WFP interview; http://bcove.me/3ldq8tim
[QUOTE=Equibrit;8302588]
As astonishing as it may seem to you, my comment was not particularly aimed at your glorious self.[/QUOTE]
Oh thank you. :rolleyes:
[QUOTE=devvie;8302575]
Sigh. I came here to read about the competition but it became a helmet/safety thread.[/QUOTE]
Sorry to disappoint you, this thread is about all things that relate to the event - including the lack of head buckets.
Fernhill Pimms is just lovely. What an exciting horse! He looked so soft and relaxed, over all. Would never have guessed it was his first four star watching that test.
I can’t wait to see how the course rides tomorrow. Looking forward to a quiet evening to catch up on replays!
Burghley first timer here (spectator only!!) and all I can say is it.is.MASSIVE.
Everything… From the grounds to the trade fair to the jumps. Dear lord, the jumps. 
I went to Badminton a few years ago, to Rolex a few times, and to Luhmulen a couple months ago. This eclipses them all. There seemed to be as many people there today for dressage as there are for cross country at Rolex. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring!
After the dressage I really enjoyed squeezing in and watching the Young Event Horse (not sure the name) competition. i wonder the correlation between youngsters being exposed to such an atmosphere early on and a relaxed test at the 4* level.
I hope everyone gets around safely tomorrow.
Why do I have an uneasy feeling about tomorrow for the US riders? I know all these riders are more than capable, but the course looks so different from any thing here. I really hope everyone only incurs time penalties and nothing more serious. Colleen has ridden these big tracks with great success, and I feel she’s more than capable, but I worry about the others. Hopefully it’s just being agog over the course.
[QUOTE=Equibrit;8302573]
Not saying anything - other than it’s a lot like saying "I do think it’s a British thing in part. [B]They’re not very smart in general, "
[/B]They seem to be smart enough to win ****s[/QUOTE]
Atta Girl!
VDL Douglas also had a lovely horse in the YEH stuff at Burghley today. They gallop well. I do have to say, Pimms, Jungs horses - yes they are lovely but they aren’t that fancy. They just ride the heck out of them & make it look effortless. As it should be. Tim Price is another quiet rider. Paul Tapner should’ve scored lower & I was disappointed, as well as Paul & our friendly commentator that he didn’t score in the 30’s. His trot & canter entensions & lengthenings were lovely, possibly the nicest canter lengthening to flying change of the day.
While walking the course over the past 2 days, I ran into Jung & WFP amongst others. Multiple times. Not easy, relentless, but the fences themselves seem to encourage glance off or refusals, but easier to read for the horse…& hope your horse likes its job & trusts it’s rider as it’s tough. Those not prepared will likely just quit & go home. This is good. You want a very fit horse because the first portion of the course is tough. Lots of water & terrain in the beginning. I think you may be able to take the option at the hatchery & not loose too much time. The footing is spectacular.
As for the helmets, only Americans wore them I think? Many removed their hats & thanked the Burghley crowd, Jung, Pitt, et al included when exiting the ring for their interviews. Gosh, in the U.S. Would we ever have such candid post dressage interviews? As in right out of the ring you must interview & say something? Maybe even swear or call out the judge? Tis so much fun, and the shopping…
To join in the fun once again. I took the comment about Brits not being ‘smart’ to mean ‘not formal in our dress’ but maybe I’m just ‘not smart’ as in ‘thick’. Either way, no worries.
BE rules are to wear a correctly fitted and fastened protective helmet, of the current standard, at all times whilst riding a horse during an event, for everyone, without fail. The BIG exception is that at championships, riders may choose to wear a top hat for dressage only.
In the past, such as the Olympics, it has appeared to me that USA horses lacked fitness (none could make the time at Greenwich). I think this course will find out any gaps in training and lack of fitness. However, as I said in a previous post, while the fences are massive (being 4*) they are also inviting for the horses.
I also don’t think its going to be a pretty go tomorrow, I just don’t feel like they horses are prepared enough. Its a totally different ball game. Lets hope they prove me wrong!
Yes, I hope the Brits on here don’t think most Americans believe them to lack wits. that is not the dominant view at all over here at all, not sure what that comment meant.
