Another semi horsey event…not sure how much coverage it will get, but the modern pentathlon includes show jumping, so try and stay on the look out for that!
I did a pony club B testing in Southern California right after the LA Olympics and several of the horses had numbers painted on their hooves as they were used in the pentathelon.
I think most of the pentathelon riders treat the horses as machines.
Someone here has family member competing
And someone on this BB has a family member competing. Someone from up north, not down south here.
These can be a hoot! They’re required to ride an unfamiliar horse and some know little about horses, so the horses gladly take advantage of them.
It’s often been said that it’s a good thing they don’t carry their pistol when they ride! :lol:
Actually, it’s an air pistol. You’d think since it’s of a military background they’d use something a bit more realistic, like a .45 ACP (with or without ivory handles – thank you George Patton :lol: )
[QUOTE=Frank B;3407244]
It’s often been said that it’s a good thing they don’t carry their pistol when they ride! :lol:[/QUOTE]
Or their fencing epee! At the lower levels of domestic competition, some athletes will skip the riding entirely.
Oh, so they have a choice to either take the horse for some set of miles, or go by their own manpower?
I actually know a guy competing for the US in pentathalon…and he can ride! Grew up pony clubbing and foxhunting, so he’s got a definite edge on a lot of his competitors. I got to see a video of the test rides of the horses that are being used in the Games, and all I can say is that they are the MOST TOLERANT horses I have ever seen. They were jumping no matter how badly the riders bounced on their kidneys or yanked on their mouths (or both!!).
No, the riding is a show jumping course. It’s probably mandatory for most sanctioned pentathalons. I guess at the lower levels or for junior competitions, some competitors who aren’t comfortable with the riding portion (i.e. they’re still learning to jump) will just skip it and finish on their score from the other sports. But in that case, they’re more likely there just to train rather than to win/place.
At one point in my career, I worked for a barn that trained the US Olympic Penthalon team. I got to ride all of the horses donated to the program until it was determined that they would work for the program and also rode the horses on a regular basis when they needed a break from the program. The athletes have to ride an unfamiliar horse over 18 jumping efforts that include one double combination and one triple combination (15 numbered fences). There is also usually a triple bar and a liverpool. The fences are set at 1.20 meters. I have gotten to prepare a bunch of horses for the competitions and participate in the jury rides where the horses are judged to make sure that they are more or less rideable. If the horse looks like it’s a tough ride for a “real” rider, the jury can choose not to accept the horse for the draw. It is a very interesting sport. For the most part, the US riders try very hard to ride decently but most of them rely on their strength to control the horse and try to muscle them around the course. Watching them ride is not for the faint of heart. Although the horses are (for the most part) game, the athletes usually don’t have a riding background so there are a ton of gasp-worthy fences. Most of the athletes are chosen for their swimming ability because the coachs feel that it’s the hardest skill to teach and a good swim gives the athlete a big advantage. I actually preferred not to watch the ride.
BTW: It was REALLY scary back in the old days. I heard (and have seen photographic evidence) that the athletes were originally required to ride cross country instead of a show jumping course.
My vet’s son is a member of the team and he grew up in Pony club and was National Champion in the Tetrathalon. He is a rider first and then learned the other sports. I know he has put a lot of effort into the game and I wish him all the best! I think the swimming and the riding will be televised on the 18th. I need to check to get an exact time.
changing the riding portion
I wonder how they can modify the riding to make it less stressful for the horses (and riders!)? Maybe they can change it to dressage- still a discipline with a military background!
The US actually campaigns for runners and swimmers as they are the endurance events, compared to the technical events. BTW a lot
of the pentathletes come through Pony Club or other equestrian background, so it is not fair to tar them all with the same brush.
Lesson horses have to put up with a bit, too, but they serve a purpose when you think how many people started out at a riding school.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;3407584]
The US actually campaigns for runners and swimmers as they are the endurance events, compared to the technical events. BTW a lot
of the pentathletes come through Pony Club or other equestrian background, so it is not fair to tar them all with the same brush.
Lesson horses have to put up with a bit, too, but they serve a purpose when you think how many people started out at a riding school.[/QUOTE]
But lesson horses don’t have to put up with it over 1.20 meter fences 
I do think that the horses in the program have a pretty cushy life otherwise but the competition is a bit rough to watch. And when you are personally involved with the horse (groom them, put in training rides, take care of them if they are sick or injured) it’s a little harder to watch them have some questionable rides over big fences because you have to get them confident again after those rides.
