My view on Badminton

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Bossanova

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Bit of a weird one this year!
I was selling radios on Thurs/Fri but managed to see most of the dressage. Brit deserved to be at the top but some were harshly marked, including Toytown.
The ground walked hard in places and ok in others, they had obviously tried very hard but you do have to wonder if they honestly did enough prep work, it needed more watering desperately. My feeling was you'd run an intermediate horse on it but probably not your pricelss 4* horse if you wanted it to remain a priceless 4* horse for a number of years. Then again, Andrew Nicholson ran both fast and he knows his stuff. I think some of the British riders were very rude about it and I dont think that was very sporting at all.

Obviously the two fatalities were horrid. The frenchman's was pure freak accident, I tend to agree with Lucretia on the Skwal issue though, what was he trying to prove by running the horse? Daisy was fuming after Hope Street's fall, she gave them a piece of her mind as felt they had not done enough in places like that turn. I have strong views on Oli's fall but wont air them here!

The trot up was good, poor Piggy but they must have felt it was justified. The sjing was pretty boring, the track rode very easy. I think Cinda was lucky but the mare is fab. And great to have 2 mares right up there and the first female winner for some considerable time!!

All in all, not a true competition with the number of withdrawals and whilst I think the winner would still have been the same, I think it would have been a very different competition with everyone in for the xc.
 
Very good overview heres mine:

Agree i think the dressage was harshly marked all round - some were getting 7s when they should easily be getting 9s and in one case for the same movement two diff judges gave a 9 and a 1 - how???

XC ground i didnt think was too bad, i would have run on it BUT they should have pre empted the lack of rain and prepared it better - the use of top soil seemed to me like an obvious 'oh crap quick do something'

Fatalities - cannot comment on skwal as didnt see it BUT going through the lake i did see him and he looked very ropey
French horse pure freak accident, very sad but officials i felt didnt react quick enough.

was disappointed with amount of withdrawals.

Trot up was interesting - piggy was clearly devastated and heart was in my mouth watching lenamore and caroline powell after he knocked himself walking into the trot up!!

SJ boring made more interesting by amount of wind. Was confused by the line Lucinda decided to take to the first jump but she pulled it off.

My horse of the competition? The huge mckinlay
 
I agree with you on many things. Its the first year I have been for the whole 4 days and have to say that I was a bit disappointed.We walked the course on Wednesday evening and were able to get right up to the jumps and noticed the ground was cracked and very hard...however they closed the immediate access to the jumps on the Thursday in order to prepare the ground...bit late maybe(?), although they had obviously been doing bits for a while!!
I thought communication was a bit slow in regard to the injured horses...we didnt find out about poor SKWAL and Andrew Downes until earlier today but were nearby to see the other accident (definately freaky accident)!
 
We only found out two had died as there were two horse ambulances at the kennels and we over-heard some of the officials talking.

I had an official car sticker and have to say, it was wonderful driving in every day from the camp site
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Oh and to add.....Piggy was witnessed at Western park having a complete stamp -the- feet strop because the ice-cream man had run out of mint-choc chip so I was actually quite worried when she was stopped today...lol
 
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Oh and to add.....Piggy was witnessed at Western park having a complete stamp -the- feet strop because the ice-cream man had run out of mint-choc chip so I was actually quite worried when she was stopped today...lol

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LMAO!!!!!
 
Hello Boss
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I agree a very wierd and slightly traumatic Badminton.

So many withdrawals
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The French horse incident was awful, i thought i was going to faint, but as you say, a totally freak accident.

Can someone explain why Piggy's horse was represented if he was that dodgy? I don't understand....

McKinlaigh was lovely, wasn't he and HUGE!

Opposition Buzz made me laugh - looked to be having a great time in the parade
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Oh and i forgot to say...

We were at Fence 8 as the French horse fell and the Horse Ambulance was called. It was crossing the course in front of the fence - but no one thought to check if a horse was coming. Jonty Evans took some very evasive manouvres and the Ambulance only stopped because the crowd were screaming at the driver. Total chaos.

Luckily the horse was bold enough to carry on over the fence and was stopped before fence 9, but could have been so nasty...
 
