WEG Pratoni 2022

[Texarkana]

@Willesdon

Personally, I think 12 months of continuous competition with no break is tough on horses. They certainly benefit from time off at grass, when small niggles have time to heal and their minds have time to rest. But it is obviously up to the owners/riders/sponsors to create a programme that suits the individual horse. Europe has the advantage of a multi-month winter break.

I agree. You see it in every sport: when the option for year round competition is there, it’s hard to force yourself to take some time off.

Even very good horsemen convince themselves that their horse is doing so well that they should keep going right now, instead of being forced to take that break whether the horse needs it or not.

Another unpopular opinion: I think our culture of farriery and hoof care is overall worse. Not that we don’t have people doing it well, but our DIY, unregulated American spirit thwarts progress in that area. For every truly capable farrier, there are ten other guys, most self-taught or trained through an unregulated shoeing school, who think they are just as good or better than the capable guy.

[punchy]

I was watching some old runs from Pratoni last night. It will be interesting to see how many/which of our riders take the direct route down the Pratoni Slide, and, of those, how many avoid a runout. It’s a funny line, a lot of the run outs seemed like really last second ‘nopes’.

[fordtraktor]

Horses do get time off after big events here. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t give them a break after a major competition.

Don’t many eventers in the UK take that winter break and go to Spain for the jumping circuit? I know the Prices and MJ do. I don’t think they just toss them out in a field for 3 months but I could be wrong.

It is clear that if Boyd doesn’t think they are going to be competitive (for several reasons, not just soundness) he moves them on which is actually a huge service for his students who get the ride. Steady Eddie a key example. It’s very good for the sport. I am sure people like Ollie and the Prices also sell the ones that wash out for whatever reason. So does everybody. MJ has sold plenty and ended up having to buy Chipmunk instead of one he developed.

The sport is expensive and I am sure Boyd wants to use his owners’ money well. Yes, I am sure the horses were pricey but continuing to throw good money at a horse who isn’t going to be competitive doesn’t seem to match his and his owners’ goals.

Several of those on the list I think were moved in because they weren’t going to ever make the time XC. I don’t think you really know if a horse is going to be a 5* horse until you actually do it.

Z has been around for quite a while, hasn’t he? Thomas has been around a bit too.

Getting 7 completions at Badminton or Burghley is a huge accomplishment, but it’s not everyone’s goal. Nothing wrong with that. Like Tim Price pulling his third horse at Burghley when he didn’t get the dressage score he expected. I bet we see that one at Maryland.

[fordtraktor]

I saw that too. Wonder what Giuseppe is going to put there. I believe he said on Equiratings podcast that it is being used but obviously a bit differently.

[Texarkana]

Phillip Dutton posted that this is the first world championship since 1994 in which he won’t be competing. What a legacy— he has ridden in every single WEG and Olympics for the past 28 years.

[Xanthoria]

“Another unpopular opinion: I think our culture of farriery and hoof care is overall worse. Not that we don’t have people doing it well, but our DIY, unregulated American spirit thwarts progress in that area. For every truly capable farrier, there are ten other guys, most self-taught or trained through an unregulated shoeing school, who think they are just as good or better than the capable guy.”

Truth. In the UK to be a farrier you’re required by law to do an advanced apprenticeship in farriery with an approved training farrier. This takes 48 months to complete and includes training on the job and periods of study at a college approved by the Farriers Registration Council. It’s illegal to even remove a shoe until you’re trained - there’s a £1,000 fine for farriery without a license.

In the US a 2 month course is considered fancy…

[Xanthoria]

I heard the same podcast and I thought he said the slide and the “targets” would still be there?

[horsepooramateur]

If Hannah Sue takes Harbour Pilot this spring it will be I believe their 6th appearance at Land Rover

[Larksmom]

Just got my chronicle. Been waiting for the BIG coverage of Pratoni. Usually, they list all who are competing. Not this time. I guess I will have to lurk on Eventing Nation for better coverage. I realise the sj and dressage World championships just happened, and big doings in hunter world, but the main reason I still subscribe to Chronicle is for eventing. Very disappointing.

[Sticky_Situation]

I think that’s the disappointing thing about the separate single-sport “world championships” instead of the World Equestrian Games. There isn’t a united front, so they sort of become “just another big international competition” and the coverage ends up nebulous and uneven.

[Larksmom]

there were several years of World Championships that were separated. In '82, the Dressage was in Switzerland, and eventing in Germany. Sort of how they did the sj and dressage this year. I can certainly see that the expense of putting on ALL of them at the same time would be cost prohibitive. But I am disappointed in the shoddy coverage in the magazine. Like it is an afterthought. I really think if COTH doesn’t pick up a European stringer, I may as well save my money and go elsewhere.

[paw]

I have had the same thought, alas. The magazine is way too full of “personality” pieces and lacking in world coverage these days for my tastes.

[FrittSkritt]

@paw

The magazine is way too full of “personality” pieces and lacking in world coverage these days for my tastes

True. If I see another “day in the life of” a TFB who created a sun hat line for dogs, I’m going to vomit.

[beowulf]

What is ‘TFB’? Thank you.

ETA: Oh good lord, I’m dumb. Trust Fund Baby.

I was sitting here thinking the T stood for Teen and was just lost.

[Larksmom]

Isn’t Phillip supposed to be the travelling reerve? I thought I read where he said this was the first time in 28 years he wouldn’t be going and have to watch it on tv.

[fordtraktor]

I think he went to the base but all horses passed the final vet check so he and Z were headed home to gear up for Maryland 5*.

[Sticky_Situation]

Does that mean that no substitutions are allowed to be made after the vet check, even if one of the team horses had a last minute injury or illness? (Of course I sincerely hope that does not happen, but it also doesn’t seem like the sort of thing that can be completely discounted either, because …. Horses.)

[Larksmom]

maybe trying to save the enormous cost of shipping an extra horse?

[wanderlust]

There are 4 team and 1 individual horse. Assuming if something breaks between now and then, the individual will slot into the team.

[Sticky_Situation]

I guess … but it seems to me that if there was a reserve available to use they could still have an individual compete, as well. Obviously it makes sense to those in charge to send the reserve home a few days before the competition starts, though!