Lanfranco to Oliver Townend

He will have the vast majority of his rides at below 2* level and he will be breeding, buying and selling those to pay for the food on his table PS, so the vast majority of his rides will not have 4* potential and he will know that. This will be why he might be keen to gain any true 4* horses he can, so that he can maintain 4* form and hopefully draw in more top rides. He pretty much said after his XC at badminton this year - how Armada was just incredible compared to the vast majority of his rides.
 
Golden_Match_II said:
He will have the vast majority of his rides at below 2* level and he will be breeding, buying and selling those to pay for the food on his table PS, so the vast majority of his rides will not have 4* potential and he will know that. This will be why he might be keen to gain any true 4* horses he can, so that he can maintain 4* form and hopefully draw in more top rides. He pretty much said after his XC at badminton this year - how Armada was just incredible compared to the vast majority of his rides.
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But that's my point . . . he doesn't need to get his name out there - he's well known enough, why doesn't he have the backing for or find owners of 4* star horses willing to have him ride for them?

Look - I'm not questioning his ability at all - and I do understand that riders need a break - that one good horse or that one owner with deep pockets to help them build a decent international string. Yes, OT is doing well with Armada and Lanfranco so far - and if anyone can get a decent tune out of them, he can . . . I'm just wondering if there isn't another way of getting onto the national squad than the tactic he's employing . . . doesn't mean I don't think what he's doing will work, I'm just thinking out loud/wondering. Specifically, I'm wondering why he has to take on other people's tricky rides as a first resort, rather than having the pick of the crop . . . he's hardly a rookie.

P
 
PS, I think we're not accusing you of doubting his ability, we're just saying that sadly it's often the case that you don't just get the backing without having to take a few risks, so he can't just get onto the national team haha! Compared to other team members who seem to show no signs of quitting any time soon he is not in such a comfortable position in terms of owners so I think he's just using his brain to pick up talented horses :)
 
LeannePip said:
Can i ask why you think it isn't a sound strategy?

I personally think its a fairly smart move - if your lacking in 4* horse power and people are offering you rides, albeit quirky - if you can get a tune out of them and get some good results, maybe not so constantly but results all the same, your getting your name out there/ keep knocking on the doors as it were and hopefully attracting owners of less quirky horses. Probably more so than lying low until a more desirable horse presents itself?
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Only having the tricky inconsistent horses might not get you on a team though which, for most people I'm guessing, is the pinnacle of a career? I mean the team, not the wider team as an individual.

Harry Meade has never won a 4* but he went to WEG as probably one of the most consistent riders on the circuit.

Interesting thread and I look forward to seeing how OT gets on with him at a three day. Saw him wave at the crowds outside the Blenheim start box last year!
 
PolarSkye said:
I wasn't questioning OT's ability as a SJer, nor did I say that 2nd at Badminton was a shoddy result . . . I was merely questioning the wisdom of taking on an event horse (Armada, specifically) who has visibly struggled in the SJ phase (still does - this year's Badminton SJ round wasn't great) . . . it might pay off, it might not . . . I just wonder why OT, with his obvious talents feels the need to mop up other people's "rejects" . . . ?

P
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Probably because 4* horses don't grow on trees
 
teapot said:
Only having the tricky inconsistent horses might not get you on a team though which, for most people I'm guessing, is the pinnacle of a career? I mean the team, not the wider team as an individual.

Harry Meade has never won a 4* but he went to WEG as probably one of the most consistent riders on the circuit.

Interesting thread and I look forward to seeing how OT gets on with him at a three day. Saw him wave at the crowds outside the Blenheim start box last year!
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This. Thank you for being more articulate than I . . . this is what I was trying to say and didn't.

P
 
Wow! It's up to him who he decides to ride and take on. I don't buy the rags to riches story. You don't get on the pony, junior or young rider teams by being truly skint! It's all relative and I although he's not Lord of the manor but he ain't scraping the barrel either!

However, having taken on some really tricky horses myself, it's even more rewarding on the few days it does go right with dodgy / difficult ones! I wish him the best of luck and am certainly not trying to guess his thought processes or decision making. If I had the chance for him to help me out with a tricky one I'd jump at it! When you have difficult horses you need to be really open minded and think outside the box!

He's a talented horse and it will be really heart warming for me if Oliver can do well with it because it gives me hope with my pain in the @r$6 princess!
 
OT is a business man he's different IMV to many riders he's completely up front about his huge and successful dealing business .
I admire what he's done he's founded a successful business that does not wholly depend on finding wealthy people to pay him to ride and produce their horses.
He will be I think eventings first millionaire , by that I mean someone who becomes a millionaire in opposed to someone who starts with several million and ends up with one through having an eventing habit .
Taking on a thirteen yo horse (I think lanfrano is 13 ) is not exactly taking on a old worn out horse and just think what that horse could achieve if he clicks with OT , he could have three or four seasons of four star competition in him .
You can achieve a lot in three / four seasons when your hard working determined and talented .
 
teapot said:
Only having the tricky inconsistent horses might not get you on a team though which, for most people I'm guessing, is the pinnacle of a career? I mean the team, not the wider team as an individual.

