Rolex Live Stream/Results/Comments thread

NCRider · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

[QUOTE=Groom&Taxi;8644556]
I wonder if part of the reason why Allison has kept going with Arthur is wanting to end on a high note - they have had some significant accomplishments together, but it’s been a while now.

It also seems (understandably) that once a rider makes it to the highest level, they want to stay there, and only a few really have a string. So maybe staying at that level means making the most of what you have even if it’s “an abusive relationship” (Jimmy Woffords word’s, not mine).

Just musings…[/QUOTE]

For all that he’s broken her competitive heart more times than I would have been willing to accept, Arthur’s presence has allowed Allison to complete at the CCI**** for a long time, in at least some of which, she had no other UL CCI partner. IIRC, he gave her a top 2-3 Rolex placing, a top 10 Burghley placing, a 3rd place finish in the HSBC series one year behind WFP and AN (with real $$$) and kept her on training lists in many years. Ironically, their best Rolex XC round in my opinion was the year in which he dumped her into the last angled brush ditch. He looked like a real proper XC horse up until that point. He’s also taught her a lot about training. His popularity has assisted with her popularity which is good for sponsorship. I know it must be maddening for her trainers, etc. to hear her defend Arthur, but I suspect that Allison views him as a net positive to her life.
As far as this year, he clearly wasn’t into it for XC and she had to work way too hard. I don’t think you can say he didn’t try for her though.

Larksmom · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

I didn’t write clearly. I meant the Americans should show other venues. I know MJ does! But I do not hear of B, B or P D doing that. Show big horses in dressage or SJ? It couldn’t hurt, could it?

jane20008 · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

Where can I find out who won the other various awards? (Bank One, J.D. Reeves, William C Coman, best conditioned, etc (http://rk3de.org/competition/awards/)?

Thanks!

Highflyer · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

Tim Bourke won the Bank One (owner/rider) Trophy. No idea about the others.

J-Lu · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

Well, even though I spent all sorts of time in front of my computer watching wonderful riding when I really had other things to do, I rode my horse tonight thinking “What would Michael Jung do?” I will think of his tactful and effective riding every time I step in the stirrups (as usual, I was extremely impressed by his riding a training in all 3 phases). I will think of everyone who provided a master class in riding, including Allison, who regularly pilots such a spooky horse (I have a freakishly spooky horse, too) around the top level of her sport. I get why she does it, and I’m sure she’d benefit greatly from $$$$ sponsors who can provide strings of horses for her and pay to campaign them. If only…

soloudinhere · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

[QUOTE=Larksmom;8644579]
I didn’t write clearly. I meant the Americans should show other venues. I know MJ does! But I do not hear of B, B or P D doing that. Show big horses in dressage or SJ? It couldn’t hurt, could it?[/QUOTE]

I know I saw a few eventers showing in Wellington and Ocala this year in the sj rings. Names specifically are escaping me but there were more than a few showing in the 1.20-1.30 classes.

I still remember Allison riding a great buckskin pony several years ago at GMHA. I’ve now got a buckskin pony a lot like him, I just loved him and loved her.

jane20008 · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

Thanks!

shea_smom · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

Arthur won the CIC*** at Carolina International in March. Hardly a long time ago. He got tired. He has still done a lot. Haters gonna hate.

2horseowner · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

Didn’t Allison get Mr. Sydney Rocks to be her 4* ride? What’s happened to him, I’ve only seen him out sparingly. She deserves a nice ride, sorry for her lousy weekend.

KathinPA · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

[QUOTE=Gestalt;8644524]
Petite Flower, I love those ears. I wish people would stop making comments about Bucks weight. His shape is a bit different than many men, but he is physically strong, fit, and he obviously has the talent of a top rider.

Lauren, wow, what a nice ride on Veronica.[/QUOTE]

Gestalt –

You say that you wish people would stop making comments about Buck’s weight. Is that because you think his weight isn’t a problem? Or because you wish his weight wasn’t a problem? Or because you think people are being unfair?

I 've never thought about his weight before this weekend, but I commented on his weight on this thread because I had been rooting for him to get into the top 5. But, after watching his performances closely this weekend, I kept seeing him using his upper body a lot. Yes, he is clearly strong – but perhaps, rather than weight, per se, he is relying too much on his upper body strength?

