2 comments on 2 rides. I don’t even have names of horse or riders. One was a largish Clydesdale looking horse apparently a local. She appeared to be just cantering around the course, and while I am sure she had many time penalties, clear, and the horse looked like he could go on forever. She was from the neighborhood. The other was a smallish black horse, Lebowski. I have seen his name before, so he must have been there previously. Near the end, they jumped a jump, it looked like 2 feet over the jump. I hope someone got a photo of it. That was a nifty ride.
3 Likes
The Clyde looking one was actually close to the time I believe? With no fighting from the rider they just toured. That horse was amazing. What a great pair.
1 Like
Yes, I was watching out for this pair as well…Lebowski gave his rider a few problems in the dressage ring as well (though wasn’t near as bad as Rioghan Rua!) so I was thrilled for them too :).
Perhaps you mean Charlton Down Riverdance and Becky Woolven? He’s a big giant bay with four very tall splotchy socks and a blaze. (ETA: I just had to go look him up, Horse Telex shows him as an ISH)
1 Like
I want to say the Clyde looking one you are thinking of was Louise Harwood and Mr Potts - she finished 47th of the 49 finishers. Finished with second most time faults and 31 jump penalties.
ETA - Never mind. Upon further research Becky Woolven is probably a better fit for the ride you described although Louise Potts is closer to being a local.
I want to say the Clyde-y looking guy was Becky Woolven, but I’m not certain. I know the horse you’re talking about though, because I was also pretty impressed. Ditto Lebowski!
1 Like
He clobbered the gate, hence the 11 for pin breakage, and it was as if he only hit a pvc pipe in a flat cup… sturdy horse!!
1 Like
Just read all that went on. What is it about these riders who are in a league of their own? The US shows up, but the results never pan out. Is it the training, the lack of testing courses at home, horse power, I’m just curious.
1 Like
Here’s what was posted on the Lauren Kieffer Eventing Facebook page:
“What a day! Troll gave me a fantastic ride around the toughest course I’ve ridden yet, and despite retiring Patty at fence 19 I’m pretty impressed with how well he went around 2/3’s of the course in his 2nd 4*, it was just a bit too much for him at this stage in his career. Despite the course being incredibly difficult and not the most rewarding, it’s incredibly valuable to learn how to ride these courses and is important for us as competitors to continue getting exposed and out of our comfort zones. A huge thank you to all that make it possible. And good night!”
11 Likes
Just re-reading some of the thread that I apparently missed - in spite of looking like scary fences at that point in the course (especially remembering the upright gate in Rio), those gates seemed to ride quite well for the solid majority that made it that far. I think that gnarly log into the water caused more horses to hang a leg.
1 Like
I heard part of her interview with someone, not sure who, but she was not a fan at all with that course. She specifically praised Derek’s courses as rewarding horses who were going well, something she felt this course did not do. That must be very frustrating
I’m sorry, I don’t care who you are, the most important thing you do after xc, you take care of your horse. Elisa didn’t even bother to check on Johnny. She was pissed she didn’t complete and walked away, it doesn’t matter who else you may have to help- The officials would have to drag me away from my horses side for me not to be taking care of my horse in the vet box. Instead of, HECK my horse was exhausted, Elisa kicked and wacked him with the whip to get him to canter on, knowing he was exhausted- I should make sure he is ok.
We watched Boyd’s horse, Steady Eddie, fall last weekend at Rolex, ending their xc go. you know what he did, he pulled ALL of his tack off his horse as soon as the horse stood up. He dropped his tack on the ground and took care of his horse. That is what a good horseman does. Your sole focus is on your horse. Cooling them out, taking care of them- your partner. Johnny gave everything he could to Elisa and she walked away.
The last third of her ride, Johnnys ears were never pricked, instead, laying back, he was not having fun, or enjoying any of it. THis horse loves xc, and it was devastating to watch her kick this poor horse on- for what?!?! for glory?!?! there is no glory in whipping an exhausted horse. THe commentators were very correct, and she should have been stopped on course. She deserves the yellow card and much more.
