If they don’t get any of your money, why are you letting them set your rules? What power do they actually have?
It sounds like you willingly giving them the power they have, which is arguably worse.
And the head honchos of MP don’t do it for charity - money and power. Take both of those away from them, which only the competitors have the power to do.
[Poop] or get off the pot.
Rather than being so relentlessly accusative and ugly, why don’t you try to understand what I’ve written so far in a number of posts about Olympic sport governance?
I’ve explained the governance structure several times but maybe you missed it because you were too busy thinking about your next retort.
You can read more about international sport federations and the International Olympic Committee here: https://olympics.com/ioc/international-federations.
Thank you. Over the years, I’ve had a number of people contact me via this BB about getting started in pentathlon. There aren’t a lot of places to talk about pentathlon online and it’s always a bit of a mystery how to get into the sport.
And it really is a great sport for all ages - I know plenty of people who got started as adults and truly enjoy this strange pursuit.
Stop. Supporting. The people. Who enabled this.
It’s really that simple.
My dear friend, that’s exactly what’s going on right now. You would do well to read my posts so that you wouldn’t continue to make ignorant statements.
The pentathlon community - the athletes, the NFs, etc - are demanding the resignation of the officials who presided over the devaluation of riding and who made a secret vote to eliminate riding.
My dear friend, why did it take an olympic level [poop] show for you all to decide you wanted to oust these guys?
And, why did it take an olympic level [poop] show for everyone to realize it was time to give a damn about the horses?
Oh look. Another COTH thread that started out as an informative respectful discussion turned into a toxic, pile on of a dumpster fire. Whoever could have seen this coming?
Oh yea, I did.
Look, I get it. When I watched MP this year I was infuriated and if I ran into an MP athlete in the street, I would’ve had some choice words. Earlier in this thread before @JER came on to give insight, I totally was in the “blame the athletes” camp too but I’ve learned a lot from this thread and it’s clear that the problems lie with the organizers.
Throwing stones at @JER doesn’t help anyone. It’s clear she cares about the horses and wants to see changes in this sport and she probably knows more than the rest of us about what it takes to make that happen.
@endlessclimb, I get it. I’m pissed about how things have gone unchecked in this sport but if you don’t have anything nice to say, just leave. Don’t chase out @JER because of your emotions.
The only time a wide public hear or see Modern Pentathlon is at the Olympics. One reason I love watching the Olympics is because so many otherwise invisible but interesting sports have a brief moment in the glare of mainstream media coverage. And new technologies mean the breadth of sports covered has increased at each recent Olympics. 2012, I believe was the first one to broadcast every sport, by variable means.
I first watched MP at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and that was unpleasant viewing. There was a public outcry by viewers concerned about horse welfare. And so on, at subsequent Olympics. The public want change. However, given that the only time we public see or hear about MP is every four years, the efforts of participants, insiders and some NFs to promote change will be completely invisible. MP only appears on COTH every four years and we love our horses.
Thank you JER for your information and explanation.
[I can’t find out how to cite individuals within text]
Since you accused me of stalking you, I’ll take this opportunity to return the favor. Leave me alone, stalker. /s
So long as competitors show up, sign up, and pay their entry fees, they are complicit in the abuse. You don’t get to support 4 of the 5 sports and then claim innocence on the last.
Don’t like how they treat the horses? Don’t support the sport until it’s right. Better yet,start another organization. American endurance did it, even when it was painful and confusing. What’s MPs excuse?
JER isn’t getting singled out. Every single competitor that calls themselves a horseman, yet still competes in this sport under its current rules is.
I support dog fighting, but only if they’re wearing muzzles. I know they don’t wear muzzles now, but I’ve told the ring leader that I want them to wear muzzles, so I’m good. I’ll keep entering in the fights, and encouraging others to do the same. I know its been 30+ years and they still aren’t wearing muzzles, but hey, I’m trying.
Doesn’t that sound ridiculous?
For those of you who want to follow what’s going on, this is the latest update from Inside The Games, a news site for Olympic Sport.
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1115563/schmitt-schormann-uipm-modern-pentathlon
Basically, an IOC member has spoken out against the UIPM leadership and claims they’re lying - we all know they are - about the IOC demanding that riding be eliminated. He points out that the contract for Los Angeles 2028 has been signed and it includes riding, and also that the IOC has never asked modern pentathlon to change the sport.
And then Team GB Olympic medalist Samantha Murray slams the UIPM leadership for their vanity and self-absorption. Well done, Sam.
Also, this is only going to get worse for UIPM.
N/m
2008
@endlessclimb, what will make you feel validated here? You seem desperate for some kind of approval or validation.
You’re saying this on repeat: ‘pentathlon riding bad’. We get that.
Then you seem to be insisting repeatedly that the athletes break away and form their own organization.
I’ve said repeatedly in response that the pentathlon community is currently aiming to oust the UIPM leadership and reform the organization. This is a goal that’s very realistic.
A breakaway organization is something much further down the road, if the attempt at substantial reform isn’t possible.
This should be clear to you by now so there’s no need to repeat the same points.
The removal of horses from a sport that doesn’t actually care about them, and considers them to be a “way to shake up the leaderboard”.
As I’ve stated here numerous times and as you can see with even the briefest trip to Facebook or Instagram or Google, the sport - meaning the athletes and support community - does care about horses and riding and we consider it an essential and irreplaceable element of our sport.
The problem is the entrenched and much-reviled leadership, who have ignored calls for reform for decades. That is also well documented.
The current situation - an illegal vote by the executive board - is our best opportunity to overthrow the leadership and reform the sport - specifically, the riding phase, to reflect the values of the community.
Finally, if you go to a pentathlon competition run by an NF or local organization, you’ll find that horse welfare is very much in line with what you see with real horse people. Because pentathletes are real horse people.
Oh, I’m sure you (g) care about riding and horses. But not about their well being. It’s a means to an end.
If MP cared about horse welfare, the abysmal riding seen at every single Olympics would not happen. Yet, here we are, reviewing Olympic footage from 2008 showing that nothing has changed. If that’s olympic level skill, god only knows what goes on in the local competitions.
You know, tradition is not a good enough reason to abuse an animal. Tradition is not a good enough reason to do anything, really. See: tophats in dressage. Maybe it’s time for MP to let go of “tradition” and allow for a sport to be added that won’t involve another sentient living being. Lots of other things have changed regarding the time allowed for the phases to complete, why not this?
What’s the downside of taking horses out of it altogether since 50% of the competitors can’t be bothered to learn how to ride?
What’s the downside of allowing pure competitor skill and well-roundedness be the sole deciding factor in whether or not they medal? Why the need/desire to “shake up the leaderboard” with horses?
Um, what?
But please, don’t bother answering. I’ve tried to engage with you; my only other advice to you is to seek counseling.
Nothing about the changes in this article will change how the athletes see the horses. They will still be a tool.
And boycotting an event is great - how about boycotting them all?
A quote from the article, written by the same person @JER just lauded as an icon for the sport: ""In showjumping, riders will pull their horses and say, ‘Look, he’s just not willing to jump today. He’s not going to do it.’ And that’s accepted. But in pentathlon, they don’t. They view the animals as tools."
Thanks for the advice. Appreciate it.
My advice to you is to be a better advocate for the animals you claim to care about. You seem to be entrenched in the old school methodology of “make them mind”. I’m not ever going to subject my horses to inept riding on this level, because I care about them.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