Harry Meade has never won a 4* but he went to WEG as probably one of the most consistent riders on the circuit.

Interesting thread and I look forward to seeing how OT gets on with him at a three day. Saw him wave at the crowds outside the Blenheim start box last year!
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Hasn't OT maintained that finances and prize money, has been more important than securing a team place and Union Jack on his hat?
 
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Horsey sophie- yeh sure he has, its not about getting on teams for him, that's a bonus, he is out to make a living first, bit like what goldenstar said.

Some riders, like for instance Tina Cook are 'team' riders and they seem to train, source horses etc to get on teams. There is no right way, but for example Tina Cook and Ollie are motivated by different things imo.
 
Goldenstar said:
[...]Taking on a thirteen yo horse (I think lanfrano is 13 ) is not exactly taking on a old worn out horse and just think what that horse could achieve if he clicks with OT , he could have three or four seasons of four star competition in him . You can achieve a lot in three / four seasons when your hard working determined and talented .
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Lanfranco is 15, that's a fact. Back to the speculating front, if OT sitting on him ever finds time in the startbox to wave to the crowds, whenever there is a crowd, I will lose a lot of money.
 
There are obviously two different schools of thought here.

I guess I am in the keep your eye in at 4* camp. No matter how good a rider you are, if you only ride at 2* it will take a while to get your eye back in at 4*.

Equally I know another rider who takes tricky horses in. He does very well with them and usually turns them round. I do wonder what fate these horses who are certainly not 4* horses would have if he had not taken them on...........
 
Has to be that getting the ride on horse that's already at four star is a good opportunity to go out and compete at the top level. I think it would be a different story if you were talking about a tricky/mediocre horse that was only going to do one star! Horses go differently for different riders. It might be that Oli can click with the horse and get some good results and, for the chance of good results at that level, he is probably inclined to take on a tricky ride. He doesn't have much to lose, as I doubt that his taking on LF would mean that he would have to turn down a better horse if one came his way?

However, next time I fall off in front of him in the warm up, I shall yell: "Oi! Oil! Why'd'ya take on Lanfranco?!" And then we'll all know.
 
HotToTrot said:
Has to be that getting the ride on horse that's already at four star is a good opportunity to go out and compete at the top level. I think it would be a different story if you were talking about a tricky/mediocre horse that was only going to do one star! Horses go differently for different riders. It might be that Oli can click with the horse and get some good results and, for the chance of good results at that level, he is probably inclined to take on a tricky ride. He doesn't have much to lose, as I doubt that his taking on LF would mean that he would have to turn down a better horse if one came his way?

However, next time I fall off in front of him in the warm up, I shall yell: "Oi! Oil! Why'd'ya take on Lanfranco?!" And then we'll all know.
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Get you, hobnobbing with the hoi poloi (I have no idea how to spell that). Although him dusting you down after an unexpected dismount might not quite qualify as a hob nob I s'pose.
 
HotToTrot said:
Has to be that getting the ride on horse that's already at four star is a good opportunity to go out and compete at the top level. I think it would be a different story if you were talking about a tricky/mediocre horse that was only going to do one star! Horses go differently for different riders. It might be that Oli can click with the horse and get some good results and, for the chance of good results at that level, he is probably inclined to take on a tricky ride. He doesn't have much to lose, as I doubt that his taking on LF would mean that he would have to turn down a better horse if one came his way?

However, next time I fall off in front of him in the warm up, I shall yell: "Oi! Oil! Why'd'ya take on Lanfranco?!" And then we'll all know.
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How about just asking him next time you "bump" into him in the lorry park? Easier than falling off?
 
Bernster said:
Get you, hobnobbing with the hoi poloi (I have no idea how to spell that). Although him dusting you down after an unexpected dismount might not quite qualify as a hob nob I s'pose.
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I don't know that it does - but he was very nice to me!

Horsemad12 said:
How about just asking him next time you "bump" into him in the lorry park? Easier than falling off?
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Well you make a good point. First I run into his lorry unannounced and then I chuck myself on the floor - I'm going to have to be more dramatic next time, if I want to make an impression.
 
HotToTrot said:
However, next time I fall off in front of him in the warm up
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you're not the only one who has tried this attention grabbing move. Once OT tried to go out of order at a Novice ODE which was running well behind time. I was supposed to go in front of him, according to the running order, and (probably seeing how green round the gills I was getting with every passing minute) he graciously let me keep my place. I fell off at the 3rd fence. :o
I had suppressed that memory, so thanks for making it surface!! :lol:
 
OT is obviously very good with tricky horses, but not sure having that reputation is helpful when you are also selling horses. Arent most of us looking to buy the non-tricky ones!
 
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