Also, I haven’t had anything to do with it for about 12 years 
Maybe the athletes coming up now do have a Pony Club background…but they didn’t when I was working with them.
Copper1, I’m pretty sure we’re talking about the same guy! Are you a Sam fan too?
TBkate-YEP! Sam Sacksen! I have watched him grow up and it is so cool that someone from tiny little Somerset, PA has made it to the Olympics! He is a young man with a great work ethic and truly deserves this great opportunity! I am sure the better part of Spruce Run Equine clients will be watching tv for the event!
From “Modern Pentathlon” dot com:
Riding - Equestrian Show Jumping The riding event (equestrian show jumping) included in the modern pentathlon competition involves jumping over hurdles of a maximum height of 1.20m.
The hurdles course has a length of 350 to 450m length, and includes 12 hurdles (15 jumps) with one double and one triple jump.
Athletes compete with horses provided by the organisers, which are selected through a random draw 20 minutes prior to the commencement of the event.
For warm-up and preparation purposes, athletes are allowed to ride their allocated horse for 20 minutes and to have up to five trial jumps in the auxiliary exercise area provided for the purpose.
The athlete has a specific time limit within which to compete the course, according to its length.
A time limit is set for the course, equating to one minutes for every 350m in length.
A fault free ride within “the standard time” ( 1 min - 1.17 min) is worth 1200 points.
For each mistake the rider loose points:
Every knock down gives 28 points deduction.
Every refusal or disobedience to jump gives 40 points. But any disobedience leading to the knocking down of an obstacle gives 60 points deduction. After two refusals to jump the rider must try to jump the next obstacle. For every not jumped obstacle the athlete loose 80 points.
A fall of the rider from the horse or both fall gives 40 points. After two falls the riding will be terminated and the rider will have a further 300 points deduction.
Every second above the standard time gives 4 points in deduction. The maximum time is the standard time + 60 s. If the ride is slower than the maximum time the riding is terminated and the rider gives minus 240 points and also a deduction of 80 points for each obstacle he didn’t jump.
Competitors can walk the course before riding begins.
Riders must stay between the flags marking the course and must jump the obstacles in order.
Riders must wear protective headgear and a riding jacket and can use a whip and spurs, but hoods and blinkers are prohibited.
Wow. I did not know that Sam Sacksen was going to the Olympics. Just Wow. I spent my teen years in Brush Run Pony Club, and shared camp with Rolling Rock. I remember him from camp and rallies, and his dad did the PPE on my old horse. I also had a big old crush on him for about 2 hours when I was 13… ;).
Go Sam!!!
[QUOTE=imapepper;3407557]
At one point in my career, I worked for a barn that trained the US Olympic Penthalon team. I got to ride all of the horses donated to the program until it was determined that they would work for the program and also rode the horses on a regular basis when they needed a break from the program. The athletes have to ride an unfamiliar horse over 18 jumping efforts that include one double combination and one triple combination (15 numbered fences). There is also usually a triple bar and a liverpool. The fences are set at 1.20 meters. I have gotten to prepare a bunch of horses for the competitions and participate in the jury rides where the horses are judged to make sure that they are more or less rideable. If the horse looks like it’s a tough ride for a “real” rider, the jury can choose not to accept the horse for the draw. It is a very interesting sport. For the most part, the US riders try very hard to ride decently but most of them rely on their strength to control the horse and try to muscle them around the course. Watching them ride is not for the faint of heart. Although the horses are (for the most part) game, the athletes usually don’t have a riding background so there are a ton of gasp-worthy fences. Most of the athletes are chosen for their swimming ability because the coachs feel that it’s the hardest skill to teach and a good swim gives the athlete a big advantage. I actually preferred not to watch the ride.
BTW: It was REALLY scary back in the old days. I heard (and have seen photographic evidence) that the athletes were originally required to ride cross country instead of a show jumping course.[/QUOTE]
Did this happen to be outside of San Antonio at a barn out by the Rose Palace?
[QUOTE=seeuatx;3412607]
Wow. I did not know that Sam Sacksen was going to the Olympics. Just Wow. I spent my teen years in Brush Run Pony Club, and shared camp with Rolling Rock. I remember him from camp and rallies, and his dad did the PPE on my old horse. I also had a big old crush on him for about 2 hours when I was 13… ;).
Go Sam!!![/QUOTE]
WE can all say “we knew him when”!
Wow! I didn’t realize this was an Olympic event. I used to be really pretty good at tetrathlon. Thanks for the info!
