O.K. your nominations for:they ride like farmers but still win!

Another one for Roger Yves Bost - sometimes I watch him and think he just looks unconventional but effective, other times he appears to be socking the horse in the mouth and/or banging down on it's back.
 
Can I whisper A. P. McCoy? Such an untidy rider but certainly effective:) When I've seen him do SJ challenges and he rode a dressage horse on one occasion, he just doesn't look like he has a clue.
 
millikins said:
Can I whisper A. P. McCoy? Such an untidy rider but certainly effective:) When I've seen him do SJ challenges and he rode a dressage horse on one occasion, he just doesn't look like he has a clue.
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Quite simply he doesnt! He rode racehorses all his life - they don't do flat work, or jump pretty wee fences with the aim of leaving them up. The aim is going fast and jumping as quickly and efficiently as possible! AP wont have had many flatwork lessons in his life - why would he for racing? It's a totally different way of life!

But as a jockey? He was massively well balanced, strong, determined and he had a way with horses. Horses jumped for him. The gave their all for him. They didn't always do the same for other jockeys! One of ours at the yard produced flawless rounds of jumping over chase fences with McCoy but put Barry Gerraghty on him and he couldn't jump a twig! He was poetry in motion!
 
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EKW said:
Quite simply he doesnt! He rode racehorses all his life - they don't do flat work, or jump pretty wee fences with the aim of leaving them up. The aim is going fast and jumping as quickly and efficiently as possible! AP wont have had many flatwork lessons in his life - why would he for racing? It's a totally different way of life!

But as a jockey? He was massively well balanced, strong, determined and he had a way with horses. Horses jumped for him. The gave their all for him. They didn't always do the same for other jockeys! One of ours at the yard produced flawless rounds of jumping over chase fences with McCoy but put Barry Gerraghty on him and he couldn't jump a twig! He was poetry in motion!
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I really miss AP riding. If you needed 100% commitment to win a race he didn't care if the horse had zero - he was the ultimate winner! I couldn't fault his riding though, balanced and very effective.
 
Geoff is a total master at what he does and all horses seem to perform there socks off for him. He is also a total practical joker and gives the best cuddles!
 
I saw Geoff and "Spot" on tour years ago. It was great. :) He is great at impersonating other riders too.:D

I don't like watching the horses have their backs thumped down onto I have to say.
 
What really really annoys me, is people that are not good enough to reach the top of any sport criticise those that are. The horses of top rides get the best of everything and would not perform they way they do if they where uncomfortable, just as a runner, cycler, rower etc wouldn't be able to.
 
Allegedly Annette Lewis rode ponies for ages & her habit of flicking he feet up was to prevent knocking poles. I'll accept that is possibly legend, but she & Tutein always wowed the crowd & they did brilliantly.
 
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