Olympic showjumping

The best possible start for team GB, both Nick and Ben superb clears.
Think the arena and fences look really amazing, wonderful job by Bob, Kelvin and the team.
 
When is the next round? Just had ten days off work, but now have to fly to Canada tomorrow, and not back til Tues eve! Bet I will miss the end of the dressage and SJ!
 
Well done so far Nick and Ben:) Must say I'm quite surprised to see McLain Ward in the US team, with his and his family's record I wouldn't think he's a shining example of the Olympic spirit!
 
Haven't watched any yet but have popped into work and able to watch sky there (yeah). Have seen re the clears but for the individual are they being ranked on time so that the fastest clear gets 0 penalties, then the next gets say 0.25 penalties or is it simply clears and carrying no faults through.
 
Ouch - poor Swedish rider - horse just basically landed on the jump and she went over the front end. Thankfully both ok but how gutting to have that happen - and at the first fence!

P
 
Lol yes you should be able to, doesnt mean you want to hehe !! :P...im only 21, used to jump quite high but i've just totally lost my confidence and that freaks most horses out so im sticking to dressage
 
BobbyMondeo said:
Lol yes you should be able to, doesnt mean you want to hehe !! :P...im only 21, used to jump quite high but i've just totally lost my confidence and that freaks most horses out so im sticking to dressage
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I'm the same as you! I totally lost my confidence and couldn't sit on a horse for 6 months when I was 11 but now I'm back :) I spent a year just doing dressage though but I can jump a single 2 foot 6 fence if I'm feeling brave but the thought of jumping a whole course on a horse I've never ridden is slightly terrifying :rolleyes:

My long term aim is to pass my Stage 2 :D

Back on topic, I love Tinkas Serende!
 
I'm sure this will come across as un-sporting, but is anyone else a little irked by these super-rich, relatively inexperienced nations buying up our best horses for the Olympics . . . e.g., Wonderboy?

P
 
Makes a change from rich Middle Eastern nations buying up Kenyan runners I suppose. It is a bit annoying but really not that different from anyone else buying a top horse. Not that the Totilas transfer was very popular...
 
armchair_rider said:
Makes a change from rich Middle Eastern nations buying up Kenyan runners I suppose. It is a bit annoying but really not that different from anyone else buying a top horse. Not that the Totilas transfer was very popular...
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But I guess I don't mind so much if the horse is sold to a syndicate/country who actually wants to compete on "the tour" rather than a country/syndicate wanting a "made" horse in time for an Olympic games . . . and I get that countries like Syria and Saudi Arabia need to start somewhere, but FGS breed your own and PAY someone to produce it rather than offering silly money to buy it from underneath someone else . . . you can certainly afford it!

P
 
I hope some of these London themed fences go to Olympia etc. They're lovely.

No, I meant when is the next round as in when is the next day of jumping...?
 
Um, re ' breeding your own', very few of the British horses are of 'British' breeding and many are not even British bred!

Also, most of the riders you're talking about ride in Europe or the US and some have been around for years. They weren't sitting on the sofa last Tuesday and suddenly decided to go to the Olympics. ;)

Too bad we're not the rich kids anymore but such is the way of the world.
 
TarrSteps said:
Um, re ' breeding your own', very few of the British horses are of 'British' breeding and many are not even British bred!

Also, most of the riders you're talking about ride in Europe or the US and some have been around for years. They weren't sitting on the sofa last Tuesday and suddenly decided to go to the Olympics. ;)

Too bad we're not the rich kids anymore but such is the way of the world.
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Um . . . Wonderboy was produced by Ben Maher and AFIK bred here. I'm not sure we were ever the rich kids and we've only just, after a long period in the wilderness, pulled together a top team . . . I just think it must be gutting for someone like Ben Maher to have a horse like Wonderboy sold underneath him to a country who hasn't previously figured on the world stage . . . i.e., Syria.

At no point did I intimate that the riders who these horses were bought for were previously "sat on the sofa" . . . and I did acknowledge that countries have to find a way to break onto the tour somehow . . . but when I watch the Nation's Cup I don't see Syria or Saudi Arabia up there, so the only conclusion I can draw is that horses like Wonderboy are bought FOR the Olympics.

P

P.S. And, um, how do you know who I'm talking about . . . ?
 
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