[QUOTE=retreadeventer;6485629]
Yes. Who is caring about the horse? A fabricated emoti-con here…perhaps a way to draw attention from poor performances…fighting your team is very ungrateful. They are paying for you to be there enjoying the Olympic experience.[/QUOTE]
Except, EC does not pay our athletes to be there. Unlike the US and Europe, equestrian in Canada has VERY LITTLE funding. Our riders have to work their arses off fundraising to pay their own way. She paid her way to the Olympics, worked her butt of to make the team and then got DQ’d for a cut. The vets didn’t even JOG this horse. It’s bullshit. They never took it out of it’s stall.
Eric wants the EC to stand up for their athletes. To support them. To fight for this rule to be changed, not revolked. I think he’s standing up for the right thing.
IMHO it is a poor strategy to issue an ultimatum in the media, no matter how righteous the cause. It makes people and the media drag up every bit of history, relevant or not.
Eric knows his history, he knows it’s public knowledge. He’s never tried to hide it. Instead, he’s worked hard to show them that he’s overcome his demons and has become a world class rider by his own right. History is part of our walk, it’s part of our journey. I doubt very much if Eric cares if his history is brought up. It’s brought up almost every time he wins something.
He and Tiffany have both overcome great challenges in their riding careers and are on the team because they deserve to be there. If a top rider can’t stand up for what he believes in, then how the hell are grass roots riders going to make a difference in the sport?
I’m late to this thread, and didn’t read all the responses, but I have to give a big high five to Eric for standing up for Tiffany.
The statement issued by EC skirted around the issue, and didn’t say anything in support of Tiffany, which I don’t agree with either. These riders work their behinds off to go to bat for their countries at the Olympics, and the least that their countries can do when faced with something like this is to stand up for them.
I don’t agree with the ruling made to DQ Tiffany, esp if the horse was not jogged. As much as it isn’t fair, what’s done is done, and it’s not like they can take it back and say, “Oh well, we’re sorry that we just destroyed all your years of hard work, have a jump around the course now.”
All Eric was asking for was for EC to show support for one of their riders instead of dancing around the issue. I would hope that all the teams have the same loyalty to their fellow teammates.
As for Eric’s past, you can’t tell me that all of you who are bringing it up have lived perfectly and never done anything wrong. While he is a top athlete, he’s still a human being. Human beings make mistakes. Get over it.
[QUOTE=mayhew;6485971]
According to Eric, that IS what happened.[/QUOTE]
I believe that the excessive amount of touching plus no jog also happened with Sapphire. I think that GM plus the US team vet protested this along with McLain but to no avail.
[QUOTE=betonbill;6486073]
I believe that the excessive amount of touching plus no jog also happened with Sapphire. I think that GM plus the US team vet protested this along with McLain but to no avail.[/QUOTE]
I did read in an article that the ruling with Sapphire was later overturned, but it was months after the competition, so it didn’t matter.
Love Eric (despite his “past”). Have mixed feelings about his reaction. But I also don’t support the DQ. Then again Dressagetraks does have a valid point.
This is probably why I often read and not post on these types of threads…my opinion is bi-polar!
[QUOTE=Crockpot;6485183]
Yes, really. Eric deserves credit as he overcame his personal demons and his mistakes did not ever involve horse abuse.(unlike some other top riders who are still adored nonetheless)[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Ravencrest_Camp;6485184]
I’m sorry I don’t see this as a class move by Eric at all. More like a temper tantrum.
And I can not agree or praise him for his conduct during the press conference. To say he is “ashamed” of his sport is beyond the pale. A sport that has given him everything he has, a sport that has given him numerous second chances.
His is a great story. A kid that came from nothing and with talent and hard work became one of the best riders in the world. And then having to over come adversity. But now it just appears like he has a sense of entitlement and that the rules should not apply to his students.[/QUOTE]
While I am impressed by his support of his teammate (in my mind it would mean far more if she wasn’t also his student but whatever), I hate to say it (and as a Canadian no less) that the first thing I thought of was he was having a bit of a hissy fit and running his mouth. That may come back to haunt him. However no consequences seem to ever stick to him so I don’t imagine anything will happen. His is a great story, and he has overcome much adversity with the support of many, but I don’t think that gives him the right to act like an a-hole.
I wonder what everyone would have to say if it was another country’s horse that was disqualified for the exact same reason. Would Eric (and everyone jumping on the bandwagon) go to bat for them like he did for Tiffany? And what would everyone say if that was overturned and the horse was allowed to compete…
Unfortunately that’s the problem with a rule that’s all or nothing. Perhaps some of Eric’s anger should be directed at the individuals responsible for the rule being developed in the first place.
