Ollie T interview

Re: smiling through... oh dear, I think I do this a bit, and I did quite a lot of gymnastics as a child (not to any great level, but school teams etc) and it was drilled into us that we were on display, so must look to the judges as if we were happy and it was all going to plan no matter what...

going back to the Team thing - when was the last time someone with a bona fide brilliant track record AND no horse soundness issues was left off a squad? I can't think of any.
Re: the soundness thing. it's years on so I hope it's okay to say this... I heard from pretty reputable sources that both Cartier and Murphy Himself (neither of whom passed trot up on 3rd day when on the team at the Olympics) were taken because of great track records (them and their riders obviously) but in spite of soundness concerns... there was very much a spirit of 'they're the best, let's pray they hold together.'
I think the lesson was learnt...
happy to be corrected of course if this is wrong.
 
oldvic said:
Yes Lolo but is it wrong to show emotion? I personally don't have a problem with a reaction like Daniel's. I find it quite healthy - if it helps him, fine. Better the ground than the horse. There are some top riders that it's best to avoid for an hour or three after **** happening! Others are taught not to show their feelings in public which is good but ....
Yes, TarrStepps, a question of don't always judge a book by it's cover. What you see is what you get is so much easier!!
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I agree- I thought there was nothing wrong with what he did but lots did. Mary has a reputation to uphold for being very calm and dignified in every situation she comes across and gets a lot of kudos for it. I wonder if the fact she has a child in the sport as well matters- if she was known for flinging knives (sorry, exaggerating!) when angry, would it impact on her daughter's chances too?

And Kerrili, yep... It's known as the Dancing Smile in our house and is very reminiscent of this smiley :D I *think* showing children do it too- when it goes tits up, they carry on smiling so it looks like it's meant to be happening!
 
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Completely agree with 'game faces' and I have a lot of respect for people who are honest with their emotions, as it makes them more human in my eyes! Appearances are deceptive!
 
but isn't it a case of British stiff upper lipped-ness, of 'good sportsmanship'... maintain your dignity, and then if necessary go and have your tantrum (at the wall hopefully, not the horse!) or tears later, in private, not in public.
I don't think of it as being false to smile in the teeth of disaster... I think it's showing control and, umm, good manners maybe.
I think I feel like that too because a horse is involved. I don't mind watching a tennis player 'lose it' and smash his racquet, but I don't want to see a rider having a tantrum and frightening the horse.
Funny how differently people look at the world...
 
Lolo said:
I *think* showing children do it too- when it goes tits up, they carry on smiling so it looks like it's meant to be happening!
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Yep - I still do it now! Looks a bit odder on a full sized horse as you're belting round the ring when everyone can see that at your age you certainly shouldn't be oblivious to the fact that things aren't going swimmingly.... but I can't train myself out of it. It doesn't fool judges :rolleyes:
 
Suziq77 said:
Yep - I still do it now! Looks a bit odder on a full sized horse as you're belting round the ring when everyone can see that at your age you certainly shouldn't be oblivious to the fact that things aren't going swimmingly.... but I can't train myself out of it. It doesn't fool judges :rolleyes:
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Ha, ditto! I did it through a terribly hyper test once at high level in an absolute fairground atmosphere, mare almost lost it, the test did not go well... when I came out a stranger came up to me and said 'how on earth did you manage to smile through that?!" and i replied, quite honestly, that it was because i knew it could have been a lot worse... she hadn't gone into levade-mode, or tried to jump out of the arena.

I wonder if there's a bit of that with Mary... I mean, she wasn't smiling when she had that horrid fall at the Euros last year, I think because she was hurting...
 
kerilli said:
I wonder if there's a bit of that with Mary... I mean, she wasn't smiling when she had that horrid fall at the Euros last year, I think because she was hurting...
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That's an interesting point. There's a difference between a fall where you dust yourself off, check horse is ok and walk home for another day and then a crunching fall where you go 'Christ that hurt'.

Take Ollie T's hideous fall at Kentucky - how to change your mind and approach things in a split second.

Was it Pippa Funnell who after falling at Badminton took her frustration out on that mobile BBC camera?


