Oli Townend....horse falls

Molly'sMama said:
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.
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Was that the chap on the grey(?) who came off at the water? He was the only person whose behaviour after raised an eyebrow, but you just don't know, maybe shock... but it just didn't sit well that he just looked at his horse laid out in the water prone and seemed not to do one thing.
 
ElleJS said:
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...............
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But surely that's the point. OT is experienced enough but the horse wasn't; it doesn't seem to occur to him to back off and give the horse a better experience for the future but he just doesn't seem to take the horse into account, it's all about him which is why I think he gets so much stick.
 
I've nicknamed him Olli, the Faller.

It's very easy to compare results, including eliminations at the FEI search centre. You could probably work which eliminations were falls.

His last four competitions on the FEI Search site this year were 3 EL XC, and 2 RET. That's Burghley (EL & RET), Blair Castle (RET), Aachen (EL), and Blair Castle (EL). Then he has a long string of completions, until you get to Chatsworth with elimination for both Imperial Master and ODT Master Rose. And you have the falls at Badminton this year and Lexington last year on Ashdale Cruise Master.

I can't think of a single fall by WFP in a 4*. Or Dibowski. Or many of the other world class 4* riders.
 
Interesting enough Caroline Moore is very strict with the Young Riders who do a 2* and are then desperate to go 3*. She makes them do another year at 2* then they can go to Bramham and most of them do exceptionally well as they have another years experience.
 
did anyone listen to mary king's interview on the bbc? she said that at the age of 50 she is still training as you never finish learning when it comes to horses...

has it occurred to anyone that oli is still learning from his mistakes?
 
Should add that all riders fall occasionally. Horse falls are much rarer. I've seen Andrew Hoy fall at Lexington, and of the very few World Class riders in the United states, Karen O'Connor has had a recent 4* rider fall at Badminton this year; and Phillip Dutton quite a few horse falls but not in 4*s. Many North American 4* horses and riders fall , but our 4*quality tends not to be as high as yours and the Southern Hemisphere's.
 
BoolavogueDC said:
Was that the chap on the grey(?) who came off at the water? He was the only person whose behaviour after raised an eyebrow, but you just don't know, maybe shock... but it just didn't sit well that he just looked at his horse laid out in the water prone and seemed not to do one thing.
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He fell at the Hurdles in the arena. He did look mighty cross.

One observation I've made: since the advent of Point Twos you see far more riders struggling to sort themselves out after a fall rather than going after the horse. Not a criticism in the slightest, just an observation that because the Point Twos seem to add to the shock factor, and make the rider quite uncomfortable until they can get it undone, it takes up their time and attention. Not that this is what happened in Daniel's case so much.
 
Molly'sMama said:
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.
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This left a very bad taste in my mouth. I can understand it must be beyond disappointing to fall at one of the last fences, but in my (very humble) opinion, he rode in the fence dreadfully, the horse fell, his reaction was pure spoilt brat. He threw his whip down, shouted a bit, then grabbed the horse roughly from the steward to walk off, without glancing at it.
 
I hadn't seen that video before now but I have to say he was riding a bloody cracking round all the way up until then, the horse looked happy, keen and fit which is more than can be said for others. He would have been exceedingly disappointed after it was going so well, and to me it looked like pure frustration not tantrum, I would be more than frustrated after that fall with all the effort and skill it takes to get to burghley let alone to get round.

I think he should be cut some slack on these grounds! He is still young and at some point he'll learn this is not the way to react, but we did we see him riding an unfit horse?, beating it round? Having sticky moments? No. And as has been said he did pat the horse and he had his eye on it the whole time before he went to get it.
 
milz88 said:
I hadn't seen that video before now but I have to say he was riding a bloody cracking round all the way up until then, the horse looked happy, keen and fit which is more than can be said for others. He would have been exceedingly disappointed after it was going so well, and to me it looked like pure frustration not tantrum, I would be more than frustrated after that fall with all the effort and skill it takes to get to burghley let alone to get round.

