I don’t take much stock in these well-crafted, but vague announcements. Maybe the selectors wanted to make a switch for some other reason and this is just an excuse. Maybe the owner didn’t want to send the horse to Rio due to the many health issues there.
[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8745476]
I don’t take much stock in these well-crafted, but vague announcements. Maybe the selectors wanted to make a switch for some other reason and this is just an excuse. Maybe the owner didn’t want to send the horse to Rio due to the many health issues there.[/QUOTE]
Yup, to all of this.
Sorry…guess I don’t see some major conspiracy. Horse has a minor acute injury…I don’t need to know more. And I don’t assume that he DOESN’T have one. It means what it means. He hurt something in his last outing or last gallop…as is COMMON with horses. Unfortunate timing but doesn’t sound career ending by their goal to be back out next year. Sounds like he is losing his fall and possibly winter/spring seasons. That is a pretty classic soft tissue injury that isn’t major but takes some time and rehab.
I just don’t get why people need to know more. Unless I’m about to buy or rehab the horse…he’s not mine and I don’t need (or expect) to know more.
I don’t see why it’s the business of anyone other than Maya, the Dofelmiers, her coaches, and her close supporters & friends as to the specifics of what’s up with Cody. Unlike a security hack where people could have been personally effected, I fail to see why the general population “needs to” or “should” know the specifics of his injury. The rumor mill won’t impact those whose opinions matter since they are most likely already in the know. And people are going to gossip no matter what. Either they’ll gossip out of speculation of the injury or they’ll later gossip about how they couldn’t believe she ran the horse again after it has XYZ only ABC months ago.
I agree with both of the above - I don’t need to know, and I don’t put much stock in the PR. Only takeaway is that Maya isn’t going.
I really wish Donner would not go, why risk it? Olympics beneath that horse & Tate. They are aging, take them to the real events not the piddly Olympics. However, obviously Lynn would like to go, so, good for her.
[QUOTE=mg;8745489]
I don’t see why it’s the business of anyone other than Maya, the Dofelmiers, her coaches, and her close supporters & friends as to the specifics of what’s up with Cody. Unlike a security hack where people could have been personally effected, I fail to see why the general population “needs to” or “should” know the specifics of his injury. The rumor mill won’t impact those whose opinions matter since they are most likely already in the know. And people are going to gossip no matter what. Either they’ll gossip out of speculation of the injury or they’ll later gossip about how they couldn’t believe she ran the horse again after it has XYZ only ABC months ago.[/QUOTE]
My point wasn’t that it’s going to personally affect people, it’s that we’ve seen how quickly things get spun out of control when it comes to the rumor mill (especially on social media). IMO I don’t believe for one second that the owners don’t want him to go to Rio. It kills me with what happened because they were definitely the nicest owners I’ve ever met, and if there was any horse/rider combination that deserved to go, it’s those two.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8745486]
Sorry…guess I don’t see some major conspiracy. Horse has a minor acute injury…I don’t need to know more. And I don’t assume that he DOESN’T have one. It means what it means. He hurt something in his last outing or last gallop…as is COMMON with horses. Unfortunate timing but doesn’t sound career ending by their goal to be back out next year. Sounds like he is losing his fall and possibly winter/spring seasons. That is a pretty classic soft tissue injury that isn’t major but takes some time and rehab.
I just don’t get why people need to know more. Unless I’m about to buy or rehab the horse…he’s not mine and I don’t need (or expect) to know more.[/QUOTE]
Totally agree, when they specifically say he’ll be back in 2017, it is not hard to imagine what kind of injury it might be, and I don’t need to know more. Nor do I think they would have been that specific about his return timetable if this was just a shuffling of the deck on the team, because then they really open themselves up to questions if they bring him back out in the fall, which they would obviously want to do if there is NOT an injury.
[QUOTE=mg;8745489]
I don’t see why it’s the business of anyone other than Maya, the Dofelmiers, her coaches, and her close supporters & friends as to the specifics of what’s up with Cody. Unlike a security hack where people could have been personally effected, I fail to see why the general population “needs to” or “should” know the specifics of his injury. The rumor mill won’t impact those whose opinions matter since they are most likely already in the know. And people are going to gossip no matter what. Either they’ll gossip out of speculation of the injury or they’ll later gossip about how they couldn’t believe she ran the horse again after it has XYZ only ABC months ago.[/QUOTE]
This sport is evolving for good or bad, but one direction it is changing is in its presentation to the public. Look at other professional sports and you will find that injuries, changes to line up are clearly announced and talked about. These are professionals and they understand they are in the public eye.
