2022 Maryland 5* at Fair Hill

[beowulf]

To be fair, I was the one that brought up EW and Johnny at Badminton, not EW’s detractors. I did it to point out you can defend someone (her use of the Norton bit) while not being in their corner. Even though it happened XYZ years ago, it’s still important to remember. This isn’t specific to EW. To use another rider, I’m not in OT’s corner either with his many warnings for excessive whip use.

Past actions are just that; riders either learn and grow from them, or they don’t. We should not forget these actions, either. And just putting it out there – if I was in EW’s place, had flown my boy across the world to be at one of the most eminent stages – only to be a few fences from home… I’m not sure I’d have the moral constitution to do any differently than she did. But it could have end very badly, and that has never left my mind.

[Djones]

@Jealoushe

??? I didn’t say anything like that. I was talking about a saddle sitting directly on the withers, that’s it. That’s all.

but you did, or why else should ‘this be unheard of in 2022?’

What did you see that shouldn’t be happening in 2022?

[sportyspicepony]

No I’m not asking why this person isn’t riding her horse bitless lol I was replying to someone saying that because she rides some other horses bitless that she’s perfectly justified in using a super harsh and severe bit on another horse…… but like…. Following that logic, why do you need such a harsh bit then??

I actually think it’s ok to hold upper level riders accountable for their actions. They are in the public eye and they represent our sport and some of them our country so… that should come with a lil bit of scrutiny on their horsemanship.

[sportyspicepony]

Thank you! I’m surprised there hasn’t been any articles or requests for comment from him…… like that’s pretty bad

[Lunabear1988]

I agree that we can and should question things like these. That said, I actually question more the local barns that have no simple snaffles in their barns at all (I came across some of these when I was helping a friend horse shop.) Than an upper level rider who’s majority of horses go in normal bits and have great Dressage scores.

I don’t know what bits Elisa usually uses normally but I feel like the basics seem to be there.

I’m also not an Eventer though. Lol

[enjoytheride]

@floppyammy

Let me get this straight.

Some posters are bashing Will Coleman’s saddle fit based off a screenshot from social media and others are bashing Elisa Wallace for a magnesium deficiency in her horse 5 plus years ago.

And H/Js are supposed to be the catty ones…

At the same time as complaining that pros aren’t willing to go into detailed explanations of why they do everything they do! Like, here’s my 20 page post with diagrams and detailed and extensive pictures of the saddle fitting appointment of every single horse in their string to satisfy the random public who are probably going to vehemently disagree with that saddle fitter anyway.

[Jealoushe]

Yes a saddle SITTING on the withers. That’s all. People assume way too much because they dislike certain posters. Just because you think you know some deeper meaning to my post doesn’t make it fact. A lot of assumptions being made in this thread are flat out wrong. If I had something more to say or someone to call out you bet I would.

Also I never said it was WC, or EW, or even from that Instagram post. When I made that comment I didn’t have any particular riders in mind and I wasn’t trying to single anyone out, it was other posters who were dropping names.

I simply was talking about what I saw.

[Jealoushe]

Thought this was interesting comment in regards to Lauren’s situation, from someone very experienced.

[Djones]

@Jealoushe

Yes a saddle SITTING on the withers. That’s all. People assume way too much because they dislike certain posters. Just because you think you know some deeper meaning to my post doesn’t make it fact. A lot of assumptions being made in this thread are flat out wrong. If I had something more to say or someone to call out you bet I would

I don’t dislike you. I do find that you are willing to drop bombs then deflect questions about said bombs. Time and again you refuse to explain the bombs, waving “us” off as disliking you vs seeking clarification of said bombs.

If you saw a saddle sitting ON the withers as you claim, then it is a reasonable question to ask for more data. Yours is a serious claim about a situation that would reasonably hurt a horse’s spine.

[Jealoushe]

Dropping bombs? Ok this is too much lol talk about blowing things out of proportion. Hardly a bombshell pointing out ppl ride in saddles without wither clearance.

I wasn’t asked for more data though, I was told I meant XYZ by my post by someone who has an obvious issue with me on the forum (not you) and I’m tired of having thoughts attributed to my post when I said nothing even close to what was being implied and wasn’t even in the realm of what I said trying to make out I said all this drama when I did not. I’ve ignored the poster now anyways.

It was a general observation comment, it wasn’t meant to be a deep dive and name riders and shame people etc. It was comment that even in 2022 there are ULRs who don’t aren’t deeply versed in these things.

That’s the last I’m saying on this!

[endlessclimb]

@Jealoushe

It was comment that even in 2022 there are ULRs who don’t aren’t deeply versed in these things

Look, for the last time - SOME HORSES LIKE SADDLES TO FIT LOW. If you’re ignorant to any other detail other than a saddle sitting low in a picture, then do yourself a favor and stop disparaging the knowledge of ULRs and saddle fit, eh?

I admit I’m not your biggest fan, and that’s because of stuff like ^ this. Throw rocks, and then start screaming about how you’re a victim. Grow up.

[beowulf]

Good on him for speaking out about inequity in the sport. I am glad he did that.

[Jealoushe]

Me too, he has a lot of experience in those booths and massive respect.

[Lunabear1988]

I’m not sure if you’re talking about me or someone else but I definitely don’t have any issues with you. You’ve posted in at least two different threads that you follow that saddle fitter. She just had multiple stories about wither clearance at Maryland so I just assumed that’s where you saw it. It was wrong to assume and I shouldn’t have. I have no issues with anyone.

[enjoytheride]

If my saddle fitter can diagnose saddle fit based on a screen cap, then why do I have to pay her $300 to come out and touch my saddle in person?

[Jealoushe]

No it’s not you I always appreciate your posts

@enjoytheride I think you can see a saddle doesn’t fit from a single photo if it’s obvious? I don’t think pointing out things to show a saddle doesn’t fit = saddle fitting.

[ghst13]

@Jealoushe

@enjoytheride I think you can see a saddle doesn’t fit from a single photo if it’s obvious? I don’t think pointing out things to show a saddle doesn’t fit = saddle fitting.

I think I’d need to see some example photos. It depends on the circumstances of the photo - angle, in motion vs stationary, etc.

Given the way my saddle pad and half pad sit my saddle can look like it fits very low to my geldings withers. But if you walk up to us and actually put your hands on it he has plenty of room. The saddle gets reevaluated every year and flocking adjusted by a qualified saddle fitter.

[Djones]

@Jealoushe

Dropping bombs? Ok this is too much lol talk about blowing things out of proportion. Hardly a bombshell pointing out ppl ride in saddles without wither clearance.

If you prefer unsubstantiated claims or incendiary comments, that’s your prerogative.

If you state that you see saddles “sitting on withers” that is a bold statement of abuse of the horse. That’s a bomb.

[Djones]

@Jealoushe

SITTING on the withers. That’s all. People assume way too much.

I assume you write what you mean to express.

[Sticky_Situation]

Meh … I feel like the best bit to ride a horse in is the one that he listens to finishes rides happy to go back out there the next next time in. And the best saddle to ride him isn’t necessarily the one that looks like a perfect fit based on measurements and diagrams and photos and online comments by people that make a living telling other people their current saddle doesn’t fit, or the one made by your sponsor, but the one you can afford that he goes well in.

I’m all for educational discussion, and even discussion of where things went wrong (like with Woods’ horse), but if a horse is getting around happily and safely in his current setup, I don’t find it helpful to call riders out for using different equipment from what you prefer.