How is ML so good at dressage ?

[Rnichols]

@tbchick84

You must have watched a different round than I did.

this was literally my exact thought.

@Puffergrrl MJ is hardly a false god. I just … do you watch MJ and watch the. ML and think her XC riding style is superior? I don’t think anyone was saying she rides XC poorly because she originated in show jumpers. As in, show jumpers can also be excellent XC riders. ML is not one of those people. She’s a train wreck on XC waiting to happen. Her poor horses.

[MsRidiculous]

Taking personal feelings and emotions out of the argument completely, there are some factual problems here.

@Puffergrrl

You all had better check out where your god has been all winter…'cause Michael Jung’s been dabbling in the dark arts and travelling the European indoor circuit with his showjumpers. According to your logic, his XC will now turn to crap.

Actually he competes in showjumping year-round, just like he events year-round on multiple horses. Definitely not an apples to apples comparison considering he has 45 FEI eventing starts on his 2019 record vs ML’s 1. Disregarding personal opinion regarding ability or talent, it’s indisputable that he gets far more XC mileage despite competing in multiple disciplines.

@Puffergrrl

Maybe if everyone on these boards, etc. didn’t insist on tearing her a new a*shole for using the bit and bridle she feels works best for her horse, she wouldn’t use a softer one and have “haul on her horse’s face”, which you of course hate too. Hmmm? (Just speculating, but not impossible).

Again, to be fair and factual, she’s using the same XC bit on the horse that she’s been using for years. Easy enough to confirm via photos. The only difference is that she’s added black bit guards covering the corners of the mouth.

[RainWeasley]

Puffer, the point isn’t that she is a SJ and thus bad, it’s that she rides XC like she is doing SJ and you CAN’T do that, it’s fundamentally different.

And honestly, the fact that you think MJ is a “false god” is quite laughable. You would be hard pressed to find many riders that can ride better than he can.

To add on the Jealoushe’s list of wins, he is also one of the very few (two?) to have won the Grand Slam.

ETA: as far as “sitting back in the saddle slipping the reins”, yes, you don’t see that much in SJ. You DO see that in XC because a horse has to be a bit more balanced and able to save itself than it does in SJ sometimes you have to give it its head and let it figure it out without getting in the way. If you try to jump up the horse’s neck in XC or keep a tight hold of its head, you are gonna have a bad time. Better to be a bit defensive. Again, the fundamental differences between XC and SJ. I feel like you’ve never actually ridden XC, I’ve only done the very lowest levels and I can tell you that you don’t ride it the same.

[Jealoushe]

@RainWeasley

And honestly, the fact that you think MJ is a “false god” is quite laughable. You would be hard pressed to find many riders that can ride better than he can.

To add on the Jealoushe’s list of wins, he is also one of the very few (two?) to have won the Grand Slam.

OMG how could I forget!

MJ is the only God I will in fact worship, and even pray to, to ride with just 1/100th of his talent and class.

[beowulf]

If ML had a fraction of MJ’s skill and talent on XC we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion. False god or not. :yes:

The collective dislike of ML has nothing to do with her SJ roots and no one is digging at SJers. They’re their own incredibly skilled subset of people.

People resent ML because she can’t go to an event without one of the following happening: blood on her mounts, hairy-near death misses on XC, dangerous riding, horses falling, or horses crashing and burning through XC.

It’s bad publicity for a sport that can’t afford many more mistakes or misses. And it’s not fair to the horse.

[Denali6298]

And if I remember correctly everyone was hoping she would succeed. Then the above mentioned pattern developed and here we are.

[ACMEeventing]

@beowulf

If ML had a fraction of MJ’s skill and talent on XC we probably wouldn’t be having this discussion. False god or not. :yes:

The collective dislike of ML has nothing to do with her SJ roots and no one is digging at SJers. They’re their own incredibly skilled subset of people.

People resent ML because she can’t go to an event without one of the following happening: blood on her mounts, hairy-near death misses on XC, dangerous riding, horses falling, or horses crashing and burning through XC.

It’s bad publicity for a sport that can’t afford many more mistakes or misses. And it’s not fair to the horse.

I just had a chance to watch the entire livestream. Good Heavens, she almost dumped that horse on its face AGAIN. I wonder if this were a “real” event if it would have even garnered a yellow card or DR.

Poor Buck, he rode that course really well.

[skydy]

@ACMEeventing

I just had a chance to watch the entire livestream. Good Heavens, she almost dumped that horse on its face AGAIN. I wonder if this were a “real” event if it would have even garnered a yellow card or DR.

