Rolex Live Stream/Results/Comments thread

[LadyB]

[QUOTE=hb;8645572]
Thank you!

I’ve been thinking all weekend, Arthur is just a horse. He’s not intentionally “being bad”.

He’s 17 years old, has done, what, a dozen 4* events, including 6 or 7 times at Rolex? He’s athletic and talented, but doesn’t seem to really enjoy it. And he’s given a heck of a lot for not really loving the job.

Allison was using a lot of leg and a few pops of the whip on XC Saturday, contrasted with Rocana who was rollicking along having a great time.

Arthur has done plenty for a horse that seems to be just not into it. When the stars align his natural ability carries him to the top, but he doesn’t look like he has ever had the courage? drive? joy for the job? whatever that extra competitive edge is that would keep him consistent. He’s the one that was terrified of the statue/decoration in show jump at Rebecca in 2011 wasn’t he? Horses aren’t spooky to be bad - they are either honestly scared, sore somewhere and spooking is how they express that, or trying to avoid work that they do not want to do. You can’t make a horse like something that just isn’t their cup of tea, even if they are physically capable of doing it.

Seriously, Arthur’s not the one that sent the entry in to Rolex, he’d be just as happy to do straight dressage or just stand in a field hanging out with his buddies.

He’s just a horse.[/QUOTE]
I was at Rebecca that year, it was most definitely Arthur that was petrified of that statue That day broke my heart too. He’s such a cool horse but you’re right, his heart isn’t into eventing. We know he’s a super cool horse and WE want him to excel at it, but clearly he doesn’t love it. He shines on the flat.

[goodmorning]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8645539]
MJ, in addition to having an ungodly talent, also has a different method of training.

I think the article I read must have been in a mag. last year.

MJ’s family only own about 3 acres of land (but live next to a natural preserve for galloping). On that 3 acres, they have the stable, dressage ring, jump ring and over 20 x/c jumps – all built by himself, his brother and father.

When he rides, he does not do all of something on a given day. He will do dressage and jump some x/c jumps or stadium and dressage, etc.

He also spends every weekend, when not at an event, at either a show jumping show or a dressage competition. His horses are all trained and shown at least 1 (maybe 2) levels higher than they need for their level of eventing. They are judged by straight dressage judges and are expected to ride to the standards of that level test against other dressage horses.

I don’t believe that he is married ------ his horses and training them are the exclusive focus of his life. When I read the article, it reminded me of the Chinese or Russian children whose talent is identified at an early age, and are sent off to rigid schools where their entire lives are devoted to practicing and excelling at their sport.

I also believe that all is horses are bought young and trained from the ground up by himself or his family. No big $$$ buys to get on and ride a horse that someone else has started. So he understands every little nuance of each horse.[/QUOTE]

It’s 13

[devvie]

On a light note, I just checked out the Sunday jog photos and noticed that Jung’s mare won without a pulled tail, au natural. I love it

http://eventingnation.com/photo-gallery-rolex-kentucky-second-horse-inspection/

[NCRider]

[QUOTE=LadyB;8645594]
I was at Rebecca that year, it was most definitely Arthur that was petrified of that statue That day broke my heart too. He’s such a cool horse but you’re right, his heart isn’t into eventing. We know he’s a super cool horse and WE want him to excel at it, but clearly he doesn’t love it. He shines on the flat.[/QUOTE]

I think that’s why she perseveres. Because it’s not all the time. Sometimes he seems like he wants to play until he doesn’t. It’s not always like it was at Rolex this year where he looked less than enthused from the start of XC.
That’s why the year he spooked at the angled brush ditch at the end was so wrenching-he was really on it that year until that fence. At this point, I doubt Allison is even that disappointed when things go astray because it’s a gift if it doesn’t. This year, even if he hadn’t spooked at the ditch, she was going to have more than a few time faults anyway.
As an aside, he is lucky that someone like Allison took him on. He’s not quite fancy enough to be a pro’s horse in either straight dressage or SJ and he’s way too tricky for an ammy.
They’ve made do together and have accomplished more than many would have thought.

[Carolinadreamin]

Can anyone explain what happened about ML leaving the start box late? The commentators were discussing it before she fell. In an interview afterwards, ML inferred that hers was not an isolated incident and that there was a problem with Doug Payne leaving late, or not being told the correct time by the stewards.

No bashing of her or her riding, I’m just really curious about perhaps being sent late to the start box (since I’ve never heard nor even thought about that happening).

[Lord_Helpus]

Speaking of the jog…Eventers have absolutely no fashion sense, They are only one step of the ladder above dog handlers at Westminster.

I sat here shouting (to myself) AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH. Please, dear God, let them look in the mirror before going on International live stream.

