Modern Pentathlon...

[ecrozier]

Just ots of bay TBs I think - each horse jumping twice.

 

[ann-jen]

I disagree about saying all the horses are cr*p. Some of them are actually quite forgiving. They are often being given a completely wonky approach, on no kind of stride at all and being hauled about in the mouth a lot of the time. 1.20m may be small compared to the olympic SJ but its still big enough to need to approach the fences in a correct way. I don't blame a lot of the horses for refusing in those conditions - they are often just putting there own safety first - which is a normal horse reaction.

 

[trendybraincell]

and they all have similar names too, bubu and bebe for example! hehe

 

[MooMoo]

But there's only so much any horse can put up with, even if it is a good jumper it can only go as well as the rider will allow. And by what everyone's watching here it still woudnt be much better. The horse cant do it all for them especially when they're being yanked around.

 

[FirstLight]

you would have thought they would have lessons or something or if they do have lessons maybe find a new instructor!
this is horrible to watch

 

[muffinino]

QR
I watched it the last time around and was appalled at the standard. Am at work so cannot see it but even my non-horsey OH who has just text me to say how awful it is.

Sorry, but saying it's a 1.20M track on horses they don't know so well done to them for being brave is not good enough. I know I couldn't jump a track at that height, let alone on an unknown horse, so I wouldn't do it. This is the Olympics, you should be up to the standard expected or not do it, simple as.

I thought the welfare of the horse was supposed to be paramount, or at least it is in other equestrian disciplines.

 

[Skhosu]

I wouldn't be surprised if someone was killed at this given that after watching for half an hour I've seen two bad falls.
I suspect that given china isn't a big horse riding nation, these were the best horses that could be secured, this is at the main olympics too isnt it?

 

[JM07]

having watched 4 more rounds...of varying "success" ... i think the main problem is the track is too high...

1.0/1.05 track may have been a little more forgiving for both horses and riders...

 

[Faithkat]

[ QUOTE ]
There's nowt wrong with the horses - at least there wasn't at the start!

[/ QUOTE ]

oh, come on . . . . I saw a grey jumping that was atrocious. Like I said in an earlier post, it jumped just like a horse I had once - couldn't jump to save its life and was the only horse I've ever seen that virtually landed back feet first. I've only seen one, maybe two, that had any idea of how to jump at all but, again as mentioned before, they are very recently ex-(presumably) flat racehorses and it is painfully obvious that they don't know their job.

 

[daisycrazy]

Ride a dressage test - yes that would be a good idea. Less painful for everybody - riders, horses and viewers. Not sure how you score in fencing, but presumably it is a bit of a judgement call, so the dressage wouldn't be out of place. It does seem daft to continue including the SJ phase when it is clearly such carnage (I'm not watching it...but saw a bit of it last time). There must be something else which requires fitness but not much specialist skill? Cycling? An assault course? Pin the tail on the donkey?

 

[carys220]

Surely it would be better if they just did endurance riding or a show or something......it's like sticking someone on a motorbike and expecting them to jump a canyon...only it's not just the riders getting hurt!

I mean why didn't he calm the horse down then? He just got back on because all he cares about is the time!!!! GURR!!!!

 

[KimYoung]

Horses are only allowed to jump twice.

It is really difficult to get hold of horses for top quality events. Would you want a stranger to jump your horse round a course of jumps after only 20 mins on? At most events they have riding school point and shoot types to ride. Some of these horses look like they need real riding and the huge stadium wont help. Remember what it was like riding a new horse that you had been schooling at home at their first show?

However I would want to see too many of these riders wrking on the basics.

This japanese rider is doing a reasonable job and the horse was good to jump the second part of the double, his lack of balance meant he came off, probably not enough time in teh saddle. The vaulting back on could also indicate that he is used to falling off?

 

[carys220]

YOu see....this guy can ride and the horse is jumping well......*holds breath*

 

[carys220]

Doesn't this round just prove the point? It's the riders not the horses???

 

[trendybraincell]

finally the commentators say "we've seen some bad horseman ship"

Oh just realised he was british, looked ALOT better than other I've watched!

 

[JM07]

and saw on it's mouth when finishing................

BRILLIANT RIDING!!!!!!!

 

[Beanyowner]

The whole point of MP is that it is from the days when soldiers had to test how good they were in battle...riding, sword fighting (fencing), shooting, running and swimming. Its a very old sport.

Daisycrazy...fencing is not a 'judgement call' those funny white suits they wear track where they are hit by the swordy thing (can't remember their proper name!

)

 

[JM07]

swordy thing is an Epie...i believe....

 

[Beanyowner]

OOo thats it! COuldn't rememebr for the life of me!

Thanks JM07

 

[bfly1]

Think about it - most horses would throw in the towel by now. Its a shame the commentator isn't horsey it really annoys me when he refers to a horse as being naughty when its clearly the riders lack of experience. I think its quite noticeable that when the rider improves the horse improves!

 

[KimYoung]

This rider from Chillie is ging to be interesting, he hasnt even got into the arena yet

 

[trendybraincell]

oh my word, that ones looks sweater than Salinero did in the dressage...and its still full of it

 

[MooMoo]

The horse going in now is all sweated up really heavily. Surely thats not right?

 

[carys220]

Do you think all of those horses are normally ridden in snaffles? That's probably why they are having to yank and saw at their mouths...

 

[trendybraincell]

he cheated, he didn't jump anything

 

[KimYoung]

Would you want some of these riders in anything more than a snaffle?

 

[JM07]

that poor chilean bloke was carted all over the place....

i wouldn't want to have been drawn that horse..looks a nightmare to ride....

 

[muffinino]

Am not watching as in work so can't see for myself but if a horse has lamed itself, like the one who put its leg through the wall, why haven't they pulled the horse out of the competition? Surely the judges should not allow a rider to remount a lame animal!

 

[trendybraincell]

even with a snaffle some look to have been sawing the back teeth out

 

[trendybraincell]

he retired, but they have to remount to leave we think