madgirl
Well-Known Member
totally agree Lec... what was the mistake Paul made? I didn't see him...was it a run out?
Paul Tapner Bad Sport
- Thread starter iluvhunting
- Start date
Penguinboots
Well-Known Member
It was a refusal I think, at the skinny at the top of the staircase.
I_A_P
Well-Known Member
TBH as others say i do not have a problem with it.
Imagne all that time effot etc and to get on well until that moment...he continued and rode well was pleased with the horse realising that it was a rider error and i think is better that he vented his frustration (practically out of view) and got it out of his system so hopefully he can put it behind him a little.
he never took it out on the horse.....i really do not think its a big deal.
Imagne all that time effot etc and to get on well until that moment...he continued and rode well was pleased with the horse realising that it was a rider error and i think is better that he vented his frustration (practically out of view) and got it out of his system so hopefully he can put it behind him a little.
he never took it out on the horse.....i really do not think its a big deal.
KatB
Well-Known Member
I wish more people took out their frustration on something that doesnt give a damn like the ground instead of the horse/those around tem. Good on him I say!!! And he only looks silly to the people who dont know how much time/effort goes into producing these horses to that level!!
blakesmum
Well-Known Member
Actually I do know what goes into producing a horse at that level! I also know how heartbreaking it is to travel 600 odd miles for your horse to come off the lorry lame, then the next time to have your horse get it's tounge over the bit in the dressage and end up on a cricket score (through your own fault) but I didn't see that person throw themselves on the floor. So please don't accuse me of not understanding the pressures!
I was not saying what he did was wrong, just that I thought he made himself look a tit lol
I'm sure other riders have had similar things happen and missed out on Olympic glory but not reacted that way and yes it probably is easier for MK to be more chilled about it. It doesn't mean he is a bad person.
Oh and in another sport my friend missed out on Olympic qualification for Athens in sailing through an error he made, he didn't come back in and start beating the dock with his life jacket.
I was not saying what he did was wrong, just that I thought he made himself look a tit lol
I'm sure other riders have had similar things happen and missed out on Olympic glory but not reacted that way and yes it probably is easier for MK to be more chilled about it. It doesn't mean he is a bad person.
Oh and in another sport my friend missed out on Olympic qualification for Athens in sailing through an error he made, he didn't come back in and start beating the dock with his life jacket.
KatB
Well-Known Member
Wasnt directly aimed at you! And good on you if you have produced a horse to 4*. However, everyone has their own way of dealing with emotion. Do you kow Paul as a person (I dont and dont claim to!) so do you know how much pressure he puts on himself? What was going on in his life etc etc? If you do then my apologies, but as I said, I really dont see the problem in taking his frustration with himself out on an inanimate object. I aslo dont think this makes him a bad sport or anything else other than someone that obviously puts alot of pressure on himself and his personal performance.
madgirl
Well-Known Member
Well said Kat B, I really admire Paul he is fab....in the summer for the past 4 years or so he has spent a week at our pony club camp teaching (and they dont get huge money for teaching at PC camp). He took the time to teach us and worked his riding around it- not many top eventers would do that! He works so hard and is desperate to go to the Olympics
only_me
Well-Known Member
there is no way that he is a bad sport. its ovious that he felt annoyed at his mistake, and to be honest, i dont even think that he would hit his horse for it.
how many times have you wanted to hit the ground in frustration???
anyway, when you get horse that good and you are in with a chance of a placing, would you not be annoyed with a stupid mistake? Mary king was probably kicking herself, but she was only putting the smile on for the audience. remember we dont see what goes on behind the scenes, and poor paul thought he was!!
how many times have you wanted to hit the ground in frustration???
anyway, when you get horse that good and you are in with a chance of a placing, would you not be annoyed with a stupid mistake? Mary king was probably kicking herself, but she was only putting the smile on for the audience. remember we dont see what goes on behind the scenes, and poor paul thought he was!!