One or 2 had on very nice belted suits with skirts or pants, but as for the rest… Words failed me.

And for the women who jogged in sandals or ballet shoes!?!?!?!?!? WTF were you thinking? They should have been held in a wait box while someone ran back to the barn to get them their duBarrys.

I did not see a single horse who was turned out to less than perfection. The riders should take the same amount of time with their own preparation. It is not like the jog up was a surprise.

[riderboy]

Maybe it was a distraction technique. (just kidding) But I swear I saw Boyd limping when he jogged his first horse, perhaps it’s all a way to get our eyes off the horse! I thought the guys all looked pretty well dressed BTW.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8645658]
Speaking of the jog…Eventers have absolutely no fashion sense, They are only one step of the ladder above dog handlers at Westminster.

I sat here shouting (to myself) AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH. Please, dear God, let them look in the mirror before going on International live stream.

One or 2 had on very nice belted suits with skirts or pants, but as for the rest… Words failed me.

And for the women who jogged in sandals or ballet shoes!?!?!?!?!? WTF were you thinking? They should have been held in a wait box while someone ran back to the barn to get them their duBarrys.

I did not see a single horse who was turned out to less than perfection. The riders should take the same amount of time with their own preparation. It is not like the jog up was a surprise.[/QUOTE]

Hmm… count me as someone who has no fashion sense at all but you are not supposed to detract from the horse :winkgrin: it’s not the runway for humans, after all…

[QUOTE=Carolinadreamin’;8645655]Can anyone explain what happened about ML leaving the start box late? The commentators were discussing it before she fell. In an interview afterwards, ML inferred that hers was not an isolated incident and that there was a problem with Doug Payne leaving late, or not being told the correct time by the stewards.

No bashing of her or her riding, I’m just really curious about perhaps being sent late to the start box (since I’ve never heard nor even thought about that happening).[/QUOTE]

I also missed the explanation too, I even searched up thread… all I got was that she needed an extra minute?

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

Lord Helpus, I agree with you 100% about the attire of the women at the jog. However, I sadly fear that we are in the minority.

I see no place for high heels, sandals, or ballet flats anywhere within stomping distance of some of those giant steel shod feet. Likewise, short skirts with pale equestrian legs.

I did feel many of the Sunday jog outfits were more realistic and less silly when compared to the Wednesday outfits.

[flyingchange]

[QUOTE=hb;8645572]
Thank you!

I’ve been thinking all weekend, Arthur is just a horse. He’s not intentionally “being bad”.

He’s 17 years old, has done, what, a dozen 4* events, including 6 or 7 times at Rolex? He’s athletic and talented, but doesn’t seem to really enjoy it. And he’s given a heck of a lot for not really loving the job.

Allison was using a lot of leg and a few pops of the whip on XC Saturday, contrasted with Rocana who was rollicking along having a great time.

Arthur has done plenty for a horse that seems to be just not into it. When the stars align his natural ability carries him to the top, but he doesn’t look like he has ever had the courage? drive? joy for the job? whatever that extra competitive edge is that would keep him consistent. He’s the one that was terrified of the statue/decoration in show jump at Rebecca in 2011 wasn’t he? Horses aren’t spooky to be bad - they are either honestly scared, sore somewhere and spooking is how they express that, or trying to avoid work that they do not want to do. You can’t make a horse like something that just isn’t their cup of tea, even if they are physically capable of doing it.

Seriously, Arthur’s not the one that sent the entry in to Rolex, he’d be just as happy to do straight dressage or just stand in a field hanging out with his buddies.

He’s just a horse.[/QUOTE]

This. He is not trying to be a “let down.” Horses don’t think or operate that way - that’s way too complicated a line of “reasoning.” Don’t read more into it than there is. Horses do not think like humans. They are born brave or not or somewhere in the middle. They are born with what we term “heart” or not or somewhere in the middle. And I think a lot of them give up on their own ability to make decisions and be “Event Horses” when they are made to train constantly at 4th level dressage, jump obscene courses of skinnies and angles where they can often only see their line 2 strides out. Taking that initiative right out of them. Its all submission and after years of that, if the rider doesn’t tell them exactly what to do, it falls apart fast.

[Larksmom]

one more thing about the attire. Boyd did look like he was jogging from the knees down. Never seen anything like it. Plus, his jacket looks way too small. He needs to spring for a new one.

And during the competition, MJ looked stunning. Today, looking at the photos, his jacket looks like it was made of flannel! All wrinkled and just awful! Did anyone else see that photo?
this isn’t snark as they are both my heroes! So positive.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8645477]
What happened to Copycat Chloe?[/QUOTE]

She was sold as a jumper I believe. She definitely did not have the chops for the upper levels in both dressage and on XC.

