To think that equestrian events are ridiculous

[BFrazzled]

In the Olympics.

Poor horses. This ridiculous dancing in dressage, who the hell thought of that?

There was one winner of the dressage contest who supposedly also won in the nineties. No mention of the horse, guess it was with a different one then

@Ifailed

Some of the riders are doing what some of the posters have been wrongly accusing the professional riders of doing.

I think you'll find that most pentathlon competitors are as 'professional' as most dressage riders are when it comes to income, at the Olympic level.

Not professional riders though. Plenty of professionals match their income but it doesn’t mean they can ride…

What does income have to do with their riding ability?

I can't find a single bit of footage that shows AS's pentathlon ride in full and in order. It's hard to judge exactly what was behind all that from the pictures and not in order clips I've seen. Apparently that horse didn't jump for the last rider either. I didn't see it to know if that rider was bad and put the horse off altogether or if the horse, in the first place was entirely unsuited to the competition. Looking at the tack the horse was wearing I'd say it's at least in part the latter. Likely a combination of both. Reports say that she was already in tears before she entered the ring. That would definitely contribute as that lack of confidence is certainly communicated to the horse. That being said when the horse was actually going forward she looked like a decent rider with a steady seat and quiet hands unlike many I've seen in that event. On a willing horse I feel there might not be too much to criticise about her riding. Quite an unfortunate set of circumstances for the horse mostly but for rider as well.

It's on Discovery plus

@liveforsummer

I can't find a single bit of footage that shows AS's pentathlon ride in full and in order. It's hard to judge exactly what was behind all that from the pictures and not in order clips I've seen. Apparently that horse didn't jump for the last rider either. I didn't see it to know if that rider was bad and put the horse off altogether or if the horse, in the first place was entirely unsuited to the competition. Looking at the tack the horse was wearing I'd say it's at least in part the latter. Likely a combination of both. Reports say that she was already in tears before she entered the ring. That would definitely contribute as that lack of confidence is certainly communicated to the horse. That being said when the horse was actually going forward she looked like a decent rider with a steady seat and quiet hands unlike many I've seen in that event. On a willing horse I feel there might not be too much to criticise about her riding. Quite an unfortunate set of circumstances for the horse mostly but for rider as well.

It's just a stupid format. Needs to be scrapped.

@liveforsummer which athlete said they only ride twice a month? Do you have a link? If so, that is absolutely appalling. They wouldn't only train for the running twice a month and expect to be successful. The riding should be no different. If anything, that is the trickiest element and should be practised the most.

The standard of riding was, on the whole, very poor and demonstrated all of the things the general public love to bash about equestrian sport. I think UIPM are going to come under fire for this in a big way. Quite right too.

The riding element either needs to be made significantly easier to represent the low standard; changed somehow to become a scored ride somewhat similar to working hunters and equitation where you are scored on style and performance too; or made much more difficult and be a cross country element, as is the case in Pony Club tetrathlon competitions, so that the horsemanship and skill is the foundation of the sport.

I think making it XC risk it becoming a bloodbath based on the current riding skills of many of the competitors (which look better suited to nothing more challenging than a handy pony competition).

It wasn't from Tokyo Olympics, it was from London but lots of competitors schedules read out as it was the full footage and many were not regular riders - I got the link from a post on here but it was just the full footage of the London games on YouTube so easy enough to find. Was quite a long watch though. I haven't seen any of this game's pentathlon showjumping apart from the clips of AS but I did think whilst watching London that the course was too technical and too big for the abilities. Not sure if the courses should be easier or if the pentathletes should be better riders to compete at Olympic level? Some of the riding as you say is terrible but there was also some pretty uncooperative or unsuitable horses. It does at least demonstrate that of a horse does not want to do something or isn't ridden in the manner they as an individual likes then you're not going to make them do it!

@Ekofisk

I think making it XC risk it becoming a bloodbath based on the current riding skills of many of the competitors (which look better suited to nothing more challenging than a handy pony competition).

Xc!! That would be horrific!

Agree op. Load of crap.

