Badminton 2017 Cross-country

[betonbill]

@staceyk

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.

I’m not excusing EW either, but does anyone else remember Bruce Davidson Sr at the first Rolex? He finished his cross country on a gray horse who immediately needed either literally gallons of IV fluids or oxygen or both (this was long format back then). I believe he received a ton of criticism for that, even in those pre-internet/Facebook/forum days.

There is a learning curve and EW was lucky that hers did not result in injury. I don’t remember Davidson’s horse competing again (may be wrong). There is an old saying that you ruin a few horses in order to reach the top of the sport. At least Elisa didn’t do that.

[Rallycairn]

Wow, talk about owning your mistakes – I just admire the heck out of so many of our riders, including Hannah Sue Burnett. What a great attitude. From her FB page:

"I try very hard to be a person who takes blame where it’s due and doesn’t make excuses for my mistakes, especially on Facebook.

I should’ve ridden harder to keep from having a run-out yesterday. Plain and simple. I have a lot to learn and I desperately desire to ride and compete as well as the best in the world. Please believe me when I say, I don’t take my mistakes lightly.

William will reroute to Luhmuhlen next month. I am sorry I didn’t produce what I set out to do. I am determined to show the world how great my horses, owners, team, and sponsors are.

Thanks to everyone for their support and for holding me accountable when I don’t get it done. I will do better.
-HS"

What an admirable horsewoman and person!

[lucky_dog_farm]

I am soooooooooo happy that Andrew Nickleson just won Badminton!!! Good on him!

[Jealoushe]

@Maya01

I have to agree with this. At the end of the day we have to understand that Miss Wallace is a YOUNG professional. Unfortunately we can’t come out of the womb knowing how to pilot around a tough 4*. Combine this with the fact that she, like every rider at that level, has ambition and wants to be a star. The truth is that taking risks is inherent to the sport of eventing. She made a decision, took a risk, and unfortunately it did not play out for her, but she learned a valuable lesson and will come out of the start box wiser next time. You have to make mistakes in order to learn!

The problem with this mistake was that it ended in a very potentially dangerous horse fall. These are mistakes we can’t really afford to make at the 4* level. There was a good 3 minutes she had to decide, not a split second. This is why I feel this display of riding isn’t one to sweep under the rug so easily.

Bruce Davidson incident was in the 70s and we have learned a lot since then.

[JenJ]

still hoping for positive news on the AUS(?) horse that has a potentially broken shoulder, at least for a paddock sound retirement.

[Rallycairn]

@JenJ

still hoping for positive news on the AUS(?) horse that has a potentially broken shoulder, at least for a paddock sound retirement.

What is especially heartbreaking about this one is the poor horse got injured galloping home/to the stable.

[Equibrit]

@Maya01

I have to agree with this. At the end of the day we have to understand that Miss Wallace is a YOUNG professional. Unfortunately we can’t come out of the womb knowing how to pilot around a tough 4*. Combine this with the fact that she, like every rider at that level, has ambition and wants to be a star. The truth is that taking risks is inherent to the sport of eventing. She made a decision, took a risk, and unfortunately it did not play out for her, but she learned a valuable lesson and will come out of the start box wiser next time. You have to make mistakes in order to learn!

She had all the experience she needed, from a lifetime spent in eventing, to make the right decision. Selfishly - she did not (again).

[flyingchange]

@bornfreenowexpensive

Very cool evidence that horses at this level love their job. He so could have gone around that table but instead…jumped between the flags!

Oh please … LOL… anthropomorphize much? It’s called training mixed with adrenaline. Seriously.

[fordtraktor]

Congrats to AN, what a nail biter! Beautifully ridden.

i noticed most all the riders who fell went straight to the medic instead of to their horses. Is there a rule about that? I watched at least half a dozen falls where this happened so I was assuming it was and that was the reason EW didn’t go to the horse first. Either way it was a scary fall and I am glad they are both OK.

i don’t see any reason to think Lauren’s horse was tired and that is why she went slow. I think she went slow so she could give the mare a good experience and I applaud that decision. To me Veronica looked full of run at the end, she was still jumping super and had her ears pricked all the way. Nothing about that screams “lack of fitness.” And I have no idea how fit Donner looked because I only saw about 10 seconds. He was awesome at the Head of the Lake.

i also really liked how Veronica looked steady between the fences. She may have been slow but the ride itself was very smooth and not much in the way of adjustments, the gallop was beautifully balanced. Super.

