Totally totally unofficial but GB event team news

Hello All :) - my first post and boy what a topic with which to make my debut!

This is a fascinating thread and there are many well-reasoned arguments for and against our favourite horses & riders. In a sport where we really are blessed with so many world class combinations I agree with many of you that the selectors have an almost impossible job and will never please everyone.

I am a huge NW/OB fan and am gutted that she hasn't been selected. It may well be that 'horses for courses' has influenced the selector's decision. And yes, we do need to turn in competitve dressage scores to stay with the Germans in the first phase, but Im personally hoping that Greenwich won't be won by a dressage 'queen' - we've seen the German team come to grief before in the XC whilst the Brits (including OB) have excelled.

Whoever finally gets to ride, I wish them all good luck and to complete safe and sound and hopefully in first place! When it comes down to it we will all still be cheering for team GB even if our personal favourites aren't in the final line up.
 
CalllyH said:
Why has just zaras place been announced and no one else's
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Because it is not official they are just picking up on the tweets and putting two and two together and putting it out as gospel.
We should be aware that it is likely to become a dressage competition as the CC can only be at 3 star level. I am not surprised by OB not getting a team spot as I dont think Greenwich will suit him or MF for that matter I am not sure which horse WFP will ride that may surprise a few yet.
I must admit I did not think Zara had any chance until last weekend and then thought she probably had done just enough for them to risk it.
 
Only just sprung to mind that Topper is rated over OB! :eek: Yes Topper has proved that he can do Greenwich, but that was only a 2*.... And never done a 4*!
 
Topper won at Blenheim and is a really incredible horse. Strong in every phase.
 
I for one, am gutted for Nicola, but reading through this thread has made me see, that sadly, perhaps he wouldn't have suited Greenwich. He is a long horse and forward going and can be strong, Greenwich is twisty and would suit a more short coupled, together horse. I honestly think Nicola could go to Burghley with him now and do brilliantly. If I remember rightly, theres been a issue like this before. With Jeannette Brakewell and OTY who wasn't selected for something and there was a massive uproar.

I agree with what has been said about Tina, MF is a lovely lovely horse, there are no two ways about it, but perhaps it's a quick return considering the fact he had nigh on the whole 2011 season off. But the Olympics are only a 3* and you can't doubt his consistency at 3* this year.

Also, what about Sarah Cohen? You just have to look at her results with Treason to see what a consistent 3* horse he is. I really hope she is named as a reserve.
 
Isn't ZP world and european champion?? And her recent performances have been good from what I have read. Credit given where credit is due.

Disappointing about NW/OB but there is still a while yet and as seen with WFp's rides, anything can happen in a short space of time...
 
TiddlyPups said:
I don't really think LC and Rayef stood a chance of being picked when you look at the large choice of who the selectors had anyway to choose from. PF and Jakata surprise me because many time PF has struggled to hold J so surely he wouldn't suit a tight, twisty course as I would imagine she'll really have to ride with the handbrake on to contain him?
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TiddlyPups said:
It may just have been about getting to grips with him?
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Do you not think coming second at Badminton requires a rider to have got to grips with her horse? Anyone who has seen Jakata and Piggy at work would see they are truly class combination :)

willtowin said:
Only just sprung to mind that Topper is rated over OB! :eek: Yes Topper has proved that he can do Greenwich, but that was only a 2*.... And never done a 4*!
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Over OB for this type of track, yes. He has matured alot as a horse since the test event and Piggy seriously rates him; his stop at houghton was down to rider error and very unlike him. And I dont think the fact he hasnt competed at 4* is especially relevent- his form at advanced and 3* (which is the level the olympics will be) is better than OBs.

Can you tell I'm a PF fan? ;)
 
The other factor, which I can guarantee no one here has the full scoop on, is soundness. It's not just form alone - the selectors want to know they are investing in the horses that have the best chance of starting and then holding up through the competition. If there is even a niggle somewhere on a horse, they will have to take it into account.

Also, as many have said it's a 3*. A twisty 3* with HUGE atmosphere. You do have to pick horses for courses and being a "Badminton horse" does not necessarily mean suitability for the task at hand.

