The bald faced mare is gorgeous. I want her!!
I like Wonderboy. Smart horse.
Those were some lovely, forgiving horses. Very catty, too, to get over some of those fences despite missed distances (and to get through the combinations despite way too much or way too little going in)!
Here’s the problem. The Live Extra app has an interview with the American about a typical training week. I’m sure it’s not the same for all the athletes (although he does use the word “we”). In it he says:
“We swim and run 6 days a week, we’ll fence three days a week bouting which is fencing each other then two other days we’ll do fencing lessons with our coach. And then shooting, just cause it’s low impact we’re not really working too hard, we’ll do that 5 days a week and then sometimes we’ll mix in some running with it for our combined event. And then depending on where we are in the training season we’ll ride once a week or once every two weeks.”
There you go.
I wasn’t able to watch (and sounds like I didn’t miss much) but the sport itself in concept sounds like a blast to me and I’d love to try it. Has anybody ever actually participated in it themselves? If nothing else sounds like I’d have a leg up in the equestrian part of the competition!!
Omg a real rider. GBR rider, Sam, good rider!!
2nd Korean rider obviously has better rhythm and core strength. A decent round.
[QUOTE=suzier444;6493027]
I wasn’t able to watch (and sounds like I didn’t miss much) but the sport itself in concept sounds like a blast to me and I’d love to try it. Has anybody ever actually participated in it themselves? If nothing else sounds like I’d have a leg up in the equestrian part of the competition!![/QUOTE]
I have never done it, but I knew somebody years ago who was quite good at it. She enjoyed it. She was a rider who got interested in it, not somebody who tried to ride just to meet the requirements. She was an athletic type who could run and swim with no trouble, so then she learned to fence and shoot. That sounds to me like a better recipe for success!
Plus if you stink at shooting or fencing, your equipment isn’t tortured in the process.
Disappointed in Germany. Very handsy rider. 
and punishing after the jump.
The American entrant was a no-show at that same riding camp. The camp was set up by the UIPM for the North Americans who’d qualified for the Olympics via the Pan Ams but of those qualifiers, only Oscar and Canadian Melanie McCann showed up.
The US federation sent notice at the last minute that the two American athletes, one of whom you saw competing today, would not be attending. It was quite rude as a lot of planning had gone into the camp and the two athletes had previously indicated that they’d be there.
Again, I’m disgusted and embarrassed that Dennis Bowsher (sp?) represented the U.S.A. with zero riding skills.
I’ve seen monkeys riding dogs on You Tube videos with better basics. Again, Bowsher was the worst rider in the whole competition.
Think the idea of writing to the sport’s governing body and the IOC to lodge complaints is great. Would be awesome to throw in an epona.com video of the abusive riding displayed today, to boot.
MP is a terrific concept for a competition that could really appeal to all those young boys who ride as kids and then move away from the sport. It IS a PC discipline.
Why aren’t riders recruited first and foremost who could then focus on the other phases?
Does riding carry less weight in the overall scoring or something?
Quote from the American pentathlete Dennis Bowsher (who we just saw ride):
“We swim and run 6 days a week, we’ll fence three days a week bouting which is fencing each other then two other days we’ll do fencing lessons with our coach. And then shooting, just cause it’s low impact we’re not really working too hard, we’ll do that 5 days a week and then sometimes we’ll mix in some running with it for our combined event. And then depending on where we are in the training season we’ll ride once a week or once every two weeks.”
That right there is an argument for taking riding out of the equation. Or changing the penalties significantly.
Swimming: 6 days/week
Running: 6+ days/week
Fencing: 5 days/week
Shooting: 5 days/week
Riding: 1 day/week or 1 day every 2 weeks
The Japanese rider gave a respectable effort and was not handsy. Just had a shove at a jump and the horse said no.
I am waiting to see the two USA women riders tomorrow, but I have already drafted a letter that I am going to send to the director of USA Pentathlon. So for those who want to read what I have so far, PM me.
Latvia - a$$hole rider. I’d like to take the crop to him. If you don’t hold your leg, the horse will slow down. Duh!
2nd Brit rider is riding the grey I LOVE. Had a respectable round. Good rider and is patting the horse.
Trinidad- what a life saver. Gave the Hungary rider an excellent clear round.
[QUOTE=BLBGP;6493050]
Swimming: 6 days/week
Running: 6+ days/week
Fencing: 5 days/week
Shooting: 5 days/week
Riding: 1 day/week or 1 day every 2 weeks[/QUOTE]
It does seem ludicrous to think that an athlete would do any sport seriously enough to go to the Olympics on such an unbalanced training schedule.
I can’t imagine that the people who go for the decathlon would have a similar lack of proportion. And many of their events are much more closely related than riding and anything else.
Connic - super jumper. Robert Kasza (sp?) lovely rider. Generous to his horse.
Russian gave lots of free releases. Decent ride but a little yanky over the triple.
2nd Russian rider not the best round but not a bad rider.
[QUOTE=suzier444;6493027]
Has anybody ever actually participated in it themselves? [/QUOTE]
Yes. It’s the best sport ever. I am one of the lucky few who actually has a local club (in BC).
If you are serious about giving it a try, PM me and I’ll try to help.
For anyone else that might be interested, pentathlon is for all ages, even Masters. You can start any time in life. 
They’re both good riders who grew up on horse farms. One is from a steeplechasing/eventing family and can ride anything.
I would not expect much response from the leadership at USA Pentathlon. But writing letters is never a bad idea.
Also, PC is a major feeder for pentathlon in the countries that have PC. A huge percentage of the US competitors come from Pony Club or from riding-first backgrounds. Same with GB and Ireland. Other countries don’t have the PC system but countries like Germany have pentathlon clubs from a young age.
