Oliver Townend - warning for overuse of the whip at blair

I don't understand why everyone is furious with H&H for reporting something that happened. As for the timing - I think they were discreet, if they'd released it before Burghley there would have been a riot beforehand and it would have been extra stress on Oli before and during a high pressure competition. Big names will always get things that happen to them reported, people are interested - it was the same when Mary King got banned at Bramham (that was King Joules too, wasn't it!).

It's easy to say top riders are tough (in a firm sense) on their horses, it's true to an extent. (I watched the dressage Guinea pig nearly sock the back teeth of their horse out in the warm up arena because it wasn't quick enough in its response, with the trainers not batting an eyelid) but to get repeatedly reported for the same thing is not good riding. There needs to be more consequences for repeat offenders. Oli is already a very firm rider who almost drives a horse. For some horses I think this is good, for example King Joules and Samuel Thomas (? Bay he rode previously at Burghley a couple of times) - both of these have walked all over their previous riders on occasions and needed someone to pull them up, however sometimes Oli does seem to over push some of his more honest horses in order to get results. I think he rode King Joules really well at Burghley, the other two he rode acceptably well, but was still pushing hard. I wouldn't call it the perfect example of getting a horse round a 4* - I'd look to Harry Meade or Tina Cook for that, who cruised home rather than chased. But it wasn't a bad round by a long way.

And no I haven't ridden at 4* but I've worked for one years ago and spent enough years watching big events to have a little ability to differentiate between a nice to watch round and a not so nice to watch round!
 
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The main issue I think is that OT only got a warning, two other riders received yellow cards but these were not named, and barely included in the article as they were waiting for them to respond as per right of reply.
as it wasn't exactly breaking news they could have perhaps held onto it until they did (or not) reply rather than publish such an OT heavy article.
 
You can't have a sport where a competitor repeatedly ignores the rules without sanction. Whether someone thinks Oli can do no wrong or don't like how he rides surely it's obvious that when sporting rules are ignored they become meaningless.

I think the 'poor Oli' sentiments are bizarre. He's extremely fortunate and is well able to represent his own interests without fans getting outraged on his behalf. Feeling the need to defend sports people, or anyone else well known is futile. If you put people on a pedestal they will fall.
 
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With regards to the other two unnamed riders the right to reply is and odd excuse too from H&H...

I'm fairly sure that 'right to reply' only means that parties are given the option to respond to claims against them, meaning they have to be informed that there is a claim, and when it is going to be published. Any response to that notice must be published.

It does not mean that they have to wait for a reply. I think. Its been a long time since I've done any media law.

At best its rubbish journalism from Horse and Hound, at worst, its a witch hunt.
 
And this is never mentioned - every cross country fence I saw Oliver jump - both live & on TV & there were quite a few with 3 horses - he patted & praised the horse once over the fence - something never mentioned.
 
DiNozzo said:
With regards to the other two unnamed riders the right to reply is and odd excuse too from H&H...

I'm fairly sure that 'right to reply' only means that parties are given the option to respond to claims against them, meaning they have to be informed that there is a claim, and when it is going to be published. Any response to that notice must be published.

It does not mean that they have to wait for a reply. I think. Its been a long time since I've done any media law.

At best its rubbish journalism from Horse and Hound, at worst, its a witch hunt.
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the way they put it on facebook was that they were doing the same courtesy as they had done to OT, which essentially suggested if he hadn't replied they wouldn't have published about him either!

mule- they are following the rules with regards to sanctions though, if they want to change that they ought to change the rules they use to do so.
 
bubsqueaks said:
And this is never mentioned - every cross country fence I saw Oliver jump - both live & on TV & there were quite a few with 3 horses - he patted & praised the horse once over the fence - something never mentioned.
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It's been mentioned in this post and another.
 
bubsqueaks said:
And this is never mentioned - every cross country fence I saw Oliver jump - both live & on TV & there were quite a few with 3 horses - he patted & praised the horse once over the fence - something never mentioned.
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Im sure the horses feel better for that, after having several cracks with the whip or being jabbed with spurs I bet they really appreciate a nice pat.
 
Good grief.

Given that the entire eventing world was aware of what happened at Blair, and yet the support OT got from fellow riders, commentators, course designer et al at Burghley was overwhelming and very public, I would suggest that H&H is having a vigorous stir with a great big wooden spoon.
 
Rowreach said:
Good grief.