I think he should be cut some slack on these grounds! He is still young and at some point he'll learn this is not the way to react, but we did we see him riding an unfit horse?, beating it round? Having sticky moments? No. And as has been said he did pat the horse and he had his eye on it the whole time before he went to get it.
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At last - someone speaks some sense :)
 
Its probably sensible to get your frustrations out on the grass before you go back to the horse isn't it?

I'm not proud of some of the things I've done in the past, but I'm sure we've all got frustrated with ourselves haven't we? I would imagine he was more angry with himself than the horse!
 
No, but then he wasn't accused of doing any of those things as far as I can see? As I said, his reaction left a bad taste....I saw no pat (not saying it didn't happen, I just didn't see him even touch the horse until he fiddled with its bridle as he walked off). I've no doubt he was frustrated, and perhaps his reaction can be put down to age. It just didn't make for particularly pleasant watching from where I was sitting.
 
BoolavogueDC said:
Was that the chap on the grey(?) who came off at the water? He was the only person whose behaviour after raised an eyebrow, but you just don't know, maybe shock... but it just didn't sit well that he just looked at his horse laid out in the water prone and seemed not to do one thing.
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That was also quite a Nasty fall so e could have been hurt or just badly winded got his breath back then went to sort the horse out.

I used to really dislike oli as I said in an earlier thread, he got very cocky quickly after a spell of good luck and an excellent season but I do feel for him this season. The less he does well the less owners and there horses to him, what he needs to do is get a couple of good youngsters, not rush them maybe even take next season out and come back confident, knowing the horses and hopefully do well.

Also remember this season riders are pushing to do well to be in with a chance of the Olympics next year so there is added pressure.

I thought the way oli went straight to his horse after the fall was excellent, in a split second after the fall he looked found at the horse and both looked quite startled. Hs riding at that fence before the fall wasn't great to watch but it may have been what the horse needed.

He isn't my favourite British rider but I think he's starting to learn and it's time to give him a bit of a break and wish him well for future seasons.
 
I thought Daniel Sibley had the worst luck after a stunningly well ridden round. Hitting the grass isn't spoilt brattish- all his hopes of a completion have just come crashing down at a simple fence, a few from home when the final fences were very easy in comparison. Once he'd been given the all clear he went over and ruefully took his horse and walked off away from the hundreds of people watching his very public downfall. As he walked off he rubbed it's nose and chatted to it... What else do you want? Overblown cuddles for a horse sky high on adrenaline!?
 
Stencilface said:
Its probably sensible to get your frustrations out on the grass before you go back to the horse isn't it?

I'm not proud of some of the things I've done in the past, but I'm sure we've all got frustrated with ourselves haven't we? I would imagine he was more angry with himself than the horse!
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I agre he was frustrated (as I keep saying!), and I haven't accused him of horse abuse! I just said I think his reaction was poor. I didn't want to get into a debate about it, it was just something that stuck in my head after yesterday, watching him grab the horse and march off. I might have guessed I'd get jumped on for having an opinion :p :D
 
Lolo said:
I thought Daniel Sibley had the worst luck after a stunningly well ridden round. Hitting the grass isn't spoilt brattish- all his hopes of a completion have just come crashing down at a simple fence, a few from home when the final fences were very easy in comparison. Once he'd been given the all clear he went over and ruefully took his horse and walked off away from the hundreds of people watching his very public downfall. As he walked off he rubbed it's nose and chatted to it... What else do you want? Overblown cuddles for a horse sky high on adrenaline!?
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Yes, I wanted him to recite poetry to it and buy it flowers :p As I said, I wasn't trying to get into a debate about it, I just didn't like the reaction when I saw it. Obviously I had a different take on it, should have known better than to voice on here :D
 
Alec Swan said:
I'm sure that it is, and whilst you may choose to disbelieve me, bashing wasn't my intention. :o

I will none-the-less, stand by my argument that a known napping horse has no business at such an event. I accept that he qualified, but that alters nothing. If I owned that horse, and despite his current riders abilities, I would probably look elsewhere, for a new rider.

