Oliver Townend whip abuse continues

[Blugal]

It’s on the updated FEI list of recorded warnings, yellow cards, and dangerous riding penalties. Oliver Townend was given an oral warning at the Stockholm Arena Eventing for “Abuse of horse / excessive use of whip.”

I’m starting a new thread on this for two reasons:

1. somehow magic Mr. Townend never receives actual sanctions, just warnings that have no long-term effect;

2. there were posters here after the last spate of whip warnings who said that he would have learned his lesson from getting a couple in a row, and all the publicity the last time. But, here we are…

I tried to look up what horse he was riding at this competition, as it’s not listed in the FEI warning list, and there aren’t results from the show (which started Nov. 27, 2022) posted on the FEI database. Looking at the results posted by the show, although touted as a “Top 10” Indoor eventing class, the final results only have 9 riders and Mr. Townend isn’t listed as a competitor.

With all the talk of horse welfare and “social license” I would think the governing bodies would want to ensure that a person in the limelight, former number 1 in the world on many occasions, would either stop over-whipping his horses or face serious consequences which make it clear this is unacceptable to ALL of us. And that certain folks aren’t exempt.

[Blackeventer]

OT was eliminated after a fall in the Stockholm Arena Eventing.
He was riding a catch ride, a 9 yo called Sotomayor.
His performance was quite depressing to watch and made me feel truly sorry for that young horse.

[Highflyer1]

That’s the one Boyd Martin just rode in as well? The challenge for the top 10 riders? So probably less a catch ride in the traditional sense and more a generous loan of a horse.

[endlessclimb]

I think a history of infractions only scrapes the surface of what’s happening at home. Gross.

[Blackeventer]

Yes, Boyd was riding Caruccio Paradise, another young horse and actually managed quite well.

Tim Price also had issues with his catch ride/loan horse, but handled his mount much more gracefully than OT.

Anyway, catch ride or loan horse, whatever you want to call it, the concept is contrary to what is the foundation of eventing: Horse/rider partnership. Just my opinion.

OT doesn’t go anywhere the prize money isn’t worth it.
He should have stayed home

[TXnGA]

@Blackeventer

Yes, Boyd was riding Caruccio Paradise, another young horse and actually managed quite well.

Tim Price also had issues with his catch ride/loan horse, but handled his mount much more gracefully than OT.

Anyway, catch ride or loan horse, whatever you want to call it, the concept is contrary to what is the foundation of eventing: Horse/rider partnership. Just my opinion.

OT doesn’t go anywhere the prize money isn’t worth it.
He should have stayed home

#truth

Is there anywhere to watch the arena eventing online?

[beowulf]

Thank you for starting this thread. How many yellow cards/warns for whip abuse has Oliver gotten now over the years? Seven? Ten?

[Djones]

Boyd described his horse as having a mouth like an alligator, not tracking how that’s a ringing endorsement of the horse’s development.

[FrittSkritt]

I wish they’d just quit with the indoor eventing. It’s a spectacle that non-eventers like to watch because it looks “thrilling,” but has no positive impact on our sport.

[Blackeventer]

Yes, replay available on H&C TV.

[Jenerationx]

At what point is there some kind of penalty for continuing to excessively whip a horse?

[Equibrit]

Video; https://www.facebook.com/BoydMartinEventing/videos/1114061015971313/

The Crocodile.

[Jealoushe]

Any video of Ollie doing this online free anywhere?

[beowulf]

Wow, that was an impressively ridden round. Thanks for dropping the link. I love those Christmas-wrapped corners, what a festive course.

I’m not a fan of Indoor Eventing. I wish it was called something else and was removed from our sport. I wonder if that’s how the Dressage purists feel about Eventing dressage…?

[trubandloki]

@beowulf

I love those Christmas-wrapped corners, what a festive course.

I had not watched so I was not sure what you were talking about. I watched and burst out with “oh, Christmas wrapped corners, Love them”.

You are so right, those are amazing.

[Blugal]

@Equibrit

The Crocodile.

I admit I was ready to be offended by Boyd’s remark. But after watching his discussion with the owner at the beginning, and then the round, and then the context of the remark, I can’t be offended by it. He rode to the owner’s orders, it looked sympathetic as there didn’t seem to be arguments with Boyd’s hands/horse’s mouth. Boyd was full of praise for the horse at the end, patted him, and the crocodile remark was in line with Boyd’s sense of humour.

What am I offended by? Oliver’s repeated whip abuse.

[endlessclimb]

@Jealoushe

Ollie

Can we please stop using cutesy nicknames for horse abusers? It makes my skin crawl.

[Equibrit]

@Blugal

What am I offended by? Oliver’s repeated whip abuse.

Who knows - you could be rushing to judgement on that one too ? (Do you think the horse spoke English ?)

[AltersAreUs]

@beowulf

I wonder if that’s how the Dressage purists feel about Eventing dressage…?

Well, we have Western Dressage and it’s just viewed as it’s own thing that might introduce folks to dressage who otherwise wouldn’t have bothered …

[OverandOnward]

@FrittSkritt

I wish they’d just quit with the indoor eventing. It’s a spectacle that non-eventers like to watch because it looks “thrilling,” but has no positive impact on our sport.

Wondering what impact a lot of horse-whipping during a round will have on the sport. If indoor eventing is staged again, definitely quit with OT.

Hopefully the elimination was announced during the class so everyone watching would know that isn’t how we do it?