Poor Buck, he rode that course really well.

She probably wouldn’t have been given a yellow card. That’s another problem…

[Puffergrrl]

@RainWeasley

Puffer, the point isn’t that she is a SJ and thus bad, it’s that she rides XC like she is doing SJ and you CAN’T do that, it’s fundamentally different. And MJ rides in FEI 5* grand prix classes like an eventer. They are fundamentally different, but HE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DO THAT without people who have “only done the very lowest levels” offering tips and or critique.
But I digress. The POINT WAS, that if showjumping part time made you terrible at cross country and ML needs to devote herself to practicing cross country more (as someone had implied) then MJ (whom everyone here clearly loves and defends) should therefore also be at risk. Do you think I should post on a message board and tell him?

And honestly, the fact that you think MJ is a “false god” is quite laughable. You would be hard pressed to find many riders that can ride better than he can. We all have them. I’m not really a McLain Ward/Beezie Madden/Kent Farrington fan either. I never said Michael Jung rode poorly. In fact, my 1st or 2nd post even pointed out that he’s getting a lot better and has even started working with Marcus Ehning or Ludgar Beerbaum and they like him enough to give him some horses to ride.

To add on the Jealoushe’s list of wins, he is also one of the very few (two?) to have won the Grand Slam. There is only 1 winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, Scott Brash aboard Hello Sanctos. Your point is?

ETA: as far as “sitting back in the saddle slipping the reins”, yes, you don’t see that much in SJ. You DO see that in XC because a horse has to be a bit more balanced and able to save itself than it does in SJ sometimes you have to give it its head and let it figure it out without getting in the way. If you try to jump up the horse’s neck in XC or keep a tight hold of its head, you are gonna have a bad time. Better to be a bit defensive. Again, the fundamental differences between XC and SJ. You shouldn’t see it in showjumping at all unless something really bad is about to happen and you’re trying to not have a horse fall on you. I feel like you’ve never actually ridden XC, False I’ve only done the very lowest levels and I can tell you that you don’t ride it the same. And yet you know so much about proper balance of a horse over terrain, allowing a horse to have its head and get itself out of trouble, and defensive riding already. I’m impressed. My kudos to your trainer.

[Denali6298]

@Puffergrrl why are you defending ML so vehemently? She is a train wreck on x-country. Her horses run out of gas, the way she rides the course is frightening, and well bloody mouths.

All that said she’s not a terrible show jumper. She can lay down a good dressage test. So why are you criticizing a rider like MJ, who IMO, is what people should aspire to, just because we all think ML is crap at x-country? If she dropped down some levels no one would say a thing.

ETA: And your logic makes zero sense. When it was pointed out MJ won the Grand Slam, we are talking about eventing. NOT show jumping.

[Puffergrrl]

I’m her mom.

[Denali6298]

Oh lord :lol: I’m done here.

[Denali6298]

@Puffergrrl

I’m her mom.

[JER]

@Puffergrrl

I’m her mom.

Makes perfect sense.

ML’s XC is something only a mother could love.

[skydy]

@JER

Makes perfect sense.

ML’s XC is something only a mother could love.

:lol::lol::lol:

[SoundAndFury]

@Puffergrrl

I’m her mom.

Are you sure?

@Puffergrrl

With my parents’ retirement and a move for work, I’ve had to sell my horse and won’t be able to afford one again for long, long time. If anyone in the East Bay has a 1.35m lesson horse, I’m also looking. I’d even settle for 1.25m, since I’ve been out of the saddle a few months.

https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/hunter-jumper/10307096-lesson-barns-with-3-6-horses/page3

According to the website, ML and her family live in Maryland. And I’d think her daughter might be able to find her something to ride? And man, I hope ML’s grandparents were able to retire before last year!

[TMares]

@SoundAndFury

Are you sure?

https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/hunter-jumper/10307096-lesson-barns-with-3-6-horses/page3

According to the website, ML and her family live in Maryland. And I’d think her daughter might be able to find her something to ride? And man, I hope ML’s grandparents were able to retire before last year!

I don’t know, but I’m thinking “I’m her Mom” is code for ‘Kiss my A$$.’

[skydy]

Oh, well, it would have been funny.

M.L and her mom are in the horse selling business. Doubt Mom doesn’t have a horse to ride.

[trubandloki]

I would also think that most Mom’s would prefer the courses done by their kids were not so scary.

[Laurierace]

Hi Lynne! You taught Marilyn well. Would love for you to
teach her to finesse instead of muscle though.