Just to bring it to the attention of the ground jury. Someone has to.
It’s not “just” a warning like “Mr. Todd, you broke a rule. Don’t do it again.” It’s an official “recorded” FEI warning that will eventually show up on the discipline webpage.
I didn’t see any of the rides and I know many will disagree with me, but I don’t think using his stick a couple of times after the last fence is so terrible, and I certainly wouldn’t consider it abuse. No different from a jockey that uses his whip a couple of times to let his horse know the race is not over yet when they are cruising along in front. Mark was just letting his horse know it wasn’t ok to let up until they crossed the finish line.
Why does someone have to? Maybe the ground jury already knows? And do there need to be spies all around the course & barns to report everything that ever happens, just in case the ground jury doesn’t know?
I had wondered about that myself. I have a friend who had a horse who was a stopper, mostly on XC, but occasionally in SJ. She was at Young Riders, and the horse tried to stop at the last fence on XC. She got him over, then tapped twice on the shoulder to remind him his job isn’t done. It wasn’t hard, and obviously wasn’t out of anger, but it was after the last fence on the course. She got a stern talking to from the ground jury, who let her off without a warning because she was a junior, but warned her that it could be cause for elimination.
Of course, the horse stopped the next day at the next to last fence in stadium and dumped her. Cheeky bugger.
Obviously, this case was a bit different, considering the horse didn’t try to stop. Honestly, even though it’s a bit of sacrilege, I think that awful jump was Mark’s fault, having been the cause of a few jumps like that myself. The horse was tired, and the approach was uphill, and Mark went for it. Understandable, considering the extra stride/stumble probably cost him the half second that moved him into 3rd.
But yeah. He shouldn’t have tapped the horse, even to remind him to pick up his feet (which is the impressions I got from why he tapped the horse). Too much red tape.
On the other hand, I also don’t think he should be eliminated for it. Maybe a stern talking to? (I would love to be a flea on the wall during that conversation. So awkward!)
[QUOTE=Blugal;6467794]
His horse made a horrible jump at the last fence (could easily have hung a leg). Riders will sometimes school a horse by kicking or hitting it after the fence - the message being “pick your feet up and pay attention.”
I noticed this was done a few times over the course of the day by various riders.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, this is what I noticed, too.
They can’t do anything bad to TODDY!!!
[QUOTE=2bayboys;6467784]
For those who watched his run, any idea why he felt it necessary to go to the whip after the last fence? Obviously we don’t know what was in his head, but what appeared to be the intent?[/QUOTE]
Horse chipped in, nearly fell over the fence, and MT wanted to get the horse out in front of his leg again.
[QUOTE=Divine Comedy;6467806]
I think that awful jump was Mark’s fault, [/QUOTE]
I did too. But it is instinctive to make those schooling corrections (if you do them on a regular basis) regardless of where you are. Now, I am not quarreling with the fact that it’s the Olympics and Toddy should know the rules. Just giving my opinion of what happened and why.
[QUOTE=Blugal;6467818]
I did too. But it is instinctive to make those schooling corrections (if you do them on a regular basis) regardless of where you are. Now, I am not quarreling with the fact that it’s the Olympics and Toddy should know the rules. Just giving my opinion of what happened and why.[/QUOTE]
Oh, absolutely agree. It could have been an automatic reaction to that jump, particularly if Mark wasn’t necessarily aware of the specifics of the rule.
I don’t really fault him for it, which is why I 100% hope they don’t eliminate him for it.
Just to make sure they know that it happened and could exercise their discretion.
It’s not just taking Mr. Todd aside and saying, “Gee, you know you broke a rule. Don’t do that again.” It’s an Official “recorded” warning that will show up on the FEI website as a rider sanction here: www.fei.org/warning-cards. If you open the spreadsheet you will see that verbal warnings are recorded.
IMO, they have to do SOMETHING.
well, I agree Mark did not ride that well, and I thought using the stick was a bad decision. I think it was automatic schooling on his part though.
And call me silly, but Mark, Will C and Andrew N, none of them patted their horses after finishing, dismounting and starting to untack.
I just hate that.