If this had been Merideth Little, everyone would be crucifying her. ML did this last year to Demi at Rolex, which resulted in a fall. It was very apparent that Demi was extremly tired and ML pushed and then they fell. Elisa did the same thing. No matter if you know her, see what she does, she pushed this exhausted horse/ whipped him, on. This is poor horsemanship, ownership, and should not ever be excused!
I watched every xc round. There was some phenomenal riding: MJ, IK, AC, AN, MT, and many more. There were some not so pretty rounds. Badminton is and always will be BIG. It’s reputation has always been that as the biggest 4* track. the course looked tough and if you were not prepared, you were caught out. But then you have MJ run around like it is pony club. It was great having the commentators like Zara Tindall (Phillips) and Mark Todd with Mike Tucker. They didn’t mince words and called the riding as they saw it. It is sad that Mike Tucker is retiring as he is a top class announcer.
19 Likes
Those gates did result in at least 3 that I can remember falls, one that late resulted in a horse getting injured off course. I Dunno, maybe not so much a good fence they way he set it up?
Another way to put it, why set up a gate, a vertical gate that most riders at 4* might take at an angle, because they are 4* riders, but towards the end of the course, maybe not prepared? It was a dishonest question that far along and it caused harm, either physical or mental to horses and we should not accept that as good.
4 Likes
As I remember, ML was drawn and quartered after that run and given her track record, it was deserving. Eliza, till now, has shown to be a Horsewoman, caring about her horses and she admitted her mistake and told us all that her horse should have came first and that he is okay. Contrary to the norm, I’ll pull her back from the bus wheels and give her a chance to show she means what she says. ML, when presented with the same, never did.
Time will tell.
14 Likes
But the commentators made a great point - why are these riders jumping the fence on an angle on a tired horse?! Elisa’s go resulted in a particularly disappointed response. When horses are tired you can’t jump them on angles over verticles…what are people thinking?
8 Likes
She was not thinking and she admitted it. Ms Little never did, Eliza knew she pushed her horse, she knew it was wrong and she is taking her lumps. Tell me, did Ms Little get a YC at Rolex for pushing RF Scan too far? Did she say “I am sorry and I let my horse down”?
These people are human and they make mistakes. Small ones like Jonty where he says “It was me”, HUGE ones like Eliza where she says “It was me”. What we have seen with a few (one) is that not only do they not accept blame, they hide it (Ms Little) so I am willing to cut Ms Wallace slack if the next time she shows up to a 4* event her horse is fit and capable to run beyond the OT or if not, she pulls up and figures out how to condition a horse as well as she trains Mustangs. Maybe she should run one, might work out better.
6 Likes
Marylin Little 
The difference, I think, is that ML has a long and lengthy resume of this type of riding.
EW doesn’t.
That will change the responses to that type of riding - which, BTW, is never excusable. What does placate the masses is a sincere and immediate (and humble!) admittance of error – which EW issued promptly… ML has never, to my knowledge, admitted any error at all.
I hope she dusts herself off, hugs her horse, and thanks her lucky stars he carried her as far as he did - tonight she is probably going to be wrestling with what she did today – and hopefully, will learn from it.
12 Likes
I someone fairly long in the tooth I am so happy none of my youthful errors in judgement were captured on video to an international audience. There is this dichotomy in eventing, on one had the mottos are “kick on” and “ride him like you stole him,” but then folks whose fire in the belly suddenly goes too far and they are crucified on the interweb. Patterns of behavior are what tells the whole story-- no need to come down like bricks on someone who has had one incident when they are on the learning curve and pumped up on adrenaline.
24 Likes
Good points. I often wonder why horses don’t just buck us off when they’ve had enough. God knows I deserved to be dumped in the dirt many times. Amazing animals that they will continue to take care of us even when exhausted and in pain. I’m not excusing EW, but I can certainly forgive it and would expect her to learn from it as I hope I have done from my mistakes over the years.
8 Likes
“Kick on” is not “push and exhausted horse for three minutes”. Kick on means, take a flyer, take a back door, drop your reins but kick on! Not the same at all.
6 Likes
