I’m thrilled for Nick, especially when he came so close in London and then was burned by the same process that burned Eric today…
Not sure that the current format is terribly horse-friendly with how much jumping it is.
So, so happy for Nick and Big Star that this time, it came together for them. What a great horse and rider!!
[QUOTE=cdn_alter;8806526]
Happy for Nick, especially after everything he has gone through with Big Star! But I am disappointed for Eric.
Imagine having only 1 rail (in the final jump off no less) all week then being beat by someone who had 3 rails and a time fault over the course of the week. Same for Kent, Voyeur was on point all week but it caught up to him today and just got a little tired. Still, he had a lower total amount of faults then Nick. I believe the same goes for Peder, but I’m not certain.
I think this format is one of the reason non horse people don’t “get” show jumping at the Olympics, and why it isn’t actively broadcast. For example, person who knocks 2 rails can beat someone who only had a time fault, because of the day the rails were knocked down. They don’t get the point of having all those rounds if they won’t get counted. It’s just as easy to seed countries using FEI ranking points, Nation’s cup standing or even a regular draw. That’s just my opinion from watching the past few days of coverage with my non horsey friends, but I’d like to know what you all think.[/QUOTE]
Show jumping isn’t the only sport that’s like that. Many of the track events have preliminary rounds, then semi-finals, then a final. It’s entirely possible for someone to finish 3rd or 4th in a preliminary round or semi-final, only to win the final.
Effectively each athlete restarts on equal footing each round, with the times they run in the earlier round affecting which lane they get on the track. Similar to how Eric’s performance throughout the week earned him the advantage of going last in the jump-off.
[QUOTE=sisu27;8806492]
That was truly awesome and what a bunch of amazing horses. Can’t remember in recent times being so impressed with the horses round after round after round.[/QUOTE]
The pool of both horse and rider talent this year seemed extremely strong. What a wonderful group to come out on top of! Bravo to Nick!
The only reason I mentioned how much faster Eric was than Nick was to imply that perhaps if he had gone a couple of ticks slower he might have left all the rails up. He came so close.
But if if and ands were pots and pans we’d never need the tinker’s hands.
So thrilled for Nick!
Congratulations to Nick and Big Star. Well done!
I get teary eyed seeing the photo of him on the podium, looking so verklempt.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8806245]
Mark Todd went from eventing (double Golds on Charisma) to Showjumping and now back to eventing.
Annelie Drummond-Hay (back in the day) excelled at eventing, dressage and showjumping on her horse Merely-a-Monarch.
There are more who gave up the hurly burly of eventing for show jumping - we could fill them in here…:[/QUOTE]
Mark Todd competed in BOTH eventing and showjumping in 1984 (his first eventing gold) and possibly in other Olympics too.
I don’t think he ever got near a shhowjumping medal though.
Fritz Theiedmann won Bronze in both Drssage and Showkumping at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.
Klimke was a European Champion in eventing before going on to win Gold medals in Olympic Dressage in later years.
Christopher Bartle was 6th in Dressage at the *84 games, I believe he went to at least one Olympics as an Eventer too. He won Gold in eventing at the Euro championships and also won Badminton.
[QUOTE=cdn_alter;8806526]
Happy for Nick, especially after everything he has gone through with Big Star! But I am disappointed for Eric.
Imagine having only 1 rail (in the final jump off no less) all week then being beat by someone who had 3 rails and a time fault over the course of the week. Same for Kent, Voyeur was on point all week but it caught up to him today and just got a little tired. Still, he had a lower total amount of faults then Nick. I believe the same goes for Peder, but I’m not certain.
I think this format is one of the reason non horse people don’t “get” show jumping at the Olympics, and why it isn’t actively broadcast. For example, person who knocks 2 rails can beat someone who only had a time fault, because of the day the rails were knocked down. They don’t get the point of having all those rounds if they won’t get counted. It’s just as easy to seed countries using FEI ranking points, Nation’s cup standing or even a regular draw. That’s just my opinion from watching the past few days of coverage with my non horsey friends, but I’d like to know what you all think.[/QUOTE]
Given that many sports operate at the Olympics with group stages and qualifying rounds, I don’t see how the showjumping set-up would stop members of the public from “getting it”.
