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Mclain Ward: True horsemanship

Archives 2018 World Equestrian Games
#141

Again, the charges and related pleas are what they are and have been clarified thoroughly on this thread. The basis for them and people’s opinions on them have been discussed at length in previous threads on this board and elsewhere and don’t need to be rehashed further. This forum is here for discussion of events in the Olympics.

If you’d like to comment on how his specific history influences perception of him as a horseman and how it is related to his involvement in the Olympics, OK. If you’d like to share other, unrelated comments regarding his horsemanship and his involvement in the Olympics, OK.

Thanks,
Mod 1

#142

A job well done

I’ve been a fan of McLain’s for… oh, maybe 11 or so years… when I got the opportunity to watch him compete up here in New Hampshire with Twist du Valon and Beneton… what a lovely soft rider he was (and still is!)
I for one, am THRILLED to see him achieve such heights at the Olympics.

#143

I think the real problem is that ridgeback’s BFF Haddad blew off Beijing and ruined her chances of a free ticket to Hong Kong. :cool:

#144

[QUOTE=J Swan;3459526]
I think the real problem is that ridgeback’s BFF Haddad blew off Beijing and ruined her chances of a free ticket to Hong Kong. :cool:[/QUOTE]

I thought Ridgeback favored boycotting the Olympics. Surely she would not be caught dead over there.

#145

McLain sure equitates nicely for a jumper rider, doesn’t he?
:slight_smile:

#146

On my. Quite right.

Of course… Hong Kong isn’t really China because, well, you know it’s not REALLY. And it’s SO not fair that the BFF thumbed her nose and then complained about it in public and then was SO surprised when she didn’t get a bye…

It’s just all too tragic.

I was lucky to go to the Atlanta Games. 3-Day. One of the best experiences of my life. Much better than watching it on TV, or discussing it on BB’s. Actually… I’d been looking forward to chatting about it on the BB… but geez. This is awful.

springer… I watched him ride and admit to being insanely jealous of his lower leg. Whatever the man’s faults are… he is a most excellent rider.

#147

[QUOTE=jse;3458923]
These articles mean nothing.[/QUOTE]

So … official notices of sanctions by the sport’s national governing body “mean nothing”? What, in your worldview, would mean “something”?

I really didn’t want to add to this train wreck and will keep my opinions on ML to myself because you know what? He doesn’t give a rat’s hiney what I think. But I just find it really amusing that an official notice from NGB means “nothing.”

And let the record show that I would say the same thing about whoever said that about such a notice, no matter who the person named in the sanction was. :slight_smile:

The bottom line is, anyone at the top of anything – sports, politics, business, what have you – is going to have baggage. Hell, we all have it. Some of us just have to carry it more publicly than others, and whether it’s fair or not, when one puts oneself in the public arena, the public gets to weigh in on one’s baggage.

#148

[QUOTE=YankeeLawyer;3459199]
Because otherwise young people might not know that breaking USEF rules or the law is wrong? Give me a break.[/QUOTE]
Um I did not say that. Just like a lawyer putting words in my mouth. And breaking the law isn’t always wrong- just illegal. Surely you know that.

The deterrent of breaking these FEI and other horse organization “laws” in my mind is not high enough because the punishments are not strict enough. Bad deeds are too soon forgotten and those who are charged with them can go on to be our most celebrated riders. Young riders grow up not knowing any better and esteeming these not morally sound “wrong doers” and there is little incentive for the wrong doers of today or the morally compromised of tomorrow to do any better. They will only get a little slap on the wrist or a short ban from competition that is lifted just in time for them to again do their country “proud” in International competition.

And if you do something really morally evil (like order the execution of horses) you will be banned for life but you will still be able to be credited for training a rider who rides for our country. In fact your son can announce this fact on national TV and no one will bat an eye.

I agree we cannot conclude that McLain either put studs in the boots or ordered it done or that he gave a horse cocaine or ordered it done. His dad wasn’t so good and hiding the chain of evidence. Maybe he is or maybe he was framed. I have no idea on that. If these were the only charges against him and he puplicly denounced his father and the horrible evils he did to horses, I would probably root the guy on. However, I think it speaks mighty poorly of McLain’s morality and integrity that he uses a horse killer as a coach and it speaks lowly of the US to allow someone, who has announced that he trains with a lifetime banned horse killer, to make the team.

But then I don’t really care if the US medals in Showjumping or not. Some of you seem to think that the winner can determine the morality of the game.

#149

[QUOTE=kkj;3459712]

I agree we cannot conclude that McLain either put studs in the boots or ordered it done or that he gave a horse cocaine or ordered it done. His dad wasn’t so good and hiding the chain of evidence. .[/QUOTE]

So are you suggesting that the allegations against MW could not be proved only because he was good at hiding evidence? Wow. Do you guys think before you write?

