Actually Colleen has that Escott horse ran I think 3* at Jersey. She got him from Maura but seems to click better with him. She also has a number of nice young horses.
Honestly, the issue is NOT horse flesh. The issue for most riders is the cost of developing and/or competing at the highest levels. It is bloody expensive. We have a limited number of 2*+ events (although this is improving) and it is a much higher cost (both $$$ and time) to compete at these levels in the US.
most can only afford to have one or two at FEI levels. What riders often need more than a string of horses is a string of OWNERS and/or sponsors who pay for the support of them.
Colleen finishing in pure style. Not many clears this AM and many with multiple rails. This horse has what it takes to win the dressage too. How very very exciting.
WD - these are not the American riders posters usually are griping over on the board. Glad TPTB will not have a chance to ignore these talented women any longer!
‘Whistling’ or other distinctive cheers after a round is a way for the trainer to identify who their students are to the judge and spectators. BC ‘whistling’ was a signal that it was one of SS’S clients in the ring.
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I thought that must be the longest alternate route CMP could give them to make SURE a WFP-caliber rider didn’t use it and still win … then I figured out what he was doing! At least he didn’t forget entirely and end up a Big E. :D[/QUOTE]
I wouldn’t be surprised if a spectator yelled at him !
Do you think Sam will retire now? He’s won everything there is to win, he’s not young, and if I had other horses he wouldn’t even be considered for Rio. I have a feeling that Rio is going to be very hard on horses.
how do they break the tie between Lynn and Paul Tapner?
XC time? dressage score?
holy Oz and NZ dominance - 5 of the top 6
the U.S. riders have to be thrilled. this sort of result amongst that crowd of superstar riders is fabulous. And it is not as if these 3 ladies are the Buck, Boyd, Phillips of the US contingent with multiple 3 and 4 * horses.
I would guess Rocana would be the pick for Rio over Sam. But Sam is going go down as one of my all time favorites. He is delightful to watch and they have such a partnership. I rewatched their XC twice this morning.
I think the closest to the optimum time is the tie break.
What a terrific event for Colleen, and Lynn. Great show jumping rounds. Colleen to go clear on CR is very big accomplishment. I believe she has truly proven without a doubt she is one of the best in America. And Donner and Lynn also leave no doubt about their abilities and consistency. Tim Bourke leaves as the highest placed Irish rider, and in the UK at a UK bigtime event, that’s a huge accomplishment as well for a US based rider with a small string. In fact, as was pointed out, all the riders have small strings. So I would consider Burghley a big win for the grant program and a finally we are seeing the results the grants can bring to us. NEXT, Blenheim, and Plantation, then Pau and Fair Hill? Do we have Americans attending at any other European fall events? What is the schedule? Anyone know it by heart?
[QUOTE=JenJ;8304595]
… holy Oz and NZ dominance - 5 of the top 6 …[/QUOTE]
The Burghley scores webpage kind of hits you in the eye with little flag stars … :lol
OK new program for long-term development of US team candidates: Identify at age 5 or 6 (not later) and they move Down Under to wherever these riders are coming from and grow them up there; they event as adults in the UK. Maybe that would get the US team on the podium ??? :winkgrin:
I am thrilled!!! I am so proud of all 3 !!!
(And that has not always been the case with American riders at B & B.)
These are the types of developing riders we need to be supporting, and most especially by getting them on a string of 3*/4* horses, not just the one barn favorite. There are quality horses in the US - these 3 were on some of them this weekend.
It is the riders the horse owners choose to put them under. There is work to be done, and it is subtle and careful - but it has to be done.
It is either that or just accept the current US position in world eventing behind the powers of Europe (even Sweden, these days). That’s ok, so long as we aren’t pretending to be something we are not. But if we want to be Oz or the UK, or NZ or Sweden, it won’t happen by continuing to do as we have been doing.
We must must must have more 4*'s in this country. No rider will excel at something they do 1 time a year - or even twice. Repetition is the key to mastery. Listing all the reasons “that won’t happen” is a bid to stay where we are. Let’s just be honest about that decision, to stay where we are … or not.
There is no reason that leaderboard can’t have US flag symbols in the top 10 the way Oz and NZ have them … other than our will to make it happen. :yes:
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It is the riders the horse owners choose to put them under. There is work to be done, and it is subtle and careful - but it has to be done.
:[/QUOTE]
yeah, if i had a 4* potential horse, (never gonna happen, but nice to dream) it would be cool to have it ridden by phillip, boyd, buck, but what are the chances of my horse ever being one of their top horses who goes to the Olympics, WEGs, etc.
but with Lynn, Colleen, Kim, Allyson, Laine, Becky etc. that horse could be one of their top two.
We have the same issue in Canada. One or two riders have 6 - 8, 3* or 4* potential horses, the rest maybe have one. If an owner wants their horse to have a chance at being in the top 20 at Burghley, don’t give it to the rider with 6 other potential WEG/ Olympic / Pan Am / Burghley / Rolex contenders.
I disagree that we need more than 1 4* in the US. We could use a fall one in North America, but my hopes are that Bromont will do so fantastically in WEG that they will decide to hold a fall 4*. The Germans and Swedes do quite well in the Olympics. In the main, the Germans only run their own 4*; the Swedes don’t run them at all.
IMO, what the US needs is more quality 3s, preferably CCIs, and a tougher Rolex. Rebecca Farm is doing its part, but since most of the eventers are in the East, we need more than two fall 3s. We know from WEG that Rolex can be tougher than it runs today, and it needs to up its game.
But where the US system falls down (beating my drum) is in the importance of dressage at and from the very start of a career. That needs to be drummed into all young riders from the very first day they climb on a horse. And that needs to be where all young horses start from. Remember the MJ doesn’t jump a horse under saddle until it can lengthen and shorten on command. That seems to me a pretty good rule of thumb for training in these days of overweighted dressage.