In any event, I think “something” is going on with his body dynamic that could be that 10% factor that is keeping him out of the very top performances that he seems otherwise capable of.

I started watching the body control of the other top riders more closely.

In watching Mark Todd – who has an upper body that shouldn’t work for eventing, but does – I noticed how he moves relatively little. His upper body folds with the horse or sometimes he’s more upright, but he’s usually right over the center of the horse. His weight doesn’t seem to be a negative factor. (I think it was Gina Miles who commented during the broadcast about his quiet hands and “active” elbows – which was a very interesting observation).

In watching Jung, I was seeing how he seemed to use very slight half halts in dressage – and his horse recognized those as the signal for down transitions. And then in the halts Jung’s body was balanced and still. By contrast, Buck was rearranging his body (even his legs) in the halts as if to bring himself back into balance.

Watching Lauren Keiffer in the lanes of gallop on the course – she rides so smoothly. Her galloping position – in perfect balance – allows the horse to move smoothly under her.

So, I guess what I’m saying is I have the sense that Buck’s experience – his ability to get out of a tough spot on a course with quick thinking and his confident, determined riding – seem like real positives for a US team in the Olympics. But, no one seems to be using his name in the top 4 of 5 “possibles,” and I think weight, or too much dependence on upper body, or “finesse” – or something – could be the reason. His horses are often close to the top, and that was true again this weekend. But in each of his performances this weekend, there was something that kept him from the very top.

Wofford talks about the Davidson’s horses’ “technical skills.” But is it the horse’s technical skills, or something about Buck’s abilities that are the issue?

Foxtrot_s · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

Whatever - I’d take a horse that looks like Arthur! Saw him in the trot-up, such a handsome, proud horse, perfectly proportioned to be an eventer.

amastrike · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8644664]
Whatever - I’d take a horse that looks like Arthur! Saw him in the trot-up, such a handsome, proud horse, perfectly proportioned to be an eventer.[/QUOTE]
My mom who can’t tell my horses apart (one has a smallish star, other has a star and wide long strip) commented several times on how pretty Arthur is.

Divine_Comedy · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

[QUOTE=brianhr;8644539]
So just want to answer some of this . Colleen knows it was an MR already knows about losing the qualification. This was the first thing she said to me when she got back and about dropping him back down for a while to one get his confidence back and two get the qualification back. Yes he did just jump up and not out . The rest of the course he was great and she said she was going to get him scoped to see if it is a breathing issue like Tim Bourkes had a couple years ago. He has the scope definitely he just ran out of gas.[/QUOTE]

Hi Brian,

It’s great to hear all that! I’m not at all trying to single Colleen out, it’s only that in her particular instance, the system failed. With the way the USEF requires re-qualifications, they are actually more stringent than the FEI about losing qualifications and include a clause for having two horse falls within one year as triggering the process (Article EV105), which the FEI doesn’t distinguish. The two horse falls at Plantation and at The Fork would have triggered re-qualification after The Fork at the USEF level (not the FEI level) if the fall at Plantation Field had been properly recorded. However, it was not and that concerns me greatly as the system is implemented for everyone’s safety. Escot 6 is a fabulous jumper as I have witnessed myself, it’s just that Colleen’s particular circumstances have demonstrated that the system has a flaw that most people are apparently unaware of. It seemed to be an irrelevant change in scoring at the time, but it had become relevant now, especially if they have recorded it mistakenly again this weekend. Thank you very much for letting us know they are both ok though, I think we all appreciate and are glad to hear the update.

Lord Helpus, I am pretty sure it is not jump judges, as at PF, both of the riders who should have had MR originally were recorded as such on the EventEntries, but changed to an RF later on. Similarly, you can hear on the video for Colleen today that the jump judge clearly said the horse was down, yet it was recorded as a RF on the live scoring. I only mentioned jump judges because I really don’t know at what point the system is failing and it seemed safest to examine the entire reporting system.

Highflyer · August 27, 2020, 7:09pm

[QUOTE=KathinPA;8644663]
Gestalt –