WTF Are We Doing?

What is the planned venue for the equestrian events? I’m a native San Diegan (now far away) and cross country was in North County San Diego, a quick hack from my (then) barn. Weather was pleasant, if I recall!

Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, near the 405/101 interchange. So Van Nuys.

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I have fond memories of Fairbanks Ranch, which was (I hate to admit) a long, long time ago!

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I also have fond memories of the ‘84 Olympics. We went to most of the equestrian events, including the the equestrian phase of the modern pentathlon and the XC.

We were talking to one of the outriders at the end of XC and she said there was one thing she’d been dying to do bc at home galloping on a golf course (*) cost $$ a hoof print. And with that, she galloped off.

(*) Sadly the XC course became a golf course. I think we parked where Showpark was later built. I’m just going to go with calling it Showpark despite whatever they’re calling it now.

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Vaulting would be the perfect Olympic inclusion with a great safety record and a small footprint (indoors!) but we can’t seem to move the dial. International elite level is stupid expensive but it’s admittedly at the very low end of stupid expensive which applies to other horse sports.

(Returning to lurkdom and watching the AEC results online - waiting to hear all are safely finished before watching videos …)

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EN just posted this video of Rolex 1982: https://eventingnation.com/waybackwednesday-video-from-kentucky-performance-products-head-back-in-time-to-vintage-rolex/?fbclid=IwAR1QHykBA-VEFO2sZsDue5Vkvo-54AKl3YW7nBfLnriqOtFX_aW96Nok3Ng

At the 20 minute mark (approx), Karen Stives has a horrendous rotational fall at the first fence. The response is mind-blowing. The camera doesn’t move away and the announcers cheerfully move on to the next rider without even confirming whether she’s alive (she survived though, clearly). This doesn’t really add any value to this discussion, but it’s interesting looking at how much and how little has changed.

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The fantastic documentary “Riding for America” from the 1980s covers this one too, and does discuss how long (or short) it took her to recover (starts at 49:00).

[the whole documentary is really worth watching, if you’ve never seen it.]

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There are some good old videos from Checkmate, Ledyard, and Radnor that show this too. The riding and the commentary is unbelievable lol

The look back at 1982 was :open_mouth: The course was very austere and not a duck to be seen. The way XC should be. Karen Stives horse just didn’t leave the ground! Every eventers’ worst nightmare.

@Jealoushe I know you keep track of fatalities. A horse in the Training division in Ocala (majestic oaks) was euthanized after a fall on XC.

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Didn’t that show just run yesterday? (May 14)

Yes, here’s the official report.

That’s terrible. My condolences to the rider and connections :frowning:
Any idea what type of fence that was?

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According to the course map it was a trakhener (part A of an AB).

Ugh. Damn. We just moved up to training.

I had the same reaction, but my husband reminded me of a show jumper that just had to be euthanized, and all the other horses that get hurt and die. The best thing to do is be sure you are ready and prepared, both mentally and physically, riding safe and doing things as correct as you can.

I get it though. Totally.

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Agreed. I think it’s really important to be aware of the risks, do what you can to mitigate them, and then make whatever choice you are going to make with full knowledge and respect for all potential outcomes.

I really hope nothing happens to me or my horse one day, and I do more than hope, I take steps to prevent those outcomes. But at the end of the day, if something happens, I don’t want anyone to say “if only they’d known!” I know what can happen. For now, this is how I’m choosing to spend the time that I have.

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This is probably insignficant to everyone else, but as his former groom I’d like Enchantez remembered under his real name. Enchantez, not Enchanted. Can the OP edit the original list?

Miss him every day.

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So very sorry for your loss. I haven’t been updating the thread but I have corrected that now.

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This is so very sad, as I am quite familiar with the venue and their team does a fantastic job with every show. I’m sure they are heartbroken as well.

The normal trakehners there (one for each level, all the way down to BN) are shallow and inviting, not like some of the ones I’ve seen on courses recently.

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