While it may not be anyone’s concern that me and old Dobbin aren’t going to the local show, because of an “acute minor injury”; that is mainly because we are amateurs playing in a semi-private show. Even then, if a friend asks I’d normally just say “Ol Dobbin just got an abscess or bruised a muscle and won’t heal in time”. Them knowing makes no difference to what my plans are for healing or competing. When it is a top professional, close to the point of going to the Olympics or (fill in the blank BNE), then people do want to know for various reasons. They are fans, they are concerned, they just want to play arm chair selector. Sponsors can be effected. There are many reasons and a simple, honest concise statement is not much to ask.
Maya is a professional in a sport that the FEI is wanting to have a bigger public image. Her or her spokesman saying “none of yer damn business” (not that they said that specifically) does little to keep the public that we want watching happy. If we don’t like sharing news about injured horses or riders then let us re-think how much we want this sport in the public eye. If I can know that Boyd is out because he broke a collarbone than knowing what minor injury caused a horse to be pulled should also be public knowledge as well.
That is the price we pay to play. By the way, if Maya withdrew ol Dobbin from some local event I would, like most here, not give a squat. Tapped to go to the Big Show? yeah, I’m curious, because now we are talking money, image (or optics, the new media buzz word), and critical decisions down the road. Transparency reduces, to some degree, the speculation that surrounds big changes and allows people to move on. Also known as the Streisand effect, hiding or deflecting only makes it worse.
I hope it’s minor enough that they could still go to Burghley in the fall… but I’m just speculating. :winkgrin: (Better use of their talents, IMO. :yes: )
IIRC,the traveling reserve who doesn’t compete is getting a ticket to Burghley! AND with the majors going to the Olympics, maybe with a good chance:yes:
I think a reason so many of us would like to know more about Cody’s “acute minor injury” is because we are horse people, and we are curious about the details. However, I respect the right of the horse’s peeps to be as general or specific as they would like. Although increased transparency around injuries does seem to be more prevalent in other high level sports, in this case the athlete in question can not speak for himself and could also possibly be sold for a fairly substantial sum at some point in his future.
It comes up often on these threads about how being on an Olympic team for eventing isn’t as important an accomplishment as say completing a Badminton or Burghley. I still say it’s what a lot of kids starting out dream of - before they are even aware of what a “proper 4*” is. For many of the high level riders, it does seem to be an important goal. I am not close to any of them and can’t say why - maybe for PD and Boyd, it’s about being in the public eye and the sponsorships and stuff that flows from that. But it seems like for Maya and maybe Lynn and Elisa Wallace, it’s about wanting to make that Olympic dream come true and knowing their best shot is probably with the horse they have right now.
given the trip to Burghley and the return to competition in 2017, one suspects the horse truly is injured.
[QUOTE=FrittSkritt;8745498]
My point wasn’t that it’s going to personally affect people, it’s that we’ve seen how quickly things get spun out of control when it comes to the rumor mill (especially on social media).[/QUOTE]
:rolleyes: You know you’re on the internet when people resort to passive aggressively correcting your grammar when that had 0 to do with your point.
[QUOTE=JP60;8745569]This sport is evolving for good or bad, but one direction it is changing is in its presentation to the public. Look at other professional sports and you will find that injuries, changes to line up are clearly announced and talked about. These are professionals and they understand they are in the public eye.
While it may not be anyone’s concern that me and old Dobbin aren’t going to the local show, because of an “acute minor injury”; that is mainly because we are amateurs playing in a semi-private show. Even then, if a friend asks I’d normally just say “Ol Dobbin just got an abscess or bruised a muscle and won’t heal in time”. Them knowing makes no difference to what my plans are for healing or competing. When it is a top professional, close to the point of going to the Olympics or (fill in the blank BNE), then people do want to know for various reasons. They are fans, they are concerned, they just want to play arm chair selector. Sponsors can be effected. There are many reasons and a simple, honest concise statement is not much to ask.
Maya is a professional in a sport that the FEI is wanting to have a bigger public image. Her or her spokesman saying “none of yer damn business” (not that they said that specifically) does little to keep the public that we want watching happy. If we don’t like sharing news about injured horses or riders then let us re-think how much we want this sport in the public eye. If I can know that Boyd is out because he broke a collarbone than knowing what minor injury caused a horse to be pulled should also be public knowledge as well.