[useventers]

@Maya01

I have to agree with this. At the end of the day we have to understand that Miss Wallace is a YOUNG professional. Unfortunately we can’t come out of the womb knowing how to pilot around a tough 4*. Combine this with the fact that she, like every rider at that level, has ambition and wants to be a star. The truth is that taking risks is inherent to the sport of eventing. She made a decision, took a risk, and unfortunately it did not play out for her, but she learned a valuable lesson and will come out of the start box wiser next time. You have to make mistakes in order to learn!

She is a young professional, but she’s spend every day of her life in this sport. She grew up with her father competing back in the long format days. You can’t go on and on with social media saying how she was doing trot sets at 2, eventing at 4 and then claim she’s too young a professional to know better. She does know better, but her ambition is maybe getting the best of her right now.

I’ve seen other examples of poor horsemanship for EW. I think her rushing that little mustang mare Hwin up the levels was appalling. The poor mare had no business at the Prelim level, she was weaving in front of XC fences and you could tell in the show jumping, she had no idea what was being asked. She obviously has a ton of heart and was desperately trying to answer the questions, but she didn’t have the foundation. Since this mare is meant to represent the breed and be an ambassador, I was shocked EW didn’t take more time with her and make sure she was rock solid up the levels.

https://youtu.be/agBmn6F5124

https://youtu.be/bH-VWSf_lm0

I thought his quote from Sinead’s husband was terrific: “A great horse would jump through fire for you if you asked and a great horseman would never ask.” I think EW is a terrific talent, but needs to remember the great responsibility that comes with horses that will give everything you ask. Hopefully, she’ll take a step back, regroup and come back better than before.

[flyingchange]

@Maya01

I have to agree with this. At the end of the day we have to understand that Miss Wallace is a YOUNG professional. Unfortunately we can’t come out of the womb knowing how to pilot around a tough 4*. Combine this with the fact that she, like every rider at that level, has ambition and wants to be a star. The truth is that taking risks is inherent to the sport of eventing. She made a decision, took a risk, and unfortunately it did not play out for her, but she learned a valuable lesson and will come out of the start box wiser next time. You have to make mistakes in order to learn!

1. She is 35 year old - hardly a “young horse professional.”
2. Her Badders description states that she has been involved in horses and eventing for her entire life. That her Dad was an eventer. Enough time to learn when to call it a day.
3. This ain’t her first rodeo.
4. Badminton is not the place for anyone to learn the “lesson” of when to pull up an exhausted horse.

If her horse had made it through the finish, I highly doubt we would have heard from her on social media last night. She would have instead been up all night, nursing his body to try to get him passable-looking for the jog. If she had by some miracle passed the jog, the horse would likely have dropped at least eight rails in SJ. But she would have completed. And clearly, from that ride, completing, come hell or high water, was all that mattered to her.

It’s easy to come back and say, “sorry, I screwed up” the day after. But it is the decisions that a person makes in the heat of the moment that show who and what they are all about.

I don’t care that she doesn’t have Meredith Little’s track record. That has zero to do with. She owns what she did to that horse yesterday.

As far as the defense that “he is syndicated!” - I think most owners would prefer that she pull that poor horse up yesterday than nearly kill him. I’d be furious. The fact that he is syndicated is all the more reason to pull him up - if one is so dense that the fact that he was about to drop dead anyway doesn’t do it for them - he wasn’t her horse to destroy.

[MNEventer]

I have a question that I’m hoping those with equine respiratory knowledge can answer. I noticed that Simply Priceless’ noseband was sitting pretty low on his nose, and I’m wondering if that could have contributed to his fatigue? It looked like he may have had trouble opening his airways fully with the noseband in the way, which could definitely reduce his oxygen intake.

I could be totally wrong, happy for any further info.

[BitofFaith]

@useventers

She is a young professional, but she’s spend every day of her life in this sport. She grew up with her father competing back in the long format days. You can’t go on and on with social media saying how she was doing trot sets at 2, eventing at 4 and then claim she’s too young a professional to know better. She does know better, but her ambition is maybe getting the best of her right now.

