pics of Ellen Whitaker riding at home, in H&H this week...

[ QUOTE ]
I think I would like to point out to the forum that there isn't a single female show jumper in favour here.

Ellen always gets a bad rap here, and I cannot help thinking its a bunch of b*tchy horsey women knocking the young, pretty girl that was lucky enough to be born with a name.

However I doubt her life is all roses and calling her "spoilt" is unfair, there are richer people with bigger wagons and more expensive horses. I doubt she actually earns that much when you tot everything up!

[/ QUOTE ]
It is possible to be critical of something you see without being jealous
confused.gif

Why is it that when someone points out something they don't agree with they are a bitch?
confused.gif
 
I absolutely agree that she is inspiring for young riders, my 9 year old daughter adores her, and after seeing how well show rode and won at HOYS i think a draw rain can be forgiven and surely they are just another training aid and like anything if used correctly and skillfully should cause no harm.... The girl should be praised for keeping SJ in the public eye, otherwise it will be gone from the TV screens altogether!
 
think I would like to point out to the forum that there isn't a single female show jumper in favour here.

Ellen always gets a bad rap here, and I cannot help thinking its a bunch of b*tchy horsey women knocking the young, pretty girl that was lucky enough to be born with a name.

However I doubt her life is all roses and calling her "spoilt" is unfair, there are richer people with bigger wagons and more expensive horses. I doubt she actually earns that much when you tot everything up!

Agree!
 
God, i wast going to post on this tread... but leave Ellen alone!:o Her horses are healthy, being well looked after, and jumping better than ever
laugh.gif
 
Perhaps Ellen is one of the few honest high profile riders around. Rather than change for the camera she just does what she does. Very different to another top showjumper in who's DVD's you NEVER see a drawrein. The warm up for comps is a very different matter.

Personally I would much prefer all top riders to show it like it is rather than change for the camera.

At least with Ellen what you see is what you get, no hidden stuff.
 
[ QUOTE ]
think I would like to point out to the forum that there isn't a single female show jumper in favour here.

[/ QUOTE ]

There are plenty of really excellent female SJ's out there. Many of whom I'm a great fan of.
smile.gif
 
As far as role models are concerned, there is a far more glaring issue that no one has mentioned.

The full page photo appears to show Ellen hacking. Well done H+H, you've shown a hacking photo of a role model with absolutely no hi-viz. Regardless of how ethical training aids may be, this photo is plain b****y stupid
mad.gif
.
 
[ QUOTE ]
God, i wast going to post on this tread... but leave Ellen alone!:o Her horses are healthy, being well looked after, and jumping better than ever
laugh.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Totally agree! Her horses are happy and healthy. She rides brilliantly and she has been trained by the best showjumping family on the planet - how on earth can any of us see fit to criticise?!!

I am also a bit annoyed by the whole "all showjumpers use draw reins" theme!! Totally not true. There are a lot of showjumpers out there who ride their horses very well on the flat and could actually teach the eventers and dressage riders a thing or two. Wasn't going to post but it annoys me this constant putting down of showjumpers!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I thought the OP was about a pro who's looked up to by numerous kids in a photo of a national and respected magazine mis-using a gadget/training aid that can have a serious impact when used incorrectly?

Or have I missed something?
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, exactly!

Jeez, guys! Just because I HATE to see draw reins used that way (by ANYONE, i didn't post this because it was EW, i would have posted it no matter who the picture was of) does not make me jealous, a bitch, petty, or any of the other nice words being bandied around.
teapot sums it up beautifully.
this gadget is very easy to abuse, the pulley system hugely enhances the strength of the rider against the horse, and it is an inescapable pressure.
EW is an experienced successful rider and obviously fully qualified to use the horrible things, but literally thousands of those who see that picture will not be, and to see the gadget used like that as an example is NOT a good thing for horses.
 
i think 90% of people have missed the point of the post- its not about jealously, or being a load of bitchy cows, its not about people seen as spolit... its not even about EW!!

its about a picture showing inappropriate use of a gadget which will be seen by 1000's of people- including the impressionable.

i don't really understand why people have come on shouting the odds about how EW is awesome and successful and she can do what she likes and who are we to judge because we are all crap- you've totally missed the point of the post!

people may see the photos and go 'gosh EW is so successful and her horses jump so well AND she schools solely on a tight draw rein. i want my horse to jump better so i'm going to get some draw reins.'

people may roll their eyes and say that won't happen- but it happened with 3 ring gags, 5 point breastplates, combination nosebands.
happening know with eventers using open fronted boots...
 
[ QUOTE ]
i think 90% of people have missed the point of the post- its not about jealously, or being a load of bitchy cows, its not about people seen as spolit... its not even about EW!!


