Most & Least Favourite Eventer

annagain said:
I'm not really in a position to judge any pro rider, let alone those at the very top seeing as I was sick before the only 90 I've ever done and never tried it again but the person I don't enjoy watching so much is Vittoria Pannizon. She always seems to go so fast that the slightest mistake would be catastrophic. She usually gets away with it but I'm always on edge watching her.
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I’ve been watching this thread with interest to see if Vittoria got a mention - that’s an interesting perception of her riding style ?

For me Michael Jung is the best ever, just beautiful....???
 
Mine would be Michael Jung he seems to have such a good partnership with his horses especially Sam who he won so much with. Mark Todd as well and Ros Canter

As a child I used to love watching Mary King and King William even when he went to pieces in the show jumping she would still smile and pat him yet they would fly round the XC and make it look easy

There used to be a rider going round Badminton who would pat her horse really delightedly after nearly every jump, I always wanted her to do well, Polly Jackson rings a bell, think she had a little coloured

Not a fan of Emily King or Gemma Tattersal. Ollie Townend isn't one of my favourites though he did a nice sympathetic round at I think Burghley after the Badminton controversy and I enjoyed watching him reward his horse but the cynic would say he was trying to up his PR! There was also that American rider, Merill something? Who I think got on the team and the horse had a gob full of metal and about 2 nose bands? Didnt look very nice

Showjumping I dont like Ben Maher. Sure lots of people love him but hes one of those that makes you wonder. I know he isnt stylish but I like that Italian rider, Luca something. He's always a laugh when he's in the puissance. Theres a Belgian rider, son of Ludo Philipards (spelling) who I've seen when Olympia is on and didnt like his reaction when things dont go well. I quite like Scott Brash and there was a Belgian lady rider in the Puissance at Olympia about a year ago on her stallion she seemed to have a nice relationship with him. Might start an SJ thread to not derail this one

Also not a fan of fly veils keep appearing I like seeing a nice pair of pricked ears if you watch eventing from the 90's/ early 2000's theres not a single one now they are everywhere
 
Oh I forgot Pippa Funnell! Used to love reading her autobiography and watching the video about her grand slam, she so obviously loves her horses as well its refreshing hearing her talk about how she suffers from nerves. Liked her partnership with Supreme Rock especially

Also Lissa Green seems lovely as well
 
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Watched some lovely old footage, from LA Olympics I think, Ginny and Lucinda looked pure class. I have a soft spot for Harry Meade he seems to get a nice tune out of green horses.
JennBags said:
I'm interested that so many people rate Ben Hobday and wonder if it's because he's good looking, has a story and is good on social media as I don't think his riding is brilliant.
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The Mr Mulry effect? Everyone loves a sports cob/underdog.

I'm not a fan of Marilyn Little or Buck Davidson.
 
Love Mark Todd, Ingrid Klimke, Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt, Luca Moneta, John Whitaker. Don't like Oliver Townend, Mary and Emily KIng, or Ben Maher
 
rextherobber said:
Love Mark Todd, Ingrid Klimke, Pippa Funnell, William Fox-Pitt, Luca Moneta, John Whitaker. Don't like Oliver Townend, Mary and Emily KIng, or Ben Maher
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How did Ingrid not get a mention earlier, she's one of my favourite riders, such class.
Ben Maher is a showjumper btw, not an eventer.
 
Not long after I came to live in Devon I went to watch the eventing at Bicton. Although Mary King was riding that day it was Lucy Wiergersma (now Mcarthy) who stood out for me. I am not a fan of Oliver Townend.
 
JennBags said:
I meant his diagnosis of cancer and recovery.
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I ‘liked’ this but it didn’t feel right.
I too think he’s not just got a story, he’s overcome being seriously ill to compete at top level again within a short amount of time which is impressive. 2015 he was undergoing treatment, 2016 he completed badminton. He was also very frank and positive throughout.

Although the main reason I do like him is his unconventional taste in horses. Seeing Mulry go round the large events was very much like the books you read as a child of the unlikely pony running at the big event.

I also think he’s not bad on the eye...

All of that said he’s not my favourite to watch but one I always look out for.

Note he trained with the Funnels as a junior I believe
 
All my favourites have already been mentioned. I dont like to see riders who push to complete a round on horses who are struggling and making mistakes at top level, lots a burghley last year. But I dont think anyone famous is consistently off enough for me to name as a least favourite.
I know there was the controversy about ollie, but I know lots of eventers who I rate who rate him (personally and top level) so I feel like maybe it was just a bit of bad judgement from him not a character trait consistently
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I thought that was the fallout from her drink driving thing? Has she lost more horses?
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She lost 4 established horses and 6 youngsters at the end of last season. Apparently all under the same owner who decided to exit the sport but 10 horses is a lot...plus some comments she has made on her social media have pointed to the train of thought that they didn’t part on good terms.
 
