Actually think she rode the horse beautifully. Held him together every step of the way as he flung himself over the jumps… Puts an interesting spin on this whole thing as I dare say, he does look a touch used up with a heart full of try.
[QUOTE=Janeway;7655041]
…we can probably add Clearway to the list: he won 2 finals with Lillie last year, and has now been sold to Betsee Parker! I imagine he’ll be around for a while considering he is only 9.[/QUOTE]
Just curious: what’s the average age of a sound equitation horse ? Generally, how old are they when they’re at their peak ?
Racehorse are considered older when they’re about 5 , reiners last just a few years, dressage horses are aimed at showing well into their teens, jumpers into early teens, etc.
Where do equitation horses fit in ?
[QUOTE=busylady;7658611]
I hesitate to comment on the rounds, because I don’t think this thread should be about Ms. Champ’s riding; it should be about her commentary. That said, there is absolutely NOTHING in either of the rounds that leads me to believe this girl was simply upset about “finals not going her way” as some have stated. The horse looked a little strong, but she gave it a tactful and error free ride. Please, do not turn this thread into a critique of her riding or the rounds.[/QUOTE]
The rounds were to show how the horse went. Not about Olivia’s riding.
[QUOTE=PonyPenny;7649899]
Oh please, she was in the thick of it for many years. She did not just wake up and have an epiphany. If medal finals had gone the way she wanted, there would of been no article in COTH.[/QUOTE]
She had two more years left to improve her finals performance… Something a lot of juniors would never give up. I find it odd that instead of discussing the issues presented, the choice of a number of people here is to dump on the kid. Finally received the issue, without knowledge of the junior, the horse, or anyone else involved… What came through for me was respect for the horse, appreciation of the opportunity to ride, and concern
I only watched one of the videos, but I didn’t think the horse looked used up at all…in fact I thought he looked kind of bright compared to some equ horses.
People are going to come away with widely varying interpretations of the video, such is the nature of the beast and I assume why OP preferred they weren’t even posted… for instance, what some perceive as quick I perceive as a hind end desperately trying to keep up with the front end.
[QUOTE=juststartingout;7659154]
She had two more years left to improve her finals performance… Something a lot of juniors would never give up. I find it odd that instead of discussing the issues presented, the choice of a number of people here is to dump on the kid. [/QUOTE]
Honestly, if there is so much concern for the horses, there are better ways to affect change than to silently walk away. Leaving the sandbox is certainly one way of making a statement, but it’s not long-lasting and it’s reminiscent of a hissy fit (which may or may not be the case). OC supposedly has the means to continue competing…so show them how it should be done, rather than how it is. Unless, of course, you’ve burned all your bridges.
Anyone reading this thread and the article is going to watch those videos with a bias. It actually would’ve been nice to watch them prior to reading to get a clearer perspective.
[QUOTE=mroades;7634834]
Our state association has a rule that you may not show in more than 7 jumping classes in one day. You would be surprised at the number of people that violate it/think its stupid[/QUOTE]
SEVEN??? In Argentina, we are only allowed two per day. Seven is too much, even for cross rails or baby classes, because you have to add warmup for each, too. IMHO, waaaay too much…
[QUOTE=faraway46;7660686]
SEVEN??? In Argentina, we are only allowed two per day. Seven is too much, even for cross rails or baby classes, because you have to add warmup for each, too. IMHO, waaaay too much…[/QUOTE]
Mroades is probably talking about one-day shows. You’d have to allow at least 3-4 o/f or else you couldn’t have a real division!
[QUOTE=RugBug;7660409]
Honestly, if there is so much concern for the horses, there are better ways to affect change than to silently walk away. Leaving the sandbox is certainly one way of making a statement, but it’s not long-lasting and it’s reminiscent of a hissy fit (which may or may not be the case). OC supposedly has the means to continue competing…so show them how it should be done, rather than how it is. Unless, of course, you’ve burned all your bridges. … [/QUOTE]
… So what do you suggest would be more effective than writing a column and stepping away … and that would not burn your bridges ----- just curious
[QUOTE=juststartingout;7661844]
… So what do you suggest would be more effective than writing a column and stepping away … and that would not burn your bridges ----- just curious[/QUOTE]
As I said in my post, show them how it should be done. don’t over-prep or over compete. Put the horse first. Gossip may travel fastest, but the good stuff gets around as well.
The not burning bridges statement in my post was more about it sounding like trainers may not want to work with OC based on some previous bad experiences. She probably has few other choices but to walk away at this point.
[QUOTE=vxf111;7660926]
Mroades is probably talking about one-day shows. You’d have to allow at least 3-4 o/f or else you couldn’t have a real division![/QUOTE]
Sorry, you lost me. In Argentina we can only write ourselves in two classes with the same horse, be it a day show or a week long one, as long as it’s two per day. I’m sure my confusion comes from not knowing how the divisions are made or what it takes to qualify, etc. All I know that here it’s two a day, be it a schooling or a prize winning class. Only two. Period.