[/ QUOTE ]
Not sure I agree with that.
The day I see a positive post on this forum about EW then I might agree. Aint happened yet though.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The day I see a positive post on this forum about EW then I might agree. Aint happened yet though.

[/ QUOTE ] Perhaps it's time for you to post one then!
grin.gif
 
Just to add to a ever expanding thread....
smirk.gif



I agree completely with Kerilli.
I am not a 'competition' rider, and have little experience with draw reins, but i did doubt myself when i saw those pictures of Ellen....'is that really how you are supposed to ride in them?"

I know that its not, but it is hardly a good example to set.
frown.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
people may see the photos and go 'gosh EW is so successful and her horses jump so well AND she schools solely on a tight draw rein. i want my horse to jump better so i'm going to get some draw reins.'

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the part of the argument that I have trouble with. I would counter that this isn't Ellen's problem. She can school her horses how she chooses ( being a skilled and well trained rider), and why should she "hide" when the photographers come? She's a rider, she does her job which is winning show jumping competitions, not being a role model for the general equestrian public.

It isn't her fault that ill-informed people might choose to copy her. The problem is with the general state of equestrian education in this country: that instead of having a decent trainer, coach or instructor, some people are apparently (allegedly?) copying what they see in magazines.

In general I have a problem with the argument "you shouldn't do x in case someone sees you and copies it". It smacks of infantalism on the one hand and censorship on the other.
 
Juno, I think you're honestly reading too much into the OP's post. The very first thing I noticed about the photos was the draw reins, or rather the (inappropriate) use of the draw reins. It wouldn't have mattered who was riding the horses...
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would counter that this isn't Ellen's problem. She can school her horses how she chooses ( being a skilled and well trained rider), and why should she "hide" when the photographers come? She's a rider, she does her job which is winning show jumping competitions, not being a role model for the general equestrian public.

It isn't her fault that ill-informed people might choose to copy her. The problem is with the general state of equestrian education in this country: that instead of having a decent trainer, coach or instructor, some people are apparently (allegedly?) copying what they see in magazines.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, you're right, although I personally would rather no-one uses them tighter than the normal rein - they can do a lot of damage. But, I'm obviously teetering on bunny-hugger territory there.
The fault lies with H&H for using a picture which shows the draw reins being used incorrectly, without an accompanying comment about it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think I would like to point out to the forum that there isn't a single female show jumper in favour here.

Ellen always gets a bad rap here, and I cannot help thinking its a bunch of b*tchy horsey women knocking the young, pretty girl that was lucky enough to be born with a name.

However I doubt her life is all roses and calling her "spoilt" is unfair, there are richer people with bigger wagons and more expensive horses. I doubt she actually earns that much when you tot everything up!

[/ QUOTE ]


Totally agree
smile.gif
Well said.

[/ QUOTE ]

I could scream!!! It wasnt a post to slag off Ellen at all, it could have been Anky, William fox pitt, pippa funnel ANYONE! But if they were using draw reins in that way i.e the draw rein tighter then the snaffle rein the same would have been pointed out that it was WRONG and INCORRECT, no one is slagging EW at all just saying that is the wrong way to use draw reins and its bad that its in the H&H. No that she is using draw reins in the H&H but that they are being used wrong sheesh!!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I thought the OP was about a pro who's looked up to by numerous kids in a photo of a national and respected magazine mis-using a gadget/training aid that can have a serious impact when used incorrectly?

Or have I missed something?
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

That's the impression I had Teapot - and quite agree with it! EW has a big influence on younger riders and I honestly think that this picture was irresponsible.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The day I see a positive post on this forum about EW then I might agree. Aint happened yet though.

[/ QUOTE ] Perhaps it's time for you to post one then!
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

She has a very nice bum! How's that?
 
I agree the first thing I noticed when I looked at the pics were the draw reins and when I go back to look following this thread - yes on Locarno the snaffle rein is indeed slacker than the draw rein..... BUT..... a photo is just a snap shot in time and I wouldn't make a judgement on someone's riding based on the evidence of one photo. Its quite possible the horse moved its head at the time the shot was taken or that Ellen adjusted her contact 2 secs later or any number of reasons.
While I'm not an advocate of draw reins myself, I wouldn't slate anyone that used them and Ellen is clearly a rider at the top her game as her current results show.
And while I accept that the OP was maybe trying to open a debate up about the use of draw reins/use of such a photo in an article I still think there one hell of a lot of people on this site that like to pull Ellen down and have used this post accordingly which may not have been the OP intention but the thread has gone that way anyway. I would hope that the vast majority of people that look at the pic would have more sense than to just use a training aid because they saw a pic of someone using it in a magazine - I know there are impressionable people out there but I expect they are in the minority and most people make their own informed choice. And in terms of a role model for children - I expect (or at least hope) that most children's riding will be supervised by a parent or instructor and that kids won't be just chucking training aids on their ponies willy nilly.
Sorry I hardly ever add to posts like this and seem to be droning on ... and could probably continue so think I better zip it now LOL.
 