JennBags said:
How did Ingrid not get a mention earlier, she's one of my favourite riders, such class.
Ben Maher is a showjumper btw, not an eventer.
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Does she not slightly terrify you going XC though? Until Chris Bartle took over the team training she used to come a cropper quite often on the XC! I do really like her though, and her dressage is always brilliant.
 
JennBags said:
I'm interested that so many people rate Ben Hobday and wonder if it's because he's good looking, has a story and is good on social media as I don't think his riding is brilliant.
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I don't fancy him, but I do think he's very entertaining on social media and does a lot for the sport that way. I agree he's not the best rider, but he always has incredibly happy horses that look like they love their job and I rate that!
 
Shortstuff Wizard is still owned by ian's son in law, and possibly partly by Ian if you listen to him sometimes!
I still find ingrid pretty terrifying to watch, though she had a wonderful relationship with Bobby.
I know there has been massive controversy with OT but he's always been really nice to us. Bob came from him and Bert worked there which has really given him an amazing start.
 
KEK said:
As a very new follower of eventing, I love watching Chris Burton and the Prices go XC, they make it look so effortless.
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I love them too! Chris Burton going XC is just astounding to view. Earlier I mentioned Michael Jung as a favourite but these also rate highly and Ingrid Klimke.

shortstuff99 said:
Does she not slightly terrify you going XC though? Until Chris Bartle took over the team training she used to come a cropper quite often on the XC! I do really like her though, and her dressage is always brilliant.
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Ingrid did used to scare me a bit going XC, I know exactly what you mean, but in recent years I have so enjoyed watching her and her dressage and SJ are top class too. For me she is one of the best riders in the world. I think our opinions of people's riding are also affected by what we know of them and I know several people abroad who have hosted Ingrid on riding trips and they all absolutely love her and her horsemanship, which I am sure makes me warm to her even more.
 
Piggy, but I am biased as she's from close to where I live & used to have a horse on the yard my old fella is on, she's so humble & down to earth as well as a calm & feeling rider
 
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Steerpike said:
I was put off Emily King when I saw a video of her in a jewellery shop being given what ever she liked, the woman in the shop didn't look too happy, also from the drink driving ect
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I was disgusted by her greed and sense of entitlement. If I recall correctly, she was invited to choose one piece of jewellery and instead chose a matching set and was smirking as she made some crass quip about choosing the most expensive items in the shop. That and continuing the crowd funding for a horse already purchased for her.
 
Quigleyandme said:
I was disgusted by her greed and sense of entitlement. If I recall correctly, she was invited to choose one piece of jewellery and instead chose a matching set and was smirking as she made some crass quip about choosing the most expensive items in the shop. That and continuing the crowd funding for a horse already purchased for her.
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Does anyone know what happened with that horse? I never saw anything about it competing etc.
 
I was fortunate enough to help a friend compete at quite a few of the big 3 day events back in the mid 1990s. Gosh I feel old. She did Gatcombe, Burghley, Blenheim and also Badminton. The rules for hangers on were very much more lax then. At Badminton our lorry was parked next to a very young WFP competing on Chaka. He was such a pleasant young man, very quiet and unassuming and rode beautifully. Ginny Leng came across as be
ING very tough and Mary King although very pleasant to all and sundry I personally thought had one eye on the PRside of things even then. Coming up to date Michael jung is a pleasure to watch. I don't like watching Zara Tindal and hate watching Ollie Townsend. I will admit that OT has amazing stick ability though.
 
I haven’t been an OT fan since watching him flog those tired horses home. I’m never convinced the hand-wringing, breast beating contrition when professionals get called out is genuine or not.
 
Billyandme said:
I was fortunate enough to help a friend compete at quite a few of the big 3 day events back in the mid 1990s. Gosh I feel old.
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You feel old? ?
I as a senior PC member helped groom in 79 and 80 for local rider who also taught at PC. She had the A test with honours (as dished out in v early 70s) and drilled me through my B test in 79. My goodness we had a ball, it was very basic staying in the box but having the likes of childhood heroes and heroines of Richard Meade, Toddy, Jane Holderness Roddam, Lucinda PP etc walking among us!
V exciting times!
 
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