I’ve seen other examples of poor horsemanship for EW. I think her rushing that little mustang mare Hwin up the levels was appalling. The poor mare had no business at the Prelim level, she was weaving in front of XC fences and you could tell in the show jumping, she had no idea what was being asked. She obviously has a ton of heart and was desperately trying to answer the questions, but she didn’t have the foundation. Since this mare is meant to represent the breed and be an ambassador, I was shocked EW didn’t take more time with her and make sure she was rock solid up the levels.

https://youtu.be/agBmn6F5124

https://youtu.be/bH-VWSf_lm0

I thought his quote from Sinead’s husband was terrific: “A great horse would jump through fire for you if you asked and a great horseman would never ask.” I think EW is a terrific talent, but needs to remember the great responsibility that comes with horses that will give everything you ask. Hopefully, she’ll take a step back, regroup and come back better than before.

I totally agree with this statement - i lost respect EW a long time ago after seeing those same videos. I was shocked at her cult-like following when I saw poor horsemanship, selfish decisions and poor judgement on her treatment of this mare. Also, her current upper level horse was “bought” - she didn’t make it… She is only competing at this level, because she bought a horse that would take her there - and she thanks him by running him to exhaustion, beating the snot out of him to finish, and then storming off like a spoiled child when it didn’t go her way. I’ll pass thank you very much…

[kt-rose]

@Maya01

I have to agree with this. At the end of the day we have to understand that Miss Wallace is a YOUNG professional. Unfortunately we can’t come out of the womb knowing how to pilot around a tough 4*. Combine this with the fact that she, like every rider at that level, has ambition and wants to be a star. The truth is that taking risks is inherent to the sport of eventing. She made a decision, took a risk, and unfortunately it did not play out for her, but she learned a valuable lesson and will come out of the start box wiser next time. You have to make mistakes in order to learn!

I rarely feel strongly enough to weigh in and post on these kinds of issues because I know this is a tough sport and we do all make mistakes on a regular basis with our horses no matter how hard we are trying to get it right. And we learn from them. I don’t actually think taking a whip to an exhausted horse on the flat is just a mistake that an apology makes ok. As the yellow card indicates, it is ‘abuse of the horse’. It displays a lack of empathy and horsemanship we don’t see very often, thank goodness. In the 40 years I have been involved in eventing, there are a handful of moments that stand out as low points and watching EW press that horse to get home is now one of them.

[Dr_Doolittle]

@kt-rose

I rarely feel strongly enough to weigh in and post on these kinds of issues because I know this is a tough sport and we do all make mistakes on a regular basis with our horses no matter how hard we are trying to get it right. And we learn from them. I don’t actually think taking a whip to an exhausted horse on the flat is just a mistake that an apology makes ok. As the yellow card indicates, it is ‘abuse of the horse’. It displays a lack of empathy and horsemanship we don’t see very often, thank goodness. In the 40 years I have been involved in eventing, there are a handful of moments that stand out as low points and watching EW press that horse to get home is now one of them.

Yes indeed. She had ample time to make the right decision not to press on with a clearly exhausted horse; from all reports this was not simply “giving him a few whacks to wake him up” between the last couple of fences

IME (and others’) doesn’t it almost always feel worse than it looks? If so in this case, really no excuse for it.

I haven’t seen her cross country yet, but the evidence seems to be overwhelming from the reports. Is there a link to the cross country up on YouTube yet?

[Heinz_57]

@useventers

https://youtu.be/agBmn6F5124

https://youtu.be/bH-VWSf_lm0

Oh, my. What a game little horse to have kept going on, but as a rider I have to say I would have pulled up out of concern for injury to my horse. Too many things can occur that don’t make them immediately dead lame.

I have a really hard time buying into the age defense, professional status aside. Any reasonably decent instructor teaches kids at the most basic levels that you always, always put the horse first (assuming you do not need immediate medical attention). I went to (western) “horse camp” when I was 10, a place put on by the YMCA with a string full of the most backyard nags and college kid volunteers for counselors - certainly not high dollar horses or high class instruction - and we were told in no uncertain terms that it didn’t matter if you were going to pee your pants, you HAD to cool out, untack, and water your horse before you took care of yourself.