[ QUOTE ]

The fault lies with H&H for using a picture which shows the draw reins being used incorrectly, without an accompanying comment about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have so far steered clear of this thread but I have to say that I noticed the draw reins as soon as I opened the article. I agree that it's not Ellen's problem - perhaps H&H should have picked a better photo.

I don't wish to pass judgement really - it could have been a split second in the riding session where the draw rein was tighter than the snaffle rein
wink.gif
but I do think that they should either have had a photo without her using them, or else picked a better shot.

I have mixed views about EW, but undoubtedly she is a hugely talented rider and I hope a good role model for younger riders too. I thought she came across well in the interview and she usually does on the tv too IMO. However, to have 2 photos of horses in draw reins was a bit saddening - even if it's the reality, it would have been better 'PR' to either not use them, or have them shown in correct use. IMO!!
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

The fault lies with H&H for using a picture which shows the draw reins being used incorrectly, without an accompanying comment about it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Now that I am more inclined to agree with but not what your OP stated. The OP was a direct EW gets it wrong again post.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Halfstep, i too use them to hack out a nutcase, no problem with that. in the pic i'm referring to, she's cantering in the school, not hacking out.
i didn't say anything else about her or about the article, just that this in particular is a pet hate of mine... and imho it's not great to show them used like that by someone who literally thousands of others will emulate.
dingle12... do you really think that is how to use them right? to have them significantly tighter than the normal reins? if so, i've been taught to use them incorrectly.
this wasn't supposed to be a bitch-fest, btw, it would not have mattered to me which rider was shown using them like that, i would have commented on it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ive not seen the pic as ive not got H&H i have however seen her and Jonh use them right.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

The fault lies with H&H for using a picture which shows the draw reins being used incorrectly, without an accompanying comment about it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Now that I am more inclined to agree with but not what your OP stated. The OP was a direct EW gets it wrong again post.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think that's fair really - the way I read the OP, it could have referred to any rider who appeared in a photo like that. I think other posters have turned it into a critique of EW herself, rather than the use of the photo.
 
JunoXV wrote[ QUOTE ]

Now that I am more inclined to agree with but not what your OP stated. The OP was a direct EW gets it wrong again post.

[/ QUOTE ]

I suggest you very very carefully re-read what I typed then. This is my original post:
[ QUOTE ]
Has anyone else noticed the way she's using the draw reins (well, that's what they look like!) esp in the 2nd photo (p22)... her normal reins are baggy, the other reins are tight... one of my PET hates.
thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]

NOWHERE did i say anything about her getting anything wrong, "again" or otherwise, I just said that IF that's what it showed, it is one of my pet hates.
I wasn't even positive at that point that they were draw-reins, I thought they might be some gadget I hadn't seen yet, that's why what I typed was tentative (the part in brackets).
How bloody dare you deliberately misinterpret so badly what I said, and try to make me out to be a liar.
 
[ QUOTE ]

How bloody dare you deliberately misinterpret so badly what I said, and try to make me out to be a liar.

[/ QUOTE ]
Oh come on, the implication was there and you know it.
 
WOW - this post has a lot of responses. I wasn't going to reply last night, but will give my 2 cents now.

I must say that on opening the article yesterday the first thing that did strike me was the draw reins and i did oo-eerr a little bit about them being used for this sort of photoshoot, and thought it was a little risky of Ellen. I'm of the opinion that draw reins have a purpose in the right hands as a training aid, but that they shouldn't be overused or relied on and i hope that SJ wannabe's don't go straight to their draw reins after seeing that article.

One thing that sort of jumped out to me though was that Ellen's chestnut horse goes around the ring with his nose out and clearly jumps at his best like this and Ellen doesn't seem to interfere with this way of going.
 
I didn't read any such implication into the OP at all FWIW - just incorrect use of draw reins being shown in an influential publication, man, woman or child.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Oh come on, the implication was there and you know it.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it was not. I would have posted exactly the same thing even if the picture had been of Mark Todd or The Queen, or any other rider on the planet.
Do not try to infer what I absolutely did not intend or imply. That's your deliberate misinterpretation.
Other people used this thread to criticize, and to support, EW. Do not allow what they wrote to affect your view of what I wrote.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top