[hopashore1]

[QUOTE=Carolinadreamin’;8645655]
Can anyone explain what happened about ML leaving the start box late? The commentators were discussing it before she fell. In an interview afterwards, ML inferred that hers was not an isolated incident and that there was a problem with Doug Payne leaving late, or not being told the correct time by the stewards.

No bashing of her or her riding, I’m just really curious about perhaps being sent late to the start box (since I’ve never heard nor even thought about that happening).[/QUOTE]

There was an interview with her somewhere - either on EN or during the live stream - asking that question. Evidently there was a lack of communication/awareness about where she needed to be, she had heard she had 2 minutes and was trying to keep Demi by herself up the hill, then wasn’t told anything else until she was told they had already started her time. She mentioned she wasn’t the only one who was caught out by that, but I don’t remember the names of the others. Doug Payne might have been one, but I’m not confident.

She took the blame for the incident in that she should have known her time and where she needed to be, but she gave the idea that in previous years there was more communication about that.

[Twigster]

[QUOTE=riderboy;8645685]
Maybe it was a distraction technique. (just kidding) But I swear I saw Boyd limping when he jogged his first horse, perhaps it’s all a way to get our eyes off the horse! I thought the guys all looked pretty well dressed BTW.[/QUOTE]

Boyd did the XC course walk with a taped calf. It’s entirely possible he was actually limping.

[LadyB]

I thought some of the riders were beautiful in their jog outfits on Wednesday, Sinead looked stunning! Laine, looked like a peasant! What was she wearing?! People loved it, I did not! The short skirts do need to go though, just waiting for an oops to happen.

[Equibrit]

[QUOTE=hopashore1;8645774]
There was an interview with her somewhere - either on EN or during the live stream - asking that question. Evidently there was a lack of communication/awareness about where she needed to be, she had heard she had 2 minutes and was trying to keep Demi by herself up the hill, then wasn’t told anything else until she was told they had already started her time. She mentioned she wasn’t the only one who was caught out by that, but I don’t remember the names of the others. Doug Payne might have been one, but I’m not confident.

She took the blame for the incident in that she should have known her time and where she needed to be, but she gave the idea that in previous years there was more communication about that.[/QUOTE]

The Rules;

545.1.1 Starting Procedure Athletes at the start of the Cross Country must be under the control of the starter and may not deliberately start until instructed to do so, under penalty of elimination at the discretion of the Ground Jury.The Horse does not have to stand absolutely immobile, but the Athlete must not get any advantage from a flying start.Each Athlete should be given reasonable warning before the time he is due to start, but it is the Athlete’s responsibility to ensure that he is ready to start at the correct time.

[Sticky_Situation]

I always think the comments along the lines of “so-and-so didn’t pat their horse enough” are a bit silly and nitpicky.

I am personally the type the calls my horse a good boy and pats him just about every time we jump a fence, and I enjoy seeing the upper level riders do the same, but it doesn’t bother me that not everyone does, as long they treat their horses with respect.

If someone takes their frustration out on their horse after a not-so-great round, or doesn’t make the horse’s needs a priority after a ride, then they are absolutely deserving of criticism. But there are enough real issues in eventing and equestrian sports – safety, horse welfare, the future of the sport, etc – that whether or not someone pats their horse as much as another rider did just isn’t worth stressing over.

But of course, everyone is allowed to have their own opinion

[goodmorning]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;8645813]
The Rules;

545.1.1 Starting Procedure Athletes at the start of the Cross Country must be under the control of the starter and may not deliberately start until instructed to do so, under penalty of elimination at the discretion of the Ground Jury.The Horse does not have to stand absolutely immobile, but the Athlete must not get any advantage from a flying start.Each Athlete should be given reasonable warning before the time he is due to start, but it is the Athlete’s responsibility to ensure that he is ready to start at the correct time.[/QUOTE]

So, I wonder, a combo of being used to being told exactly what to do & loosing track of time? Do riders typically not have a groom or coach at the start with them?

[findeight]

Just a question from an HP here…do y’all work much on track? Just watching MJs round compared to some of the others, he is shaping his corners like a race car driver as somebody else remarked upthread. It’s not just approaching obstacles or the first few strides after landing where most are pretty close. It’s every stride, every bend, straight away and corner, he’s does not look to be on the same track. And he was alot faster, some of that would be deteriorating conditions but how much might have been saving strides with a very precise track between obstacles?

Just food for thought.

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=devvie;8645626]
On a light note, I just checked out the Sunday jog photos and noticed that Jung’s mare won without a pulled tail, au natural. I love it

http://eventingnation.com/photo-gallery-rolex-kentucky-second-horse-inspection/[/QUOTE]
I know in Germany and maybe a few other countries it is against federation rules to have clipped ears and whiskers. I wonder if the tails are also included in that.