Olympia

I watched it in person on Wednesday and thought the horses looked pissed off with life and I got no pleasure from it.

Watched it on TV tonight and thought just the same. I also thought the chestnut looked lame at times!
 
I'm another not liking it at all, the horses looked so angry and unhappy and that's the polite words. The light coloured dog appeared to be nipping him and the tail wagging came across as stressed. I feel very sad for his animals.
 
I'm glad it's not just me, I didn't like it either. I really didn't like the dogs sitting on the horses, it just seemed wrong.
 
Agree, not a fan of that display at all if was like it tried to be natural but came across as very forced.

Was somewhat under whelmed with the finale too, is it just me or have they cut back the grandeur of it a lot? The arena seemed quite empty of performers compared to previous years I've been and it looked like a lot of seats were empty by the end.
 
I didn't like it at all, particularly when the dogs were standing on the horses bellies. I was watching with a friend who trains dogs to a very high level and she too found it uncomfortable viewing.
Its probably down to H & S they have less in the ring at the end. I can remember when the HOYS grand finale had the arena jam packed for the reading of Ode to the Horse (when it was held at Wembley), now there are only a token few horses and ponies, its not the same. :(
 
I wasn't too impressed with the display, it seemed a bit like the one that Lorenzo (I think it was him?) did last year where the horses were all 'sleeping' and then the cheeky tiny pony ran in but nowhere near as good, imo.

It also wasn't the most exciting display or best demonstration, the guy spent a lot of time walking round bareback controlling the second horse with a schooling whip, did some quite basic tricks and stood on the horse, then made the dogs stand on lying down horses and 'ride' one of them out of the arena. And the chestnut did look lame, I don't know, the whole act seemed a bit meh and I wonder why Olympia couldn't find anyone better/more exciting? There seemed to be a complete lack of story with the act as well, it just seemed a bit like a guy coming out, doing a rear without any tack and making the horses bow and standing on them, dogs jumping around and trying to fill a bit of time/space. Wasn't nice to watch overall.

The Portuguese horses by comparison were fantastic. Absolutely loved watching them, I got to go to the Spanish Riding School in Jeréz last year and it was reminded me of the show in the big indoor arena there (although it was also very different - but still fabulous to watch)

I'm surprised there were no stunt riders this year :( I always love watching them too.
 
So glad to find I'm not the only one who disliked this display! I watched it on Red Button last night and thought it was not very nice. I particularly disliked the dogs jumping onto the horse's stomach.

I'm not sure where they get these people from. I much prefer watching stunt riders or anything else really.
 
One Too Many Sherries said:
Agree, not a fan of that display at all if was like it tried to be natural but came across as very forced.

Was somewhat under whelmed with the finale too, is it just me or have they cut back the grandeur of it a lot? The arena seemed quite empty of performers compared to previous years I've been and it looked like a lot of seats were empty by the end.
Click to expand...

Tbf, with Southern on strike yesterday it wouldn't surprise me if people were leaving early to get home.
 
So glad I'm not the only one to have hated this performance. It was all so unnatural and I felt sad for the poor horse who must have been very stressed at having a dog stand on his belly. I loved the Lusitanos though! I aspire to have my horse going like that....
 
I thought the Lusitanos were over bent and looked uncomfortable. Nice when the bridle was removed from the grey at the end of their performance as the horse looked much more comfortable.
 
The chestnut was definitely lame. Was awful to watch, perhaps if we all email something will be done to help the poor things. Also wondered if the grey was lame at certain points.
 
I'm so pleased to see this thread as I thought it was just me being over critical!

I was watching with a friend and we both agreed the chestnut looked lame and we felt very uncomfortable watching the whole display. The horses just looked over dominated.

I know things have to change and everyone is much more aware of health and safety these days but wasn't the finale more fun when it was a little less choreographed and professional? I remember the days when showjumpers children used to be roped in!!
 
Sandstone1- there is a full team of vets onsite both for the FEI horses but they do treat the performing horses and oversee all the welfare.
 
rara007 said:
Sandstone1- there is a full team of vets onsite both for the FEI horses but they do treat the performing horses and oversee all the welfare.
Click to expand...

Yes, I did think that there would be vets there. It makes it even more disappointing and worrying that this display was allowed to go on with a clearly lame horse.
 
They're very experienced vets (a selection of the uks finest including internationally recognised orthopaedics specialist) and will have seen this horse in 'person', every day. If they were concerned the horse wouldn't have been allowed to gone on. Fwiw one of the horses was 20.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top