[QUOTE=meupatdoes;7807741]
The man showed us who he was before.
Why did we not believe him?[/QUOTE]
Are you referencing the allegations over the shady sales of horses, or is there a past allegation of horse abuse?
THAT’S the video?
[QUOTE=jen-s;7804128]
Link to video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh1OnpAM4f4[/QUOTE]
That has got to be the worst quality video I have ever seen, and I can make no judgement call as to whether the horse was overcorrected, or simply overreacted to an appropriate correction in the heat of battle (and after coming face to face with another fence as a result of trying to evade the intended obstacle).
Even if I was there in the arena, I would have a hard time being certain as why that happened. Looks like you could say…if the horse hadn’t been entered in the class, he would not have fallen. If he wasn’t a show jumper he might not be expected to work so hard. If we didn’t have competitions, then no one would be wondering what happened here…
Horse is lucky he’s not an eventer…just saying…
[QUOTE=AffirmedHope;7806117]
Someone posted this on the H&H website:
Thank you for your email.
Following your comments, we can confirm that Ben Maher (GBR) was officially reprimanded by the President of the Ground Jury and the Foreign Judge after the incident at the Horse of the Year Show. The horse was also given a thorough veterinary examination after the incident and was given a clean bill of health.
With best regards,
Corporate Communications
Fédération Equestre Internationale
Chemin de la Joliette 8
1006 Lausanne
Switzerland
So looks like the verdict was that he was in the wrong.[/QUOTE]
Not necessarily.
The FEI has been known to issue such reprimands when the alternative is not to and leave themselves open to accusations by animal rights movement of being insensitive.
This video on my phone is bad, but watching it full screen on my computer, it appears there was no distance and the horse stopped out of self preservation. The horse looks like he was not wild right after the refusal and was booted and hauled on. The person on the ground was in front of a standard and it looks like the horse was headed thru the gap between the two fences. I could see Ben’s hands come up and pull back very hard, the horses head went up and Ben continued to pull back. :no:
[QUOTE=Pony+ an inch;7807667]
If the horse has a bad attitude, one that includes not caring who/what he runs over, then the rider absolutely has a responsibility to check that darn animal hard as possible to prevent a run-over, which to me is what looked like happening. I’m not surprised Maher received a reprimand, but I doubt he regrets his actions. Unless you were on the ground there OR have experience riding horses who have some loose screws, there’s very little to judge.[/QUOTE]
This in spades
Just posted on Ben’s Facebook:
“The incident with my horse at HOYS last week was most unfortunate. However the allegations that my actions were reprehensible and indeed reprimanded are quite without foundation and by the FEI’s enquiry, they have been vindicated. The welfare of my horses is always paramount and I wish to make it clear that I have the fullest respect for my horses and their owners, the governing bodies of the sport and the Ground Jury members at HOYS. The FEI has issued a statement clarifying its position for which I am grateful and as always, I wish to thank all those who run the sport, my sponsors and owners for their support.”
Ben Maher
FEI Statement
“The FEI Secretary General has now investigated the incident concerning Ben Maher at the CSI3* Birmingham (GBR), which was addressed by officials at the time. He has clearly established that no reprimand, no warning nor any other sanction has been imposed on Ben Maher. On behalf of the FEI he apologises for the inconvenience an earlier statement from FEI Headquarters might have caused for the athlete and his entourage.”
It is great to know we can rely on the FEI for Marmoog-class decisions on a regular basis. My humble apologies. On the bright side Wings Sublieme won’t need to have her teeth floated for another two years.
Ben Maher:
"…[I]make it clear that I have the fullest respect for my horses and their owners, the governing bodies of the sport and the Ground Jury members at HOYS. "
Bull pucky.
He has such high regard for his owners that he cheats them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
And he has such respect for the Ground Jury, who was THERE and saw what really happened, that he protests their decision and gets it reversed by a man who was not there and who has lets the politics of the FEI win out over what the Ground Jury saw.
