would probably be LHR->ORD->LEX...at least that's what I took when I moved from Lexington to the UK last summer (in reverse). Most major international airports on the east coast should have a domestic hop to Lexington or Louisville. Lex is the closest at about 20 mins from KHP, but Louisville isn't bad at about an hour.

Lots of hotels in the immediate area, but those go quickly to competitors and regulars. There are bigger hotels in Lexington proper, which is about 20-25 minutes from KHP depending on traffic. Very easy drive and then you can enjoy downtown Lex's restaurants/pubs and bourbon bars.

If anyone is considering going I the future let me know, I used to live in that area and rode at the KHP plenty.

 

[SibeliusMB]

So a couple thoughts after watching XC and reading this thread in its entirety:

1. I believe that Elisa Wallace is undeserving of some of the vitriol and harsh judgement here. She made a very poor, public mistake at Badminton years ago and paid the social media justice tax...and is still paying it. She also did what many people don't do - she publicly apologized for it and admitted how she had failed her horse several ways that day - to include walking away in frustration. She knew better, she recognized not only how she failed Johnny that day but how she failed every young rider looking up to her. I think she has grown from that experience and I do think she is a good horseman. She cares for her horses in ways I don't see bigger names do. I think she has a lot of positive contributions to offer to our horse world. She retrains, rehomes, and promotes the American Mustang, she retrains and promotes off the track Thoroughbreds into second careers, and she puts her journey out there for all of us armchair critics to see. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And the Badminton mistake was ugly. She is better than that and I think she's proved it over the years.

She and Lee had a rough go of XC yesterday. It was Lee's first 5*, was a little impressed by the atmosphere, he pulled BOTH front shoes early on, and lacked confidence as a result. I think she handled it as well as anyone could have and was very gracious to this little horse who was clearly trying his heart out for her:

2. Thank you @BunnyDog for saying what you said regarding the calling out of the fat horses and riders. As an American and someone who called Kentucky home, it did hit differently to me than it probably does to you all over here on this side of the Pond. I left the forums for the day because I honestly was a little disgusted. One can have a completely valid point and still be utterly tasteless in the way in which one makes it.

Congrats to Michael Jung on getting #4.

 

[Honey08]

Thanks for that. I used to work for an airline and still get discounted flights, so it’s tempting!

 

[BunnyDog]

Thanks for that. I used to work for an airline and still get discounted flights, so it’s tempting!

Both are gorgeous.... for sheer impressions and experience I would suggest Kentucky. And do set it up so you can go see some of the stallions. American Pharoah in particular is a huge draw.
Em

 

[CanteringCarrot]

In other news, I'm still not convinced that Michael Jung is human ?

 

[LEC]

Second for Yasmin - fantastic result.

My question now is should someone be winning a 5* by almost 12 penalties?

-awaits rotten tomatoes-

Average to poor field so yes!! Badminton is a lot harder to win

 

[PinkRoses]

So a couple thoughts after watching XC and reading this thread in its entirety:

1. I believe that Elisa Wallace is undeserving of some of the vitriol and harsh judgement here. She made a very poor, public mistake at Badminton years ago and paid the social media justice tax...and is still paying it. She also did what many people don't do - she publicly apologized for it and admitted how she had failed her horse several ways that day - to include walking away in frustration. She knew better, she recognized not only how she failed Johnny that day but how she failed every young rider looking up to her. I think she has grown from that experience and I do think she is a good horseman. She cares for her horses in ways I don't see bigger names do. I think she has a lot of positive contributions to offer to our horse world. She retrains, rehomes, and promotes the American Mustang, she retrains and promotes off the track Thoroughbreds into second careers, and she puts her journey out there for all of us armchair critics to see. The good, the bad, and the ugly. And the Badminton mistake was ugly. She is better than that and I think she's proved it over the years.

She and Lee had a rough go of XC yesterday. It was Lee's first 5*, was a little impressed by the atmosphere, he pulled BOTH front shoes early on, and lacked confidence as a result. I think she handled it as well as anyone could have and was very gracious to this little horse who was clearly trying his heart out for her:

2. Thank you @BunnyDog for saying what you said regarding the calling out of the fat horses and riders. As an American and someone who called Kentucky home, it did hit differently to me than it probably does to you all over here on this side of the Pond. I left the forums for the day because I honestly was a little disgusted. One can have a completely valid point and still be utterly tasteless in the way in which one makes it.

Congrats to Michael Jung on getting #4.

I love the GoPro videos Elisa does of her rounds. I love the fact she speaks to them the whole way round, it’s so sweet and shows she does really care about her horses.