It definitely looked like he slipped, fell, and then caught up on something from my angle, but I could not see exactly what it was. It was right in front of me but with all the people who rushed in I could not see him as well once on the ground. I was quite amazed at how calm he stayed until set free, especially considering the angle and proximity to the hazard. He didn’t seemed terribly upset once he popped up and, from my vantage point, walked away fine.
Does anyone know why Eric wasn’t at Barcelona?
Apparently he got a hind leg over the trace and then when they made that tight turn he effectively had his legs swept out from under him.
It was unusually cool for that time of year when Olympic horse events took place in Atlanta. Had it been normal it would have been awful.
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The only reason that he has money to make things decent for spectators and have lavish VIP areas is because he practically rapes the riders in entry fees. On top of the standard show fees that each rider has to pay, there is an ASTRONOMICAL fee for an (essentially) mandatory VIP table - at least $5,000/horse. Next time you see the packed VIP tents at a GCT event, just know that 85% of them are basically forced to buy a full table in order to compete.
He might be good to his spectators and VIPs (voluntary or otherwise), but I think that is a terrible way to run a series, especially when they offer CSI1* and CSI2* events to “cater to less-experienced riders”. His whole system ensures a small, wealthy group of riders travel to each stop, while almost eliminating the opportunity for lower level riders to gain the experience at a big show such as Miami or London.
Hey MM, you should search my username and global champions to see a slightly more nuanced/accurate explanation. And do understand that those particular riders WANT to pay to show at these venues, the same thing is done at EVERY FEI show for the better-heeled, less ranked competitors, and that all of this allows for the subsidizing of the invited and ranked riders, most of whom are not paying these “astronomical” rates.
Understand, every major/many FEI events sell VIP tables ie entrance to the show for low ranked or uninvited riders. At Olympia my friend paid 11k for a VIP table to show.
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My main sport is combined driving, for more than 20 years.
“It definitely looked like he slipped, fell, and then caught up on something from my angle, but I could not see exactly what it was. It was right in front of me but with all the people who rushed in I could not see him as well once on the ground. I was quite amazed at how calm he stayed until set free, especially considering the angle and proximity to the hazard. He didn’t seemed terribly upset once he popped up and, from my vantage point, walked away fine.”
Experienced driving horses, when I have observed them, normally don’t panic or thrash when trapped by a carriage or harness, they just lay there, or stand trapped, until they are freed and told they can move. First time I saw it happen was at the worlds in Gladstone in 93. A pair was flipped pretty much upside down into a creek. They laid there, pretty much on their backs in the water. I assumed they would start thrashing around, panic, esp with the water, but they just laid there and waited to be freed and then when told to got up one at time. That’s what normally happens.
Not sure why, but with the upper level horses, they just don’t fight and panic. I guess it’s all the hours and hours, and years of work in harness that has gotten them to the point that they trust their drivers and handlers and know they will fix it and take care of them…I have seen them come in and cut one out with a chain saw… and the horse just laid there while the saw was running, no drugs, and then got up when told to do so.
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The driving marathon mishaps are talked about in the following podcast episode:
http://www.horseradionetwork.com/2018/09/22/2018-weg-show-09-22-18-driving-marathon-by-kppusa-com/
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Thanks, I downloaded that episode a while ago and then forgot to listen to it because I got caught up in another audiobook. It was pretty interesting! I do think the horse got swept by the traces rather than slipping, only because that was the report in the FL Whips newsletter from the volunteer who was taping that hazard for official review. Either way, it was a good analysis of the day.
The enfurance rides were a disgrace. False starts and cancellation of the race in a world championships? Words fail me…
Thanks for your timely comments.
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I lived in Atlanta and was at the Olympics to watch the CC show jumping rounds (still have the pictures and the ticket) and it was VERY hot. They closed down the XC course because of the heat that day (spectators were wanting to walk it) and gave out free water. That was a normal summer in Atl,.
Check the statistics - https://www.wunderground.com/history…TL/date/1996-7
Eventing was held 21-26 July. Compared to a regular July (I live in Georgia too) it was cool. I was also there every day - working on the CC course. 100 deg highs are not uncommon for June, July and August.
It was wicked hot with the heat index, even more so then Florida. The sun was very intense too. I took photos during other shows during the summers and it was not nearly as hot as it was during the Olympics. Cool to me in GA would be low 70-80.
But maybe you and me can handle heat differently. It might’ve been nice where I felt I was in a oven, lol.
Both Individual and team CC started at 7:00 am, when temperature on 23rd was 73deg/81% & 25th was 74deg/73%
On 23rd temp reached 84deg/63% at 11:00
On 25th temp reached 82deg/66% at 5:00pm
It was probably cooler at the Horse Park. The numbers above were from Hartsfield.