Alec.
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Horses at this level are quirky. My friend has an advanced horse that can nap terribly but on her day be stunning. Of course the horse "had business being at such an event". Olli rode strongly and horse falls happen.
 
Twiglet said:
I agre he was frustrated (as I keep saying!), and I haven't accused him of horse abuse! I just said I think his reaction was poor. I didn't want to get into a debate about it, it was just something that stuck in my head after yesterday, watching him grab the horse and march off. I might have guessed I'd get jumped on for having an opinion :p :D
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Oh no, I wasn't jumping on you, if I want to do that I have to quote your post don't I?

Oops, just done that - consider yourself jumped on ;) :D
 
Agree with lolo! I have only sympathy for him given the circumstances, I know I've been frustrated at things in the past and I haven't necessarily acted as I should have done and I was not damn near the end of Burghley xc, we are human after all. Can't we all be glad he didn't have a horrible rotational and both have walked away in one piece, as someone else has said.. He was chatting to the horse as he led it away.
 
Personally, I really like Oli, and I think he is an incredibly talented rider.

I do, however, wonder whether his high level of falls at the moment is to do with how many horses he has at so many levels. I wonder whether he is doing so much, he is not spending as much time as perhaps he should on his 4* horses.

But at the end of the day, we only have one eventer and I have no clue what it's like at that high level. It also really touched me to see how in the next breath after hitting the floor he immediately checked for his horse.

Stay safe, Oli! Xx
 
Twiglet said:
Yes, I wanted him to recite poetry to it and buy it flowers :p As I said, I wasn't trying to get into a debate about it, I just didn't like the reaction when I saw it. Obviously I had a different take on it, should have known better than to voice on here :D
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That made me giggle! I didn't mean it to sound like I'm jumping on you, but my heart absolutely went out to him and I just really hope we see him back at Badders soon :D Him and Tom McEwen really impressed me this week.
 
Danny1234 said:
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.
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He was the one who suggested MM to Georgie S to show her the ropes - that's a bit different.

Molly'sMama said:
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.
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I'm sorry but if I had been riding one of the best rounds of my life and was 2 fences from home I would be more than pis*ed off, wouldn't you? The adrenalin also makes all your emotion come out at once and I think I would have laid on the floor and cried on frustration.
What would your perfect reaction have been? :confused:


lannerch said:
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!
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Where/when did it happen, I also didn't know anything until I saw his interview
 
Would the people who have stories that they say they won’t tell or aren’t for public consumption just not say that. Either tell it or don’t bother inferring there are any.

Imagine how much work he’s had to put in to get to where he is, that includes right from school – you can’t just cut class to go play ponies for a day and still expect to get a good education in case you change your mind about horses and need to use your school grades to pursue something else.

Some people are born hard workers with a desire to win. No matter what the level of riding, it doesn’t mean you’re always going to get it right every time.
 
milz88 said:
I hadn't seen that video before now but I have to say he was riding a bloody cracking round all the way up until then, the horse looked happy, keen and fit which is more than can be said for others. He would have been exceedingly disappointed after it was going so well, and to me it looked like pure frustration not tantrum, I would be more than frustrated after that fall with all the effort and skill it takes to get to burghley let alone to get round.

I think he should be cut some slack on these grounds! He is still young and at some point he'll learn this is not the way to react, but we did we see him riding an unfit horse?, beating it round? Having sticky moments? No. And as has been said he did pat the horse and he had his eye on it the whole time before he went to get it.
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Totally agree with this, the way the 'armchair experts' on here are going on you would think he had beaten his horse, and he did NOT throw his whip in the direction of his horse - how ridiculous! He also patted the horse but the footage does not show that.

Poor guy, he had spent months preparing, rode a very good round and fell at the last - I would have been disappointed too.
 
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