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Debbies explanation for what went wrong with Brentina

Archives 2018 World Equestrian Games
#1

Hi Everyone,

For those of you who have been wondering what went wrong with Brentina this was just posted on the COTH olympic updates of Debbies explanation of what happened. Too bad! :frowning:

“She started spooking at something on the side,” said McDonald of the 17-year-old mare who has earned Olympic, World Championship and Pan American Games medals. “I have no idea what it was. I couldn’t put my leg on or anything. It totally took me by surprise. I feel awful. I knew in the pirouettes I had no hope. It was a bad day.”

#2

[QUOTE=SRF1;3443596]
Hi Everyone,

For those of you who have been wondering what went wrong with Brentina this was just posted on the COTH olympic updates of Debbies explanation of what happened. Too bad! :frowning:

“She started spooking at something on the side,” said McDonald of the 17-year-old mare who has earned Olympic, World Championship and Pan American Games medals. “I have no idea what it was. I couldn’t put my leg on or anything. It totally took me by surprise. I feel awful. I knew in the pirouettes I had no hope. It was a bad day.”[/QUOTE]

Did she mention anything about soundness? Reading the boards many have said she wasn’t right…

#3

[QUOTE=SRF1;3443596]
Hi Everyone,

For those of you who have been wondering what went wrong with Brentina this was just posted on the COTH olympic updates of Debbies explanation of what happened. Too bad! :frowning:

"She started spooking at something on the side,” said McDonald of the 17-year-old mare who has earned Olympic, World Championship and Pan American Games medals. “I have no idea what it was. I couldn’t put my leg on or anything. It totally took me by surprise. I feel awful. I knew in the pirouettes I had no hope. It was a bad day.”[/QUOTE]

You’re kidding? Yeah, the mare looked a bit tense, but the major problem was the mare was uneven - and unfit. She was huffing and puffing like a steam locomotive and I wasn’t even sure a few times whether she was going to make it through the test.

#4

Ridgeback,

Nothing was stated about soundness, the only other thing that was said about her condition was:

"But even with the bronze eluding them, Peters said McDonald had no reason to apologize to the team. “The last four or five weeks, [Brentina] has been so extremely consistent,” he said. “They’re horses, not machines. Some people say horses are human too, but horses are horses.”

#5

The end was rough after that first pirouette, but I thought the beginning was worse - her trot work and passage were very uneven. You could also hear her panting (even at trot, at the beginning!) when she went past the speakers hidden around the ring.

Even so, there is nothing to appologize for. We all have off days.

#6

There were quite a few horses huffing & puffing. I haven’t seen the vid for the second day yet, but the first day, it was quite noisy out there! (You could definitely tell where the mics were located around the ring :lol:)

#7

Nearly all horses make noise when performing at that level. It’s how labored or how rapid the breathing is.

#8

[QUOTE=MEP;3443720]
There were quite a few horses huffing & puffing. I haven’t seen the vid for the second day yet, but the first day, it was quite noisy out there! (You could definitely tell where the mics were located around the ring :lol:)[/QUOTE]

Yep! The Lusitanos and the big, muscling stallions especially. But Brentina sounded very labored at times.

#9

The horse was distracted a couple of times, but that doesn’t address what the unevenness was.

I think you won’t see that horse compete again. She was going to be retired next year - shortly before the Olympics Debbie announced she would be retired right after the Olympic games.

I do think that something is going on. Debbie also said in interview most of the work the horse was getting was at a walk. I don’t know if that means the entire time or what, but that’s what she said, most of the work the horse was getting was walk work.

#10

I have not watched her test yet (too damned depressing :sad: ), but was the mare more uneven than some of the ones who went yesterday? There were more than a couple who made me wince and wonder when their hocks were due to be injected.

#11

http://www.eurodressage.com/reports/shows/2008/08og/rep_grandprix2.html

The last half of the article addresses the US effort and Brentina.

#12

[QUOTE=snoopy;3444150]
http://www.eurodressage.com/reports/shows/2008/08og/rep_grandprix2.html

The last half of the article addresses the US effort and Brentina.[/QUOTE]

Wow that was interesting…quote,“U.S. team trainer Klaus Balkenhol did not put a healthy athlete on stage here!” :no::no::mad:

#13

That was a pretty scathing article, although probably deserved.

#14

I have no idea who wrote the article, maybe astrid, but yes there were some serious observations…but then again it is the writer’s point of view.

#15

Absolutely deserved and I am glad that someone told it like it is.

#16

That haughty article also accuses the U.S. of “cheating” Denmark out of the 2006 WEG medal. Deciding which horse-and-rider pairs will compete is always tough, and is an art not a science. Were it a science, each team could definitively conclude which pair would “peak” at Olympics time, instead of having to rely on track records, some of which are longer and more consistent than others. Brentina was sound for the trials. Horses can be sound one day and lame the next. And the Hong Kong air was hard on the horses – they just can’t say so in interviews. Debbie and the decisionmakers have nothing to apologize for. Let other countries make their snide comments, but such comments shouldn’t come from us.

#17

Well, before surgery Brentina had a difficult time breathing and the very humid weather, even post surgery, was obviously difficult for her…

#18

[QUOTE=Dixon;3444214]
That haughty article also accuses the U.S. of “cheating” Denmark out of the 2006 WEG medal. Deciding which horse-and-rider pairs will compete is always tough, and is an art not a science. Were it a science, each team could definitively conclude which pair would “peak” at Olympics time, instead of having to rely on track records, some of which are longer and more consistent than others. Brentina was sound for the trials. Horses can be sound one day and lame the next. And the Hong Kong air was hard on the horses – they just can’t say so in interviews. Debbie and the decisionmakers have nothing to apologize for. Let other countries make their snide comments, but such comments shouldn’t come from us.[/QUOTE]

Dixon only the U.S. thinks they derserved that bronze at WEG… That mare was lame and no way derserved that score(at weg)…

#19

Come on guys, you don’t need press-articles just watch the ride yourself.

And if you can’t see that this horse is unsound, stay away from horses please !

Theo

#20

The mare was quite visibly off IMO. Looks like something in the right front to me, judging by how she was putting weight on it throughout the test. I was suprised the judges let her continue through the test. Poor Debbie did look heartbroken at the end :frowning: I feel awful for her.

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