Modern Pentathalon

[Thames_Pirate]

There were two before the turn where the horse said NO. The third at the vertical, then the horse refused to go forward, but she did try to re-present. IMO it was another stop, but the officials may have seen it differently. The German commentators said she had the option to choose another horse, so that’s what I was basing my comment on.

As for the putting humpty dumpty together, I mostly agree depending on the horse and the day, but she DID get the horse moving forward and jumped a few in spite of herself and her meltdown before they ever got going. That tells me that if she had stayed calm and ridden tactfully, it might have worked out because the horse was such a trier. But yes, it’s a big ask.

[Darkwave]

Do we know who the female commentator was on the NBC livestream?

I’m watching the recording, and she’s AWFUL. According to her, a horse actively swishing its tail means that it’s happy…

And her breakdown of what is going wrong with each round is a) not at all accurate and b) makes me wonder if that is how pentathletes are coached.

[Graymaresrule]

The horse was wearing a gag bit and running martingale. Maybe an indication that he was not an easy ride.

NOT that I am excusing that rider’s behavior.

[ReadOnRight]

I was trying to read up on the rules but it’s not totally clear- when can the athletes request a new horse? During warm up or in the ring? Are they penalized?

[Willesdon]

@Graymaresrule

The horse was wearing a gag bit and running martingale

Outside the USA, running martingales are not deemed to be particularly evil. Gag on a SJ is a curious choice as they aren’t good for turning a horse.

[Graymaresrule]

@Willesdon

Outside the USA, running martingales are not deemed to be particularly evil. Gag on a SJ is a curious choice as they aren’t good for turning a horse.

As with just about anything the harshness of a running martingale depends on the way it is used. However, combined with a gag bit a running martingale can amplify the force of a rider’s hands. It’s not a combo I would put on a horse and then hand that horse to a new rider and expect them to do a round of jumps.

[Angela_Freda]

The comment that the horse ruined her Olympic Dreams … … If it’s your dream, maybe learn to ride?
Sorry/not sorry

[trubandloki]

@Angela_Freda

The comment that the horse ruined her Olympic Dreams … … If it’s your dream, maybe learn to ride?
Sorry/not sorry

I have not seen the video so I am not going to say this woman can or can not ride, but my thought on the whole “the horse ruined my Olympic Dreams” thing is simply - If you are going to participate in a sport that requires the cooperation of a 1000lb prey animal you have never met, it might be best to make sure you are prepared (skills wise, emotionally for when things might not go well) for things to not go as you planned.

[Mouse_Rider]

No audio, but put together a video of both Saint Boy rides: https://vimeo.com/584181082

[Graymaresrule]

Thanks for posting that. I liked the gray

[trubandloki]

Thank you @Mouse_Rider.
She plowed him thru a few fences and then wonders why he stops? Wow!

[Maythehorsebewithme]

Since COTH is pretty much the only place I go to for comments on the events I watch on NBC, I was completely unaware of the non-horsy comments made elsewhere. I took a look. Read, among other comments, that Saint Boy was a “rogue”. OMG. Poor horse.

What a bad picture for the non-horsies who will now think that is equestrian sports.

I wonder how the horse’s owner felt watching that. I would have been in the ring, ripping that rider off my horse, and using the whip on her. OK, vent over. Feel better now.

[Graymaresrule]

Given the bit and martingale, maybe the horse was not the best candidate for the competition format.

[kateh]

So BF and I were just discussing this, me from the “wtf this is appalling riding” angle and him from the triathlete “how do I train for multiple sports” angle. Apparently the scoring in pentathlon is such that some of the events-and riding in particular-are worth duck-all compared to others, AND it’s all comparative (i.e. you can knock all but one rail down, as long as everyone else knocks all rails down). Not that it’s an excuse, but at least it helps explain why they are so unprepared for the riding. Although with the amount of falls, I’d also be pretty worried about avoiding injuries??

I think if you could only make one rule change, eliminating any falls would probably make a biiiig difference in athlete prep schemes.

[trubandloki]

Having heard about this sport here on this forum, it seems getting people to donate horses to be used is not an easy thing…since…well… riding like this person did (plowing the horse thru fences).

So maybe this horse was not the best candidate for this type of riding but, this type of riding is why it is hard to find horses.

[Displaced_Yankee]

@kateh

I think if you could only make one rule change, eliminating any falls would probably make a biiiig difference in athlete prep schemes

Or maybe make the course height a bit smaller? I realize it’s the Olympics, but if athletes won’t do the prep…

I’m thinking with a lower height, the pool of qualified horses gets larger with more who can take a joke better.

Disclaimer: I’m not sure the height, but looks bigger than anything I have jumped myself.

[Angela_Freda]

That poor horse

[BLBGP]

I don’t think those riders knew (or cared?) how much power they had in their hands with that bit. Yanking hard on the poor horse’s face right before the fence then confused why he stopped.

I agree that the pentathlon needs to be changed. This isn’t fair to the horses.

[Rackonteur]

Thank you for posting that video.
Poor Saint Boy.

[Brown_Derby]

@Displaced_Yankee

Or maybe make the course height a bit smaller? I realize it’s the Olympics, but if athletes won’t do the prep…

I’m thinking with a lower height, the pool of qualified horses gets larger with more who can take a joke better.

I agree. Every Olympics we have the same discussion of the blatant cruelty and un-Olympian behavior.in the MP. If the equestrian component is insignificant as far as points go, just lower the fences. Plenty of 2’3 to 2’9 courses can be pretty intimidating on a loaned horse. Hello IHSA.

All the mention of partnerships by the showjumping commentators down the drain. MP instead seems to create more horse-haters and blamers when it could be a venue to bring more athletes into riding, esp. males.