Part of the problem is that the u19s usually just don't have the riding phase in their competitions. So loads of teens come through and don't start riding until they absolutely have to.

I know several kids who started riding for pentathlon at 16 then had one lesson a month.

I agree OP. Haven't RTFT but to those saying the welfare is good, what do they think happens to the horses when they are finished being useful?

Clue: there is no grassy meadow fir them to live out their retirement in. Well, for very few.

But I am anti the use of animals for entertainment in any situation

I agree OP. Haven't RTFT but to those saying the welfare is good, what do they think happens to the horses when they are finished being useful?
Well if you do bother to read the thread you'll find that answered

@PopcornMuncher

I agree OP. Haven't RTFT but to those saying the welfare is good, what do they think happens to the horses when they are finished being useful?

Clue: there is no grassy meadow fir them to live out their retirement in. Well, for very few.

But I am anti the use of animals for entertainment in any situation

These horses aren't euthanized when they stop jumping. Don't be silly.

@Ekofisk absolutely adding in xc in the current format and standard would be a bloodbath. But if the sport was developed differently, with the riding an essential part from the offset, the standard would be much higher. Pony club triathlon and tetrathlon have xc riding, running and swimming as the core, then add in shooting and fencing later.

For many, their tetrathlon is running, swimming, shooting and fencing and the riding is added in later as an afterthought in order to compete in pentathlon.

When relying on an animal and a partnership as an element of sport that needs to be the primary focus. I think this further highlights the skill, talent, hours and hours of practice, and most importantly the relationship and partnership of the other equestrian sports.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/58127366

Those poor horses. It’s a shame that so many horsey people can’t see the harm that’s being caused by using animals for sports.

The pentathlon show jumping is shocking I agree, but for some reason it isn't governed by FEI rules like all other Olympic sports.

The really irritating thing about the pentathlon show jumping so that people think it's the same calibre as the other equestrian events.

Looking forward to the searing defence of the German coach who has just been ejected for punching a horse.

Some grinning pillock upthread put some terrible anthropomorphic bollocks along the lines of 'Have you ever tried to make a horse do something it didn't want to do?' as if the balance of power in a horse/rider relationship is somehow equal. Well, here's the answer. Some people obviously do make horses do things they don't want to. Violently. The whole sorry affair is appalling.

@LobotomisedIceSkatingFan

Looking forward to the searing defence of the German coach who has just been ejected for punching a horse.

Some grinning pillock upthread put some terrible anthropomorphic bollocks along the lines of 'Have you ever tried to make a horse do something it didn't want to do?' as if the balance of power in a horse/rider relationship is somehow equal. Well, here's the answer. Some people obviously do make horses do things they don't want to. Violently. The whole sorry affair is appalling.

I don't think anyone would defend the coach!

But yes it was a perfect example of a horse refusing to do what it was being told and the rider being completely unable to make it despite acting like a total twat.

The horse didn't do it though! @LobotomisedIceSkatingFan

@Bryonyshcmyony

The horse didn't do it though! *@LobotomisedIceSkatingFan*

That's really not the argument-winner you seem to think it is . . . 🙄

I agree OP. Haven't RTFT but to those saying the welfare is good, what do they think happens to the horses when they are finished being useful?
Well if you do bother to read the thread you'll find that answered

Unfortunately I don't have the time available to read 35 pages. It's not that I can't just be bothered. Would be pleased to be enlightened though

Would be pleased to be enlightened though.

For instance, my racing syndicate either rehomes horses to become light hacks, companions or perhaps dressage or jumping horses if they are fit and capable / enjoy it (often to syndicate members) or are retired to live out their days at the rest and rehab centre.

Ok, short version. Dressage and show jumping horses can go on to be schoolmasters for younger risers coming up through the ranks, or they might go on to breed or to stud, they might be kept by their owner or rider as a pleasure horse or pet or be sold to a private owner as one. Some yes, do get retired to grass but most horses benefit from being ridden and kept active.

And yes every racing stable I've been involved with has rehomed or retired their horses