So once you’ve been suspended or fined by the FEI or USEF, you should no longer represent your country, Velvet? You think McLain is the only one who has been suspended or fined?
Gonna by an awfully short list for RIO 2016.
An AWFULLY SHORT LIST.
[QUOTE=Velvet;8626769]
Yep, I know this will probably get some people worked up, but I’m just wondering…isn’t he the guy a while back who was abusing his horses and was not allowed to compete for a long time? I seem to recall it being him. If I’m wrong, please correct me. If I’m right…he’s seriously a contender for the Olympic team???[/QUOTE]
I don’t believe you didn’t know he has represented the
US on previous Olympic teams, or had a past.
In 2012 you started this thread which has links to two articles, one of them clearly calls McLain the “two-time show jumping Olympic team gold medalist”.
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?374094-McClain-Ward-Article-on-COTH
[QUOTE=poltroon;8627827]
I think it’s interesting to note that the horse in question was Sapphire. I have no idea what happened at Aachen, but the long and successful career that mare had was the best recommendation a horseman can ever get.[/QUOTE]
the 2010 elimination at the world cup (that the FEI admitted was based on exactly nothing at all) was Sapphire.
The horse in question in the 1999 incident at Aachen was Beneton.
Interestingly, there was some hullabaloo about the '99 incident because he was suspended based on “two pieces of plastic seen to fall from the right front boot” that weren’t found and he and Lee McKeever actually took polygraph tests to assert they did not place plastic in the horse’s boot.
[QUOTE=poltroon;8627827]
I think it’s interesting to note that the horse in question was Sapphire. I have no idea what happened at Aachen, but the long and successful career that mare had was the best recommendation a horseman can ever get.[/QUOTE]
Sapphire very nearly went to the Olympics three times, as I recall. I believe she was a contender to make the team in 2012, but they decided to retire her that spring.
Very few horses these days have long enough careers to make the short list for two Olympic Games, never mind three.
The OP must not follow show jumping very much if they don’t know about Barney Ward “possibly abusing” as opposed to orchestrating the murder of horses… McLain has risen above his father’s sordid equine history to become one of the world’s top riders. He currently has a real quality mare in his stable so I would be more surprised to find him not selected than on the team.
[QUOTE=Velvet;8626828]
No, it’s not. I haven’t really been following the jumpers in the Olympics for a while, but I saw that he was all over the front of this site for a couple weeks now and kept thinking I needed to ask. I just decided to ask. I knew some people would get hot and bothered for my asking, so I put it off. Thanks to those who answered sanely. Was the abuse ever tied more to Barney than to him? Wasn’t it something with plastic chips in the horse’s boots? I remember the bit with Barney being banned somewhere along the line. I also remember that it was a HUGE issue at the time. Thus the reason I asked. It had stuck with me–at least tied to the Ward name.[/QUOTE]
You know who you can ask these questions that won’t get hot and bothered?
Google.
#trufax
yawn I’ve seen far more convincing attempts at starting drama from you, OP. Seriously, less than five minutes of searching between this board and google would have given you the answer.
[QUOTE=Velvet;8627009]
A Google search would have shown the results, not provided the details that went on behind the scenes and what other people out here seemed to know at the time–but was no longer searchable out here.[/QUOTE]
:rolleyes: :sigh:
Completely off topic but I never really knew what happened surround McLain and the plastic in the boots besides the fact it supposedly happened, so this thread ended up being very interesting to me. The more you know 
[QUOTE=intheirons;8628112]
Completely off topic but I never really knew what happened surround McLain and the plastic in the boots besides the fact it supposedly happened, so this thread ended up being very interesting to me. The more you know :)[/QUOTE]
I agree and my memory is getting worse,
thanks to those posters.
People, Velvet is a prime example of why we have the “Ignore” button. She has been on my “Ignore” feature for a long time. I highly recommend it.
There is no one better suited to represent our country and our industry on a worldwide stage than McLain in my opinion. He is the consummate horseman and professional.
[QUOTE=sixteenhands;8627877]
I don’t believe you didn’t know he has represented the
US on previous Olympic teams, or had a past.
In 2012 you started this thread which has links to two articles, one of them clearly calls McLain the “two-time show jumping Olympic team gold medalist”.
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?374094-McClain-Ward-Article-on-COTH[/QUOTE]
This makes me laugh and laugh. Isn’t it just a bitch when the internets themselves trip up a troll?
Although I suppose velvet will claim (clain?) that she was confused between McLain and his brother McClain.
The big topic is how great is HH Azur. How incredible to have 2 such amazing mares, Sapphire and HH A, in one’s career…
[QUOTE=MintHillFarm;8629057]
The big topic is how great is HH Azur. How incredible to have 2 such amazing mares, Sapphire and HH A, in one’s career…[/QUOTE]
I think Mclain has a real way with mares. He seems to really understand them and is able to kind of “unlock” something in their brains where others aren’t successful.
But then there’s Rothchild. That little orange firecracker. I love him so much - I want Mclain to let me have him once he’s retired so I can take him on trail rides and feed him donuts all day every day. :lol:
[QUOTE=ybiaw;8629084]
But then there’s Rothchild. That little orange firecracker. I love him so much - I want Mclain to let me have him once he’s retired so I can take him on trail rides and feed him donuts all day every day. :lol:[/QUOTE]
I do too!
And Ward’s career with Rothchild tripled my respect for Ward. Here is a horse that is clearly NOT Ward’s normal type of ride, and yet he learned to meet the horse halfway and create a great partnership.
On a side note, I’m loving the fact that the OP’s attempt to stir up drama has essentially become a lovefest. I’m guessing that’s not what she had hoped for…
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8628294]
People, Velvet is a prime example of why we have the “Ignore” button. She has been on my “Ignore” feature for a long time. I highly recommend it.[/QUOTE]
The feeling is mutual. :lol:
His father was involved in insurance fraud which involved another person killing horses. He pled guilty to fraud. McClain was not involved, although I think he’s the subject of some witch hunts because of his father, and he’s such an incredible rider that people are going to be suspicious.
When he retired Sapphire at Devon a few years ago, he had his father with him at the ceremony, and thanked him for everything he’d learned from him. I thought that was gutsy, and admired him for that.
A few years before that I saw him ride at Harrisburg, in the big jump event. He made the jump-off and as he was walking the course he stopped for a moment where there was a small shrub placed between two different jumps, to direct the riders a certain way in the course. But when McLain rode the jump-off, instead of going around the jump, he hopped over the little shrub, cutting several seconds off his time! The crowd loved it. He jumped clean and won the event. When he took his victory lap, he took off his helmet and tore down the center of the arena.
He is a showboat sometimes, but he’s always incredible to watch.
The ignore button is a wonderful feature…troublemaker, V.
I watched a jump off between Sapphire and Hickstead at Spruce Meadows. It is immaterial as to who won - Eric on the overjumping, passionate Hickstead and Ward on the level headed, rideable Sapphire. Two equals in my book and memorable.
Another year it was Big Ben, Milton and Jappeloupe in one ring at the same time - a unique and memorable day.