Now the man is a cheat, a horse abuser AND a liar.[/I]
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;7809890]
Ben Maher:
"…[I]make it clear that I have the fullest respect for my horses and their owners, the governing bodies of the sport and the Ground Jury members at HOYS. "
Bull pucky.
He has such high regard for his owners that he cheats them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
And he has such respect for the Ground Jury, who was THERE and saw what really happened, that he protests their decision and gets it reversed by a man who was not there and who has lets the politics of the FEI win out over what the Ground Jury saw.
Now the man is a cheat, a horse abuser AND a liar.[/I][/QUOTE]
Oh so it was reversed by someone who wasn’t there? Nice. Typical FEI though.
I got a good laugh out of the “respect for owners and horses” line as well. So much respect that you swindle them out of hundreds of thousands.
Surely the horse show videographer could exonerate Ben. Look at the quality of this video made at HOYS of the Charles babies winning everything in sight. Slow-mo and everything.
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;7809890]
that he protests their decision and gets it reversed by a man who was not there and who has lets the politics of the FEI win out over what the Ground Jury saw./QUOTE]
How do you know he protested the decision? Was there a decision? You don’t just call up the FEI and have a conversation if you want to appeal a decision. It is a much more formal process and would not have been settled in a day or two.
How do you know he protested the decision? Was there a decision? You don’t just call up the FEI and have a conversation if you want to appeal a decision. It is a much more formal process and would not have been settled in a day or two.
What is marmoog-ing? And who got cheated out of hundreds of thousands? Is this common knowledge? I don’t go to WEF to catch up on the latest deals and steal every year, so fill us in!!
[QUOTE=Victorious;7810124]
What is marmoog-ing? And who got cheated out of hundreds of thousands? Is this common knowledge? I don’t go to WEF to catch up on the latest deals and steal every year, so fill us in!![/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Victorious;7810124]
What is marmoog-ing? And who got cheated out of hundreds of thousands? Is this common knowledge? I don’t go to WEF to catch up on the latest deals and steal every year, so fill us in!![/QUOTE]
…and he “lost”. Out of court, of course.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/ben-maher-settles-legal-dispute-former-backers/
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/ben-maher-lawsuit-settled
I believe Marmoog is in reference to Sheik Hamdan’s endurance horse Marmoog who was double registered with the FEI but as 2 different coloured horses (as if the Saudi’s were using a “ringer” horse in competition. There was also something about the same horse being registered with different names… my understanding is the FEI sort of turned a blind eye to it all until a UK journalist wrote about it. (Pippa Cuckson?)
[QUOTE=Janeway;7810159]
I believe Marmoog is in reference to Sheik Hamdan’s endurance horse Marmoog who was double registered with the FEI but as 2 different coloured horses (as if the Saudi’s were using a “ringer” horse in competition. There was also something about the same horse being registered with different names… my understanding is the FEI sort of turned a blind eye to it all until a UK journalist wrote about it. (Pippa Cuckson?)[/QUOTE]
They have continued to turn a “blind eye” by having the “investigation” at a snails pace so Hamdan was able to compete (and win) at WEG.
Disgusting, but par for the course for the FEI.
I’m pretty sure his stirrups are adjustable. Why don’t all of you arm charing get out there and take a crack at it. Show us how to do it right.
I standby what I posted earlier. I think he both knows better and is a better rider than this. I won’t even touch the ownership issue, which was thoroughly disappointing.
Idol worship gets us nowhere in this sport. Reed should have been reprimanded for her behavior at the Masters as well.
Nothing I say is going to change anyone’s mind, I just strongly believe that this could have been avoided.
ETA: I’m not accusing anyone of idol worship, but I can see how some can turn a blind eye. With the prevalence of social media these riders have an even stronger influence on the next generation of riders and I believe that the riders, FEI and USEF need to be better about issues like this.
Do Brits not do the one rein stop? Seems to me that’s the correct thing to do in a situation where a horse might run into someone in front.
