Wow. Burghley.

[blackwly]

Misc thoughts after watching the weekend:

Rolex needs to be tougher. Compared to Burghley, Badminton (last 2 years) and the WEG it is clearly a 3.5 star. Thus, we can’t put people on teams based on Rolex results alone, and it is expensive to send them overseas. We need to have a proving ground on US soil that lets riders get the really tough XC experience they need.
I’m not sure huge strings are the answer. Our riders with huge strings (Buck and Phillip notably) aren’t winning championships. Based purely on the numbers one would expect them to trounce the Americans with 1 upper level horse only, but that doesn’t really happen. I think maybe there are diminishing returns- if you have 8 advanced horses you probably aren’t honing them, choosing the perfect schedule, etc as you might be if you have 1-2. Sorry to pick on Buck, but he has zillions of advanced horses out running all the time, and only one (Reggie) with any significant 4-star placings (and even then also with several notable team failures.)

One reason you see so many NZ and AUS flags on the leaderboard this weekend is that the European champs are still to come (next weekend?) So the European riders have intentionally left some serious contenders out of Burghley this year.

[weixiao]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;8304714]
No hurrahs for Tiana Coudray ?

http://www.bdwp.co.uk/bur/15/[/QUOTE]

What division did she compete in? She wasn’t in the 4* which is what you linked to. I didn’t know she was competing. I’m on my phone and the website isn’t working well for me.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=weixiao;8304798]
What division did she compete in? She wasn’t in the 4* which is what you linked to. I didn’t know she was competing. I’m on my phone and the website isn’t working well for me.[/QUOTE]

She won the 5 year old division of the YEH finals held at Burghley. This is quite a big deal. It is an extremely competitive competition there (and difficult to qualify to even compete in it. ). Very exciting for her.

[Sunflower]

Watching the clips of various rides of all 3 phases of this was greatly enjoyable. Burghley House and its grounds are stupendously beautiful-- what a setting. It was a real treat to watch the horses and riders at all 3 of the phases of the competition-- great athletes both equine and human. Just completing all of this at this level surely feels like win!

[subk]

This IS a big deal! Go Tiana!

http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/tiana-coudray-shows-new-star-burghley-young-horse-final

[weixiao]

That’s great for Tiana! I hadn’t yet looked at the results and didn’t realize she was competing. Very exciting for her!

[sophie]

Excited for Cedric Lyard and his French Tb Cadeau du Roi’s 7th place finish! I wish I could see their rounds somewhere.

[Sunflower]

Burghley.tv
has video on demand.

[vineyridge]

Tiana’s horse is five and already running a prelim equivalent, per the Chronicle article.

"She’s had a super season—she’s won a pre-novice and just came third in her first novice [which equates to preliminary level in the United States]
That’s too darned young, IMO. If prelim is the equivalent of a 1*, the FEI has set six as the minimum horse age for 1competition. BE has set up a system where the 5yo YH Championship are the equivalent of Open Novice with BE100 dimensions. 6yo have a 1 level track in the BE YH Championships.

I am aghasted.

[Happyhorse77]

Now I’m just a weenie eventer, so I don’t understand the pressures of riding in a 4*…but I fence judge as often as I can & up to the 3* level. I just watched the Burghley TV video of Movistars XC trip, and I have never seen anything as upsetting as the last few minutes of that:"( Poor poor horse. It made me nauseated and heartsick. Why for the love of God would he not have retired??? Or been flagged??? If you haven’t seen it the horse is obviously completely exhausted, goes down on his knees at the trot, literally crawls over the last few fences. Just stop. Be a horseman, have a heart, and STOP

[Muffin]

Just home from an amazing weekend…if you’re debating going to Burghley next year, just stop thinking and GO!

Michael Jung is incredible, and a thinking horseman. I love how he trotted Sam in to the entrance to the water, where Fischeroccana fell. Clearly, he learns from past experiences and gives the horse the best ride imaginable (I didn’t want to say 'past mistakes, because the fall looked to me to be just a fluke).

[overhorsed]

I’m waiting to hear from all the folks who questioned Jung’s judgement on how many ****'s he entered Sam in this year…

[retreadeventer]

Watched Jung’s XC on Sam.
I think everyone who events should watch that video.
It should be required of all ICP candidates and all official candidates.
Probably wouldn’t hurt to have all trainers, coaches, parents, owners, and grooms in America watch it, too.
The way to ride a horse. That is all.