In the women’s soccer, the three unbeaten teams from the group stages, Brazil, USA and Canada, all got knocked out by teams that had lost games in the group stages, with Canada and Brazil losing out in the semifinals to teams they had beaten in earlier rounds, Germany and Sweden respectively.
In many track events, you can qualify for the final by finishing fourth in the semifinal, and then go on to win gold in the final.
Don’t see how the showjumping is particularly confusing.
So for those who don’t like the clean slate format, should it be the same in the other sports that have qualifying heats?
The swimmer or runner who gets the medal shouldn’t be the one who wins the final, but the one with the lowest total time for the whole week?
[QUOTE=J-Lu;8806194]
Yay for the 50 and older crowd![/QUOTE]
I was thinking the three on the podium today probably had a higher average age than the medal winners of any other sport at the games. Yay!! 
[QUOTE=MHM;8806665]
I was thinking the three on the podium today probably had a higher average age than the medal winners of any other sport at the games. Yay!! :)[/QUOTE]
I heard the only reason they put Ben Maher on the British team was to push their average age below 55.
Gah! I missed the whole thing again.
I am thrilled for Nick Skelton!
I did find a video of Eric’s jump off - I LOVE Fine Lady!
Just finished watching the replay, and I had to log in to report that Peder Fredericson is really hot.
[QUOTE=nutmeg;8806702]
I heard the only reason they put Ben Maher on the British team was to push their average age below 55.[/QUOTE]
And only just…it went down to 52 haha.
And yes Bristol Bay that’s why he got an H&M sponsorship 
I know that people can be disappointed that their favorite rider/countryman did not win, but how can anyone deny that Nick Skelton is a popular winner.?
He is old, with a broken back, hip replacement, on a horse who was out for 2 years with suspensory problems and nursed back to health by a groom who has been with Nick for 31 years. It is nothing short of amazing that they pulled it off over young, healthy riders who rode horses that had been bought for them specifically to ride in the Olympics (and will probably have new owners before 2017).
What a feel good story.
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8807076]
He is old, with a broken back, hip replacement, on a horse who was out for 2 years with suspensory problems and nursed back to health by a groom who has been with Nick for 31 years. [/QUOTE]
Plus he used a ladder to get back on in the ring for the victory gallop after the award ceremony. I loved that part! :lol:
The same ladder that I use !
Nice pic;https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/14047280_10154325949865874_4202010811656895829_o.jpg
A big hand for the GROOMS ! (of all nations)
[QUOTE=MHM;8807087]
Plus he used a ladder to get back on in the ring for the victory gallop after the award ceremony. I loved that part! :lol:[/QUOTE]
The livestream commentator Steve called it a “wee step ladder”. And said that Nick was held together with “bits of wire”.
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8807076]
I know that people can be disappointed that their favorite rider/countryman did not win, but how can anyone deny that Nick Skelton is a popular winner.?
He is old, with a broken back, hip replacement, on a horse who was out for 2 years with suspensory problems and nursed back to health by a groom who has been with Nick for 31 years. It is nothing short of amazing that they pulled it off over young, healthy riders who rode horses that had been bought for them specifically to ride in the Olympics (and will probably have new owners before 2017).
What a feel good story.[/QUOTE]
Beautifully said, @Lord Helpus.
Forgive me if someone posted this article already in the thread:
http://horsenetwork.com/2016/08/nick-skelton-wins-gold-steals-hearts/
There is a photo in the article of him getting on using a ladder. To juxtapose that with his winning round is a testimony to his strength of will.
Nick deserved this win. Having been virtually raised on horseback, he is truly a natural. I’ve always thought he is the best in the world. The British team back in the 70s and 80s would beat the pants off of us at indoors. Incredible riders. Party all night, the grooms would ride the horses in the morning (drunk too), win in the afternoon and win at night.
Brilliantly done, Nick. And thank God it was an American who found you that horse. Now find another one for the USA, Laura Glad you two found each other and that horse. Superbly ridden.
Kids that start out at the barn have a huge advantage. And letting them pony club, or hunt or do something other than gallop around the ring really teaches bravery.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
