Canadian Olympic Team - who do you pick?

[Jealoushe]

[QUOTE=Fred;8713679]
Jealoushe, even though you deny it, you really do seem to hold a grudge against Jess.
You never miss an opportunity to take a swing at her and sometimes her horses.[/QUOTE]

God forbid anyone mention anything about the golden child. Obviously you have a bias too because every time I comment anything on her you are jumping down my throat. She’s in the public eye, she’s the main focus of Canadian eventing, she is going to be on my radar.

I’m just stating the facts. I don’t have a problem with Jess at all, what I problem with is EC playing favorites when other riders who have talent and nice horses get bumped for training and funding because they don’t have millionaire owners backing them. Someone who has fallen and had a horse fall at almost every last international event is worrisome to me.

She has a lot of money and horseflesh backing her, but there are lots of talented riders here that miss out time and time again. That’s why our team is behind so many others.

[LadyB]

Keep in mind, those riders that don’t have the millions and horseflesh is exactly what Phoenix came from.

Her 2012 Olympic mount was a horse the no one could get on or ride, she made that horse and took him to the Olympics. Her 2008 Olympic mount that unfortunately came up lame right before shipping was also one she brought up the levels, on her own, on her dime.

So yes she may have the owners now, but don’t doubt for one second she didn’t earn it. She created her tails and its okay for her to ride the wave. Those other riders are where Jess was 4 years ago.

Jess has been our top rider because she pulls through when it counts. Who was the top placed Canadian at WEGs, Jess, who was the top placed Canadian at the Olympics, Jess, who was the top placed Canadian at Pan Ams, Jess. Because she always rises to the occasion. Yes her record is crap lately, we all see that, we are all aware, but she always rises to the occasion when need to.

I don’t doubt for a second that she can again rise to the occasion at the Olympics. I also think we have some very good strong riders to select from and some to look forward to their future of being on a team.

Obviously you are allowed to not like her, not be a fan, we all have riders we don’t like. There are a few I would prefer not to see on the team that will be on the team.

I hope our selectors are smart with their selection. I have little to no faith though. Its a shit show with them and I’m scared to find out who they choose.

Kyle I doubt will be selected because he has a voice. They don’t like that.
Kathryn seems to have pulled through, but after her Pan Am debut, I’m definitely nervous for her to be selected, but she can lay down a sweet dressage test.

I really don’t know who will be the team. Its so hard to say with all the crap going on behind closed doors.

[Fred]

[QUOTE=Jealoushe;8714200]
God forbid anyone mention anything about the golden child. Obviously you have a bias too because every time I comment anything on her you are jumping down my throat. She’s in the public eye, she’s the main focus of Canadian eventing, she is going to be on my radar.

I’m just stating the facts. I don’t have a problem with Jess at all, what I problem with is EC playing favorites when other riders who have talent and nice horses get bumped for training and funding because they don’t have millionaire owners backing them. Someone who has fallen and had a horse fall at almost every last international event is worrisome to me.

She has a lot of money and horseflesh backing her, but there are lots of talented riders here that miss out time and time again. That’s why our team is behind so many others.[/QUOTE]

First of all you are wrong about me “jumping down your throat” “anytime you comment anything on her (sic)”.
I doubt that my comment constitutes “jumping down your throat” - and while I notice when you make gratuitous snipes at Jess, I don’t always respond.
However, the fact that you even say that indicates that you acknowledge that you frequently snark about her.

I don’t know what your problem is, but you seem to have one.
And I am certainly not the only one who has noticed. :rolleyes:

As for me having a “bias”?
Obviously I like and admire her. You rather disparagingly referred to her as “the golden child” - but she didn’t get to the position she is in except by talent, incredibly hard work, as well as courage and determination.
Purely separate from the fact that she is one of our top riders, yes, she does ride a horse who is by my stallion.
Is THAT what you were attempting to suggest so coyly by saying that I have a “bias”.
I admire Selena O’Hanlon too, and yes, SHE has a horse by my stallion.
Did you forget to suggest I am “biased” about HER too?
How about Peter Barry? HE has a horse by my stallion too.
Yep, you forgot to mention my “bias” towards him.
The owner/breeder of Riddle Master bought a youngster from me, so yes indeed, by your criteria, I am “biased” towards them too.
:rolleyes:

Canada is a small pond when it comes to eventing.
I support and encourage and wish the best for ALL our riders and horses.
I want us to field the best team, and I want it to be fair, of course. I have no special insight into how the team is chosen, and I doubt you do either.

BTW Mrs Mars, who is a sponsor of US riders, also has a number of horses by my stallion. Did you forget to suggest that I have a “bias” towards those riders too?

I will continue to question why a poster on a horse board continues to make derogatory and petty comments about one of our top riders.
One rider in particular, time and again.

It’s tiresome.

[proud_sponsor]

Bravo Fred! Everything you said, and more about Jess and all the other riders.
Most of these people have little to no money behind them and could we not please quit bashing people and focus on supporting our potential team.
If you, Jealoushe would like to see new blood, then please step up to the plate with the $75, 000 - $100, 000 that it takes per annum to support these horses.
Otherwise, please be civil.

