You are getting the definitions of gossip and hearsay confused. If you want to start a thread on horsemanship in the sport go for it. This thread is about team selections for Paris. Casually going off topic to throw shade at one of our top riders is just crappy and I’m mostly calling out CatchMeIfYouCan here for starting it. Blech.
I think the point is that it matters how we get to a medal. If it’s with bloody mouths, pushing horses who are injured, rolluker, and excessive spur, that’s sad and gross. I’d rather the US not win a medal if it’s at the expense of the horse. Horsemanship and the team selection conversation should go hand in hand.
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Never said horsemanship doesn’t matter. I emphatically disagree that any of the riders discussed in this thread engage in those things. Those who suggest they do are peddling a false narrative.
One poster (corroborated by others) has been on this board for 20+ years and has shown us who they are many times, even if not expressly named. Forgive us if we’re less inclined to believe someone who showed up less than a week ago who has yet to give any credentials.
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Fair point. I’m sure my “credentials” (or lack thereof) won’t sway anyone’s opinion, but for what it’s worth I am just a lowly fan these days, though I have groomed in the past and I still enjoy some behind the scenes access. Let’s just say I know enough to know that said poster’s statements may be motivated by something completely unrelated to horsemanship, which is why I felt the need to jump in to the conversation.
Well if it helps:
- I am canadian, but lived for 4 years in the US in event country
- I am a sometimes novice level eventer
- I am not an owner
- I do have friends who have competed at the bigger stuff, however, I would never repeat what they have ever said about riders (but they are cool people who also don’t spread gossip)
- I’ve been on this board since I was 13 or 14? My first username was cravetoevent. I am certainly not 13 or 14 anymore (I’m going on 24 years a mbr over two usernames…)
I have literally zero motivation to “peddle a false narrative” . I was only offering that I have seen things too. To be fair, I didn’t even go look at the team catch put up. So I don’t know what rider they left off. I am sure this person is an incredible horseperson in many ways. But I will never get the sight of them warming up for Kentucky, well before the crowds got there in the days before. In one ring you had a beautiful German rider, on a light rein, doing lovely dressage. Right below, you had this rider…
So yes. I route for the US, usually a close second behind Canada, but in events like this, where we aren’t really having a big chance, I am going to root for the US, and I want them to do well. But like catch, there are riders I would prefer on the teams over others, not because their horses aren’t incredible and not because they aren’t amazing riders, but because of the other things lowly volunteers see. And it’s not even that they were a jerk to a volunteer, but I can tell you who is.
I mean, if we were going purely on who is absolutely lovely in person to the volunteers the first person on my team would be Will Coleman. Luckily I could add far more names to the plus column than the negative.
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I remember seeing a half hour video of Michael Jung warming up Fischer Rocana one of the years they won. Surely in this day and age, riders must be aware that they might be filmed? Or is the security different now?
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Almost a decade ago when my trainer ran in Kentucky for the first time, they (all the riders) got a lecture at the first rider meeting from one of the officials about how they’re ambassadors for the sport, how they need to be aware of that at all times, that the horse park is swarming with fans and volunteers and it does not matter how tired the riders are or how busy, they need to smile at those people and take the picture and be nice and remember that they’re always being watched.
The barns are really the only place that you have to steer clear of in KY if you don’t have credentials. It’s easy to catch people in the back rings and it’s definitely easy to watch them (and film) warm up. I have photos from a few years ago of one of the riders who’s been mentioned in this thread in one of the back rings because we happened to walk by while they were schooling a horse that they had scratched after dressage (just flatting, seemed like they were just making sure the horse was okay). Thankfully it was lovely to watch but it’s not hard to see someone making poor choices if they elect to forget about the warning that there are eyes on them constantly.
As with AMWookey, I’ve heard things directly from those I do know at the top of the sport, both about some people in this thread and plenty of others, ranging from “they’re a huge jerk in person if there aren’t members of the general public around but they’re good to their horses” to “they seem great in public but they’re terrible to their horses.” I won’t repeat the specifics, but I think it’s a mistake to just assume that someone at the top of the sport is a great horseperson just because they’re at the top of the sport.
I will, however, say that, while not American and therefore not relevant to the team selection discussion, Tim Price almost ran me over on a footpath with a golf cart in 2019 and I will hold a grudge about that for the rest of my life (not actually, I think it’s hilarious).
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This! It doesn’t help when the opinion is swayed when you get involved in someone’s personal matters. Lots of people here have behind the scenes access, and the same amount of experience.
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I, as a rule, try extremely hard to not straight up gossip. And especially if I’m writing something down. Does it happen sometimes? Of course - I’m human. But my account is most definitely first hand in this situation. It’s been seen with my own eyes. It is not personal as in against a specific person because it’s that person. If anyone goes in massive bitting set ups and super tight nosebands on multiple horses, I would also say it about them. I spoke out against what Marilyn Little would ride in in the past. Do I have a problem with Marilyn as a person? Absolutely not - I found her to be lovely in every interaction I had with her.
Obviously a couple of people know who I am - that’s okay with me! As always, just come up and talk to me if you are curious about something or you want to hear my side or you need to borrow something. I’m available for all scenarios 
And I’ll leave it at that so as not to derail anymore! We find out so soon 
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You’re correct in saying you’re not “straight up” gossiping. You’re being very indirect and using innuendo to harm someone’s reputation. I find it telling that you’ve never implied anything negative about any of the riders discussed in this thread…until now. What changed?
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I stated my personal beliefs earlier. I said to others if they were curious, they could zoom in on the competition photos of ALL of the riders on this thread and make their own assessments. I stand by that, and support everyone in making their own judgments.
Olympics are a bigger deal in my eyes from a PR perspective because this is what every kid looks up to and wants to be. It will be all over television and will represent our sport to a wide audience. Very different than going to a StableView FEI.
If you are curious about my personal beliefs, you are welcome to PM me. I will send you my number (and anyone else who is curious) and you can give me a call. I’m a pretty open book and am always willing to hear from others and learn something new.
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can we drop this? PR, leave it alone. CM, I believe you, but lets not get sidetracked. Let’s focus on the team.
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Thank you for this.
Can we say teams, as the original post was about the US and Canadian teams? 
I believe Canada has qualified a few other rider/horse combinations than have been talked about. The Canadian athletes have given the selectors a lot to think about, that’s for sure. 
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That’s literally what I asked for in the first place. 
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It may be “clear” to you, but it certainly isn’t clear to me!
Methinks the lady doth protest too much.
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Well, that’s one question answered. I love seeing Mai Baum run but I’m glad they’re doing what’s best for him rather than fixating on a potential medal.
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PR seems to have joined the forum just to harass CatchMe, if you look at their posting history so far, plus a sidetrack to AMWookey. Agree with you, @Janet; I’ve followed the whole thread and any singling out was not apparent to me, and still isn’t, despite Prairie Rose’s finger wagging and attempts to discredit specific posters. Protesting too much, indeed.
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It may not be obvious to you but to many people following this thread it very much is. I joined COTH to weigh in on the “WTF are we doing” thread in the sad aftermath of Georgie Campbell’s passing. Quite by accident, I find myself here attempting to defend a rider who I very much admire and who I think is being unfairly characterized as a bad horseperson. Apparently, my point of view is not welcome. I get it. Loud and clear. Enjoy your echo chamber.
Looks like Caroline had some good runs over in Ireland in both the 4L & 4S
https://www.rechenstelle.de/en/agenda/2024/millstreet/
(And also strong finishes for the rest of the US contingent/nations cup team) 
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