And on a side point, there was an really interesting prog on BBC the other night about sportsmen and women who were approaching retirement/had retired and how it had affected them. The role of the sports identity, people effectively losing who they are over night and how to move on, if they can. There arn't many sports where your identity could be gone in a split second and I bet that plays a part in some riders' approach to how they react to what goes wrong...

It's here if anyone wants to kill some time: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01hllwk/Sporting_Heroes_After_the_Final_Whistle/
 
OP - thanks for posting this, interesting article.

I remember OT when he was at Ken Clawsons (I rode there from age 6 to 20), he was young, came across as very arrogant and lazy - I had lessons with him weekly for a few months. If there were a lot of people around he would 'play up to the crowd' (particularly if it was a group of girls - which begs another question I've always had - why do people fancy him, he isnt really all that is he?) and love the publicity he was getting (comments like - i like your <insert relevant brand> jacket - I could get that for free if i wanted to...)

However, if there was no one else around, he was a fanstastic instructor (although never really enjoyed flat lessons, the jumping lessons were brilliant) I learnt an awful lot.

As he became more successful, unfortunately the arrogance seemed to increase too. I believe he has 'grown up' since then, and comes across much better, but I'm afraid he always seems to have a chip on his shoulder, a bit sad really as he is very skillful. The point he seems to be missing is, that he is running a business in horses - he will need to invest a lot more (ie selling his best horses) to make money... kind of a given really

- oh and I'm very bored of the whole - i'm a milkman's son - (who also competed up to 4* and I believe his mother did very well at showing). I think the comment about leaving the £400 a month yard under a cloud says it all really, and doesnt surprise me in the least...
 
First time in CR - well here goes FWIW - OT in my eyes has got a fair sized chip on his shoulders - the milkman's son bit just doesn't sit with me as others have said the aforementioned "milkman" rode at 4* level!!!! I think in a strange way he has a bit of an inferiority complex & the tough guy bit tries to show how "ard" he is. (mind you I do think he can be tough on his horses but that is a whole different ball game).

As far as MK is with her smiling face and ever-pleasant disposition (& I am not being sarcastic) yes she does come across like this all the time (I was grooming for a friend at 3* and 4* and she never ever failed to smile and say "Hi") but underneath it all I feel she is one very very tough lady - she has to have been to get to where she is without any horsey background at all. Also I remember reading in her autobiography when she suffered a miscarriage at a Team event on the Saturday night after XC - she showjumped the next day! Her comment about that was practically blase not unfeeling though but it must take a hell of a lot of personal grit and determination to be able to do that!
 
teapot said:
That's an interesting point. There's a difference between a fall where you dust yourself off, check horse is ok and walk home for another day and then a crunching fall where you go 'Christ that hurt'.

Take Ollie T's hideous fall at Kentucky - how to change your mind and approach things in a split second.

Was it Pippa Funnell who after falling at Badminton took her frustration out on that mobile BBC camera?
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Yes... walking away from a fall thinking "oh ****" but not hurting at all is a lot more positive than it could be, we all know that.
When PF had that fall at Badminton she blamed the camera, it was on an ATV and travelling alongside the track, and she believed it distracted her and the horse from the fence. iirc Rodney Powell had a similar problem elsewhere (umm, Vicarage Vee or Vicarage Ditch) with an atv-carried camera. I think having had a fall because of something like that totally excuses the anger...

Hedwards, that's very interesting. Not sure we can blame him for being like that as a teenager (?), i suspect a lot of people would be. Totally agree that "a milkman" and "a 4* rider" don't tend to go hand in hand...!

i totally agree that MK must be one very tough cookie underneath it all, but she is always positive and smiley every time i've seen her in public, when the cameras are off and there's nobody important around... when i did my first Advanced and was riding down to the dressage, very self-conscious in tophat and tails, she was the only top rider who caught my eye, smiled (of course!) and said "Good Luck". I've seen her surrounded by kids seeking autographs by her lorry in the middle of the day, patient and kind, asking their ponies' names etc, not a second of impatience or frustration.
 
kerilli said:
Hedwards, that's very interesting. Not sure we can blame him for being like that as a teenager (?), i suspect a lot of people would be. Totally agree that "a milkman" and "a 4* rider" don't tend to go hand in hand...!
QUOTE]