IMO - It was an instinctual move in response to a missed distance. And yeah Wofford tells you to make the “same mistake” as the horse.
My wild a** guess is they will start with a verbal warning. If he is like most of the other UL riders I have worked with, he will properly apologetic and that will be the end of it.
I dunno. It may have just been instinctual schooling, but the horse is only .2 of a penalty point out of first place. It may also have been a stinging reminder to do the last few strides a bit faster.
Did you hear Mark’s reins broke around the 4th fence it think, he was also dealing with that all the way around!
Well he rode around Badminton with only one stirrup one year when the other one broke so I’m sure a broken rein was only a minor inconvenience. He is from the old school that just “kicks on.” Disturbing to read that several of these guys didn’t even bother to pat their horses though, that really bothers me.
It’s a bit disheartening to hear that’s what he did after reading his comment where it was completely his fault that the horse had a horrible jump. He said he let the horse try to take a long one in the hopes of making the time, but it didn’t work and the horse chipped badly yet managed to get over. Sad that he got whipped for saving Mark’s bacon 
I take reports like that with a grain of salt, they didn’t pet them as far as coverage showed, and some people just aren’t big on pats, doesn’t make them horrible horsemen though.
[QUOTE=Janeway;6467974]
It’s a bit disheartening to hear that’s what he did after reading his comment where it was completely his fault that the horse had a horrible jump. He said he let the horse try to take a long one in the hopes of making the time, but it didn’t work and the horse chipped badly yet managed to get over. Sad that he got whipped for saving Mark’s bacon :([/QUOTE]
I would take that to mean he expected the horse to take the long one and he didn’t hence a little reminder. Or when one chips like that forward is lost a little and it was just a tap to get forward to the finish. These were not giant smacks just little taps. I understand there is a rule but it is not like he beat the horse for his own mistake.
I was watching the feed when he did it and cringed thinking “oh I don’t like that.” when I told my husband about it I told him the way he hit the horse looked to me to be exactly the way jockeys hit racehorses in the homestretch. I am not convinced that he made much of a difference in his time on an exhausted horse, but the horse did jump forward a bit from what I saw I suppose. I do hope they don’t throw him out over it. I’m no sure I considered it appropriate but wouldn’t call it abuse either. I am not an eventing guru but certainly know the name Mark Todd and people don’t become legendary like that by being exceedingly cruel.
[QUOTE=whbar158;6467976]
I take reports like that with a grain of salt, they didn’t pet them as far as coverage showed, and some people just aren’t big on pats, doesn’t make them horrible horsemen though.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I would also think that after 10 minutes of straight galloping, they’re more concerned about their horse’s physical well-being than showering Dobbin with cookies and pats.
[QUOTE=BAC;6467956]
Disturbing to read that several of these guys didn’t even bother to pat their horses though, that really bothers me.[/QUOTE]
I’d rather see them dismount immediately and start to untack than spend a lot of time hugging and patting. Many of these old school riders just aren’t as demonstrative. I’m sure the horses are getting lots of carrots and pats later tonight.
And whoever was disappointed with Will C for not petting Twizzle…give him a break. He just suffered a huge disappointment and I’m sure was not in the best of moods after XC. I personally feel he should have ridden that better and it’s highly likely that Will C will realize that later as well; however, right after the course he may have felt that his horse let him down a little. He probably wasn’t inclined to praise him after that disappointment. It’s not like he hit him or anything. I’m sure tonight Twizzle is getting lots of thanks and carrots now that Will C has come to terms with it.
Just saying. I have had that exact same mental block before. The only prelim course on which my horse and I picked up a 20, I initially thought it was his fault and was mad. After the finish, the volunteer getting the pinnies said “Good boy!” and went to pet him. I asked her not to, because I thought he hadn’t been and didn’t deserve praise. Later that day, after I had cooled off and talked to my coach and other spectators, I realized the stop was really completely my fault. My horse got lots of carrots and pets then.
It’s really not abuse to not get pats and praise. I think it’s a good tool for training, but I don’t necessarily feel that the horse cares about pats and hugs after a good XC round. Carrots, yes. Pats, no. I realize that not everyone feels that way, but I dislike when riders are condemned because they aren’t demonstrative.
