HufflyPuffly
Well-Known Member
Hmm the fence judge I spoke to said they get assigned new fences/ move round every year, he was on a fairly straightforward fence, so we asked if he’d have wanted a more exciting fence.
Oliver Townend Fence 4 (Shallow Springs)
- Thread starter ponynutz
- Start date
Hmm the fence judge I spoke to said they get assigned new fences/ move round every year, he was on a fairly straightforward fence, so we asked if he’d have wanted a more exciting fence.
fetlock
Well-Known Member
I think he milked (excuse the pun) the "not from a typical eventing background" bit and guessing - if he did, that is - that was a savvy move to get mainstream media interviews to help promote himself and his business. Even now he still gets "son of a milkman" headlines - I don't think they ever mention he did pony trials and his Dad actually rode at Burghley himself. Outspoken/arrogance aside, how much of an outsider was he really? He had more going for him, horsey background wise, than Ian Stark did in his own youth. That's not taking away what Oli has achieved results wise and in terms of the business he's built up wise too, and entirely off his own bat. I admire him immensely for the hard work over the years and what he's achieved.
I actually quite like him now and, dare I say it, was pleased his elimination was reversed on Saturday. I was disgusted at his whip use on both horses at Badminton 2018 and his subsequent interviews about it didn't help him either. He appears to have learnt from both mistakes since then however and couldn't be faulted in his interviews during the Olympics so fickle I may be, but he's redeemed himself in my non-important eyes.
fetlock
Well-Known Member
Maybe that's what they do now, but in days gone by they didn't. Can't recall the commentator saying that's how it is currently. It was about the fence judges in general
Wishfilly
Well-Known Member
I agree that he is from a pretty horsey background, and I do think he has perhaps put a spin on things to make a good story for the press. I do also think on a personal level he hasn't had the financial backing that some really top riders have. But I do also think that for whatever reason at times he has genuinely felt like a bit of an outsider within the eventing circuit- but maybe he just gives that impression?
I do think over the years he's learnt from his mistakes. But I also think his mistakes seem to get the spotlight shone on them far more than the mistakes made by others- I'm not sure why that is.
Nicnac
Well-Known Member
Am copying and pasting a PUBLIC Facebook post by Natalie McGoldrick. An equine vet and 4* rider who, in my humble opinion, talks a lot of sense.
As this thread is in Tack Room it is public and therefore equates to posting on Facebook rather than being in a members only part of the Forum.
Hugely upsetting to see that the Facebook ground jury and “experts”, most of whom couldn’t even get round a 90, have yet again been out in force today. I would hope none of you who have written vile comments about ANY of the riders tackling Badminton today, follow this page. If you do, kindly b****r off now.
Cross country riding at that level (I only have experience at the level below, but I would imagine it’s similar) is intense. As riders, we have to make split second decisions as to whether to push for a long stride, or hold for a short; sometimes the horse takes that decision away from us. If we’ve survived a sticky jump, we make the split second decision as to whether to carry on and see how our horse feels over the next fence, or to pull up; today, that decision for Oli was whether to pull up at pretty much the biggest 5* in the World.
STOP the vile comments!!! STOP posting screen shots to demonstrate how the ground jury were incorrect, and yet you (most probably sat at home on your sofa, having never jumped bigger than an 80) were absolutely correct, and the ground jury were blind. Just mutter to yourself, and SHUT UP! YOU, the Facebook expert, are not about to be asked by the Badminton ground jury to give your opinion, so shut up! Please remember which owner/stud Oli now rides for, and why. I’m sure most of the “experts” stating how “vile” Oli was for not jumping off to check how his horse was, post those ridiculous “Be Kind” profile photos. Practice what you preach.
When we Event at a high level, we will know by the next fence at the very latest, if our horses aren’t right, and we will pull up. Most of us don’t need to get off to know if our horse has injured itself. When my horse, Harry, suffered an 80% rupture of his tendon whilst out on XC at the 3* Europeans, I had a huge battle to pull him up. I could just feel that something wasn’t right. I didn’t need to pull up and get off to know. Just as Oli didn’t need to get off Swallow Springs today to know if he was injured. The way he carried on jumping, he clearly just suffered a bruise at worst.
These top horses are probably looked after much better than a lot of your own horses. These horses wouldn’t have to wait a minute, let alone a day, to see a vet for anything, to try and avoid an emergency fee. The fitness of these horses is monitored to the millimetre; I’ve seen more welfare issues with fat/unfit horses (and riders) competing at grassroots. There are also more pressing welfare concerns with ponies that are so overweight that they have to live in a stable for 20 hours a day to avoid laminitis. These Event horses receive the best of everything.
