Olympia on tv

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AWinter

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southerncomfort said:
I do wish Andy Austin


Honestly, I wish Andy Austin would put a sock in it. Plenty of riders had the same issues despite having every bit of metal and leatherwork available.
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I’m glad somebody else picked up on these comments, commenting on the open mouth when the only reason the other horse’s mouths aren’t open is because they’re strapped shut ? not a good look to the general public to insinuate the sport is about using more tack to control the horse and that’s all there is to it. Notice not one comment about tack on anything else even with horse’s tongues hanging out. But patronising comments about both riders who were using cavessons/no martingale.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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Enjoyed this very much; tho' had to go and vomit prolifically in the chuck-bucket when Clare Balding was interviewing. Gad why does that bleddi woman infuriate me so much, just wish I knew.

Also I could have slaughtered Andy Austin, ditto with other people who've said it on here. He intimated that riders without martingales and bits in their horses mouths have virtually no control. Total cr@p. Just showing his ignorance - and total bias here. Obviously the best thing you can do is just chuck as much metal in the horse's gob as it will take, strap its head down, buckle-down its breathing ability, and hey presto you've got a showjumper that is able to do what you want it to.

And please note I'm not in any sense a Born-Again Bitless freak either - I did try it for mine but it just wasn't what she was happy with and had developed a certain way of going which showed she wasn't happy with the set-up. Went back to bitted (rubber snaffle) and she was happy again. But I really resented his implication that "bitless" and "martingale-less" equals lack of control. It doesn't. I remember from Pony Club that martingales on a children's pony were frowned upon by our elders; we were taught that our ponies shouldn't need martingales, strong bits, or their nostrils strapped shut in order to control them. We were taught about a good seat and soft hands. But that was back in the day.........
 
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humblepie

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I didn’t watch all the jumping but was getting a big cross early on when the commentators weren’t realising that riders were going to get time faults if not onto the triple bar by a certain time. It was good course as the time was making the faults I think at the one but last

I find AA annoying as a commentator but did have a fab lesson with him in something like 1988 ……
 
Christmascinnamoncookie

Christmascinnamoncookie

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AdorableAlice said:
The test was stunning, but why oh why that awful hat. She is slim and elegant, beautiful jacket and an overall lovely turnout, but that hat looks like something out of a fair ground.
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They were all the rage when they first came out. Possibly she was trying to match the sparkle of the boy’s very blingy browband? That was very effective given his colour. Beautiful, beautiful horse, lovely to see a very long tail.
 
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humblepie

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The Fancy Dress used to be brilliant. Can still remember a top horse dressed as a cow complete with udders. Have a photo somewhere. Jodie’s round was brilliant. Last two fences ridden really going for it.
 
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Annagain

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MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Enjoyed this very much; tho' had to go and vomit prolifically in the chuck-bucket when Clare Balding was interviewing. Gad why does that bleddi woman infuriate me so much, just wish I knew.

Also I could have slaughtered Andy Austin, ditto with other people who've said it on here. He intimated that riders without martingales and bits in their horses mouths have virtually no control. Total cr@p. Just showing his ignorance - and total bias here. Obviously the best thing you can do is just chuck as much metal in the horse's gob as it will take, strap its head down, buckle-down its breathing ability, and hey presto you've got a showjumper that is able to do what you want it to.

And please note I'm not in any sense a Born-Again Bitless freak either - I did try it for mine but it just wasn't what she was happy with and had developed a certain way of going which showed she wasn't happy with the set-up. Went back to bitted (rubber snaffle) and she was happy again. But I really resented his implication that "bitless" and "martingale-less" equals lack of control. It doesn't. I remember from Pony Club that martingales on a children's pony were frowned upon by our elders; we were taught that our ponies shouldn't need martingales, strong bits, or their nostrils strapped shut in order to control them. We were taught about a good seat and soft hands. But that was back in the day.........
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I've just caught up on the SJ while working. I love Clare Balding, she can do no wring in my eyes.

Agree about Andy Austin's comments - riders who had no martingales or flashes were blamed for a lack of control but when Michael Whitaker came in all bitted up with a martingale it was the horse's fault for being strong and difficult to ride. Make up your mind Andy!

I remember taking Monty to an XC lesson at camp in a snaffle with no martingale and the instructor was horrified. We were the only ones not to have a single issue in that lesson.
 
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