agree - I was trying to work out how a spur would hit there… looks like where the girth would fall? and then the one above a bit further back…? odd locations
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Neither look like anything but hair loss to me. I had a gray mare that rubbed hair off in places by just being out in pasture.
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@rockymouse Ollie Townend is an interesting character. He has a very ordinary background: unlike many Eventers he does not come from money or have a parent active in the sport and he has worked hard, from the bottom up, to achieve everything he now is. He is something of “a gruff northerner”, recognizable British stereotype, but the reality is that he is shy/socially awkward/inarticulate in public which makes interviews with him often awkward or inarticulate, which comes across poorly to a public used to slick, media trained sports people. He used to appear to have a bit of a chip, to consider himself to be an outsider, but the rough edges have been smoothed off over the years as he has established himself, with nothing left to prove. His riding has definitely become softer, more refined over the years I’ve watched him at Events. He watched videos of top riders for years, trying to see what they did to be successful. He is also intensely focused and competitive. On more than one occasion in his career he has either hit his horse too hard, too often, or continued when he should have retired. Unfortunately for him, some of these occasions have been under the full glare of international Media coverage at 5* events. Hence the intense dislike of him on COTH. He has been punished for this abuse: he was not selected for the GB teams for many, many years, despite his obvious ability. Once he was finally on the national team he got media training as part of the package. Then he messed up again, got dropped, fought his way back onto the team. The daily reality is that he is one of the hardest working professional Eventers, he is popular with his fellow riders, has very loyal staff and owners, he has a knack of bringing up an endless stream of good horses and they remain at the top level for many years. He is a man who has learned life’s lessons and I don’t think he deserves the approbation of COTH readers any more. He just won what was his 100th 5* competition. Most people are pleased to achieve one! I sincerely believe that it is impossible to have that consistency and longevity if one is abusive to one’s horses.
ETA clarity of expression
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Hi everyone,
Just wanted to reiterate there were no modifications made to my bit. It was a standard off the rack Mylar combination bit used as it was designed. I went through tack check before and was eliminated afterwards. It is my responsibility to know what is legal or illegal and I will accept that however going forward I will have my bit checks video taped for evidence. There were multiple people using the same bit set up on Saturday and Sunday but for some reason I was the unlucky one to be eliminated. There was considerable confusion amongst the stewards and when it finally went to the president of the ground jury it was quickly decided that they would uphold the stewards decision to eliminate me. The steward Christina Gonzalez was the individual who interpreted the rule that the rope (as designed) alters the function of the bit and that was why they deemed this bit illegal. I’ve been using it on various horses for over a decade without issue.
If rules are in place for a level playing field and for the good of horse welfare then the FEI did a terrible job this weekend. On top of the fact that Brewster now has run a full weekend that will count for nothing, they kept him held in the collecting ring - with water trucks working around him, and then the warmup for over 30min post jumping. It was hot, we asked repeatedly for water for him or for him to be released and they said all they had was a water bottle.
Anyways , upset and sad for my outcome but happy my horse is sound and he thinks he did just fine so all in all I will try to protest to the best of my ability but with all reality it will go nowhere. Also not shockingly I had to give them cash to protest. 
on the spot to even start the process. The FEI is going to operate under their own rules and I’m not sure that will ever change. I guess to do the sport at this level when you’re not a big name professional you need to protect yourself with evidence in any way possible and we will do that going forward. Thanks for everyone for the support - can’t describe the feeling of the first centerline and startbox at Kentucky- I will never forget it. In the meantime - cheers to a good weekend - go eventing - go adult ammies and on to the next.
Cheers Katie
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This link takes you to the dressage page so you should be able to get the other links from here on etix if you’ve not already. (haven’t red the whole thread yet)
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At first I thought, is that even the right horse? Cooley Rosalent is a mare!
Then I realized it was just an awkwardly placed arm lol
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Rosalent had a bleeding girth rub at MD.
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I’m so sorry this happened Katie!
I’m shocked they didn’t check before like they did for dressage. Seems cruel and unfair.
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Thank you, that makes sense. I’m honestly still totally perplexed by the FEI decision, it’s not like the jerry-rigged “special gag” that equibrit posted, the bit is attached directly to the bridle and rein attached to the bit.
As an aside, I had a tricky jumper that was very hard to find the right bit for, and he went like an absolute dream in one of these.
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I always though the bit check was done at warm-up. A bit check should not be done after the fact. If the FEI officials didn’t do their job when they were supposed then the rider shouldn’t be penalized. At least give the rider, like they did in dressage, an option to trade out equipment.
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I personally love the guy. For all the reasons you (beautifully, btw) write in your post. Thanks for reminding those disinclined to like those who don’t or won’t fit the mold or whose range of mind falls short of understanding others that OT possesses the traits of a winner, and the long-standing owners and sound horses are proof that he goes about it right.
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The point of the “winner gets a new car” is so that the car sponsor gets repeated exposure – a famous athlete driving the product – for its brand. And, btw, if it were a Defender, it’s a British brand (actually, majority shareholder is Indian) – so logistics are particularly easy this year.
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I’m so sorry this happened to you. Congratulations on a job well done this weekend— regardless of the letter on the scoreboard. You have every reason to be proud.
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You might not feel that way if you’d first-hand seen the fear and anxiety in a couple of upper-level horses he produced that were sold on and landed with a BNT in my barn.
Dude is a fierce competitor and insanely driven, no doubt, but that comes at a cost to the horses. We’ve all seen it publicly, multiple times, and some of us have witnessed the effects privately, too. If he’s doing it publicly, you can only imagine what happens when no one is looking.
Believe people when they show you who they are.
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I’m so sorry this happened to you, Katie. You have shown nothing but class in how you responded to it - I hope your appeal is successful. As we all know, the FEI is pretty much a joke and do whatever they darn well please, with no repercussions for anyone but the riders who attempt to follow both the letter and spirit of the rules.
I would hope other riders who used the same bit would come to your defense, but also understand the position that puts them in because no good deed will go unpunished here.
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It’s 100% a girth gall.
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I believe it’s done both before and after to make sure you didn’t swap out to illegal equipment after the initial tack check.
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You are awesome, Katie! Gutted for you, but you and Brewster were brilliant. I heartily disagree with the decision to eliminate you, and I really hope your protesting is successful. Rooting for you!!
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Thank you so much for coming on here to give us such a detailed update. I can’t even imagine how bizarre and frustrating this is–I actually can’t recall anyone else off the top of my head someone being eliminated for an illegal bit in stadium after completing an entire event. Especially after all the fuss made about the other rider who had to change bridles before the dressage because of illegal tack!
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If there were other combinations to use the bit Katie used, why have they not been eliminated, and why are they not also asking questions?
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