What would you do?

wasn't expecting that video... it's one of my all time favourites :D

WWID? fall off like a muppet :D

then demand a stiff drink!
 
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this may seem very harsh, but if i were the horse i would've done the exact same.
her lower leg flies up constantly, she had such short reins, which she was constantly jabbing him in the mouth with, not only that, but she had him so tight, and rather than sitting deep and back and trying to calm him a bit, she was standing in her stirrups urging him forward...?
the way she galloped in to the water jump i half expected the horse to jump IN rather than OVER.
i think the horse is very honest for getting that far round the course before trying anything.
i'm not saying i could do a better job, but fgs if your jumping at hickstead then you would think you wouldn't have such a 'UNIQUE' riding style:o
 
I certainly would have abandoned ship, then allowed the horse to calm down, it really could have ended very badly, especially for the bloke who jumped out infront of the horse to stop it :eek:
I did wonder too how she got round with legs flapping like that, thought she might take off too lol
 
I doubt I would have stayed on.

Yes she certainly had her own style - reminds me of a Thelwell cartoon, shame she pulls so hard though.

However she did have one remaining rein and she eventually used this to slow down and stop.
 
sorry, went on one a bit and forgot to answer question:p:rolleyes:
i probably wouldn't have bailed, only because i'd be too scared, that speed+that height=very very scary!
...but i probably would've ended up falling anyways, without any kind of style whatsoever:o:D
 
iAMASHOWJUMPER said:
i'm not saying i could do a better job, but fgs if your jumping at hickstead then you would think you wouldn't have such a 'UNIQUE' riding style:o
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You know that they won the Hickstead Derby together? Unique her style may have been, but they were a very successful combination back in the day!
 
iAMASHOWJUMPER said:
this may seem very harsh, but if i were the horse i would've done the exact same.
her lower leg flies up constantly, she had such short reins, which she was constantly jabbing him in the mouth with, not only that, but she had him so tight, and rather than sitting deep and back and trying to calm him a bit, she was standing in her stirrups urging him forward...?
the way she galloped in to the water jump i half expected the horse to jump IN rather than OVER.
i think the horse is very honest for getting that far round the course before trying anything.
i'm not saying i could do a better job, but fgs if your jumping at hickstead then you would think you wouldn't have such a 'UNIQUE' riding style:o
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Harsh? Whatever, that's your opinion and that is the happy thing about forums, you can voice your opinion. It is all very well saying "Oh, she should have done this, that or the other" but in all honesty, unless you know the horse personally, you can't say anything is set in stone, perhaps this is what worked best for that combination.

I have a feeling that reactions may depend on peoples' ages here. Annette wasn't/isn't the only rider in the world to have a unique style AND get results. You don't get to Hickstead and that level without having a modicum of 'talent' or whatever it takes, especially with a horse like that.



If you haven't got there yet, maybe you will some day, Good Luck.

What would I do? Nothing, I wouldn't be able to ride one side of a horse like that. In the past I have done as she did, grab whatever I could and try to circle him to a stop.
 
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What would i have done? Screamed like hell till i hit the deck!! She did damn well, and as said before its easy to be an armchair critic. As for style, who cares? it got her to Hickstead, theres alot of people with textbook style who haven't ridden there.
 
nixxyz said:
Really? goes to show how genuine the horse is :o gives me hope for my rubbish lower leg position :D
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Yes really, she was successful nationally and internationally :)

Nettie is a really lovely person. Her technique stemmed from riding little ponies, which she'd outgrown, and having to keep her lower leg back and away to stop knocking down poles.

Tutein was a particularly quirky, difficult horse and there wouldn't have been too many people volunteering to ride him if he was still around!

Sometimes 'classical' really doesn't cut it ;)
 
Wow!! That's some pulling that's horse is mouth is getting before the rein snapped, ouch! Was impressive she stayed on though!
 
rhino said:
Yes really, she was successful nationally and internationally :)

Nettie is a really lovely person. Her technique stemmed from riding little ponies, which she'd outgrown, and having to keep her lower leg back and away to stop knocking down poles.

Tutein was a particularly quirky, difficult horse and there wouldn't have been too many people volunteering to ride him if he was still around!

Sometimes 'classical' really doesn't cut it ;)
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That certainly explains her style, unfortunately id never heard of them untill now, you learn something new everyday :)
 
nixxyz said:
That certainly explains her style, unfortunately id never heard of them untill now, you learn something new everyday :)
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Geoff Billington used to do hysterical impressions of her jumping (because of course he is a paragon of classical style ;) ).

I'm pretty sure Nettie is still competing and teaching, she comes highly recommended as an instructor.

I picked up a copy of an old (1968) show jumping book yesterday which I'm finding interesting - bears little resemblance to show jumping today! It's the Harvey Smith/Marion Coakes/Nelson Pessoa era :eek: :D
 
HollyhedgePippa said:
What happened? The bridle almost came off and the one rein snapped? Sorry my glasses are upstairs! :o

What an honest horse!
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:D hehe

i'd have needed a new pair of panntys too :o

no way i'd bail (again) at that speed ,something similar happened to me - i bailed = smashed collar bone/shoulder 5 month watching everyone else ridding :(
 
I loved watching her ride and always dreamed of being able to ride a horse like him. Sadly I'd never get close! They were an amazing combination and I think she must have had nerves of steel!

As for what I'd have done, well I'm not even brave enough to get on a horse like that let alone attempt jumps like those so definitely no criticism from me! :)
 
rhino said:
I'm pretty sure Nettie is still competing and teaching, she comes highly recommended as an instructor.
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She certainly is teaching still - regular clinics at Norton Heath / Brook Farm Training Centre etc.
 
JFTD said:
You know that they won the Hickstead Derby together? Unique her style may have been, but they were a very successful combination back in the day!
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They were great favourites of mine back in the day! They used to do very well in the Speed Derby at Hickstead, I'm sure they won it more than once.

Her style might not appeal to everyone, but it worked for her and Tuetin, I still remember the Derby where he jumped off the top of the bank!!
 
The woman's got balls and so did the horse, honest horse yeah, but a bleeding imploding rocket too! My opinion, she did a bloody good job and after deliberately bailing once and damn near breaking my back, I'd have done my damnedest to stay on although with my knees up round my ears I probably wouldn't have been nearly as successful as nettie was! Lol!
 
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