Re Zara, no one can deny it's good publicity, but believe it or not, I think the powers that be want to win. She seems to have a suitable horse on form and she has proven to be a "big match" player with experience of high pressure situations. As above, this will be a BIG aspect of these Games for GB.
 
Just who are these selectors? This kind of thing happens in other sports but the Horseyworld seems to specialise in stunning decisions!

I would like to see each selector publish a score card - completed in complete secrecy from other selectors to justify their choice.

Come to that - I'd think the same sort of thing in every Dressage competition - the judges kept out of sight of each other's scores!
 
TarrSteps said:
The other factor, which I can guarantee no one here has the full scoop on, is soundness. It's not just form alone - the selectors want to know they are investing in the horses that have the best chance of starting and then holding up through the competition. If there is even a niggle somewhere on a horse, they will have to take it into account.

Also, as many have said it's a 3*. A twisty 3* with HUGE atmosphere. You do have to pick horses for courses and being a "Badminton horse" does not necessarily mean suitability for the task at hand.

Re Zara, no one can deny it's good publicity, but believe it or not, I think the powers that be want to win. She seems to have a suitable horse on form and she has proven to be a "big match" player with experience of high pressure situations. As above, this will be a BIG aspect of these Games for GB.
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All great points - well said.

P
 
1stclassalan said:
Just who are these selectors? This kind of thing happens in other sports but the Horseyworld seems to specialise in stunning decisions!

I would like to see each selector publish a score card - completed in complete secrecy from other selectors to justify their choice.

Come to that - I'd think the same sort of thing in every Dressage competition - the judges kept out of sight of each other's scores!
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Why do you feel that the selectors need to justify their choices to us?

What you're proposing feels like the slippery slope to an X-Factor-style selection process ;).

Their job isn't to pick a team with all our favourite riders and horses in it - it's to pick a team they feel can do the job based on the "conditions" . . . atmosphere, level (3 star), competition history and soundness/health track record.

As said above, they're not necessarily looking for Badminton-quality horses . . . remember the job Pippa Funnell had with Primmore's Pride on the cross country course in Athens? She said later that she found it really hard to keep a rhythm b/c he's a big, galloping horse and the course was tight and twisty and she kept having to take a pull.

Personally, I think we should count ourselves lucky that we have such strength and depth in our Olympic team choices . . . a lot can happen in the two months we have left . . . all of those selected have to stay sound and injury free and we have plenty of good alternatives.

P
 
OB is quite possibly the best XC horse in GB (although I am biased, owning 2 relations) I was absolutely sure he would be on the team. I feel so sad about the decision that I almost feel like selling my XC tickets. That would be cutting of my nose to spite my face though.
 
Thistle said:
OB is quite possibly the best XC horse in GB (although I am biased, owning 2 relations) I was absolutely sure he would be on the team. I feel so sad about the decision that I almost feel like selling my XC tickets. That would be cutting of my nose to spite my face though.
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If you look at the results for Bramham, there was very little between them, MF had a slightly better dressage score and a slightly faster XC time than OB, the only difference is OB had two show jumps down when MF had three.

Also Bramham could have produced odd results in the show jumping because the CIC class show jumped before XC, so the horses would be fresher than they would at a normal 3E perhaps?

Going off Bramham, I find Lionheart's selection more interesting - he had good dressage and a double clear, but was pretty slow XC with time faults. I think I was at the coffin when he came through, and he had to give him a good slap before the fence. Not disputing that WFP would get anything round, but doesn't seem the best of his horses..


One thing we are forgetting is the selectors have their training sessions where they can see things that we don't.
 
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I'm pleased for Zara, HK is clearly an amazing horse and I think they've earned their place on the team :)

Gutted for Nicola though :( Her and Buzz have done such great things for the GB team, you would have thought they'd earned their place too.

I was hoping that Mary would go for King's Temptress.

Also surprised at William's choice of horse. I thought the whole point of taking Parklane Hawk to Kentucky was to test him over a twisty track, which he did pretty amazingly; is he now injured? :(
 
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