I don’t entirely know how I feel about Eric’s latest ultimatum. I agree with him wholeheartedly re: EC and their lack of support for their riders and kissing-FEI-butt. But at the same time, it comes off as a bit childish in its delivery. Despite that, I stand behind him FOR SURE. Just wish he’d maybe waited until next week to throw this out there. A solid statement outside of the heat of the moment, so to speak.
Then again, sometimes reacting in the heat of the moment inspires the most change.
Re: Ian, I’m sure he’s as outraged as Jill and Eric. As Jill said in the statement in Rodawn’s post, she’s not supposed to say a word. I’m hedging my bets that all four of them, plus their supporting people (including Kerri McGregor, who on her blog stated that she had much to say about it but would leave it for a more appropriate time.), are working behind the scenes. Who knows which athletes from other countries will also support pushing for a rule change. It’s in everyone’s best interest to keep it closed-mouthed, lest they tip their hand.
And while I agree with dressagetraks that it could create room to “create cuts”, I can’t imagine the sensitivity to cut would be the same as to human-created sensitivity to give an edge in the ring. I would think if one was sensitizing the legs for the rails, a larger area would be affected. Whereas with a cut the heat/sensitivity would be localized there, vs around the entire ankle/lower canon. Proper thermal testing should determine if the heat is localized around the injury, or more widespead.
Plus…seriously…if FEI can honestly say there is NO WRONGDOING on the part of the rider and her connections, then how can they DQ the horse without a proper soundness jog?
While any sensitivity should be subject to further testing, the horse should not be eliminated so easily, and without room for proper appeal.
EC is just putting their mouth where their money is, and that is NOT with our riders.
They didn’t leave their rider high and dry, so that the other riders HAD to.
Personally, I wonder if we won’t see McLain and the US riders standing right along with Canadian riders in support of a rule clarification, once the games are over…
In my lowly very unimportant amateur rider mind I certainly don’t think he’s acting like an a-hole… or running off his mouth. What he’s demanding is that EC actually stand up for one of their athletes that they are supposed to be supporting. If EC won’t stand behind even the most elite highest level competitor what the hell are they going to do for me! Oh wait I get the priviledge of giving them money so that I can spend hundreds and even thousands (which I certainly don’t have!)over a week to show at their shows. When McLain got in the same position the USEF supported him and the ruling was eventually rescinded. With EC’s statement as it is now I can’t see them lifting a finger for Tiffany. That statement could have been worded a lot differently- while saying yes it was unfortunate about the ruling but we EC (not just the Canadian Team is disappointed) fully support Tiffany and will be fighting to have the ruling reversed AND to have the rule and how it is carried out (proper lameness evaluation etc and opportunity for appeal) changed. Why on earth is there no opprtunity for appeal! The Saudi’s were allowed an appeal for their issue (after claiming it must have been sabotage as they never give bute - who’s whining now?..) yet Tiffany was not able to appeal over a paper cut…
The statement was oh so typically Canadian- didn’t want to anger the powers that be… rather than causing a fuss to defend one of its own. Some of these reactions are also typically Canadian - oh Eric’s having a temper tantrum- he shouldn’t be making all this noise. No he’s doing the right thing and actually defending a fellow athlete from a pretty major snub by their own organization.
I apologize if it has been already said, but I’d like to point out that hypersensitivity testing is also what lost Denis Lynch his spot in the Olympics for the Irish. After having a horse come up positive for hypersensitivity a few weeks ago (Lantinus, not his Olympic horse), with no implication of foul play/abuse on the part of the rider, Irish Equestrian pulled him from the team anyways and replaced him with Cian O’connor.
He appealed to CAS, who would not overturn the replacement due to simple technicalities in the timing of the appeal.
Those of you that agree with the DQ and hypersensitivity rule as it is currently stated and applied, better not be riding your horse the next time he has a nick and is perfectly sound, otherwise, I will have to think you’re putting your horse’s welfare at risk.
I have a lengthy post to make, but it will have to wait til I get home to a real keyboard.
However, consider this: we all know that the test was originally created to catch those that use irritants on their horses legs to keep them off the rails. The eventers have a stadium jumping test that can be/is as crucial to their results as to the jumpers. So why is this test only used on jumpers? Yes, I know that the day before stadium is XC, and they will be rubbing solid jumps. But the way the hypersensitivity test is being used, with THERMOGRAPHY to looke for elevated heat in areas of the leg, wouldn’t those horses be unfit to continue under the standards set for the jumpers? Wouldn’t they be very likely to have inconsequential nicks like the one on Tiffany’s horse? But they just have to jog sound. Why the double standard?
No one questions a limping horse being spun, whatever the reason. But the FEI is using this test unfairly under the guise of horse welfare.
My point was that whether you agree with him or not, Eric is certainly entitled to speak out and take a stand. It won’t affect anyone here on the Coth bulletin board.
Wise or not, it will affect him significantly, but he obviously felt strong enough in his viewpoint to take this position.,
.
I thought Americans were keen on that sort of thing.