Opposition Buzz is just the best, obviously I may be a little biased but he is one seriously lush horse!!
I'd take home him and Lenamore.

Piggy is very competitive. My feeling is the vet found some heat. It didnt trot lame, just a bit off.
 
Opposition Buzz is seriously nice looking - and a TB x Trakehner, which is always nice to see!!!

You back then Finnus Maximus?! How was the journey?

I just posted on another thread saying i thought you were still there!
 
Skwal's connections had nothing to prove - the horse loved his job end of story. The owner was back on the yard today and is devastated. We also saw Andrew this morning and he was very upset as well. The first Andrew felt was him wobble slightly after the last fence and up until then had given him a fantastic ride, despite him running out at VV. I wish people would keep their opinions to themselves. Skwal wasn't unsound, he wasn't sold on because he had a dicky heart - it was a freak accident that could have happened at intro or Pre-novice level. In fact the story I've heard is that he was sold because he'd jacked it in in the SJ. That could be heasrsay though. It is totally uncalled for. In fact, and I may be wrong but it was Rachel Bayliss that started competing Skwal all those years ago and she is also Andrew's trainer. People need to be carfeul what they say as a lot of what has been said is quite defamatory. I'm sure if Skwal's connections read all this it would deepen the hurt they're already experiencing. Look at it's BE record and give Andrew some credit. Let the poor horse rest in peace.
 
well said, SV.


when a horse is sold on, what is done with it, is NOBODY'S business but it's current owners.
 
It was one of those things, horses die of heart attacks fairly regularly after xc, there was nothing wrong with the horse when it started, I agree. I'm meerly questioning why he ran on the ground when so many found it unsatisfactory when he'd had a very bad dressage and the horse didnt need to prove itself at 4*
 
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Opposition Buzz is seriously nice looking - and a TB x Trakehner, which is always nice to see!!!

You back then Finnus Maximus?! How was the journey?

I just posted on another thread saying i thought you were still there!

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Can't think why you'd like a TB X Trakehner Twigs?!
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Yep, home indeed. Brain dead though..... Journey was fine and nice to see the Boogster too
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The horse has never been good at dressage - he's an out and out jumper. You say "outline" and he'd go "what's that then?" Lol. It was giving Andrew an experience of jumping around Badminton after it had done Burghley so well last year. I assume it was a bit like us having a schoolmaster that knew its job. The horse was 15 so not old at all and would probably be close to his last season at that level anyway. I wasn't having a go at you Boss - when you are connected to these people and know them on a personal level and know that they would never, ever push a horse like some would it's quite hard to accept people criticising such great people. It could have happened on the gallops and there wouldn't have been this outcry. Imagine them having to drive back with an empty lorry?!!! Do people realise that the owner's mother was carted off in an ambulance from the shock? Some compassion wouldn't go amiss. I think it's a horrible case sour grapes from some.
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Can't think why you'd like a TB X Trakehner Twigs?!
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Yep, home indeed. Brain dead though..... Journey was fine and nice to see the Boogster too
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Twig and Finnus scared cr*p out of each other this morning as Finn was going out to field, they did some pretty impressive mutual spooking! Was a bit blustery down there to say the least......

The event wasn't as good as last year's in my opinion - I think the course flows much better the other way round, and the crowds seemed worse if that's possible....

The accident was horrific, and wish I hadn't seen it, but bar changing the flag materials, it did seem to be pretty much a freak accident (wonder if there are any stats on event horses being injured by flags?).
From where I was, the reaction from officials to the accident didn't look good, but another HHO-er (I've forgotten who!) said that other stewards did react quickly, so was a bit relieved about that. Horse ambulances are obviously like buses though - 3 turned up at once.........

Wasn't impressed with Olli Townend either - I don't know the full story, but why did he get back on once the horse had had such a bad fall??

Lucinda Fredericks was fab, and what an amazing rider. 'Brit' didn't look an easy ride yesterday or today, yet she pulled it all together when it mattered........

The shopping i thought was a bit better than last year.....especially the improved food hall bit.......mmmm.

