Not a criticism, but:
How the heck does he even stay on the horse over the jumps?? I just watched the Grand Prix of Geneva on TV and he came in second! His horse didn’t look pleased, but he got the job done I suppose.
If you don’t know who I am talking about, please Google image search. You willbe floored.
Referring to knee pinching style https://www.facebook.com/webstallions1/photos/a.712247535538632.1073741861.288451707918219/712251092204943/?type=1&theater
Pony Grandma, there are soooo many more photos and videos of him that are waaaay more dramatic than that one. He also leans waaaaaay back on the way down. It’s crazy! Just doesn’t seem physically possible, but like I said, seems to work for him!?
http://media.globalchampionstour.com/cache/900x600/gallery/2014/05/29/A47Y9265.JPG
http://www.st-georg.de/we_thumbs/10656_17_RogerYvesBostSprung.jpg
http://www.lexpress.fr/pictures/928/475218_le-francais-roger-yves-bost-le-21-octobre-2012-a-helsinki.jpg
http://www.equisport.pt/fotos/noticias/BOPSTY.gif
http://www.toffiimages.de/var/toffiimages/storage/images/equestrian-disciplins-weg/jumping-springsport/13-44-d2610b-roger-yves-bost-fra-myrtille-paulois-sf/148291-1-ger-DE/13-44-d2610b-roger-yves-bost-fra-myrtille-paulois-sf_large.jpg
somehow, it seems to work for him!
90% positive thats what i look like over fences too… the 18" stuff!!
Didn’t the commentator today from Geneva say he’s won something like 4,000,000 Euros in his career? I guess his style works for him.
Seriously, not judging. Because, yes, he’s won a ton, and also somehow managed to discover how to defy the laws of physics!!
I saw this tonight and couldn’t imagine that his horse would be able to manage those huge jumps, but it seems to work for him. It was painful to watch, but it must not be as bad as it looks if he can win over huge, technical courses.
Not a personal fan of his style. I personally hate the knee pinching style in general, especially when exaggerated. I think it looks sloppy and it is such a big move that could unbalance the horse.
But if it works… more power to him.
I get a bit nervous every time I watch him! I am quite addicted to watching the global champions tour so I have watched him a fair bit over the years, and heard the commentators talk about him. Apparently he grew up with no formal training etc.
The more I watch him, the less I look at him, and the more I look at the horse. Like everyone else, I was amazed that someone who looked so loose in the saddle with a flying lower leg and elbows and that extreme lean back on the way down, could be so successful. And I used to think his horses didn’t look that great. But watch the horse next time if you can force yourself to stop staring wide eyed at his faults hehe… They usually look pretty happy I think. He doesn’t interfere all that much, and when he does take a pull he always gives back. He generally arrives on a decent distance, except when he is riding like a bat outta hell in a speed round or jump off, and his horses land and turn in quite a soft way. They know exactly what is expected of them, and if nothing else, horses do love consistency! It is weird, but it works for him, and apparently he is a top guy and well respected on the circuit!
It is particularly funny to watch when he comes out after one of the really classical riders like Ehning. 
What was the name of the rider of, “Chichester”? I remember watching him in The Garden, nothing touching the horse over the jumps, but won several classes. And when he won, he would dismount to accept his trophy and then turn the horse loose in the ring and the horse would start jumping the fences. Gives me the same kind of feeling watching Bost ride, unconventional but successful.
God bless that crazy little Frenchman. He drives me nuts.
I had the pleasure of meeting him years ago when I worked as a groom. It was my first time at Aachen and we were stabled right next to him and he was so nice to me. He could tell I was very attached to one of the horses I looked after and he showed me his number one horse at the time. He clearly loved his horses and I’ll always think well of him despite his style! 
[QUOTE=STA;7929146]
What was the name of the rider of, “Chichester”? I remember watching him in The Garden, nothing touching the horse over the jumps, but won several classes. And when he won, he would dismount to accept his trophy and then turn the horse loose in the ring and the horse would start jumping the fences. Gives me the same kind of feeling watching Bost ride, unconventional but successful.[/QUOTE]
Kevin Bacon. I saw them jump several times at MSG but can’t say I remember him turning the horse loose. That must have been fun to watch.
Yes, Kevin Bacon. There was a photograph of him taken head on in the newspaper over a jump nothing touching the horse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYfgVBnSzPI
This gem of a video shows how rider style has/has not changed over the years. Watch starting about 8.43 where narrator George Morris comments on the “national rider” style, and watch the leg position :eek::eek::eek: on the rider.
[QUOTE=Sunflower;7929486]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYfgVBnSzPI
This gem of a video shows how rider style has/has not changed over the years. Watch starting about 8.43 where narrator George Morris comments on the “national rider” style, and watch the leg position :eek::eek::eek: on the rider.[/QUOTE]
That video really was a gem! :eek: still it makes me cringe every time I see a rider’s leg like that. I honestly have no idea how they stay on. But hey no matter how good my equitation is now, all of those riders, Bost included, are 1000x more successful in the equestrian world than I am today.
Loved that YouTube clip, thanks for sharing!
So I watched the event in Geneva and his 1st round - only half way through watching it, so havent seen him in the ride off.
But the commentary said that despite his unique style he never catches the horse in their mouth… but I watched his ride specifically watching his hands more then his legs - because it was pretty obvious his legs were “unique”. But what I saw was him always catching the horses in the mouth, his hands were as bad if not worse then his legs.
I have no doubt he loves his horses, but that was painful and a bit horrifying to watch.
Glad you enjoyed the video. I thought that George Morris was very restrained in his narration about the “national riding style”- he just comments that they were “rough and ready”. :lol::lol:
Henry de Leyer, that owed and showed Snowman, also had a style akin to the “national rider” style, yet he cleaned up with his horse in national competitions. I found this video of him with Snowman – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2UjHp9iWqw
The mechanics of that sort of style baffle me-- obviously the job got done so something is working-- but it is so much at odds with the way that jumping position is usually explained/taught/advocated… how does that sort of style WORK over fences ( as clearly for some horses/riders it does/did work)?
[QUOTE=Bigbutt;7930229]
So I watched the event in Geneva and his 1st round - only half way through watching it, so havent seen him in the ride off.
But the commentary said that despite his unique style he never catches the horse in their mouth… but I watched his ride specifically watching his hands more then his legs - because it was pretty obvious his legs were “unique”. But what I saw was him always catching the horses in the mouth, his hands were as bad if not worse then his legs.
I have no doubt he loves his horses, but that was painful and a bit horrifying to watch.[/QUOTE]
Roger-Yves Bost or Bosty as everybody calls him is a very talented rider with his unique style, please note that a horse if he feel pain due to the rider actions will stop, end of the story.
Bosty continuous success over many decades and actually European reigning champion is proving that there isn’t one style to get the job done.
Everybody this side of the pond where he is very well known acknowledge that his horses love him and he love them back.
Beautiful riding is nice to watch I agree but many roads leads to Rome.
Best example is the human high jump style… who could believe that the Fosbury Flop was the most effective style to jump.
