Ollie Townsend!!!!

eventer and proud

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I know this is a very talked about topic and everyone has their views but i was wondering what everyone thought of him. I think he is a fantastic rider and when i have met him always seems very shy and polite. All his horses seem to look very willing and happy and at Badminton he was genuinely pleased. I know there will always be people who don't like him just how i don't like Charlotte Dujardin.
 
Odd post .We see these people competing we do not 'know' them and really have no right to comment on them as 'people' they are at the top of their game and as far as I could tell all the horses at Badminton looked well looked after and the riders committed as they have to be to reach this level of competion.
Charlotte Dujardin is working with the Brooke on animal welfare around the world as far as I can see there is nothing to dislike about her especially as we do not know her personally.
 
I know this is a very talked about topic and everyone has their views but i was wondering what everyone thought of him. I think he is a fantastic rider and when i have met him always seems very shy and polite. All his horses seem to look very willing and happy and at Badminton he was genuinely pleased. I know there will always be people who don't like him just how i don't like Charlotte Dujardin.

This is a very odd post!! What has prompted your post?
 
I opened this post expecting breaking news when I saw all the exclamation marks in the title!!!!

Lol - I was wondering if he was back in favour with the selectors?!

FWIW, he is a grafter, and that is to be respected. His riding has matured for the better. He is one of the only top British riders I have witnessed who has actively engaged/helped lesser known riders at big events.
 
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Met both of them... they are great personalities in their own field of equestrian sports... don't know how anyone can say they don't like them if they have no knowledge of that said person , I.e. Never met them at all
 
You can have an opinion. We all have opinions - its human nature. It probably wouldnt be justified if you didnt know the person personally. And of course it is subjective. But im not sure Id post this sort of thing on a public forum - this is perhaps best kept for private discussions between friends perhaps, as the person who is being discussed can see this. Obv the OP just wanted a bit of a natter/chinwag :-)
 
I didn't have any strong opinions on him - felt he certainly garnered more than his fair share of bad press and of course, has the rep for going after other riders horses (at the time). He has been more than up front about that and I respect his decision.

However, I watched him teach a friend, at the end of a long day of lessons, and she took her least talented, most problematic horse for the lesson. Oliver focused completely on the rider and horse, he never played to his audience, he didn't take phone calls, he didn't repeat the same exercises he had used for other riders. He gave his entire concentration and support for the entire lesson. He is also a very good trainer with a clear view and explanation of what he was aiming for. Seen a lot of other names who do not work nearly as hard so yes, he most certainly gets my thumbs up and now that there is a change at the top for team selection, I hope to see Oli get more opportunities.
 
As others have said, it's Townend.
Otherwise, he comes as across as confident in his own ability - a bit smug maybe, but fair play, he can do the do. I loved Luci07s report on the lesson. That's what he was there and paid to do so that's what he did. Every sport needs personalities, and he is, or will be, good for the sport.
 
As others have said, it's Townend.
Otherwise, he comes as across as confident in his own ability - a bit smug maybe, but fair play, he can do the do. I loved Luci07s report on the lesson. That's what he was there and paid to do so that's what he did. Every sport needs personalities, and he is, or will be, good for the sport.

Shame a lot of other so called celebrity riders dont do the same when doing lessons. from personal experience Ollie is far more approachable and friendly than most plus add to that honest which as an owner is whats important to me.
 
I like what I see of him but don't know him! At Blair Castle one year, he was walking the course but had to step off the course and stand with the spectators while a horse came past. He stood and chatted to a group of teenage girls while he waited and was lovely to them! They were all in shock! I was very impressed with how he was!
 
Met him a couple of times, the first time he was, in my opinion, quite drunk and very funny. He was very friendly! He has done well and it seems to be through hard work.
 
I have met him several times his horse and my scruffy pony had surgery at the same horspital at the same time roughly so I met him every check day up he was always a nice guy always asked after the pony and when I saw him at burghley a few year later he remembered and asked after her. So speak as I find he was a jolly nice chap
 
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