Thistle
Well-Known Member
To run a horse at speed on this ground, that's why she has withdrawn!
Mary King says it's cruel
- Thread starter Thistle
- Start date
asbo
Well-Known Member
has a point
Kristine
Well-Known Member
they all have different views!
Like the ausie said he's used to it so thinks its fine ground
Like the ausie said he's used to it so thinks its fine ground
GTs
Well-Known Member
It is pretty hard to argue with the likes of Mary King - there are probably very few riders with her experience, especially on this course.
eventing_chick
Well-Known Member
Its horses for courses! some relish this ground and are given their time to shine.Those more delicate or heaver types will prob not do so well or choose to run.
k1963
Well-Known Member
I admire Mary King as agree or not , she's never afraid to speak her mind !
Weezy
Well-Known Member
TBH none of us thought the ground was bad today at all! I was expecting concrete but it was actually OK, I would have happily jumped on it
madgirl
Well-Known Member
Ditto dad didnt think it was THAT bad TBH!
teapot
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
TBH none of us thought the ground was bad today at all! I was expecting concrete but it was actually OK, I would have happily jumped on it
[/ QUOTE ]
Lucinda Green had the same thoughts as did Andrew Nicholson. AN actually said he's ridden on far worse at Olympic games for example
TBH none of us thought the ground was bad today at all! I was expecting concrete but it was actually OK, I would have happily jumped on it
[/ QUOTE ]
Lucinda Green had the same thoughts as did Andrew Nicholson. AN actually said he's ridden on far worse at Olympic games for example
pixie
Well-Known Member
I guess is depends on what you and your horses are used to. I imagine that the Auzzies and Kiwis are used to hard ground
helpplease
Well-Known Member
I didn't think the ground was as bad as expected actually......yes it was hard, but it did have some give in it, and they appeared to have worked hard on it, especially at approaches and landings.
severnmiles
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
TBH none of us thought the ground was bad today at all! I was expecting concrete but it was actually OK, I would have happily jumped on it
[/ QUOTE ]
By Andrew N's comments the Brits in contention for the Europeans went there to do a dressage test and the ground became an excuse...
What makes me annoyed is because of mass entry MR couldn't take his second horse and many others who would have run were balloted out, unfair I think.
TBH none of us thought the ground was bad today at all! I was expecting concrete but it was actually OK, I would have happily jumped on it
[/ QUOTE ]
By Andrew N's comments the Brits in contention for the Europeans went there to do a dressage test and the ground became an excuse...
What makes me annoyed is because of mass entry MR couldn't take his second horse and many others who would have run were balloted out, unfair I think.
mrdarcy
Well-Known Member
Just got back. To echo the others we didn't think the ground was as bad as made out... yes it was hard but definitely some give in it. The only horse I saw going round that looked at all unhappy on the ground was Annabel Wigley's Black Drum and that was retired on course about three fences later.
Great day though - even with the withdrawals plus saw Andrew Nicholson being interviewed by Clare Baldwin after his round on Lord Killinghurst
But was it just my imagination or was he wearing glasses whilst going round the course?
Great day though - even with the withdrawals plus saw Andrew Nicholson being interviewed by Clare Baldwin after his round on Lord Killinghurst
Rachel_M
Well-Known Member
Yes he was wearing glasses, Claire said that on the commentary- for the first time I think!
teapot
Well-Known Member
He's been wearing them at other events as photos in H&H and Eventing show it - first time at Badminton
Loved it how he said "never knew they painted the sjs different colours"
Loved it how he said "never knew they painted the sjs different colours"
Iestyn
Well-Known Member
I can totally understand not running the horses on hard ground. However, if I had gone for the day today and paid for entry or worse still having paid for a 4 day pass then I would have felt a bit short changed with a hell of a lot of the top horses and riders withdrawn after the dressge. Let's face it, that's why a lot of us go - so that we can watch the people we admire ride around a world class cross country on world class horses.
weevil
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
if I had gone for the day today and paid for entry or worse still having paid for a 4 day pass then I would have felt a bit short changed with a hell of a lot of the top horses and riders withdrawn after the dressge.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, there were several occasions when the commentator ran out of things to say as there were no horses on the course.
A very strange Badminton
if I had gone for the day today and paid for entry or worse still having paid for a 4 day pass then I would have felt a bit short changed with a hell of a lot of the top horses and riders withdrawn after the dressge.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, there were several occasions when the commentator ran out of things to say as there were no horses on the course.
A very strange Badminton
LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
I think it depends on your horse - Toytown and both Mary King's horses are big horses/not full TBs. They were not suited to the ground today as they would have felt it more keenly. The horses that did well were small and nippy such as Paul Tapners and Lucinda Fredericks. They were off the forehand and light across the ground. We had a pointer who loved hard ground and he was small and wiry. My CB x TB loves heavy ground as he is big and strong enough to plough through it.
spaniel
Well-Known Member
Just speculation on my part but I do wonder if MK withdrew on the orders of her connections. She seemed particularly vehement and angry and whilst I have every respect for the decisions made for all the horses and riders yesterday she did come across as having a bit of a teddy chuck. Dont get me wrong, Im a massive fan of Marys but she did seem to back peddle a bit come the afternoon!
There appear to be two very differing opinions on the going yesterday. I would really like to hear from Hugh T on the subject as, personally, I dont think there was any more that could have been done to prep the ground.
Its not just a case of chucking gallons of water on it....I tried to explain that to someone this morning, the ground has to be able to soak it down well otherwise the top couple of inches, just where horses need to cut in, would be as slippery as ice. And what sort of outcry would that have caused.
There appear to be two very differing opinions on the going yesterday. I would really like to hear from Hugh T on the subject as, personally, I dont think there was any more that could have been done to prep the ground.
Its not just a case of chucking gallons of water on it....I tried to explain that to someone this morning, the ground has to be able to soak it down well otherwise the top couple of inches, just where horses need to cut in, would be as slippery as ice. And what sort of outcry would that have caused.