Mid
Well-Known Member
i agree he made himself look a bit stupid, but he gave his horse a pat and didn't take it out on him, and that's what counts.
jenbleep
Well-Known Member
didn't see it but I don't see it as a problem - he was frustrated, who can blame him, and he didn't hit the horse did he?? When i'm frustrated I tend to act the same LOL
Wishful
Well-Known Member
Don't blame him - taking it out on the ground is much better than taking it out on the horse! I have been known to take frustration at my own stupidity out on my water bottle, the wall and my kit (fencing). You put so much of yourself into high level sport and there is so much adrenaline, that it's hard for it not to go somewhere, and it's an awfully long way back out of the public areas at Badminton for the riders.
I haven't ridden competitively ever, but I have fenced in the U20 Europeans, and at senior World Cup and Grand Prix level so I am aware of how emotional top level sport can be, especially when Olympic Qualification is at stake - one girl who came 3rd at a Grand Prix, missing out by 1 hit on qualification was in tears on the podium! As for Mary King, she is a lot older and more mature, and has probably made mistakes before - I've got a lot more philosophical than I used to be... and I'm not even 30 yet!
I haven't ridden competitively ever, but I have fenced in the U20 Europeans, and at senior World Cup and Grand Prix level so I am aware of how emotional top level sport can be, especially when Olympic Qualification is at stake - one girl who came 3rd at a Grand Prix, missing out by 1 hit on qualification was in tears on the podium! As for Mary King, she is a lot older and more mature, and has probably made mistakes before - I've got a lot more philosophical than I used to be... and I'm not even 30 yet!
blakesmum
Well-Known Member
No I've not trained to 4*, was a good friend I was stabled with, we trained together (my horse did the Riding Club classes (which were rn over the Pre Novice courses), this was pre BE lowering the heights and bringing in Intro and Day tickets) and I saw the blood, sweat, tears and money that went into it.
At no point in my posts have I
claimed to know him or said he was a bad person,
have said I have a problem with what he did,
said he was a bad sport,
I just voiced my personal opinion that I thought he looked a tit.
Much like I though Nigel Mansel looked a tit when he lost the F1 world championship and threw his helmet and gloves into the crowds (gosh showing my age)
At no point in my posts have I
claimed to know him or said he was a bad person,
have said I have a problem with what he did,
said he was a bad sport,
I just voiced my personal opinion that I thought he looked a tit.
Much like I though Nigel Mansel looked a tit when he lost the F1 world championship and threw his helmet and gloves into the crowds (gosh showing my age)
KatB
Well-Known Member
My original point making post wasnt aimed directly at you, it was my opinion based on what others had said. Please dont think I was aiming directly at you with my original post because I wasnt
The comment over producing a horse to 4* was, but that was in your reply to me
dozzie
Well-Known Member
QR
As I said somewhere else I think he was pissed off with himself really as it was his mistake. I thought it was funny. He didnt know he was still on camera and didnt take it out on the horse or other people. I think at any level you can forgive your horse a mistake but if you mess it up then it is damned annoying.
As I said somewhere else I think he was pissed off with himself really as it was his mistake. I thought it was funny. He didnt know he was still on camera and didnt take it out on the horse or other people. I think at any level you can forgive your horse a mistake but if you mess it up then it is damned annoying.
Mags Mum
Active Member
For once a personality in the sport that makes his feelings known.
Was sat with friends (totally non horsey) and they loved it, it gave them what we had in the 70s personality in a sport (remember Harvey Smith and two fingers!!!), how many footballers, rugby players etc etc show their annoyance, we are all to up tight and as friends put it "snotty" in equestrian sports, this guy was real showing real emotions, which is what make people follow a sport, a good day singing praises a bad day, showing true emotion, more more is what I say if we can get equestriaism back to its hayday and let people know that we are human when riding horses, not pre programmed machines, with well pedicured (sp) interviews after, emotion wins everytime.