I agree, however he has a couple of years on me and I wouldnt have dreamed of talking to clients the way he did... I dont think his arrogance has abated that much...
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TableDancer said:
I really take exception to the fact that you have chosen to misquote me :mad:

What I actally said was "Several of the most elite British riders..." Ok, most elite is probably a tortology for which I apologise, but I certainly never said or implied that most British elite riders don't enjoy teaching :eek: :eek: :eek:

Asking £5,000 from an institution for a service they have requested is hardly fleecing, either. They have the choice of going ahead or not, in full knowledge of the facts. I reiterate, my strong belief is that the rider concerned had no real wish to do the clinic in the first place and therefore quoted a clearly unreasonable price. It's only the same as when someone asks if you will sell a horse you don't really want to part with, you quote a completely unrealistic pricef in the hope they will go away. If they agree this price and buy the horse, have you fleeced them? I don't believe so. Fleecing is taking advantage of someone's ignorance and cheating them in some way.

Glad your friends had fun with Dan. I hope he donated at least some of the fees he took for the lessons to Claire Lomas's walk fund for Spinal Research - many of the top riders used the unexpected time off that weekend to walk with her :)
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Um . . . I don't believe I deliberately miquoted you or anyone else . . . if that's your impression then I apologize . . . all I said was NOT ALL elite riders hate teaching . . . b/c there had been a statement saying SOME elite riders do. Also, if you read back what I wrote, you'll see it isn't me who is "friends" with Dan Jocelyn . . . I referenced a couple of women at my yard . . . and I'm not sure how they are supposed to influence whether or not he donated to Clare Lomas' walk . . . nor am I sure whether or not he walked with Ms Lomas or donated his funds means he is or isn't a nice person. My example of Dan giving his time and opening his house (and including his family) to teach amateurs was purely to illustrate how generous some top riders can be to those wanting to learn. Why the need to bring Clare Lomas' walk into it?

Seriously confused . . .

P
 
teapot said:
And on a side point, there was an really interesting prog on BBC the other night about sportsmen and women who were approaching retirement/had retired and how it had affected them. The role of the sports identity, people effectively losing who they are over night and how to move on, if they can. There arn't many sports where your identity could be gone in a split second and I bet that plays a part in some riders' approach to how they react to what goes wrong...

It's here if anyone wants to kill some time: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01hllwk/Sporting_Heroes_After_the_Final_Whistle/
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I watched this in my lunchbreak. Then I found another telegraph article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8691444/Matt-Hampson-I-will-be-a-better-person-for-this.html

Now that's inspiring.
 
kerilli said:
but isn't it a case of British stiff upper lipped-ness, of 'good sportsmanship'... maintain your dignity, and then if necessary go and have your tantrum (at the wall hopefully, not the horse!) or tears later, in private, not in public.
I don't think of it as being false to smile in the teeth of disaster... I think it's showing control and, umm, good manners maybe.
I think I feel like that too because a horse is involved. I don't mind watching a tennis player 'lose it' and smash his racquet, but I don't want to see a rider having a tantrum and frightening the horse.
Funny how differently people look at the world...
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I couldn't agree more with this. Sorry to resurrect this thread but I hadn't read it fully last time.

As far as I'm concerned it's the height of bad manners to show your temper when things go wrong. Be that riding, or at work, or at home. I feel more strongly about it when it comes to horses/pets as they don't deserve a temper outburst and wouldn't understand why.
 
hi i dont know ollie t, but what i will say is that when he was at bold heath last year he was so nice to the children, signing pictures and taking photographs with him, he also thanked judges and was very polite,

I think he is very lucky, he has Nina Barbour as a business partner, look at the horse power Harthill has, the wealth Nina has, im sure if he wanted an olympic horse he could get one.

Thing is though he has it all, and i was shocked at his drink driving, at the end of the day he could of killed somebody, he is very silly. If i had the lifestyle he had, id be out riding, teaching or doing whatever top event riders do, not drinking and driving in the afternoon so something is wrong somewhere, i remember reading in the papers he said the worst thing about it was telling his parents !!

