Walking back after XC - what do you think?

Im shocked that so many people do this... i almot jump off while still moving! Ill leave the saddle on till we get back but i think its fair to get off
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i always get off straight away, well after ive stopped the horse
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but then i walk him round for a while, loosen girths etc etc. take him back to lorry, untack, wash down, then walk around- not eat, walk him. then after hes cool, i let him have a drink and a munch of grass.....
 
I think it depends on how they finish, if ours finished blowing and sweating I would feel their preparation had been insufficient.
It's stupid to get off the stallion because you have far less control on the ground, plus he knows when ridden his mind must ignore other horses, when led it's a different thing altogether.
I don't think it makes much difference other than loosening the girth and walking on a long rein, yes if they have just done Badminton they will be out of breath but normal lower levels they are not likely to be.
As lec says, five extra minutes shouldn't make any difference, once upon a time we used to compete then after a short rest hack anything up to fifteen miles home..
Were horses tougher then I wonder !!!!
 
I dont think the horses were any different I think we expected more of them. I agree with you you should have your horse fit enough for the level your competing at. If you watched the horses finishing on the whole they finished well. There was one that would have really worried me which was the one that bled. Im not sure if it got presented for the trot up.
Like I said I do get off but loosen the girth before jumping off as feel its more important to keep the horse moving than trying to get a girth loosened on a horse that is still wired.
 
At one days your horse should be sufficiently fit to carry you back to the lorry/trailer. Shame on those whos horses are too tired to do this! My pet hate is riders jumping of immediately after the finish and telling all their supporters about their round right in the way of the finish thus impeding later competitiors. In my opinion you should pull up gradually after your round, slowly bringing the horse back to a walk before returning to the lorry park.
 
I couldn't believe my eyes last weekend at an unaff 2 phase. This woman brought her horse straight back to the lorry, untacked, tied it up to the lorry, and buggered off for an absolue age. Horse was quite sweated up, left unwashed, no rug (and it was quite a chilly day) and to top it off there was spare headcollar hanging down from the lorry, just the right place for the horse to get caught up in!. When my horse has just tried his heart out for me, the least I can do is sort him out and get him comfortable before going to get a bacon sarnie.
 
i dont think there's any need to panic about getting straight off. out draghunting we'll do a 5min line, galloping and jumping and then stop and rest for a while before setting off again. no-one jumps off for the break between lines. if the horse is fit enough, it shouldn't be puffing and blowing too much after your average XC course and if it's safer to stay on it then that's obviously best. i tend to gently pull up and then walk for a few mins ridden until he's calmed down a bit, then jump off, loosen girth and undo noseband, walk him round in hand until his breathing is completely normal then back to trailer, wash off, rug up.
 
I don't get off until I'm back at the trailer. My horse is a git to lead and there is every chance that if I got off him after I'd been round Larkhill he would end up running free on the plain for a week!
 
I was actually taught not to get off immediately & loosen the girth, something to do with allowing the lactic acid to go through them in one big rush. I dont like to see people struggling to make their horses stand whilst they heave around at the girths.

I prefer to walk for a bit, which allows them to regain their breath, loosen my girth a hole or 2. Then get off once they have settled & caught their breath. This is normally pretty much back at the box when they will stand to be untacked, washed off etc.

I dont think they are normally that exhausted that they need you off immediately, if they are then something is wrong or you have gone too fast.
 
I always get off straight after my round and walk around for a bit/give my horse to mum/sister to walk around (my back often hurts to much to walk myself). My horse is fit enough for me to stay on but i like to get off - after broadway (hillyish course) she was fine and was back to normal very quickly.

I was very naughty on sunday and we stopped (as in halted very close to the finish) - my horse knows when we have finished and can go gallop, canter, trot very quickly - I know this is wrong and do try and stop more slowly
 
Joss, it was that and the constriction of blood vessels due to saddle and rider which were mentioned at the Coaching DT day - apparently modern thinking is that it isn't terribly good for your horse's back to jump straight off, but then again in the grand scheme of things I can't imagine it makes much difference if you jump off straight away or when you have walked back to the lorry park.
 
Thanks for all the great responses and I agree with not letting them stop after the XC - I teach all mine to keep walking as I undo nose bands and girth etc.

Happy eventing!
 
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