Posted on their live blog at about 11:30 Eastern Time:
Back in Greenwich the Olympic Broadcasting Authority are setting up some of the 45 cameras which will capture the equestrian cross-country event. One of their technical types wasn’t sure whether the camera he was setting up near one of the 28 obstacles would spook the horses, so he flagged down someone who looked like he knew about these things. Inevitably, it was our own Stephen Moss. They decided, with the further assistance of a helpful group of German grooms, that the camera would be fine.
[QUOTE=JenEM;6459570]
I’d be interested in thoughts from the more experienced on the turf roofed cottages (27A & B). With the turf “roof” on them, what are the odds of some of the horses reading that as ground and trying to bank them?[/QUOTE]
Usually, if something might look to a horse like it can be banked, then it is constructed in such a way that it can withstand that. Sometimes mistakes are made, but I suspect those fences could withstand being banked. It could be a bit of a disaster otherwise. Most good XC horses are not inclined to bank fences, even that late in the course. But in the Olympics, there might be horses in need of helping themselves in that way late in the course, so one would hope the builders anticipate this. (ETA–it occurs to me that this may have changed now in the age of frangible pins and such )
RE the question about Arthur and the statues–there was a metal statue of a horse on the XC at Rebecca Farm a couple of years ago, that was then moved in as a decoration in stadium. Arthur took exception to its presence in the stadium in a rather dramatic way. So, it clearly revealed that some horses might find a see-through sculpture of another horse to be worrisome. I suspect that, that late in the course, a horse that is having a good round won’t even notice. But, then again, they ARE horses …
Yes! I have thought this for the last several years. Accuracy seems to be the only attribute in a modern XC horse that designers care about. Speed and endurance (the name of the phase), bravery and boldness are all secondary attributes, if that.
[QUOTE=Blugal;6460691]
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What I don’t necessarily like is the course design that is becoming more and more about absolute unquestioning obedience and accuracy, while possibly leaving behind the quality of bravery and allowing the horse to have some of its own thoughts. I appreciate cattiness, of course!
Another thing I just hate is all this emphasis on skinnies and corners - when they are used every 2nd or 3rd fence, I think that is lazy course design.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=JAM;6461066]
Yes! I have thought this for the last several years. Accuracy seems to be the only attribute in a modern XC horse that designers care about. Speed and endurance (the name of the phase), bravery and boldness are all secondary attributes, if that.[/QUOTE]
I personally don’t think this isn’t entirely true. Some riders try to control everything…and want absolute unquestioning obedience but I don’t think all nor do I think that is needed to ride these type of courses. That is where riders run into issues. Absoute STRAIGHTNESS…and holding a line…yes. But that also isn’t something new in eventing. I do think most of the top riders still want their horse to think for themself…and the courses allow for it. But you will get caught out if your horse can’t hold a line…and I do think this is a test of bravery…as it is easier for the less honest and less brave horse to go around a narrow fence;) I know most trainers/riders…including PD…still want horses that think and read a fence and have good jumping instincts.
I prefer natural looking fences, you know, like something you might actually have to jump when galloping across country. So, wagons, yes. Mini traveler’s wagon? No. Saturn or the moon? No.
And, I thought the show jumping phase was supposed to test accuracy.
I hope I don’t ever face a course like that. Not my idea of the XC phase.
Perhaps someone was just having fun with decorations before things get started? :winkgrin:
The album of coursewalk photos that COTH has up now are a lot easier to understand, to my eye, than the H&H ones were. 11 definitely looks like a coffin here, and quite a few of the other fences are much easier to see.
Your pictures are terrific! It was easy to see now that the interesting chess table looks like it is made of wicker! And the detail of the sheep-priceless! Don’t know what is up with the wart hogs though! Great photos.
No. SJ test carefullness of a tired horse. Not really accuracy in holding a straight line like on xc or even of getting to the fence (like in straight SJ) as the jumps are not that big. Just big enough considering what the horses did the day before.
It is the part that straight show jump riders do not get with eventers. Our sj in a format like this is on tired horses. They do not jump the same as they do at home or even at a local HT. The test of scope was more out on XC…and that has always been the case.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;6461562]
No. SJ test carefullness of a tired horse. Not really accuracy in holding a straight line like on xc or even of getting to the fence (like in straight SJ) as the jumps are not that big. Just big enough considering what the horses did the day before.
It is the part that straight show jump riders do not get with eventers. Our sj in a format like this is on tired horses. They do not jump the same as they do at home or even at a local HT. The test of scope was more out on XC…and that has always been the case.[/QUOTE]
Neither.
Show jumping is a test of SKILL in the discipline. No longer a test of endurance, nor of scope alone – it is how well the horse and rider have mastered the discipline of show jumping. This emphasis has been in the rule book almost 10 years now I think.
[QUOTE=Jealoushe;6458443]
Also, why does every single jump have to have some decoration on it these days. Why can’t there just ever be logs, stones, bushes etc. Do course designers not know how to build a challenging course without throwing nick nacks all over the fences![/QUOTE]
I thought quite a few actually looked quite plain, and many of those fairly natural.
Overall … If you take a few jumps out (Saturn, the moon) the course reminded me of a local ODE. I’m sure the scale and technical difficulty is greater than the impression flat photographs give, though.
I’m really wondering how the rounded face of Saturn will jump. That seems quite tricky and easy for the horse to misjudge.
What do you mean by international flavour? I thought it was very British - in terms of decoration/themes, anyway.
Yes! That’s one of my favourites too.
The course designer had some fairly restricting constraints. I’m sure I read that everything was to be removed at the completion of the event and the park returned to its normal state. I don’t think there was much she could do?
Thanks for the link to the Coth photos! They are much better than others at showing some of the approaches.
It will be interesting to see how it all rides. The skinny out of the water looks tough. And the cricket jump, 23, looks like it was made to trick a horse’s eye. Not sure how it looks IRL but I’m not loving it. Also not a fan of all the crap, aka “decorations,” lying around the jumps. Looks like a yard sale or a mini golf course. Seems like this CD dreams of being a window dresser or set designer given the mannequins and such.
One thing I wonder about causing trouble is the gallop through the tunnel. That feels more like an extreme cowboy challenge versus something you encounter riding across country. Although maybe horses at the international level are used to tunnels approaching stadiums. Perhaps they’ve even had to walk through that section already just getting around the venue?
I know some of the 4s have jumps in the stadium. I think Burghley did last year and I know that Luhmuhlen and Aachen (CICO 3) always do.
Ian Stark mentioned that the riders were being allowed to school dressage in the stadium itself, so the riders were taking the opportunity to run them back and forth through the tunnel. One assumes that will help when they have to enter the stadium for XC, even though the crowds will be there. But the crowds are there for dressage, so that will help as well.
On 2nd, 3rd and further inspection, I agree; I fear that the rather unusual jumps, like the triangles may be misread by some of the horses awho, may be expecting a “back rail” where there is none; the shadows AND FUNKY OR LACKING ground lines could cause
some very unbalanced:eek: jumps especially from horses going for time:o, as it is assumed they will all be.
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