Colleen’s round looked to me like a very confident trainer training a green horse, and training him well. (I would have said that even without knowing her record and the horse’s record.) I’d trust her with my horse any day!
So we have GJ who pull Mary King for looking Dangerous… but they didn’t think Movistar’s round wasn’t dangerous. He was CRAWLING over the last 5 fences with exhaustion.
Riders like that give Eventing such a bad rep.
[QUOTE=NCRider;8307725]
He actually looked fine in stadium. It was weird for sure. Even in xc, he almost looked more muscle tired than cardio tired.
I wish the stewards were more willing to pull people up rather than punishing them after the fact. I think it’s very hard for some of these riders to pull themselves up before they’ve had a refusal and I think it gets harder the closer they are to the finish when they start feeling things deteriorating. Particularly in a team situation. Not that that was the case here.[/QUOTE]
That horse has heart for sure, but in watching his round, he rubs the first few jumps and drops two poles. Rider error or still tired horse? Watching his xc the day before I’d say tired. While points are not given for equitation in cross country, that ride was particularly uncomfortable to watch. There was little good communication between rider/horse and the constant battle for control just seemed to wear Movistar out. The last set of jumps even before his drop to the knees was difficult to watch both in the physical push the rider was forcing on the horse and that when asked, the horse tried its best.
When you compare the rides of Colleen Rutledge (on a green horse for 4*) and Micheal Jung against AJ ride you see grace, compassion, and what is good about this sport compared to brute force and single mindedness which sadly, more people will remember.
I am normally not a team advocate, but since it is there, the USET damn well better pick Colleen as an Anchor for their team. If not they are worthless in seeing what is good for this sport. Has run clean in every 4* she’s entered, has shown an excellent track record in bringing horses up to 4* that are solid performers, and seems to have the drive to win, but not at the welfare of her partner. I could root for her.
[QUOTE=LadyB;8308240]
So we have GJ who pull Mary King for looking Dangerous… but they didn’t think Movistar’s round wasn’t dangerous. He was CRAWLING over the last 5 fences with exhaustion.
Riders like that give Eventing such a bad rep.[/QUOTE]
And Mary King didn’t even get pulled, she VOLUNTARILY pulled up because she felt it wasn’t that horse’s day. The GJ carded her for not pulling up a fence sooner. She should have been given accolades for doing what was safe for her and the horse and instead she got suspended. Meanwhile this clown gets away with making his horse crawl over the jumps in survival mode.
I’m failing to see the FEI rational. Shocking.
Somebody earlier in the thread asked me to maybe give my thoughts on Burghley from my point of view an this is what I got.
After Aachen I was probably more worried about this event then I had ever been for any event that Colleen has ever competed in. I can count one one hand how many times I had seen Colleen fall off a horse so I think thats why it was so worrisome for me and she had never fallen off of CR. After dressage Colleen was ok but she was’nt that happy because she is always looking to improve and it did’nt happen but she moved on getting ready for XC. Cross Country day I usually go out and take pictures but I was so nervous I wanted to throw up so I decided to hang out in the riders tent and watch. What I saw on XC may be new to you guys on here but Colleen loves her horses ( probably more then me) and they love her back and for that they want to take care of her. All the good boys and good mans are not new to me I hear it and see it every time she goes out on XC with her horses. If you go to youtube and watch her rides I garuntee you will hear it on every other video. What I think happened with CR since the water jump was early I think CR remembered dropping his mom in the water at Aachen and thats why I think he was so timid at first coming in to the first couple of waters because he didnt want to lose his mom again. Now this is just my opinion but I know how much CR loves Colleen and thats why I am saying this. I think he kept getting stronger and stronger around the course because of the good boys and good mans. ( Did you noticed she switched from boy to man half way around) CR does not quite have the scope as Shiraz but he has just of big of heart as him. The boy is nine years old and I cant be more proud of them for the way he got around that XC if you were’nt there you have no idea how big those jumps actually looked this year. I was there in 2011 and they looked much bigger this year and they tore it up. Show Jumping is what CR struggles in and Colleen had gotten some lessons from Lauren Kiefer over there and Colleen listened to everything she had to say and it worked for her. A former upper level rider came up to me at Millbrook and told me he beleives Colleen is the most trainable rider out there right now because she listens to everything every one says and is like a sponge and I beleive him. Anyway I cant be more proud of Colleen and CR right now and I cant wait for the next step with them. Sorry about the book.
Thank you for this post!
[QUOTE=ACMEeventing;8308459]
And Mary King didn’t even get pulled, she VOLUNTARILY pulled up because she felt it wasn’t that horse’s day. The GJ carded her for not pulling up a fence sooner. She should have been given accolades for doing what was safe for her and the horse and instead she got suspended. Meanwhile this clown gets away with making his horse crawl over the jumps in survival mode.
I’m failing to see the FEI rational. Shocking.[/QUOTE]
THIS.
I have watched so many ULR’s make great decisions, clearly with “horse first” mentality.
What AJ did makes me ill.
That horse is amazing. What a huge heart -completely exemplifies a true event horse, in spite of the dirtbag who pushed him like that.
Colleen’s ride looked awesome! And MJ is always so amazing to watch.
A few years ago at Rolex, Boyd and Mary King both pulled their horses up with only a few fences from home left simply because their horses were tired.
Those are good horsemanship decisions.
Thanks for sharing Brian!!
I asked and you answered. Thank you Brian!
Anytime, and no matter how long , I enjoy reading!
You have an interesting perspective and I appreciate hearing about your experience.
We all admire Colleen as an excellent horsewoman and a good example.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Andrew-James-Eventing/121313977879491?fref=photo
He received lots of “pats on the back” for his performance on XC with no mention of a tired horse either from him or any posters.
Brian, I hope Colleen knows how much we respect and admire her, and how we cheer for her, for you and for all your team. Your horses are lovely, and beautifully produced. Thanks for sharing your perspective and cheers all around!
