Not sure where exactly he stopped on course but there were several horses that had issues in the Intermediate. There were 10 horses with at least 1 stop. They also had to re-route the water fence because it was causing problems. Not sure if that’s where he incurred his penalty though. From where I was jump judging I could see him over the first 3 fences and the last few on course as well. He looked happy to be out there and was jumping confidently out of a good rhythm.
[QUOTE=SophieGirl23;7678391]
Not sure where exactly he stopped on course but there were several horses that had issues in the Intermediate. There were 10 horses with at least 1 stop. They also had to re-route the water fence because it was causing problems. Not sure if that’s where he incurred his penalty though. From where I was jump judging I could see him over the first 3 fences and the last few on course as well. He looked happy to be out there and was jumping confidently out of a good rhythm.[/QUOTE]
Yep, his stop was at the part that was changed later, I believe. However, it still shows up on his record. I have never seen Mandiba looking “unhappy” but I am not that adept at reading emotional cues with horses. Of course, I haven’t seen him fall before, so maybe that is when he is frowning a lot. :lol: (JK, of course)
[QUOTE=Winding Down;7678398]
Yep, his stop was at the part that was changed later, I believe. However, it still shows up on his record. I have never seen Mandiba looking “unhappy” but I am not that adept at reading emotional cues with horses. Of course, I haven’t seen him fall before, so maybe that is when he is frowning a lot. :lol: (JK, of course)
http://youtu.be/n4uPPGLyLwQ[/QUOTE]
No it wasn’t. They changed the water. His stop was back in that little swoop of field out to the left of the waters. Not sure what was back there, but it wasn’t at the water that was causing most of the trouble and was changed.
[QUOTE=DoubleTwistedWire;7678571]
No it wasn’t. They changed the water. His stop was back in that little swoop of field out to the left of the waters. Not sure what was back there, but it wasn’t at the water that was causing most of the trouble and was changed.[/QUOTE]
Aha! I had heard it was at the water… wasn’t actually there to witness it.
BTW, I just looked up this horse’s record and he has had ONE fall on record and that was with the young rider who also fell off at Fair Hill. Those are the only eliminations on record.
http://www.useventing.com/competitions/profile-horse?horse_id=101051
I am assuming he had a lot of MR’s before that? I really didn’t watch him that closely until he had the young rider and then only because I was so impressed with how he went for her. I do know that he fell and broke ribs at Badminton but that was after stopping at a fence. http://youtu.be/vaa6Z4g1P4U
The water definitely got changed on Saturday. I was jump judging at fences 1&2 right next to the water. I don’t believe any other fences were changed that day, I just wasn’t sure where Mandibas stop occurred.
So it looks like his stop happened at the mound fence. Hard to see exactly what happened but, here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqrTmJDvENA.
Thanks for the video, SophieGirl. Though I don’t know that the particular fence matters so much (beyond it not being the scary bogey fence that was causing a lot of trouble and might be understandable) as that it is part of a larger pattern for the horse. Not so much at lower levels (Prelim, 1/2*), but he’s obviously shown he doesn’t want to play at a higher level than that. He can do a 2* well with a pro ride, but it doesn’t look like he’s ever finished a 4* other than the WEG trials. He’s in his mid-teens. Why keep pushing him?
Oh I agree that he most definitely shouldn’t be moving back up to Advanced. He never seemed to get into the 4* groove and didn’t always look comfortable at 3*'s either. But, I’ve seen him go at Prelim and Intermediate and he seems ok there. The question is will they push it?
[QUOTE=SophieGirl23;7678793]
Oh I agree that he most definitely shouldn’t be moving back up to Advanced. He never seemed to get into the 4* groove and didn’t always look comfortable at 3*'s either. But, I’ve seen him go at Prelim and Intermediate and he seems ok there. The question is will they push it?[/QUOTE]
If ML is riding him, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s taken over the ride. And I doubt she’ll be happy to let him hangout at P/I levels.
That’s why I was happier when a YR was riding him…looked like maybe they were letting him play schoolmaster.
A random stop here and there (as pretty much the only type I’ve really seen this horse have…a kind of WTF moment) doesn’t bother me for a YR horse. It does bother me for a team horse.
I’m concerned that ML will be trying to yet again make this horse a ‘team horse’.
I wonder if she’d be riding him if her other horse hadn’t passed away. Just a thought.
[QUOTE=Divine Comedy;7678809]
I’m concerned that ML will be trying to yet again make this horse a ‘team horse’.[/QUOTE]
If that’s the case, the ‘team’ should sit down with ML and the horse’s owners (KOC and Mrs. Gosling) and play the Mandiba highlight reel – his team appearances at the Olympics and WEG, followed by his unsuccessful attempts at Badminton and Burghley.
All discussion of Mandiba’s return to teamhood – and the top levels of the sport – should end right there.
[QUOTE=JER;7678888]
If that’s the case, the ‘team’ should sit down with ML and the horse’s owners (KOC and Mrs. Gosling) and play the Mandiba highlight reel – his team appearances at the Olympics and WEG, followed by his unsuccessful attempts at Badminton and Burghley.
All discussion of Mandiba’s return to teamhood – and the top levels of the sport – should end right there.
:)[/QUOTE]
From what I have seen of ML, nothing gets in the way of what she wants which is unfortunate for Mandiba.
I can’t imagine after his previous performances that anyone in their right mind would consider him as a team horse.
The only reason I could think that ML would ride him is to tune him up for the YR. But then I thought he was going ok for that person??
Practice for ML? Schooling for Mandiba? Nothing else makes any sense. Giving people the benefit of the doubt…
The horse falls down, often. It’s sad they keep pressing him, he’s a lovely, lovely horse.
Saying “I don’t care for him” strikes me as so odd–he’s a horse, with no agenda.
[QUOTE=goodmorning;7679040]
Practice for ML? Schooling for Mandiba? Nothing else makes any sense. Giving people the benefit of the doubt…[/QUOTE]
I am seriously doubting tha ML is planning to take a shot at the team with this horse. No way. Maybe they are planning to sell him and need him tuned up. I agree with goodmorning. Wholeheartedly.
[QUOTE=SophieGirl23;7678751]
So it looks like his stop happened at the mound fence. Hard to see exactly what happened but, here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqrTmJDvENA.[/QUOTE]
That crack of the whip at about 1:58 was a very sad sound indeed.
He looks a lot better with the YR than with ML.
This horse is not MLs type of ride, nor does it want her type of ride. She is rather aggressive which can really backfire while riding a ‘worrier’ or whatever you’d like to call it. Also not as soft as KOC.
I do remember his breeder being quite proud of this horse. He is lovely horse-flesh, but, looks like he should stay at the even LLs. Also, he apparently had a horrid buck? Anyone remember that interview where he was mentioned as having bucked the whole barn off in his younger years? Not all horses want to play.
I’d say it was a schooling round for ML. Her other horse passed away, Demeter is likely on standby for WEG…her string isn’t as deep as it used to be? What a shocker when you run your horses as much as she does, RF Smoke tradgey aside.
Watching the videos, I thought that the fence he stopped at at MD did look rather similar to the one he had a fall at Badminton.
Obviously the questions were different in difficulty, but the log portion on top of a hill/mound may have been similar enough for it to rattle his confidence.