[goodmorning]

Regardless of bias, which hey everyone has their favorites it’s not a bad thing, Jess has had many falls or NFs as of late. She is so tough; it’s her weakness. Personal attacks & rhetoric aside, I’m sure we all hope she’s on the upswing. The sports too dangerous for one to sustain reoccurring crashes.

https://data.fei.org/Person/Performance.aspx?p=857BFB505C0295247FB8DE86DE046043

[Blondie22]

[QUOTE=goodmorning;8715079]
Regardless of bias, which hey everyone has their favorites it’s not a bad thing, Jess has had many falls or NFs as of late. She is so tough; it’s her weakness. Personal attacks & rhetoric aside, I’m sure we all hope she’s on the upswing. The sports too dangerous for one to sustain reoccurring crashes.

https://data.fei.org/Person/Performance.aspx?p=857BFB505C0295247FB8DE86DE046043[/QUOTE]

I agree with you. She’s too tough - getting back on and riding when she really shouldn’t. She’s on a current 2 week EC riding suspension after her pretty bad fall at Bromont.

[devvie]

[QUOTE=clivers;8712588]
I’m not sure if she is still writing one. The comments at the bottom of this post suggest what may have happened:http://www.horse-canada.com/straight-up/counterbalance/[/QUOTE]

There WAS a farewell post, written by Karen, but it seems to have been scrubbed away.

Just mainly trying to change the subject here, before another perfectly reasonable Canadian Eventing thread gets wrecked by another #$%^ing fight over whether J.P. sucks or not. Give it up, I beg you.

[Foxtrot_s]

It would be wise to keep personal opinions of people to ourselves…it reflects badly on the poster.

[JenJ]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8715717]
It would be wise to keep personal opinions of people to ourselves…it reflects badly on the poster.[/QUOTE]

that bit of wise advice ranks up there with
“my mind is made up, don’t confuse me with the facts”

[brindille]

I think the team will be Jess, Selena, Rebecca, Kathryn with colleen and/or Waylon as reserves. I’d thought holly would be going but her results this year haven’t been great. I really wonder which horse jp will take. She’s so selective about running pavorotti and never seems to for time. And there’s the soundness q. New grey horse is spectacular but has spotty xc record. I wish we could see steph Rhodes-Bosch at this level again - she’s such a great rider.

[canuckeventer]

[QUOTE=brindille;8718046]
I wish we could see steph Rhodes-Bosch at this level again - she’s such a great rider.[/QUOTE]

One day soon, I hope!

[Pippigirl]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8708596]
I’d make a joke out of selections because I’d pick A Little Romance out of pure sentiment for AFR and our member here, as opposed to stats. Anyway, I like that gutsy little cat-like mare.[/QUOTE]

Ditto!

[Fred]

[QUOTE=brindille;8718046]
I wish we could see steph Rhodes-Bosch at this level again - she’s such a great rider.[/QUOTE]

Me too, brindille, she is someone I admire as well.

[Fred]

[QUOTE=Pippigirl;8719843]
Ditto! :D[/QUOTE]

Thank you, Foxtrot’s and Pippi.

[Marigold]

[QUOTE=LadyB;8714267]
Because she always rises to the occasion. Yes her record is crap lately, we all see that, we are all aware, but she always rises to the occasion when need to.[/QUOTE]

I know this thread has been quiet, but I wanted to chime in and ask if this was a common perspective. JP has absolutely pulled off some incredible team results for Canada, and for that, I think has, in a positive way, probably earned the “golden girl” status mentioned - she has indeed brought home gold for Canada.

That said, especially in a time where people are now comfortable questioning whether some American riders are automatic shoe-ins for the team (discussed at length on other threads), it seems odd that applying similar questions to the Canadian team is frowned upon.

As you mentioned above, JP’s recent record is not what you would hope from a team rider - any of the others would almost certainly be removed from the team for similar results. I don’t question that she is an incredible rider, who has produced phenomenal results in the past (not to mention she is a wonderful person and coach), but she has produced those results in the past when she was coming into major championships with a much stronger record. I’m struggling to see why she, and all others, shouldn’t continue to be held to that standard.

[retreadeventer]

I think it is very hard to pick a team for the Olympics from a set of riders that Canada currently has to pick from. They got lucky in the last cycle with DOC as coach, and now that he has moved on, there’s been so many changes in Canada that eventing does not seem to have gotten much priority within their Olympic team swirl.
I think you want to see an international level rider, ideally with a solid, placing 3 star horse that is sound. I’d like to see anyone completing Rolex or any other four star given some small priority; then I’d like to see anyone winning or looking like a winner next in that mix.
I would not pick someone based on results a decade or so, ago riding a green horse. I think this is not the Olympics for that. I think Rio will chew even the good ones up and spit them out. So I’m looking for a solid competitive horse that’s shipped around a bit and has a good solid record.
It is very hard to look at time faults and try and decide what a rider might have been doing. Sometimes I think, just win the damn thing and go fast - see what your horse is made of - and if he can manage this sport at the high level. Then other times I think, don’t be crazy, don’t waste a potential team horse by cooking them in March when you really need them sound and ready in August.
I do not envy Canadian selectors, that’s for sure.

[canuckeventer]

http://eventingnation.com/equine-canada-to-finally-name-olympic-eventing-team-on-july-14/
Have to wait another 2 weeks - don’t know what to say! :no:

[LadyB]

I honestly have no idea who they are going to pick. The more tidbits of information I find out the more I feel less confident in our selection and chance to do well. UGH. Curious. Its become so political its disgusting.

By the looks of it Kyle Carter had no clue that Madison was not qualified by EC standards. That’s a shit show in itself.

[clivers]

[QUOTE=canuckeventer;8724353]
http://eventingnation.com/equine-canada-to-finally-name-olympic-eventing-team-on-july-14/
Have to wait another 2 weeks - don’t know what to say! :no:[/QUOTE]

Ridiculous!
You can’t make this EC shit up!

[Foxtrot_s]

Extremely important that the announcement be made to co-incide with the new website and emblem…team riders can continue to bite their nails.