Not impressed! One rider at Burghley

[mrussell]

Can we ask the fat controller for a Wall of Shame - to which we can banish embarrassing threads by popular demand?

Erm, that would be just about everything that gets posted on here then ... all the posts discussing riders and all the posts bashing other users for posting in the first place It sure is a nice forum to use at times...

Gone are the days when sensible discussion was the main feature... these days it like a pack of wolves on here.

 

[Nocturnal]

Erm, that would be just about everything that gets posted on here then ... all the posts discussing riders and all the posts bashing other users for posting in the first place It sure is a nice forum to use at times...

Gone are the days when sensible discussion was the main feature... these days it like a pack of wolves on here.

Discussing riders is one thing, but this didn't start out as a nice discussion, but as an attack on a rider who did a bl**dy good job under difficult circumstances.

 

[mrussell]

Discussing riders is one thing, but this didn't start out as a nice discussion, but as an attack on a rider who did a bl**dy good job under difficult circumstances.

IMHO it started off just like any other thread - with one user posting her opinion about what she saw. Simple. This was joined by other like minded people (of which I am one) who also felt that what we saw was unacceptable. It wasnt an attack - infact the riders name wasnt even mentioned.

I think people need to calm down. Its a public forum where we should all feel free to discuss what we think and not be worried about being personally blasted for having an opinion that differs from the main herd.

 

[Baydale]

Not getting involved in the whys and wherefores because I couldn't care less how anyone else thinks Pippa Funnell, Oli Townend or I ride (obviously with me being far superior!).
A serious question Baydale, do you think that is because of the type of horses that are now 4* horses and in particular those with a little less blood, the temperature was quite warm in the afternoon and I am sure that will have had a bearing on the time/exertion levels on the horses?
And FWIW I saw that horse jump the first two fences on Burghley TV and would not want to ride it myself!

I'm not sure to what extent breeding has an influence on stamina in this case; obviously it does to some degree, but I don't think you can make sweeping generalisations about it. I'm sure there'll be a breeding geek who can quote some figures about successful 4 star horses and how much blood they have, but it's not my specialist subject.

I think that some horses can cope with the heat, some can't, and I'm sure they can be conditioned to cope as our team were for the Atlanta Olympics. It wasn't that hot at Burghley, so I think those that struggled will have flagged up to their riders that they need to be fitter next time. I don't think it's an old wives' tale that getting them fit for that, or any, level is easier the second time around - vet geeks will know more than me. My view (from limited experience) is that each horse's fitness is a very individual thing - and mental strength/fitness is a factor too - so what works for one horse, regardless of breeding, type, age will not necesarily work for another.

 

[LEC]

I also think brain power takes up a huge amount of energy in a horse. I find with babies their brains get tired quicker than their bodies a lot and if they have only done 9 minute 3* then the extra 3 minutes will possibly just mean that they have never hit that wall. It also does seem to be the warmbloods who shut down slightly more than the full TBs. We saw it in Land Vision at Badminton and once he was picked up and told to get on with it he finished strongly. I think Pure Addiction will also come out stronger for it.

The one horse who I always thought was so impressive but never coped with 4* was the Zara Phillips horse Glenbuck. He would get to the 8/9 minute mark and begin to look weary.