Given that the entire eventing world was aware of what happened at Blair, and yet the support OT got from fellow riders, commentators, course designer et al at Burghley was overwhelming and very public, I would suggest that H&H is having a vigorous stir with a great big wooden spoon.
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Agree

Also reading the article it appears that the circumstances are totally different.
 
ester said:
The main issue I think is that OT only got a warning, two other riders received yellow cards but these were not named, and barely included in the article as they were waiting for them to respond as per right of reply.
as it wasn't exactly breaking news they could have perhaps held onto it until they did (or not) reply rather than publish such an OT heavy article.
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When i read the article (which was not long before this post was created) the other riders were named.

H&H wasn't the only outlet to publish. Eventing Nation also did, and with more detail.
http://eventingnation.com/fei-sanctions-at-blair-castle-include-whip-abuse-warning-for-townend/
 
Ah that's progress then, they weren't when they shared it on facebook yesterday- just had as a postcript that two others were sanctioned with yellow cards and when I (and others) asked why (given that it is in the public domain on the FEI sanctions list published 30/08/18) that was the reasoning they gave.
 
ester said:
Ah that's progress then, they weren't when they shared it on facebook yesterday- just had as a postcript that two others were sanctioned with yellow cards and when I (and others) asked why (given that it is in the public domain on the FEI sanctions list published 30/08/18) that was the reasoning they gave.
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Tbf naming and shaming a lesser known rider for a yellow card for jumping the rope isn't clickbait material. OT creates headlines.

Will be interesting to see the list post Burghley.
 
teapot said:
Tbf naming and shaming a lesser known rider for a yellow card for jumping the rope isn't clickbait material. OT creates headlines.

Will be interesting to see the list post Burghley.
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Yes, it will be very interesting to see if Oli is on the list for Burghley. And anyone else for that matter too.
 
teapot said:
Tbf naming and shaming a lesser known rider for a yellow card for jumping the rope isn't clickbait material. OT creates headlines.

Will be interesting to see the list post Burghley.
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Quite, I don't think reporting on the FEI list is something they do routinely/generally?
 
fetlock said:
When i read the article (which was not long before this post was created) the other riders were named.

H&H wasn't the only outlet to publish. Eventing Nation also did, and with more detail.
http://eventingnation.com/fei-sanctions-at-blair-castle-include-whip-abuse-warning-for-townend/
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The riders weren't named when I read the article yesterday, about 45mins after being published online. I too thought it out of order. Very much clickbait to name Oli for a warning, but not James and Louise for yellow cards, I didn't appreciate their comment on waiting for a response, why not wait for a response from all 3 rather than just Oli before publishing?
I have more respect for EN for publishing all of the information, including which horse the warning was for, and the other 2 riders.
 
bubsqueaks said:
So sorry I was just expressing my opinion having watched him ride at Burghley - shot down in flames there - thanks !!!
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I don't think you were shot down in flames, just people disagreed. It had been mentioned a lot on the Burghley thread.

He did pat his horses, it's true. He was also perhaps the only rider to growl at his horse to hurry home over the last few fences, despite having plenty of time (on the grey). I actually thought at the time that I bet he'd love to give it a slap if it wasn't for the Badminton issue.

I'd be surprised if he was on any list from Burghley, he pushed, but not beyond reasonable.
 
ester said:
Will Caroline going over the rope automatically count for one do you think?
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She should be sanctioned, the picnickers had to scatter to avoid injury. Just because she's a popular rider doesn't mean she should escape a sanction, it comes under section 525.1 Dangerous Riding, one or more of these clauses (h) Endangering the public in any way eg jumping out of the roped track or (f) severe lack of responsiveness from the horse or the athlete or (a) Riding out of control (Horse clearly not responding to the rider's restraining or driving aids.)

Why would Oli be on the list for Burghley?
 
It was a genuine question having seen what the yellow cards were for Blair. (ie dangerous riding/jumping the rope) as to whether it would be automatic as a result.
 
Tiddlypom said:
(a) Riding out of control (Horse clearly not responding to the rider's restraining or driving aids.)
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Dumb question and totally not relevant to the thread but I'm confused by the 'not responding to driving aids' bit.
Would that come into action if a horse was refusing to go forward for a long period of time and rider didn't retire?
 
On an opposite side of the coin watching Silvia go round Burghley in her own time looking like she was really enjoying herself with Warren giving her all the time and support she needed was great.[/QUOTE said:
I totally disagree. That was frightening to watch. The poor horse was exhausted and I can’t believe the rider wasn’t stopped!
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TheOldTrout said:
Was any action taken against Caroline Powell for jumping into the crowd at Burgley? The article Tiddlypom linked to mentions someone at Blair being yellowcarded for doing something that sounds similar.
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Yes, I wondered about this too. She said she didn't have any control and could have run over a member of the public. Also she didn't get off to sort the horse out as she wanted to complete the course so waited for someone to untangle her.
 
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