[QUOTE=Weatherford;6481977]
ABSOLUTELY!!! And, had the two NOT been allowed to compete, their only other qualified (she rides in Europe) rider WOULD HAVE BEEN A WOMAN!!! It would have been against Saudi law for her to compete. Not good, IMHO!! :([/QUOTE]
Just as an FYI, but KSA did send a woman to the Games this year. In Judo, if I’m remembering correctly.
You’re absolutely right.
Abdullah al Sharbatly, warning for “abuse to the horse”
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315026&highlight=sharbatly
I had also heard about this from a friend 
Exactly.
The Saudis may have bought top horses, but they also gave a top performance in London. And had to qualify to get there.
Just because you buy a top horse doesn’t mean you’re going to medal. It’s not like the Saudis were doing long stirrup just yesterday.
[QUOTE=Coreene;6482210]
Exactly.
The Saudis may have bought top horses, but they also gave a top performance in London. And had to qualify to get there.
Just because you buy a top horse doesn’t mean you’re going to medal. It’s not like the Saudis were doing long stirrup just yesterday.[/QUOTE]
The Saudi woman didn’t have a qualified horse for the Olympics, and KSA didn’t buy her one.
I have heard that there has to be a certificate of capability for each rider/horse, and that Sharbatly did not compete his horse before the deadline to do this. I don’t know the particulars, but if true, another bending of the rules to get them to the Olympics.
[QUOTE=Coreene;6482210]
The Saudis may have bought top horses, but they also gave a top performance in London. And had to qualify to get there.
Just because you buy a top horse doesn’t mean you’re going to medal. It’s not like the Saudis were doing long stirrup just yesterday.[/QUOTE]
Ramadaan 2012 goes from July 20 - Aug 19th Hmmm
Think there might be a connection? Maybe God is helping them?
Odd coincedence though
Because they are funding the Nations Cup series for the next five years? And did you notice that the FEI/IOC official who hung the medals round the necks was a Saudi?
[QUOTE=vineyridge;6482351]
The Saudi woman didn’t have a qualified horse for the Olympics, and KSA didn’t buy her one. :([/QUOTE]
Er, so are we to take this to mean that the problem now is that KSA didn’t buy the RIGHT people into the Olympics?
Yup! They have the funds to buy her just as world class a horse and support her just as lavishly as they do their male riders. But they don’t.
Somebody on here remarked that the US not being on the podium (yet) is a failure. With all respect, I think this is BS. Unfortunate? Yes. A failure? Noooo. Last I checked, we don’t have some God-given right to any medal. We have to earn it like everybody else. And even our top riders and top horses have a bad day. It’s part of the game.
And folks buying their way into the Olympics? Yes. We do it, too. Who here would pass up a horse like Cylana or Mr. Medicott if offered?! Not me!!!
This just smacks of nationalism and potentially some anti-Muslim sentiment thrown in for good measure. Puhhleeeeese!!
Now, that said, I would LOVE for the US to have as many nice sport horses as they do over in Europe, without having to import. Yes, we do have good breeders and nice horses here, but they’re fewer and farther between than in Europe. I agree I would like to see this change… Not for any nationalistic reasons, but rather purely for my own selfish interests.
[QUOTE=loshad;6482107]
Just as an FYI, but KSA did send a woman to the Games this year. In Judo, if I’m remembering correctly.[/QUOTE]
I’m pretty sure they sent two women, I believe another was a runner or a sprinter ?? Just like the woman in Judo, she was competing with a modified head covering, if I remember the report correctly…
I do think they rode better @ the Olympics than at the WEGs…
It certainly looks like accommodations were made. Sharbatly and Sultan did not compete this year until June 29th (the qualification period expired 6/17), however wasn’t he unable to compete due to the suspension? If that is the case and the suspension was overturned (that’s a different topic altogether), then I think it’s only fair to extend the qualification period.
Wow, when I originally posted about what was said by the BBC commentators, I never expected this kind of response. I was very pleased today to hear the BBC commentators give credit where credit is due, and remark on how well the Saudis rode and how far along their riding has come. I was also happy to hear them comment on how one of their own riders, Scott Brash, had a horse purchased for him for the Games. I’m thrilled that Great Britain won gold on their home turf! All that being said, IMHO, everyone standing on the podium today deserved to be there, as they all rode their a** off over a really tough, technical course that tested both horse and rider.
Only because Olympic referees forbid her from wearing the hijab. And given the amount of flak she’s taking from clerics and the general public back home for 1. competing at all and 2. indecently wearing something other than ‘proper’ headgear, if she’s smart she’ll request asylum instead of going back. Though I suspect her “bodyguard” is there just as much to keep her from ditching as he is to “protect” her.
The runner is Saudi-American and doesn’t live in the KSA.
[QUOTE=gabby.gator;6482598]
I’m pretty sure they sent two women, I believe another was a runner or a sprinter ?? Just like the woman in Judo, she was competing with a modified head covering, if I remember the report correctly…
I do think they rode better @ the Olympics than at the WEGs…[/QUOTE]
KSA very well may have sent a gal in addition to the one in Judo, but I know for sure I saw a Qatari woman in the 100m prelims. Unfortunately, she looked like she injured herself coming out of the blocks and wasn’t able to finish, but I was impressed how she (and others) managed to modify what was culturally appropriate for them while competing.
ETA Obviously my opinion is irrelevant and I certainly hope their efforts are appreciated by those back home, and that they are not ostracized for competing.
Sheesh, even the New York Times is jumping on the bandwagon. Check out their online front page today. Can’t believe the Saudi’s also bought Peter Aitken, that was pretty slick. And don’t ask me for a link. I’m a bit polisher not the Geek Squad.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;6482423]
Because they are funding the Nations Cup series for the next five years? And did you notice that the FEI/IOC official who hung the medals round the necks was a Saudi?[/QUOTE]
I noticed that too.
No one has any right to medals and everyone has right to a chance and everyone buys their way to some degree…last time I checked horses weren’t free…here on the circuit you think everything is equal? The winners at the big shows have the money to be there and buy the best horses…doesn’t mean they are a sure thing but come how do you think riders make a name for themeselves…their talent surely, but also the good rides they get…you think a junior star would be so without exceptional rides that have a chance to win? …give the sour grapes a rest…seriously…of course their is hard work but you make it sound like these people are clueless beginners buying wonder horses that can jump around olympic courses…better than most other competitors with no aide from their riders…come on
NYTimes Reuters story link:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/08/06/sports/olympics/06reuters-oly-eque-eqxijp-day10-saudis.html?hp
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