[QUOTE=RugBug;7661896]
As I said in my post, show them how it should be done. don’t over-prep or over compete. Put the horse first. Gossip may travel fastest, but the good stuff gets around as well.
The not burning bridges statement in my post was more about it sounding like trainers may not want to work with OC based on some previous bad experiences. She probably has few other choices but to walk away at this point.[/QUOTE]
Realistically – the opportunity for a junior to “show them how it should be done” is VERY limited unless they have large funding of their own and the ability to control their own horses and program. Really rare for a junior… I think we should be realistic here is considering what the REAL options were …
BTW in MHO good stuff doesn’t get around very well
From what it sounds like, there IS funding available.
Since when does a junior, or a junior’s parents if they case may be, not have control of 1)a horse they own or 2) how much the junior shows? Honestly, no one can force you to go to a show you don’t want to go to. If a BNT refuses to have you in their barn because you aren’t showing enough…go find another that will allow it. They are out there.
BTW in MHO good stuff doesn’t get around very well
It doesn’t get around nearly as quickly or as completely, but it gets around. There are also ways to boost the audience, like non-finger pointing blogs and articles. I read some of Zazou Hoffman’s stuff while she riding and enjoyed it. There are ways to write about putting the horses first that don’t villify others involved.
[QUOTE=faraway46;7661980]
Sorry, you lost me. In Argentina we can only write ourselves in two classes with the same horse, be it a day show or a week long one, as long as it’s two per day. I’m sure my confusion comes from not knowing how the divisions are made or what it takes to qualify, etc. All I know that here it’s two a day, be it a schooling or a prize winning class. Only two. Period.[/QUOTE]
I presume you’re talking about jumpers. Hunters is generally 3-4 over fences classes and a hack/flat class which makes a division. At one-day shows, all done successively.
[QUOTE=faraway46;7661980]
Sorry, you lost me. In Argentina we can only write ourselves in two classes with the same horse, be it a day show or a week long one, as long as it’s two per day. I’m sure my confusion comes from not knowing how the divisions are made or what it takes to qualify, etc. All I know that here it’s two a day, be it a schooling or a prize winning class. Only two. Period.[/QUOTE]
Yea…I can’t imagine going to a show for just 2 classes. A multi day show, but not a one day. If my horse can’t jump 2-3 rounds at 2’6", I have bigger problems.
[QUOTE=juststartingout;7662005]
BTW in MHO good stuff doesn’t get around very well[/QUOTE]
It gets around to the people who matter: barn owner, vet and farrier
[QUOTE=RugBug;7662019]
From what it sounds like, there IS funding available.
Since when does a junior, or a junior’s parents if they case may be, not have control of 1)a horse they own or 2) how much the junior shows? Honestly, no one can force you to go to a show you don’t want to go to. If a BNT refuses to have you in their barn because you aren’t showing enough…go find another that will allow it. They are out there.
It doesn’t get around nearly as quickly or as completely, but it gets around. There are also ways to boost the audience, like non-finger pointing blogs and articles. I read some of Zazou Hoffman’s stuff while she riding and enjoyed it. There are ways to write about putting the horses first that don’t villify others involved.[/QUOTE]
I think your comments are unrealistic…
Reading the article, there is no indication that there IS funding available. Not knowing the particular situation, I make no conclusion either way for this rider. But for most juniors there is NOT sufficient funding to go do it the right way AND have it noticed on the large stage. BTW there are MANY juniors who do it the right way with one horse and lots of work and effort but MOST of them never get noticed because one horse is NOT sufficient to get you to the large stage. Not complaining just pointing out reality.
And, there are a number of juniors who ride for someone else. I agree there are not FORCED to ride but certainly the opportunities coming their way would dwindle quickly if they refused. There may be a few BNT who might respect that choice, but they are few and not necessarily accessible.
There will always be a few exceptions one can point to – but they are just that exceptions. Absent all the comments here, I doubt most people in the horse community knew what horse OC rode or who she trained with.
This conversation reminds me of a comment made by a BNT when a friend’s daughter won a state-level medal finals out here. He notes that it was good to see a blue collar kid win one of these. Said “blue-collar kid” was the daughter of two Yale Law graduates, one of whom owns a law firm and the other of which was the editor in chief of the Yale Law Review. So, while not in the same league as some in this crazy horse-showing business, not exactly blue collar as most of the country would see it.
It’s all relative.
[QUOTE=michaelwatkins;7647967]
You are correct Cannonball. It is one of many reasons folks who know the truth are unhappy about this national article. So easy for the COTH to have checked on some of these facts, but they just didn’t do it. Those facts make it obvious there are factual inaccuracies in what OC wrote, just on its face, but they chose to publish it despite clear evidence it was inaccurate in significant ways. Very foolish to allow a teenager to have a national platform to write scurrilous material that, with a modicum of research, could be discredited. Quite sad.[/QUOTE]
Michaelwatkins, do you have some personal issues with OC? Or your daughter’s competitors in general, based on your post history? Pretty sure OC would outride your daughter in a heartbeat - and you’d be sitting there crying at the back gate :lol:
And yes - I know who you are 
