Posted in the badminton thread as I saw the same thing, there is a link to proof! lol
[QUOTE=Twigster;8650031]
Does she ride? Inquiring minds MUST KNOW! lol[/QUOTE]
No idea. Do not know them…but it is clear he is not a monk.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;8649627]
H&H has a VIP column where Mark Todd raves about Rolex, even with the conditions. He loved the XC course, which he said was clever. He also says most riders would not be able to get Fischerrocana through a 3*, but that she trusts MJ completely.
He also said that he knew in the first minute that he was going to be struggling to get near the time on a cuppy track; that his horse likes to run “on top” of the ground, and is only 27.5% TB, so (one assumes he is saying) lacks innate stamina.[/QUOTE]
But the first quote that you inserted from Todd specifically references “Sunday’s course” - that would be stadium jumping, no?
[QUOTE=Groom&Taxi;8650347]
But the first quote that you inserted from Todd specifically references “Sunday’s course” - that would be stadium jumping, no?[/QUOTE]
There are several interviews, Buck & Jock Paget coming to mind immediately, where they mentioned the courses track ran well. Buck said the footing was better for his later mount. I was pleasantly surprised on the number of people commenting on how good the footing was.
[QUOTE=Groom&Taxi;8650347]
But the first quote that you inserted from Todd specifically references “Sunday’s course” - that would be stadium jumping, no?[/QUOTE]
Yes he was talking about the stadium footing. But he also didn’t say the footing was terrible on xc. I think his comment on the footing for stadium was more of a dig at the events like Burghley which show jump on grass.
He did say it was one of his favorite events.
Oops, y’all are right. MT was talking about stadium and the stadium course.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8650393]
Yes he was talking about the stadium footing. But he also didn’t say the footing was terrible on xc. I think his comment on the footing for stadium was more of a dig at the events like Burghley which show jump on grass.
He did say it was one of his favorite events.[/QUOTE]
Not having access to the article, that is what I inferred from the quote.
I agree that overall it seemed like the riders’ reactions to the Rolex x-country footing was generally pretty positive given the conditions.
[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8649804]
just watching the Badminton livestread, and unless MJ just kissed his sister on the mouth, looks like he doesn’t live in a nunnery and ride 24/7 (as everyone purported upthread) and he DOES have a girlfriend ;)[/QUOTE]
If I did a test like that at Badminton I’d be kissing everyone in sight! I see Dibowski is snapping at his heels less than a rail away. Until the XC starts that is.
Not Dibo, Andreas Ostholt.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8649690]
He was not and has not been the only one to say that. I’ve even said that.[/QUOTE]
Oh, well, if even you have said that, I stand corrected! 
The comments about her not being a spectacular mover, etc., are one thing coming from anonymous BB commenters. My point was that they are quite another coming from a fellow competitor in print and credited – particularly when said rider just got beaten by 20+ points by the horse he’s saying might not be capable of a 3* under someone else. That takes a certain degree of chutzpah.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;8650504]
Not Dibo, Andreas Ostholt.[/QUOTE]
Ah! My mistake, thanks for the correction! 
[QUOTE=NeverTime;8650576]
Oh, well, if even you have said that, I stand corrected!
The comments about her not being a spectacular mover, etc., are one thing coming from anonymous BB commenters. My point was that they are quite another coming from a fellow competitor in print and credited – particularly when said rider just got beaten by 20+ points by the horse he’s saying might not be capable of a 3* under someone else. That takes a certain degree of chutzpah.[/QUOTE]
True…but what MT said was actually very complimentary. MJ left NO point on the table. He did not get the score he got because he was sitting on fancy pants horse. His mare is correct…has correct gaits. Is not a BAD mover but far from the fanciest mover. But it was still by FAR the best test of the event because she was so correctly ON the bit (not behind), through over her back for the entire test…and the test was VERY accurately ridden. You do not buy that. He got there with a good horse who was VERY correctly trained and ridden.
ETA: I personally though love the mare and think she is BEAUTIFUL. Would love to have her in my barn. But she isn’t like those super star horses who can take a monkey (and have) around Rolex. A nice horse very much in the right hands…and hopefully will be kicking butts for many more 4* events.
An athlete (human or horse) is not successful because of talent…raw talent has to be channelled, and an average athlete with above average coaching/desire
can still come out ahead with less mistakes and better thinking. I always say there never was a dumb elite athlete.
Its a rather strange thing with mares at the upper level. You have to earn their trust every day. If you do that they will literally die for you. Its no a joke, they will give their live.
A gelding is far easier. One can take his potential and than push it. Some times to far, happens. But than they will never recover. Once broke always broke.
Mares a different. If one has gained the mare and works on it even through rough times, she will stik with you, as long as you do not disappoint them.
Even than, they forgive, if you are willing to work on it.
It is a very complex and rather high maintenance relation ship, that requires far more than having to deal with geldings.
But if it clicks and one can keep it up, its just unbelievable.
Me things that is what MJ has going there.
If he can keep it up, that Woman and him are going places.
I was able to go out early in the morning before the vendor village opened, and did get out for the last hour of XC and was able to take lots of photos:
www.facebook.com/LoriTankelPhotography
Included is a sequence of Arthur’s slip down the muddy bank, which led to his run out. I feel that the commentary on the Rolex coverage was very unfair to him. I realize that they could not see what was happening, but from my view, and as my photo sequence will show, he had a horrible slip, barely recovered, and tried his best.
I have several albums for Rolex. I hope you enjoy them!
[QUOTE=CatchMeIfUCan;8645750]
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.[/QUOTE]
Don’t mean to drag up an old thread, but noticed Chloe is competing with AS in the Jersey Fresh CCI3*, so does not appear she was sold as a SJ horse.
[QUOTE=equiniphile;8662937]
Don’t mean to drag up an old thread, but noticed Chloe is competing with AS in the Jersey Fresh CCI3*, so does not appear she was sold as a SJ horse.[/QUOTE]
I don’t see Chloe on the entries…am I crazy?
She’s not riding Chloe. It’s another horse named Cascani I think. According to Chloe’s record, Alison hasn’t competed her since July of last year. The mare has been out once this year in February competing Training with a junior.
[QUOTE=IrishDeclan;8662962]
She’s not riding Chloe. It’s another horse named Cascani I think. According to Chloe’s record, Alison hasn’t competed her since July of last year. The mare has been out once this year in February competing Training with a junior.[/QUOTE]
There was an article on EN about the mare selling to a JR rider