#150

[QUOTE=europferde;3459425]
You sound like a woman scorned the way you go after McLain in all the threads![/QUOTE]

Please show me where I have gone after him in all threads…Please also show where I supported his a** in the thread where some were upset he didn’t have his hand over his heart…Get your facts straight and now back it up…thanks… If people are going to quote me in a thread I will respond:lol:

#151

I agree we cannot conclude that McLain either put studs in the boots or ordered it done or that he gave a horse cocaine or ordered it done.

Perhaps a drunken house guest was the culprit. Snuck into the barn in the dead of night to frame MW for perceived slights ( bad food, loud music, hogging the remote, etc etc).

They are always doing stuff like that.

#152

[QUOTE=J Swan;3459526]
I think the real problem is that ridgeback’s BFF Haddad blew off Beijing and ruined her chances of a free ticket to Hong Kong. :cool:[/QUOTE]

Oh now I know who you are and why you pick on everything I say:lol::lol: Just fyi if my sister was riding in China I wouldn’t have gone like I said in another thread I would have been arrested for my free tibet tee shirt…

#153

[QUOTE=YankeeLawyer;3459538]
I thought Ridgeback favored boycotting the Olympics. Surely she would not be caught dead over there.[/QUOTE]

Well just so your facts are straight I know how important that is to a lawyer, I never said I was in favor of boycotting the games I discussed my disgust with China and its human rights issues and you are correct I would not go;)

See below

Quote:
Originally Posted by J Swan
No. And shame on the people who attacked the torchbearer.

The only people who suffer from a boycott are the athletes - complete innocents. I’m not fond of China and its policies; but punishing innocent people is not the way to bring about change.

Those athletes just want to compete. Leave them alone and let them reach their goals.

Politics can wait.

Posted by ridgeback
Great points from everyone… I now think maybe the games should go on but now that the world has seen what is going on in Darfur and Tibet hopefully it will make a difference for those nations…Hopefully citizens of the world will stand up and hold their governments accountable to do something but at the some time allow the games to go on…Idealist I know

#154

Nah, I think it was ridgeback. She was wearing a Free Tibet T-shirt. :winkgrin:

#155

[QUOTE=kkj;3459712]
Um I did not say that. Just like a lawyer putting words in my mouth. And breaking the law isn’t always wrong- just illegal. Surely you know that.

The deterrent of breaking these FEI and other horse organization “laws” in my mind is not high enough because the punishments are not strict enough. Bad deeds are too soon forgotten and those who are charged with them can go on to be our most celebrated riders. Young riders grow up not knowing any better and esteeming these not morally sound “wrong doers” and there is little incentive for the wrong doers of today or the morally compromised of tomorrow to do any better. They will only get a little slap on the wrist or a short ban from competition that is lifted just in time for them to again do their country “proud” in International competition.

And if you do something really morally evil (like order the execution of horses) you will be banned for life but you will still be able to be credited for training a rider who rides for our country. In fact your son can announce this fact on national TV and no one will bat an eye.

I agree we cannot conclude that McLain either put studs in the boots or ordered it done or that he gave a horse cocaine or ordered it done. His dad wasn’t so good and hiding the chain of evidence. Maybe he is or maybe he was framed. I have no idea on that. If these were the only charges against him and he puplicly denounced his father and the horrible evils he did to horses, I would probably root the guy on. However, I think it speaks mighty poorly of McLain’s morality and integrity that he uses a horse killer as a coach and it speaks lowly of the US to allow someone, who has announced that he trains with a lifetime banned horse killer, to make the team.

But then I don’t really care if the US medals in Showjumping or not. Some of you seem to think that the winner can determine the morality of the game.[/QUOTE]

Hey it speaks volumes of the U.S. government that his dad can even be near a horse…

#156

Ridgeback - I keep lots of chocolate in the house to keep me even tempered. I need a lot of it, obviously.

Would you care for some?

#157

[QUOTE=J Swan;3459804]
Nah, I think it was ridgeback. She was wearing a Free Tibet T-shirt. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

HEE HEE now you got me laughing yep it was me…

#158

[QUOTE=J Swan;3459815]
Ridgeback - I keep lots of chocolate in the house to keep me even tempered. I need a lot of it, obviously.

Would you care for some?[/QUOTE]

Thanks don’t need chocolate just the hypocrisy to stop…can you help with that?:lol::wink:

#159

Why yes, of course I can.

Scotch.

If chocolate doesn’t fix things - Scotch does. If nothing else, it gives you something to do with your hands at parties.

#160

[QUOTE=J Swan;3459827]
Why yes, of course I can.

Scotch.

If chocolate doesn’t fix things - Scotch does. If nothing else, it gives you something to do with your hands at parties.[/QUOTE]

Hmm don’t like Scotch but a martini might do the same thing…thanks for the suggestion:cool::lol:

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