As a friend of William…one who has known this horse from his birth to now, I can attest to the character of this horse. William was and has always been a calm, easily handled horse. As a stallion, he was a gentle giant. I filmed him being ridden by an amateur rider. He offered no bad behavior. To claim from a video of him lying seizing that he had behavior issues is reprehensible. Do you say that about a human child seizing after having its skull fractured? Blood spewing from his sinus cavities as he drowns in his own blood? Blame an owner who was an arena or more away the scene as stated in the interrogatories? Those same interrogatories that show inconsistencies in the statements by CP. Trust an article where there is no questions posed to the other party?
I am not saying he is not entitled to go represent this country. The rules are the rules. One can not get set down when a judge allows you a pass on disobedience in a dressage test.
http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=24767
Isobel Wessels informing Caroline Roffman on Her Highness O that the pair were eliminated from the World Cup Grad Prix when the horse had blood onher mouth. © 2014 Ken Braddick/dressage-news.com
Earlier in the class, Isobell eliminated the American combination of Caroline Roffman and Her Highness O from the competition for blood on the mouth. The pair were thus eliminated from the international division.
The pair were entered in a national open Grand Prix Friday and were eliminated a second time for blood on the mouth.
Isobell, who is also a competition rider at FEI level as well as a judge, said that in the case of Cesar Parra and Van the Man she advised her fellow judges to mark the pair down for an error.
Because the horse went off the line they were also scored low–in her case she awarded one point.
"I think it’s also important that everyone knows when you sit there judging you’re thinking of the rider first. If you see there is no danger, you will think in terms of the rider whenever possible.
“As a judge you don’t want to eliminate anyone, you try hard not to, especially in a CDI because once eliminated they cannot go any further in the competition.”
Cesar Parra later explained that the ride was their first international show for the year, the previous event being the national championships in October.
“He’s hot, but he’s my special child,” he said. "He can be brilliant and very nutty and very tough to ride in the ring. The warm-up was great. I’m 50 years old and a little bit naive. I took it for granted he would be the same as in the warm-up. I did not ride him enough in the competition.
“I’d rather have it tough outside ring than in the ring. But I have high expectations for him and expect that very soon everything will come together.”
So he is just naive…
I just hope in my next test, the judge is as forgiving. I must always remember that the rules always apply. Sometimes more equally for others when money is involved.
