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Grooms' Responsibility at the Olympic Levels

Archives 2018 World Equestrian Games
#1

After watching one of the French(?) team members in the jumping this morning have his rein snap over the second to last fence on the course, I believe MTS made the comment of “that groom is going to be in some big trouble” or the like.

I’m just curious, but if it’s the case of the groom not taking care of or checking the tack adequately, what sort of repercussions would there be?

I would think that perhaps the rider would at least make a cursory look-over of their own equipment before they ride, but then, that is what grooms are paid to do as well as manage the horses in their care.

Additionally, if the rein snapped due to faulty stitching that appeared sound, rather than it being due to stiff or neglected leather, is the groom truly at fault?

I can imagine that the team members and manages would be pretty put out.

Go USA! :slight_smile:

#2

Ultimately the rider is responsible for last check of tack. That said. . .

The groom is normally responsible for cleaning the tack, including taking apart, inspecting status and most importantly putting it back together again correctly.
If the leather was showing any signs of wear the groom would notice it first and notify the rider and/or coach.

Of course it is hard to predict when what appears to be “OK” stitching or the leather will give way.:wink:

#3

Melanie should not have said that, as she knows well that the rider is responsible for the final check, and that there is no way to visually guarantee that a piece of tack doesn’t have a weakness (except for the stitching). It is probably no one’s fault, it just happened. Remember when McLain’s BIT broke? Was the groom responsible for that? I think not.

#4

People who have groomed long enough to take care of horses at the Olympic level tend to take their responsibilities very, very, very seriously. The term “obsessive-compulsive” comes to mind. :lol:

I have to think it was more likely a fluke equipment failure than an oversight by the groom.

#5

MST’s apparent attitude about grooms kind of makes me glad I never groomed for her! :lol::lol::lol:

Actually, I think she was just trying to be funny.

#6

This week I had a rubber rein break inside the rubber part. The leather just gave way and separated.

Nothing to see, no neglect. Sometimes things just happen.

BTW, On the feed I am getting (through NBC Live) I have not heard Melanie at all during SJ. Who is hearing her?

All I hear is the BBC announcer introduce the horse as it comes in and then announce the faults as the horse leaves the ring.

BTW, I love the “Gortons fisherman” with the funky yellow rain hat. He wears it on both sunny and rainy days.

#7

Melanie was actually great to work for. Tough, as she needed to be, but fair and a great horsewoman in her own right. Syd was the best there is, and Melanie knew ALL of us well back then, so I think this was a really unfortunate comment to make.

#8

Melanie should not have said that, as she knows well that the rider is responsible for the final check, and that there is no way to visually guarantee that a piece of tack doesn’t have a weakness (except for the stitching).

This.

The incident should be firmly filed under “poo happens” and there should be no repercussions.

We should all be amazed that it doesn’t happen more often.

Those bridles are taken apart and cleaned at least once a day, and per the “OCD” comment made by MHM, it doesn’t matter how late it is or how tired you are you go over every stitch with a microscope. And your rider goes over it carefully, too.

I remember one year at Wellington “my” rider had a headstall break 2 strides out from the last fence in the GP. That particular horse’s groom was devastated but the rider never blamed the groom one bit. It was a freak accident with a fairly new bridle, actually.

And yeah, the rider went clear over the last fence and gave the crowd a great show afterward getting herself out of a very dicey situation! :cool:

#9

[QUOTE=evenstar;6479948]
Actually, I think she was just trying to be funny.[/QUOTE]

I wondered if that was the case.

I was not near a computer to watch, so I didn’t hear her comment, but that seems very possible to me.

#10

She probably was, but obviously it can be construed as blame for the groom, so better left unsaid, IMO.

#11

This was when I was watching it broadcasted on the actual NBC television channel - there is no commentating on the web live feed or replay feed.

#12

[QUOTE=lauriep;6480008]
She probably was, but obviously it can be construed as blame for the groom, so better left unsaid, IMO.[/QUOTE]

Very true.

#13

Honestly, when I saw/heard this, I thought the comment was extremely tacky (no pun indended). The average viewer was left thinking that the groom did something wrong. That didn’t sit well with me.

Just my 2 cents.

#14

[QUOTE=lauriep;6479931]
Melanie should not have said that, as she knows well that the rider is responsible for the final check, and that there is no way to visually guarantee that a piece of tack doesn’t have a weakness (except for the stitching). [/QUOTE]

Yeah, that comment really made me :rolleyes:

#15

I was so happy to watch the live feed today and find no commentating (I’d only watched NBC’s broadcasts so far). I can’t stand MTS as a commentator, and her comment today about the broken rein and groom’s responsibility is a good example of why. :no:

#16

LA '84. Was there a horse whose saddle slipped on the way to a fence in one of the SJ rounds? I remember people in the stands joking about how they wouldn’t want to be the groom having to meet the rider at the back gate. Not necessarily because it was the groom’s fault, but that the rider might be in a bit of a venting mood at that point.

Does anyone else remember this?

#17

In 1992, Ludger Beerbaum’s bridle broke and fell off the horse in the team competition. He had to bail out. (He then made an amazing comeback in individual and won gold.)

No comments about the groom then that I recall, just bad luck commiseration. That might even have been MST commentating; seems the man co-calling called her Melanie once? Or maybe I’m misremembering. It was the paid Olympic broadcast, the three designated channels on cable that you subscribed to in advance to get extra coverage of the less-covered sports. Lots of equestrian. :slight_smile:

ETA: Also saddle slippage in a race with Seattle Slew vs. Affirmed. I’ve always wondered if the trainer, the one who presumably saddled Affirmed, kicked himself clear back to the barn after that one or if the jockey and owner helped. (Still think Slew would have finished ahead of Affirmed anyway, though. But Affirmed would have finished better than he did.)

#18

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;6479950]

BTW, I love the “Gortons fisherman” with the funky yellow rain hat. He wears it on both sunny and rainy days.[/QUOTE]

That’s Pedro Cebulka :slight_smile: who is the regular figure at Spruce Meadows’ international ring and for the past many years he has been asked to work around the world at all of the major shows as the ringmaster. He’s incredible and one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.

http://pedrocebulka.com/hatparade.htm

http://www.globalchampionstour.com/events/2011/rio-de-janeiro/gallery/

#19

Have had it happen. Sometimes its just a freak thing. Running martingales can put a lot of strain on the reins and sometimes you just don’t swap them out quick enough.

#20

MTM should know better than to make those kind of comments with millions of non-horsey people watching.

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