[Jealoushe]

Colleen is incredible. Covert is the most honest horse! He slid into that brush jump going to the water, Colleen asked him to go and he just went. That is a partnership. I’m just in awe of what they have accomplished. Donner is a freak of nature, his scope is incredible. Lynn is a beautiful and accurate rider. Very admirable. I was disappointed to see Laine smack Al so often, without contrasting with any praise. I love to see riders who praise their horses.

What can be said about MJ? He’s incredible. Sam was jumping better than any horse in the show jumping. He is truly a master of the sport.

Pippa Funnels horse is nice, wow.

[Renn_aissance]

[QUOTE=Jealoushe;8305168]
Colleen is incredible. Covert is the most honest horse! He slid into that brush jump going to the water, Colleen asked him to go and he just went. That is a partnership. I’m just in awe of what they have accomplished. [/QUOTE]

I loved watching that horse go around. He started off asking “Is this right, Mom? Is this right?” and every time she said “Yes, yes, good boy.” So by the time they got to the end, he was saying “I can do this, Mom, I can do this!” Then a good show jump today. Came out with a better horse than she started with since he has now had such a confidence-building and competent run. Excellent horsemanship. I’m a hunter, but I’ll keep an eye out for her clinics. She is someone I want to support.

Loved watching Donner go, too. What a marvelous horse.

It’s been an excellent learning experience to be able to watch these videos! I appreciate Burghley TV putting them up.

[alicen]

Giving a shout-out for Christopher Burton on TS Jamaimo, one of only two double clear X country rides. That was one very tidy. efficient, and matter of fact way to go.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;8305022]
Tiana’s horse is five and already running a prelim equivalent, per the Chronicle article. That’s too darned young, IMO. If prelim is the equivalent of a 1*, the FEI has set six as the minimum horse age for 1competition. BE has set up a system where the 5yo YH Championship are the equivalent of Open Novice with BE100 dimensions. 6yo have a 1 level track in the BE YH Championships.

I am aghasted.[/QUOTE]

There are a lot of 5 year olds who run a prelim HT. That is not the same as running a 1*. Also…there is running a few HTs…and campaigning a horse all season long. I’d rather see a horse run a couple Prelims than run a ton of lower level events. It is less hard on them than hunting and you see a lot of 5 year olds in their second season of fox hunting.

[alicen]

[QUOTE=west5;8303822]
I thought how this horse “used” his trot was fascinating. Able to change gaits without losing impulsion at all. Maybe buying himself a little time/room to properly adjust for a fence. Did it frequently and easily.[/QUOTE]

And the rider, Leroy, has a jumping position which even GM would approve.

[Winding_Down]

[QUOTE=Jealoushe;8305168]
Colleen is incredible. Covert is the most honest horse! He slid into that brush jump going to the water, Colleen asked him to go and he just went. That is a partnership. I’m just in awe of what they have accomplished. Dinner is a freak of nature, his scope is incredible. Lynn is a beautiful and accurate rider. Very admirable. I was disappointed to see Laine smack Al so often, without contrasting with any praise. I love to see riders who praise their horses.

What can be said about MJ? He’s incredible. Sam was jumping better than any horse in the show jumping. He is truly a master of the sport.

Pippa Funnels horse is nice, wow.[/QUOTE]

I agree entirely. I love how most of the riders encourage their horses, with voice and a pat after the fences. I hate to see riders go to the stick on landing. Horse should have been already trained to land and gallop so why punish them? MJ is my hero.

Colleen and Lynn rode so so well. Lynn shows the DOC influence - fluid, straight, correct, and quiet.

So we have at least 2 who are rising stars and let’s not forget Lauren Kieffer who is on the rise and has some pretty awesome horses coming up the levels. I am not forgetting about our current Buck-Boyd-Phillip, but it is great to see what we have coming on!

And I have been sending those videos to some folks who invest heavily in chasers around here, with the hopes that they may consider owning a horse or two on the eventing scene.

I am so very excited about the results this weekend. And I bet there is one big party over in The Plains this week!

[Winding_Down]

[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8304469]
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.[/QUOTE]

The issue IS horse flesh and the lack of it - due to the lack of finances and support to develop that horse flesh. A string of owners will buy the horses. I doubt that Lynn or Colleen have a string of horses sitting idle, for want of sponsors or owners.

The Escott horse has a lot of scope but he may not be a 4* horse. Having spent some time with the horse, I would not bet much on his rising to the level that Colleen deserves. But I hope I a wrong.

Burghley should be a big boost for these riders, however. I hope that owners consider sending them some talented horses that may otherwise go to the more established riders. I would bet that Tim is going to be getting some calls in the coming months - and that will be a big boost for him as he just went out on his own.