Wish I'd stayed on to today, if only to see Over To You completing his last Badders......he really has made the event his own, and looked like he was having more fun than ever when he came past us at the lake.
 
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Skwal's connections had nothing to prove - the horse loved his job end of story. The owner was back on the yard today and is devastated. We also saw Andrew this morning and he was very upset as well. The first Andrew felt was him wobble slightly after the last fence and up until then had given him a fantastic ride, despite him running out at VV. I wish people would keep their opinions to themselves. Skwal wasn't unsound, he wasn't sold on because he had a dicky heart - it was a freak accident that could have happened at intro or Pre-novice level. In fact the story I've heard is that he was sold because he'd jacked it in in the SJ. That could be heasrsay though. It is totally uncalled for. In fact, and I may be wrong but it was Rachel Bayliss that started competing Skwal all those years ago and she is also Andrew's trainer. People need to be carfeul what they say as a lot of what has been said is quite defamatory. I'm sure if Skwal's connections read all this it would deepen the hurt they're already experiencing. Look at it's BE record and give Andrew some credit. Let the poor horse rest in peace.

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True - but this is a forum and we are here to discuss things we have seen and debate what we see.

I have certainly not said anything defamatory, just said what I think from the little evidence I have, I have also made it clear that I do not know everything about the situation as none of us do.
 
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From where I was, the reaction from officials to the accident didn't look good, but another HHO-er (I've forgotten who!) said that other stewards did react quickly

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Yes, it didn't look like they were doing much but we were some of the ones shouting at them to get a vet and they already had, pretty much as soon as it happened, and certainly by the time he pulled up the vet had been called.
 
And I must also make clear that I do also feel very bad for all the connections of both fatalities.(and have said in each of my posts) No matter what the circumstances, it is a tragic loss of an animal.
 
Badminton - really liked the way Sarah Cohen rode xc, was shocked at the French horse accident; the story of Tom Cruise II saddened me, didn't like the way he was ridden either...
Well done Lucinda and little Brit - watching that mare going made me feel like I could have a go
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She made it look so easy
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My horse of the competition? The huge mckinlay

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He was one of my favourites! Lovely, lovely, lovely horse. Really enjoyed watching him.
 
Hi Finn McCoul We were at the same fence as you and saw the ambulance almost drive into the horse ready to jump a fence....very unbelievable!!
 
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Hi Finn McCoul We were at the same fence as you and saw the ambulance almost drive into the horse ready to jump a fence....very unbelievable!!

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I was totally shocked. Complete idoits!
 
Interesting view agree with you on nearl everything!
Agree SJing was rather boring TBH and quite a lot of clears god my heart was in my mouth all the way round cindas round lol!
would be interesting to hear your view on oli's fall lol
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Was there today and yesterday. Thought the ground was ok, not fab and I can fully understand why people pulled out.
I found the showjumping a bit boring, it was quite an easy course and I was freezing which didn't help.

Was browsing BBC found this comment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A22416987
I could not believe was I was reading.
I am 3dayevent btw.
 
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Hi Finn McCoul We were at the same fence as you and saw the ambulance almost drive into the horse ready to jump a fence....very unbelievable!!

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I was totally shocked. Complete idoits!

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Obviously didn't see that and of course it shouldn't have happened but from the point of view of the ambulance they were on their way to a horse that was rapidly bleeding to death. I am sure they had no idea that there would be a horse about to jump and yes, possibly the rider should have been stopped sooner but fence 8 was fairly close to 7 and if they had jumped that there would have been no stewards between fences to stop him. Sounds like it all happened fairly quickly.
 
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Hi Finn McCoul We were at the same fence as you and saw the ambulance almost drive into the horse ready to jump a fence....very unbelievable!!

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I was totally shocked. Complete idoits!

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between fences to stop him. Sounds like it all happened fairly quickly.

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Ideed. But someone could have checked whether the course was clear before they crossed!

What happened to Oli...know he fell but it sounds controversial
 
I saw the fall on the screen, but not what led up to it - the horse tapped it with his front legs and flipped on to his head/neck, Olli was thrown clear. Apparently he got back on afterwards though??
 
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