I think it would have been all over the internet by now, if it was true.
I’m having the blondest of all blonde moments, but what is MR? I figure RF is Rider Fall.
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I saw a picture of a grey mare posted to a story that has a spur mark and looked like her… But didn’t ask the poster for confirmation and you couldn’t see who was leading the horse
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Mandatory Retirement. Horse fall, basically.
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I’m working on very little sleep and accidentally deleted my post trying to edit syntax, but could you explain how the leather strap is providing gag action rather than mitigating it? I can see how there could be an argument for some gag effect by nature of the bit attaching higher than the level of the mouth and therefore lifting the bit in the mouth when pulled on, but the leather chin strap should more or less negate that. Unless there’s something about that combined with the nose rope I’m missing?
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Anyone else only know how to pronounce diabolo because of the recent Connections puzzle? 
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Finally home. This was my first time volunteering, though I’ve been plenty of times as a spectator. It was a BLAST. I got to help collect all the cross country score sheets and help the lady recording them make sure they were all accounted for and accurate, it was a bit chaotic but really fun. It was really interesting seeing comments on the sheets from jump judges when there were issues.
For the 4*, we had a perfect view of the coffin from our trailer, which was great since it ended up being so influential. Loved seeing how the different approaches could lead to success or a run out.
I didn’t get to watch a ton of the 5*, but since we were by the control tent and my friend had access to it (I was supposed to as well but they messed up the badges) we did get info on things that were going on pretty quickly, so that was neat.
Pretty disappointed in PD actually. I’m really glad he and his horse are okay, but he knew his horse was dead exhausted. I’m sure he thought that could nurse their way home, but it’s the same thing that happened to Elisa years ago. Except she was inexperienced and got hardcore attacked, whereas he should know better and really isn’t facing a ton of backlash that I’ve seen. Bit of a double standard there, which kind of irks me.
I also got to return a bunch of lost shoes and bell boots to the show office after the army of score collectors would bring them in. Some we weren’t sure who they belonged to, but notable ones we did know were from Quantum Leap and Sorocaima, among a few others. That was also interesting, seeing the choices in studs and shoes. One of those things that doesn’t sound super cool, but actually was pretty cool. Especially with one of the younger girls that went with me to drop them off fan-girling about it, which was adorable.
All in all, I absolutely loved volunteering and will do it again in a heartbeat. I also have WAY more appreciation for the sheer amount of work and people it takes to put this event on. I was aware before, but it hits different now. Highly recommend.
Forgot to add: I went on a course walk with Jim Graham and a bunch of his other students. He said that based on the course, he wasn’t expecting more than 2 or 3 clear rounds in the 5*. Gotta say, we didn’t believe him, but he totally called it.
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I’m pretty new to following eventing. It seems like Oliver isn’t…popular. How come? Is it like the distaste people had for Tom Brady because he won so much that people got tired of him?
I’ll try! As you use the bit, the reins pull back on the rings, which come up, rotating the mouthpiece on the top ring to where you see that bump stop on the side. It puts pressure on the nose rope, which is stabilized by the strap, so that pressure also gets applied to the poll. Sort of like the action of the myler D with hooks which gets called the “hunter gag”.
I’ll also edit to say even though we think of this as a 3ring or an elevator, it’s already technically a gag and many people will call it one. The strap just increases the poll pressure.
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No, it is because he is notoriously awful to his horses. People have complained about him for years, but he never seems to get punished.
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Ah, okay. Thanks for the explanation.
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There have been many pages of firey dialogue about him here.
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His owners defend him to the hilt, and if there is a murmer of complaint, he is in the face of the complainer.
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The first time I met OT I was ready to hate him, mostly thanks to COTH. But he and his team have been above and beyond kind to me in every interaction. And each time he has seemed more involved, concerned, and attentive to his horses than I expected.
Meanwhile, there are riders who are glorified who have been beyond disappointing in person.
Just my two cents.
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HEY! Back of Tom Brady! 
WE from NE Love him! Oliver Townend has a reputation of not being kind to horses…
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https://www.instagram.com/p/C6VBsQkojNL/?img_index=1
(I am the messenger, making no claim either way)
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That looks like an odd place for a spur rub (to me.)
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Did anyone grab the link on-site to access tickets for 2025? If so, could you please DM me (assuming it’s not supposed to be made public)? I had every intention of scanning the QR code but a family emergency came up and in the rush to leave the park I didn’t get a chance to get it. TIA!
Agree - looks like a rub from the saddle maybe?
Or girth?
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