Totilas is back

Can anyone enlighten me as to what is being done before they go in? All the stop start stuff... He doesn't look like the same horse to me :(
 
Fides said:
Can anyone enlighten me as to what is being done before they go in? All the stop start stuff... He doesn't look like the same horse to me :(
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Getting him in front of the leg in a rather sharp manner. I am not bothered whether the horse is good bad or indifferent, I just find it amazing, that at that level, the bridle is not fitted correctly.
 
Thanks for the link . . . he certainly looks happier than he did in that awful demo when Rath first got the ride/the Shockemohle's first bought him . . . but (perhaps it's just me) I think he looks weak/underpowered in his hind quarters . . . I don't see power there, just extravagance in front . . . or am I being over-critical?

P
 
The angle of the curb is extreme which seems to be pulling the headslip forwards, I'm assuming the curb/ lip strap is not tight enough and/ or there's too much force being used
 
Cant see the bridle on my phone but horse clearly hates the aids being applied so rudely. I hate the excessive movement of the legs and seat- waggle waggle :(. Horse Looks tense and confused with a tail swish of annoyance at each ask. Is it an illusion or does he lift the left front fore higher than the right one in trot?
Hope charlotte and carl show them how its done.
 
angel7 said:
Cant see the bridle on my phone but horse clearly hates the aids being applied so rudely. I hate the excessive movement of the legs and seat- waggle waggle :(. Horse Looks tense and confused with a tail swish of annoyance at each ask. Is it an illusion or does he lift the left front fore higher than the right one in trot?
Hope charlotte and carl show them how its done.
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No I noticed the foreleg thing too.

But I am not qualified to give judgement - just my observations
 
There's certainly no happy relationship like ed had with him or charlotte has with valegro. Defo something with the front legs.

It's almost like they have both gone 'well we don't really get along but we have no choice so let's grit our teeth and do our best'. However I do feel for the 'new' rider as he ended up taking on a horse no one really wanted him to have with the weight of expectation from nearly every horsey person around....that's no easy situation to deal with!
 
angel7 said:
Cant see the bridle on my phone but horse clearly hates the aids being applied so rudely. I hate the excessive movement of the legs and seat- waggle waggle :(. Horse Looks tense and confused with a tail swish of annoyance at each ask. Is it an illusion or does he lift the left front fore higher than the right one in trot?
Hope charlotte and carl show them how its done.
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I noticed the same thing that the legs were lifted unevenly. Poor horse doesn't have that easy beauty about him anymore, he looks tense, and irritated, the rider is very aggressive with the aids, certainly not the partnership as we saw with Edward Gal.
 
TandD said:
There's certainly no happy relationship like ed had with him or charlotte has with valegro. Defo something with the front legs.

It's almost like they have both gone 'well we don't really get along but we have no choice so let's grit our teeth and do our best'. However I do feel for the 'new' rider as he ended up taking on a horse no one really wanted him to have with the weight of expectation from nearly every horsey person around....that's no easy situation to deal with!
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Totally agree!
 
Meh, same as always. If you blocked the view of his front end you would not see much to give winning marks to, but that's just me. Glad he is fit again but I think the whole management of this horse has been somewhat lacking.
 
I couldn't watch all of it - hated the way the curb was being held in the horses mouth, hated the fact that the striding on the front legs is so incredibly uneven, the jabbing with the spurs at the beginning to get in front of the leg (cannot possibly believe that was necessary!). I got as far as seeing him start the first extended trot and I feel sad for what this horse has become - Edward Gal must be devastated.

I was never a huge fan, but I feel sorry for the horse really. The front leg action is so noticeable I am surprised that he wasn't pulled up with a soundness query TBH
 
Sometimes its better to just admit you dont gel with a horse, he doesnt look happy, i dont like that massive front movement, it just looks odd, i do wish the movement behind was better,
 
PolarSkye said:
Thanks for the link . . . he certainly looks happier than he did in that awful demo when Rath first got the ride/the Shockemohle's first bought him . . . but (perhaps it's just me) I think he looks weak/underpowered in his hind quarters . . . I don't see power there, just extravagance in front . . . or am I being over-critical?

P
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No youre absolutely correct
 
He looks (to me) like a cut and shut . . . back end is very weak - my out of work for two months, not very special, Polish warmblood, has a stronger-looking back end than that (although he doesn't have the lovely hind legs that Totilas has). His angles don't match - front end extravagant, hind legs lazy and almost trailing.

It's a great shame . . .

P
 
Under-the-radar said:
I was never a huge fan, but I feel sorry for the horse really. The front leg action is so noticeable I am surprised that he wasn't pulled up with a soundness query TBH
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Me too, very sad to see what's happened with this horse I loved him when Gal had him - they really did dance together. I know there has always been controversy surrounding him with his movement but he was a favourite of mine. I can't imagine what Edward Gal thinks about what has happened to the horse now :(
 
He no longer has that smooth look. Short sharp movements from the rider does not help and in fact he looks lame to me.

That lovely flow that Edward had with him has gone. No don't like him any longer.
 
Only watched the warm up bit. Why is the ******** jamming his spurs into him? I assume to make him more responsive in the arena? Made me spit and couldn't watch any more. The Happy Athlete, oh yeah! There are so few Dujardines and Hesters around, most top dressage horses are so used to being treated like that. Is so sad.
 
Even when Edward rode him he was all front and no behind. And I think before we bash Rath completely it should be noted that Gal trained him in Rolkur originally! (Which everyone seems to forget and/or forgive)!
 
I cant say Ive ever been a Totilas fan and have always found his front end movement to be very strange looking. I do however feel for the flack poor Mattias Rath (or however you spell it gets) Yes he is from a privilaged background. And yes he was bought one of the most 'sucessful' dressage horses ever for millions of euros but it certainly doesnt make him the devil or a completely crap rider! I can only imagine how hard it was to take on a world record breaking horse that had been trained practically by one rider from day dot. I for one couldnt ride one side of him!

Partnerships take time, and we dont all know the full story of whats gone on the past year or so and how much ridden work he has actually been able to have due to an injury or whatever. I really do hope they gel well together but all the critisism and negativity wont help one bit.
 
I find it amazing that this forum crucifies Patrik Kittel (or whatever his name is) and Anky, but glorifies Edward Gal, although he does use the same training methods. Totilas was always a monkey trick with all front and no back end, I actually think he shows more freedom under Mathias, he doesn't move great, but he never did.
 
Under-the-radar said:
I couldn't watch all of it - hated the way the curb was being held in the horses mouth, hated the fact that the striding on the front legs is so incredibly uneven, the jabbing with the spurs at the beginning to get in front of the leg (cannot possibly believe that was necessary!). I got as far as seeing him start the first extended trot and I feel sad for what this horse has become - Edward Gal must be devastated.

I was never a huge fan, but I feel sorry for the horse really. The front leg action is so noticeable I am surprised that he wasn't pulled up with a soundness query TBH
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absolutely agree with this. I found watching the test uncomfortable and where does the person who did the write up see harmony? very sad to see him now and I hated the beginning where he was jabbing with the spurs. not impressed!!!!!
 
shortstuff99 said:
Even when Edward rode him he was all front and no behind. And I think before we bash Rath completely it should be noted that Gal trained him in Rolkur originally! (Which everyone seems to forget and/or forgive)!
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I obviously need to go back and look at Toto under Gal . . . it's perfectly possible that I was blinded by hype (and ignorance) although that doesn't explain the judges . . . but then that's dressage (oh, did I say that out loud?).

P
 
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