Oli Townend....horse falls

Kiribati_uk said:
Bang out of order!!!!!!
When has he done that, oh in kentucky when he was carted off in an ambulance!!!!!
I hate this Jockey bashing last year it was Georgie Strang and Master Monarch, do you think these riders go out to put the horse on the floor?
No its called a mistake, and at 4star level the margin for errors is very slim!!!
[...]
Click to expand...

I'm not sure Oli would like to be compared to Georgie Strang, and I still think there was a reason why A. Hoy didn't want Master Monarch to be ridden anymore *two* years ago. Anyway, back to topic.
 
Oh this is funny. As soon as I saw that OT had had a fall I bloody knew that there'd be a thread about it:rolleyes:

Since when has being competitive been a sin?
I absolutely agree with Kiribati_uk, other riders who make mistakes don't get half the flack OT does.

Jeez, give the man a break.
 
mbequest said:
I've got huge respect for anyone brave/stupid enough to event at that level.... And besides Oli looks good in breeches ;-)
Click to expand...

Kiribati_uk said:
Bang out of order!!!!!!
When has he done that, oh in kentucky when he was carted off in an ambulance!!!!!
I hate this Jockey bashing last year it was Georgie Strang and Master Monarch, do you think these riders go out to put the horse on the floor?
No its called a mistake, and at 4star level the margin for errors is very slim!!!
WFP last week was bloodly lucky But had Cool Mountain of fallen would he be being slated for being reckless/careless?? No because its WFP!!!
Bit of respect for these riders wouldn't go amiss, I take my hat to ANYONE who can get to 4star level!!!
Click to expand...

ajn1610 said:
Well I don't know about any other incidences but in this case as you can see on the burghley tv clip his concern is straight away for the horse. Incidentally does anyone have any news on the horse falls yesterday, are they all OK?
Click to expand...

i don't think anyone has the right to critcise him unless they train him, or Yogi/ team GBR... or unless your at 4*??????
I've never seen him get up and walk away from the horse without checking it over. I do it once i've checked the horse over. he was straight over to the horse yesterday. no faffing, got up, straight to the horse. The horse was his first concern. totally uncalled for saying that maesfen. with ajn1610 on that topic.
Oli's done bloomin well to get to where he is. more work than some people could be bothered to put in. every time something happens with him and a horse at 4* theres always a 'oli bashing' thread. give him a break!!!!

mbequest, i'm with you on the breeches ;)
 
DANNY 1234!!!!

Id get your facts right before you try to guess at things, Ben was sent to Georgie as the Attwoods and Richard Constant who own him have been family friends of the Strangs for years, they have 2 others with Georgie at the moment as well. Ben left Andrew as he didnt want to ride him not that the horse shouldnt be ridden!!! At 19 last season he gave Georgie the chance of a life time to compete at the big 3 and 4* events finishing 9th at Bramham, no body appreciates the amazing chance she had to ride such a legend as ben more than Georgie does!!!! He is regulary ridden by his owners now and is having the time of his life doing the Express Eventing, he had some great times hunting last year and at the age of 20 he his still acting like a 3yr old!!!!!!!! Trying to pinch him to whip in on!
 
glamourpuss said:
Really? When has he done that? At Badminton I saw him stand and get his breath back whilst the officials led the horse round. I can't think of any other examples, care to share?
Click to expand...

The first time I actually saw him or even noticed him was on TV at Burghley some years ago when he fell at the fence coming out of the last lake crossing (by the bridge); horse was tired and fell, he just got up to walk away without a second glance and the cameras stayed on him. Even allowing for youth, enthusiasm, his disappointment and his desire to win, there was actually no need for him to be like that, it was crude and nasty. There are a lot of other stories personally known about him that would make your hair curl but they're not for public consumption.

However, I will be fair to him and say when he was competing locally, he couldn't have been more pleasant or polite to any stewards, can't say fairer than that.
 
I've always admired Oli as a rider he's worked hard to get where he is and hasn't had it easy! He's a very talented rider and to get somewhere with that talent you have to have the nerve to go with it! Those who don't have it will never be happy with those who do. I thought he rode a very good round on an obisously green horse. I also felt that the horses round got a lot better as he went rounf and got much smoother. The fall was very unfortunate but these things happen and every horse has to do their 1st 4* not all of them will have a good time.

If I had half of Oli's talent and nerve I would be very happy :)
 
I wondered when a rider bashing thread would rear it's head... Until I have ridden a 4* event I will continue to stand in awe of the bravery and skill of both horse and rider... I also appreciate we all have off days at work and no one is perfect
 
My daughter aspires to compete at 4* and after reading this, I've just given her a piece of motherly advice - don't ride for yourself, don't ride for your horses, don't ride for your owners. Ride so that you keep the H&H forum members happy.

Oh, and if your horse starts to show its inexperience and backs off, don't kick on to avoid a rotational fall because otherwise that will be seen as riding recklessly.
 
Tannis said:
My daughter aspires to compete at 4* and after reading this, I've just given her a piece of motherly advice - don't ride for yourself, don't ride for your horses, don't ride for your owners. Ride so that you keep the H&H forum members happy.

Oh, and if your horse starts to show its inexperience and backs off, don't kick on to avoid a rotational fall because otherwise that will be seen as riding recklessly.
Click to expand...

Brilliant. Love it! :D
 
I get bored of Oli bashing (or anyone bashing threads) as although I'm not exactly a groupie, he doesn't seem that bad either as a rider, or a person.

But then I also get bored of people saying you can't comment because you've never competed at that level. WTF?! If you went by that, you wouldn't be able to criticise anybody, anyone on here been the prime minister, yet people always seem to be free to criticise them :rolleyes:

If no one on internet forums had no opinions, we'd all sit here discussing how many cups of tea we've drunk today, now wouldn't that be boring ;)
 
I have no personal dealing with OT and have nothing against him personally.