That is the price we pay to play. By the way, if Maya withdrew ol Dobbin from some local event I would, like most here, not give a squat. Tapped to go to the Big Show? yeah, I’m curious, because now we are talking money, image (or optics, the new media buzz word), and critical decisions down the road. Transparency reduces, to some degree, the speculation that surrounds big changes and allows people to move on. Also known as the Streisand effect, hiding or deflecting only makes it worse.[/QUOTE]
I can understand this perspective. To play devil’s advocate, all of us who have experienced horse injuries know that every situation and every animal are different. There is also the possibility that disclosing information about the what and how of the injury could have a very negative effect on the perception of that rider and the horse’s team in the aftermath of the injury. If the horse makes a great recovery and is back competing sooner than the masses would expect, I could definitely see critical and nasty commentary about pushing the horse too soon. Additionally, with all the horse welfare concerns associated with eventing, it seems calculated to not give more fodder to the uneducated naysayers (oh man, I could see it now–horse is announced with a stone bruise and the PETA types start picketing about how eventers pound their poor horses so hard that they have obvious signs of abuse all over their feet; just like a domestic abuse victim!!).
I think the bottom line is, there’s no right way to handle this scenario as there are negative consequences no matter what. Personally, Maya is such an upstanding horsewoman that I have tremendous faith in her judgement and therefore feel no need for any further information (not implying the two are mutually exclusive). It’s a tough situation and ultimately I just feel very sad about the unfortunate timing.
[QUOTE=mg;8745868]
:rolleyes: You know you’re on the internet when people resort to passive aggressively correcting your grammar when that had 0 to do with your point.[/QUOTE]
Point taken. Sorry, the affect/effect ones always get me. (Don’t get me started on “you’re” and “your,” though.)
[QUOTE=FrittSkritt;8745892]
Point taken. Sorry, the affect/effect ones always get me. (Don’t get me started on “you’re” and “your,” though.)[/QUOTE]
your really having little affect on me… it effects me in noway what so ever.
:lol:
[QUOTE=Winding Down;8745967]
your really having little affect on me… it effects me in noway what so ever.
:lol:[/QUOTE]
You forgot to spell it “haveing.” :lol:
No, but she did spell “you’re” “your”. That’s one of my pet pet peeves. I am frequently guilty of “it’s” for “its”. I really have to think about that one.
“I really wish Donner would not go, why risk it? Olympics beneath that horse & Tate. They are aging, take them to the real events not the piddly Olympics. However, obviously Lynn would like to go, so, good for her.”
I dunno, I would think a good run at the (easier?) Olympics and not risking him at a REAL event would be a great way to go. If he gets to go, performs well and possibly gets a medal, what a great way to finish out a career, vs going to Burghley and possibly breaking down. But maybe you were being sarcastic?
I find it interesting that folks are so dismissive of the Olympics because it has to be “watered down” to get everyone around safely–however isn’t this what COTH wants xc to become, safe for everyone to get around? Me thinks no matter what, it will have some difficulty and worth watching.
I think I have a wad in my panties. So I’m going to go ride and see if it goes away.
The trip across the pond is far easier on them the trek to Rio. Lynn could have had a better finish at Burghley but didn’t put her foot on the gas pedal, I think the pair could land in the top 10 at least.
No, in no way do I think the risky trip to Rio for a diluted 3* course is how 4* horses should be spending their time.
I don’t support the Olympics being held in the ground 0 of the Zika virus. Where there’s flesh eating bacteria in the water with our athletes. I do not think a trip to Rio is in the best interest of anyone. But it’s all about the money…
[QUOTE=goodmorning;8746947]
The trip across the pond is far easier on them the trek to Rio. Lynn could have had a better finish at Burghley but didn’t put her foot on the gas pedal, I think the pair could land in the top 10 at least.
No, in no way do I think the risky trip to Rio for a diluted 3* course is how 4* horses should be spending their time.
I don’t support the Olympics being held in the ground 0 of the Zika virus. Where there’s flesh eating bacteria in the water with our athletes. I do not think a trip to Rio is in the best interest of anyone. But it’s all about the money…[/QUOTE]
There is flesh eating bacteria in the water in FL too, but a whole lot of eventers spend a lot of time there.