Watch Badminton, and enjoy watching the absolute TOP equine athletes you will ever be lucky enough to see. The ground jury honestly don’t need your help. More than anything, these riders, who work harder than anyone I know, don’t need to read your s**t on social media.
Rant over.
https://www.facebook.com/southcoast...FPTOHbLdIJtZq484FTJKb7jQ2LQuBn4KT&__tn__=EH-R
As this thread is in Tack Room it is public and therefore equates to posting on Facebook rather than being in a members only part of the Forum.
Hugely upsetting to see that the Facebook ground jury and “experts”, most of whom couldn’t even get round a 90, have yet again been out in force today. I would hope none of you who have written vile comments about ANY of the riders tackling Badminton today, follow this page. If you do, kindly b****r off now.
Cross country riding at that level (I only have experience at the level below, but I would imagine it’s similar) is intense. As riders, we have to make split second decisions as to whether to push for a long stride, or hold for a short; sometimes the horse takes that decision away from us. If we’ve survived a sticky jump, we make the split second decision as to whether to carry on and see how our horse feels over the next fence, or to pull up; today, that decision for Oli was whether to pull up at pretty much the biggest 5* in the World.
STOP the vile comments!!! STOP posting screen shots to demonstrate how the ground jury were incorrect, and yet you (most probably sat at home on your sofa, having never jumped bigger than an 80) were absolutely correct, and the ground jury were blind. Just mutter to yourself, and SHUT UP! YOU, the Facebook expert, are not about to be asked by the Badminton ground jury to give your opinion, so shut up! Please remember which owner/stud Oli now rides for, and why. I’m sure most of the “experts” stating how “vile” Oli was for not jumping off to check how his horse was, post those ridiculous “Be Kind” profile photos. Practice what you preach.
When we Event at a high level, we will know by the next fence at the very latest, if our horses aren’t right, and we will pull up. Most of us don’t need to get off to know if our horse has injured itself. When my horse, Harry, suffered an 80% rupture of his tendon whilst out on XC at the 3* Europeans, I had a huge battle to pull him up. I could just feel that something wasn’t right. I didn’t need to pull up and get off to know. Just as Oli didn’t need to get off Swallow Springs today to know if he was injured. The way he carried on jumping, he clearly just suffered a bruise at worst.
These top horses are probably looked after much better than a lot of your own horses. These horses wouldn’t have to wait a minute, let alone a day, to see a vet for anything, to try and avoid an emergency fee. The fitness of these horses is monitored to the millimetre; I’ve seen more welfare issues with fat/unfit horses (and riders) competing at grassroots. There are also more pressing welfare concerns with ponies that are so overweight that they have to live in a stable for 20 hours a day to avoid laminitis. These Event horses receive the best of everything.
Watch Badminton, and enjoy watching the absolute TOP equine athletes you will ever be lucky enough to see. The ground jury honestly don’t need your help. More than anything, these riders, who work harder than anyone I know, don’t need to read your s**t on social media.
Rant over.
https://www.facebook.com/southcoast...FPTOHbLdIJtZq484FTJKb7jQ2LQuBn4KT&__tn__=EH-R
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
She wouldn’t be my vet after that rant .
Although she right about the fat horses bit .
Although she right about the fat horses bit .
teapot
Well-Known Member
Or some previous posts…
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bonny
Well-Known Member
There are much better ways of expressing yourself.
fetlock
Well-Known Member
If she was a horse, I'd be getting her checked out for ulcers.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
Good call.
fetlock
Well-Known Member
On the fence judges topic, I've just found this. What a day you'd have if you were paired up with Caroline!
Rowreach
👀
Oh good grief, I’m never sure that ranting justifications are useful or wise.
And as for any part of HHO being “private”, it really isn’t. I’m always ? when people suggest that. There are thousands of forum members, the vast majority of whom sign up and lurk and hardly, if ever, post anything, but they can certainly read.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Not sure what your point is about posting that in Tack Room. Club House is hardly any more private. That vet is a known ranty individual. I certainly wouldn't be using her after reading that - she could have put her point across in a much better way.
This thread has been pretty balanced really, a genuine discussion about the sport by people who have often followed and/or been involved in it for years,. Any outlier comments, such as the one postulating that Swallow Springs might have been given bute after XC, were corrected.
shortstuff99
Well-Known Member
Someone criticised that post on Facebook so she named and shamed them. It wasn't even a bad criticism, made me quite uncomfortable if I'm honest as she did what she accused the poster of doing. Bullying them to lose business. Very strange affair.
little_critter
Well-Known Member
Damn it, I’m the daughter on a milkman. I seem to have missed out on the riding talent genes
scats
Well-Known Member
There have been a few ‘rants’ by this vet over the years. Some I haven’t disagreed with, but I still find it very unprofessional.