I am disappointed to see this from one of “ours”, and I hope she takes the opportunity in the future to demonstrate exemplary horsemanship and be a good steward for her mounts every time she leaves the box. As we all should.

[lep]

Holy crap just watched those youtube videos of Hwin. Wow. Just because a horse can jump 3’6" doesn’t mean a horse should be competing prelim. If my horse had taken a nose dive in stadium I would have at least trotted a couple circles to make sure it was sound and to settle and take a breath. I probably would have also tried to look at his face to make sure it was okay.

Edited to add I don’t know if Hwin carried on because she was game or because EW was so aggressive with her crop when she hesitated. Poor horse might have just been too scared to stop.

[OverandOnward]

Interview with Lynn Symansky about Donner’s ride.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrTr1y4K3UM

She talks about the pre-ride plan not holding up in the face of the actual ride – especially after Donner lost a shoe at #4. About coming home clean with a healthy horse being more important than making the time. Very interesting comments in the last 3rd of the interview, comparing her approach at WEG with the ride at Badminton, especially as some of her points have been part of this thread discussion.

I thought Lauren’s cross-country ride on Veronica was the class act of the day that illustrated dramatically her growth as a rider, as a person, as a competitor and as a horsewoman. In recent years it’s been easy to see that Lauren is fiercely competitive, a talented rider, and if she makes a mistake, it is almost always in going stronger in a moment when it would have been better to be a bit more conservative. Yesterday she rode smart and in the best interests of the horse, imo.

As mentioned in posts above, in spite of Veronica’s experience Lauren is developing both Veronica and herself to the level. And not for nothing, Veronica was the last of the American horses out of the start box, and it was very apparent that none of the previous four had the stamina for the course. Whatever affected them might have also affected Veronica. (Maybe Donner shouldn’t count, though, due to the thrown shoe.) So Lauren rode the horse she had on the day rather than trying to storm around Badminton in a dream ride. IMO

And she still finished in the top 20. My hat is off to Lauren.

[skydy]

@Dr. Doolittle

IME (and others’) doesn’t it almost always feel worse than it looks? If so in this case, really no excuse for it.

I haven’t seen her cross country yet, but the evidence seems to be overwhelming from the reports. Is there a link to the cross country up on YouTube yet?

I have only experienced once, the feeling of riding a horse that was really tiring (not eventing) but yes, it was an unmistakable feeling and rather alarming. He just felt empty. He didn’t move off of my leg and I hopped off immediately. I certainly wouldn’t go to the stick in that instance.

She is riding at a level I never have or will so I’m sure she could not have helped but have known he was flagging had nothing left.

I was expecting her to pull up at every stride for quite a while before she reached that last fence and was really surprised when she didn’t. I can’t imagine putting a horse to a jump when it was so obviously exhausted.

There is a highlights video on you tube but I doubt that ride would be on it.

[OverandOnward]

Elisa … I kept wishing she would call it a day having completed a good two-thirds to three-quarters of the course with a great developmental experience for the future. Elisa probably had competing voices in her head at a moment that was challenging in many ways. Maybe she was trying to take it one fence at a time – “he can do one more, he can do one more”. Her decision was deeply short-sighted. If in the past putting the horse first has been a challenge for her, maybe she understands better now that this moment needs to be a turnaround point in how she handles these decisions in the future, if she is to hope to continue to hold a place at the top of the sport.

To me what she did after the fall is a different issue. I do not like it when there is so much criticism of how a rider doesn’t appear to respond as the public wishes in 10 or 15 seconds of video, at an extremely unfortunate and emotional moment. From that glimpse we don’t know what they did later, or even how they are day-to-day. And people generally don’t show their best self in a sudden crisis, they do and say things that are not typical of who they really are.

I have no judgment about what Elisa did after hitting the ground. But all riders who are regularly on the camera at major events need to remember just that – they are on camera to a huge audience, and it will be rebroadcast for the rest of their careers. It is time for top riders to be schooled about remembering the camera at difficult moments, as other professional athletes have had to do, to help them know better how to respond in those moments, for the sake of their careers. Advance preparation is necessary because, in general, people don’t do their best thinking in their worst moments - even though the public expects idealized behavior.