However, I do agree with many of you on here that his riding is reckless, sometimes dangerous and I would never send a horse of mine to him.

I have alot of respect for the man, he has done very well to get where he is now. Personally speaking, I do not like his style of riding - Mary King is a legend as is Andrew Nicholson and Lucinda Fredericks to name a few. I prefer riders who are quietly supportive to their horses rather than ones who take unnecessary risks.

I cannot comment on the issue of him walking away or not as I have not witnessed it but I do feel it is very unhorseman like to walk away from your steed, regardless of the situation.

Everybody is entitled to their opinion and neither is right or wrong.
 
If no one on internet forums had no opinions, we'd all sit here discussing how many cups of tea we've drunk today, now wouldn't that be boring ;)[/QUOTE]

Might be boring but at least it would be factual!!!!!
 
I've only watched Mary Kings and Oli's rounds so far but came on here to see if his horse was o.k because you don't see it get up in the video?

Personally I didn't see anything wrong with his riding and I really didn't see the fall coming! Thought it was great that the first thing he did was go to his horse.
 
And Mary king riding although brilliant is not always easy on the eye but we all quite rightly love Mary she is awesome!

It seems to be the in thing to dislike oli!
 
I like Oli Townend :O He rode a good round. Its just that at that level the highs are as high as the lows are low. for every amazing day, you have to have one as equally bad.
I dont think he deserves the bashing. He still seemed polite after he fell on horse 1 and horse 2 started rearing. I know I would be snappy.

Nobody seems to be commenting on the fact Daniel Sibley got up and smacked his whip or whatever around like a little child.That shocked me.
 
Last edited:
I don't think anyone on here has given Oli a good bashing. I'm sure he's heard a lot worse and will have broad shoulders and a big enough bank balance to laugh it off.

And yeah totally agree I'm in the "wish I could ride half as badly" camp.

And to the pp who said about Mary after the fall, I've often wondered that too and came to my own conclusion that surely they must feel it, they are only human after all. I had a fall at skipton and it was not nice!! Not nice for the rider and not nice for the horse. I didn't see what happened to Oliver Townends Neo after he fell, I just saw Oli grab his reins, and I felt a real pang of emotion when I saw his face on the floor.
 
I'm holding both oli and Mary in awe both recently had crashing falls and both just get up off the floor ( ok Mary was winded so not as quick ) 1st concern shown is horse, they remain friendly and then manage to jump straight back on at the next oppotunity full of confidence as if nothing has happened!
I fell of last week too I too managed to compete ( and be100 not 4star) but I was nerves shattered and rubbish!
 
Princecharming said:
they are only human after all.
Click to expand...

Exactly....only human....he missed his stride he made a mistake! We all do it. Reckless.....bloody hell if that was reckless (and I am commenting on just yesterday's round not in general) then go report all the amateurs that wouldn't see a stride if there was a sat nav telling them where it was that jump their horses day in day out!
 
Hi - I too admire OT's guts and positive riding but I was at the Dairy Mound yesterday as a mounted steward and saw him riding up the steps to bounce - I felt horse was backing off and lacking confidence - hence Oli's "forward riding" - elbows etc!!! My question is - are we pushing these young horses to far too quickly - I know all horses develop at different speeds and some are ready for more far earlier than others - but just looking at Oli's round - yes he rode positively (which I admire) but he was having to ride in such a way because the horse just didn't seem to be really enjoying it - so should the horse have been kept at ** and *** for a bit longer - very happy to be shot down but it didn't look pretty the way Oli had to ride into that fence which was towards the end of the course after some massive jumping efforts which is a big ask for a young horse (at this level) both mentally and physically
 
Got to add Andrew Nicholson to my respect list didn't realise he had a crashing fall last week too with his fingers in one hand still strapped together!
 
Oli rides to win. He is incredibly determined, Most people would have been happy to take a 10yo round Burghley at a slower pace/hack round for experience, if Oli had done that Neo would have certainly got home clear, Oli is competitive and that is the difference between winning and losing and his career and gaining experience. He doesn't just need to get round clear with 20 plus time pens for the sake of experience. Sometimes it goes wrong like it did and yes perhaps he should have spent more time at 3* with that horse so it was up for the challenge at that speed but its his and his owners choice. (Cyclops I think you are spot on)
Also as for Imperial Master he is a very talented horse and when they nap like that there is nothing you can do!!! (My top horse used to it, even an advanced events somtimes! Luckily not at Burghley!) It needed a sorting out and if Oli had done that then there would have been another post calling him a horse abuser. He had to do nothing and walk home.
 
Cyclops that's an interesting comment (can't quote on mobile!). A friend of mine started 4* last year and has done really well, She stayed longer at 2*/3* than most because of her having some injuries and she has commented to me that she's now really glad she had that extra time as she feels it really cemented confidence and experience and made the step up easier.
 
How was/is ollie's horse? i saw it was up but the vet was checking and the screens were up - I assume all was ok?

As for Ollie as a rider, I have never been a huge fan as in the early days I think both him and Matthew Wright rode horses very hard and were renowned for running them in to the ground. However, after watching ollie recently I think he has matured a heck of a lot and his riding is sooo much better and you will see him retire a horse if it is struggling whereas back in the day I felt he just would push and push until it got messy.

You HAVE to be determind in eventing surely (god I know I would never have the balls to tackle those courses), if you weren't you'd never get anywhere and the horse would not trust you and would not want to take you round. That nappy horse incident was just unfortunate and can happen to the best of 'em - i mean, without that kind of behaviour, horses and horse sport would be very dull indeed! lol.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top