She wouldn’t be the vet for me.
shortstuff99
Well-Known Member
I commented asking how this public naming was any different from what she accused the other person of and got immediately deleted and blocked so there you go ?
.
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milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Oh blimey. she wouldn't last long on here, would she?? I noticed some comments disagreeing with her when she first wrote the post but they are all long gone. Fancy having such strong outspoken opinions and not being able do deal with any criticism....
ihatework
Well-Known Member
I commented asking how this public naming was any different from what she accused the other person of and got immediately deleted and blocked so there you go ?
She certainly has her own ‘issues’.
[153312]
...
how grossly unprofessional. She wouldn't be my vet for long acting like that.
meleeka
Well-Known Member
She should hear what pretty much everyone,’professionals included, say about her in real life! I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t think she’s arrogant and rude. She seems to have a little cult following though.
Upthecreek
Well-Known Member
I agree with most of what she says but I don’t understand the need to denigrate people who “couldn’t even get round a 90” or “never jumped bigger than an 80” to get her point across. Not very professional of a vet to say that when most of her clients will probably fall into that category.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion on anything. We have to accept that social media provides the platform for any and all of these to be expressed, whether we agree with them or not. I’m not sure why people don’t just ignore stuff they don’t agree with and feel the need to engage in public arguments they are never going to win, which doesn’t show them in a very positive light ?
Everyone is entitled to an opinion on anything. We have to accept that social media provides the platform for any and all of these to be expressed, whether we agree with them or not. I’m not sure why people don’t just ignore stuff they don’t agree with and feel the need to engage in public arguments they are never going to win, which doesn’t show them in a very positive light ?
southerncomfort
Well-Known Member
I saw it on FB and thought the same thing. Different if she'd posted it on her personal page, but hugely unprofessional on a business page.
TPO
Well-Known Member
Isn't that always the way? Some people are just so desperate to be "in" with someone/something.
It reminds me of those bloggers Mother Tuckers who spoke out in defence of MT. Their defence was that they were there and found it funny/were laughing at the time it was happening. As if that makes it ok? Along with healthy dose, like the vet, of if you aren't doing it...
It makes me think that folk like that vet and those bloggers think the pros that they are defending (& I'd say they did the pros more harm than good) will become their pals. Social media is just full of people desperate to be "known" and "in". Its really quite sad (& pathetic).
tristar
Well-Known Member
agree with this, also the rider had the benefit of viewing the approach to the second element before riding it, the horse did not, he should have set up the horse better knowing it could land on top if taking off in wrong place
YorkshireLady
Well-Known Member
Anyone who knows me knows I am no fan of OT but think that it is unfair to keep going on about this incident....I too thought horse may be stiff Sunday but it looked fab and jumped well.
tristar
Well-Known Member
that vet woman, well, those horses are not the `finest athletes you will ever see` she can`t have seen many horses, some of the horses i have seen that are the finest athletes
would be far too valuable to chuck over solid wood fences
as for the best cared for, no, the best ridden, no.
her views are to me very narrow, which reflects her experience of the horse world, a vet is vet, and should concentrate on being a good vet, then we would have better health care for horses, instead of the sometimes worse than useless ones that make you roll your eyes, and bite your tongue, well yes 10 out of 10 for effort, but a good vet may well be too busy being a good vet and have a wider view, and should have a wider view, i find her views very worrying actually
would be far too valuable to chuck over solid wood fences
as for the best cared for, no, the best ridden, no.
her views are to me very narrow, which reflects her experience of the horse world, a vet is vet, and should concentrate on being a good vet, then we would have better health care for horses, instead of the sometimes worse than useless ones that make you roll your eyes, and bite your tongue, well yes 10 out of 10 for effort, but a good vet may well be too busy being a good vet and have a wider view, and should have a wider view, i find her views very worrying actually
I'm Dun
Well-Known Member
I have just seen this post by the vet. She has gone far too far with this. I'm absolutely horrified, and also a bit stunned that she doesn't see the irony in what shes doing
https://www.facebook.com/southcoastequinevets/photos/a.544042175653007/5203245146399330/
https://www.facebook.com/southcoastequinevets/photos/a.544042175653007/5203245146399330/
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Let’s be careful not to get dragged into what is being condemned.
At least she has apologised and will hopefully (?!) think twice about how she posts
meleeka
Well-Known Member
. You mean the vet? I’m pretty sure she will carry on blocking people and being a thoroughly rude individual for the foreseeable future!