But as i said he was nice to us and gave us signed pictures and a calender,
 
Kiribati_uk said:
Could he not be sponsored by mercedes.........?
Oh yes we don't know so just summise that he has bought it himself, in fairness does it really matter he was drink driving the madel of car doesnt matter!!!! Oh and if he does own it its his money ......so I'm guessing he can spend it how he likes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Well said !! he isnt sponsered by Mercedes he did have a Subaru Forester but they took back when he stopped winning big classes !! up to him what he drives, could be the car wasnt even his, could well have been his, people just read too much into these articles and and journalists do have a habit of twisting the story a little.
 
SpottedCat said:
Ollie does like to portray this 'I came from nothing with no backing and parents couldn't support me' image - but his father rode at Burghley and he SJed at a high level as a kid before eventing!

It makes me smile every time I read it!
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To be fair in those days it was far easier to qualify and the entries were cheaper, diesel was cheaper and there were no regulations about types of lorry you had to have etc, etc, and you didnt have to have a top horse, today its all about money, status and who can afford the best horse, the Whitakers have been around for well over 35 years and they are from the same area and background as Oliver and they too had no money or backing, its all come from having serious talent and that talent gaining sponsorship. Oliver's first serious jumping pony, The Cool Mule, was found by Alan living in a coal shed in Holmes Chapel, he went onto win the Newcomer's at Wembly on him !! Oliver has got where is today by having the talent and dedication.
 
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What an interesting thread.

My husband & I met Oli at Badminton one year, we were walking the xc in front of him & he heard my husbands Yorkshire accent and came up for a chat. He asked if we were competing ( :eek: :D ) and when we said we were just there to watch the xc he walked a few jumps with us and really had a good chat. My husband was taking the mick & saying " oh I'd take this fence from this angle " and Oli had a laugh and showed the angle he's take & explained why. We left him after a few fences so he could concentrate but he would have carried on with us much further if we hadn't. He genuinely impressed us for the time he spent & how down to earth he was.

I have also read MK's biography & came away completely unimpressed, I felt there were things said in there that made her seem unprofessional and the whole book left a bad taste in my mouth.

Interesting isn't it how different impressions are made.
 
I have total respect for O.T and think he's a fantastic rider and very hard worker and evidently seems a nice guy to meet. Although does any one else remember when he was quoted saying he would not ride for team he would only ride for himself, things like this can't help
 
Interesting thread and I have managed to read most of it. Have to admit am not one of Ollie's biggest fans - have heard loads from a few people I know, who know him personally and thats as far as i will go. However, what you cannot fault is the business acumen, the hard, hard work that has obviously gone into this and the dogged determination to get to the top. If you look at any successful business, and you have to count Ollie T Limited as a successful business, you have to be hard working, determined and possess good business acumen. Whether you like him is irrelevant, he is successful and successful people always have their critics.

Conversely, the comments regarding Mary King do amuse me. If you are in business and MK IS in business if you take it back to brass tack, hiding your own personal feelings is part of the package. For example, if I am feeling pissed off, I cannot go into my business and show this to my staff, it will have a knock on and extremely detrimental effect. I have to close my office door and put my head into my hands or on my desk and cry privately, then go and re-do the make up and get on with, I know this probably sounds bizzare, but have you all not thought that MK is doing precisely the same thing and being extremely clever in hiding her feelings. Her public want her to smile and she doesnt let them down. I dont know if this isthe truth, but it works. Plus I suspect that her owners want her to smile and be graceful as well. It all about chosing your attitude when you go to work, MK is working when she competes and is therefore no different.

On top of this, our top riders are business people - unless they are from extremely wealthy backgrounds (some are), they have had to work and graft their way up. As the old saying goes 'the harder I work, the luckier I get'. I sometimes think we actually forget that the vast majority of these people actually have to work a for a living, and that can mean some hard calls like selling top horses.
 
I would add that one of the wealthiest riders is arguably one of the most "businesslike" - almost always professional and guarded but positive in comment and demeanour. Like in everything else some people have more of a talent/preparation for it than others.

There are also few around who are VERY badly behaved yet never seem to get tarred with that brush. In some cases because they ride so well that, as a friend of mine says, "All manner of sins are forgiven if you can ride a horse." Often more of the truth comes out the second someone has a dip in performance. But riding is a tough, though game and getting to the top of any pile requires a certain amount of bloody mindedness in addition to all the other efforts and decisions. It's naive to think successful riders are sweetness and light every second of the day, and frankly, it does them a disservice as real, multidimensional people.
 
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