Best of luck to all tomorrow, rooting for a safe go for everyone and good sport all around. toi toi toi, as my opera singer SIL would say.
Well Donner ran around WEG and is a true xc jumping machine. Colleen is very experienced but her horse is green. She will be riding what she feels. If he is up for it (and he is capable) they will be fine. I wouldn’t judge American horses and their fitness by what was sent to Greenwich. Those were not our best xc horses…in fact, one that WASNT sent to Greenwich almost won Burghley that year.
I wish we had live feed for I would be camped out watching but unless you have walked around Burghley before you really can not grasp the footing. It is hilly but not anymore than many courses here in Area I and II BUt the turf is both outstanding and unforgiving. It is soft and spongy but also has a ripple to it that makes it very tiring and unrelenting. As a course, it will be both mentally and physically tiring.
[QUOTE=NCRider;8302395]
Her mother? The rest of the American and honorary American contingent wore helmets but the one rider who has the biggest following among young girls of the bunch chose to wear a top hat.
Come on Laine. Do some good with your popularity.[/QUOTE]
Dang it! Now all those young American girls will be appearing in droves, wearing top hats at the schooling shows! I hate it when that happens!:winkgrin:
[QUOTE=Winding Down;8303281]
Dang it! Now all those young American girls will be appearing in droves, wearing top hats at the schooling shows! I hate it when that happens!:winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
I know, right?
I’m all for everyone wearing helmets, and I’d like to see FEI require them in all phases (see my previous post re: top hats) … But from some of the reactions to Laine’s choice of headwear you would think she was caught strangling puppies or something.
I am very excited to see Tim Bourke and Obie tackle that course. I have watched the two of them develop for the past several years and there are few who can match them xc. Obie is not built for the sandbox and he is a tough horse, the latter making him my pick for a strongest xc run from our group. Yes, Tim and Obie are Irish but heck, we can claim them as our own since they have been on our soil for many years! They are not that experienced but Obie has the grit and Tim has finesse to move way up the rankings after tomorrow. Every time I see them xc, they make it look easy.
Not so sure about Anthony Patch and Lainey and I fear that they will be over their heads on this course. Lynn and Donner will eat up the course but they could have a glance off here or there. Colleen has a great horse but he is green and I am not sure he is ready for this sort of course. But if any rider can pilot him around this course, it will be Colleen. She is good, and I bet she will be great in the coming years.
Exciting to see these young up and coming riders and horses out there. Go America, Go Irish-America! Show us how it is done!
[QUOTE=CatchMeIfUCan;8302263]
Wow, for someone who has created a cult following of young girls, I am very disappointed in Laine for wearing a top hat. I’ve never really liked her but could respect what she has created with social media. Now that respect is definitely gone.[/QUOTE]
I was pretty disappointed in this as well. I spoke with Lainey about this. I speak at various venues regarding helmets since I’m a Paramedic & a trainer. I’ve worked some horrific head injuries. I was trying to get some sound bytes from upper level riders. I asked her thinking she was pro helmet. She stated that she was wearing the top hat at Burghley & considers the top hat an honor. She stated she almost wore one at Rolex, but was advised against it. Honor or not… My brain is too valuable. These riders are role models. Be an example.
What’s funny is that years ago, before Allison Springer broke the ice and wore the helmet up the center line in a 4*, people didn’t want to wear helmets in dressage because they would look odd amongst the top hats. Now, to American eyes, it is the other way around - the top hats look odd. Seeing the photos I was reminded of historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Fred Astaire, The Mad Hatter … :winkgrin:
So I am cancelling my monthly sub to FEI TV. No live Burghley … no Burghley replays … or for the other 4*'s … not needed.
I’m at Burghley bfne…dare I say there is no course in the US incorporates this much terrain before fence 11? An awfully lot of water to trek through from 4 to the Anniversary splash, then up a long hill to Capabilities Cutting…which will likely cut out the incapable for today. That’s just the start…
The British have said this is the year Burgley may have caught up to Badminton, due to the terrain and running the course in reverse. It’s relentless & impressive.
Is Burghley being live streamed anywhere?
No. Burghley TV puts the rounds up fairly soon after they are done though.
http://vod2015.burghley.tv/