Was sat with friends (totally non horsey) and they loved it, it gave them what we had in the 70s personality in a sport (remember Harvey Smith and two fingers!!!), how many footballers, rugby players etc etc show their annoyance, we are all to up tight and as friends put it "snotty" in equestrian sports, this guy was real showing real emotions, which is what make people follow a sport, a good day singing praises a bad day, showing true emotion, more more is what I say if we can get equestriaism back to its hayday and let people know that we are human when riding horses, not pre programmed machines, with well pedicured (sp) interviews after, emotion wins everytime.
silversox
Well-Known Member
Ever seen a top race-horse jockey throw his whip and helmet down on the grass when he has had a fall from a fancied horse? Yes, they ARE human and I'd much rather see that, every time, than someone taking it out on the horse, though usually the fallen race-horse is off with glee in hot pursuit of the others. It's the paramedics and stewards I feel for when they go over to check they are alright! Perhaps they have ear-plugs at the ready!
Us older ones here will probably remember when Prince Charles lost his rag at a Polo match, and threw his helmet to the ground. It made headline news, of course, but, THEY ARE ONLY HUMAN, after all.
Us older ones here will probably remember when Prince Charles lost his rag at a Polo match, and threw his helmet to the ground. It made headline news, of course, but, THEY ARE ONLY HUMAN, after all.
MizElz
Well-Known Member
Oh my word, I cannot believe this discussion has kicked off the way it has!
As has already been said, I just think he should be commended for not having taken his rage out on the horse/groom/wife etc. Poor guy, it isnt his fault that the cameras were following him! It isnt exactly something he would be used to; nor, I would imagine, would it be at the forefront of his mind having just thrown away an Olympic place.
Yes, he may have looked an eejit, but hey, he is human! Nigel Mansell has done it, Mika Hakkinen has done it, AP McCoy has done it, numerous footballers have done it.....they're not machines, no more than the horses are. I think Paul Tapner's gutted reaction tells as much as Nicolas Touzaint's elated one.
As has already been said, I just think he should be commended for not having taken his rage out on the horse/groom/wife etc. Poor guy, it isnt his fault that the cameras were following him! It isnt exactly something he would be used to; nor, I would imagine, would it be at the forefront of his mind having just thrown away an Olympic place.
Yes, he may have looked an eejit, but hey, he is human! Nigel Mansell has done it, Mika Hakkinen has done it, AP McCoy has done it, numerous footballers have done it.....they're not machines, no more than the horses are. I think Paul Tapner's gutted reaction tells as much as Nicolas Touzaint's elated one.
lar
Well-Known Member
I don't agree it made him look like a tit. It made him look human IMO. I'm beginning to wonder if MK is actually normal to be honest! Surely SOME sort of emotion would be in order after such a disappoinment?
Fantasy_World
Well-Known Member
QR I didn't see the event nor badminton itself as I have been away riding this weekend so missed it sadly ( do normally watch it).
However I have no problem at all with anyone venting their anger in such a way especially when it means so much to them.
I know there will be some who think well it is only one event. But if this event meant so much to him -and it sounds like it has cost him an awful lot - then I think I would feel pretty damned pisd off with myself too.
We see it a lot in horse racing. I cannot count the number of times I have seen a jockey punch the ground, throw a whip or helmet etc.
Yes they may have other rides and other opportunities but it is the same as with race riding sometimes a jockey can really be riding a proverbial 'good thing' only to throw it all away by a slight error by horse or jockey ( mostly the latter). Those 'winning' opportunities may never come again so you can hardly blame anyone for reacting in the way that they do.
However I have no problem at all with anyone venting their anger in such a way especially when it means so much to them.
I know there will be some who think well it is only one event. But if this event meant so much to him -and it sounds like it has cost him an awful lot - then I think I would feel pretty damned pisd off with myself too.
We see it a lot in horse racing. I cannot count the number of times I have seen a jockey punch the ground, throw a whip or helmet etc.
Yes they may have other rides and other opportunities but it is the same as with race riding sometimes a jockey can really be riding a proverbial 'good thing' only to throw it all away by a slight error by horse or jockey ( mostly the latter). Those 'winning' opportunities may never come again so you can hardly blame anyone for reacting in the way that they do.