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Original poster

Is anyone else watching Badminton?

26 replies

Velociraptor · 09/05/2015 13:54

Just watching it now on BBC red button. Seem to be a lot of people having trouble at the water, with the step up out. The airbags are causing issues as well, with two now inflated, when the riders have managed to stay on. It must be like trying to ride in a strait jacket!

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mrslaughan · 09/05/2015 14:32

Yes-! I find it very addictive!

mrslaughan · 09/05/2015 14:32

My heart was in my mouth with Tina Cooks fall....

Original poster
Velociraptor · 09/05/2015 14:42

Its terrifying isn't it!

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Original poster
Velociraptor · 09/05/2015 14:50

Do you know how big the fences are? DS just asked, and I can't find the answer online anywhere.

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scribblescrabble · 09/05/2015 20:34

I've just returned! tell ds the fences are BIG ... and wide ... and tricky!

mrslaughan · 10/05/2015 09:58

I have never been to badminton, but been to burghley a number times.....I would say they are on a par. I don't think you can truly appreciated the fences until you are standing next to them.
I am about 5'8" and some are should height (if not higher) , with huge spreads, drops on the other side, drops coming into them.....truly scary

Panicmode1 · 10/05/2015 12:06

Wish we could watch the showjumping live - am listening on the Badminton Radio but it's not the same!

Redhead11 · 10/05/2015 12:08

I am heading off to work, so no Badminton for me. Haven't managed to watch it in years, thanks to work. the sooner i win the lottery and retire the better. Suppose i should start playing it then.

Original poster
Velociraptor · 10/05/2015 15:16

I am very Envy scribblescrabble! DS thinks it looks easy,and I should have a go! Grin

I keep saying every year I would like to go, but I never seem to get round to it. Maybe next year...

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Original poster
Velociraptor · 10/05/2015 16:00

Well done William Fox-Pitt! My heart was in my mouth watching that!

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honeyroar · 10/05/2015 16:41

Yes well done William. I love that horse and they looked superb in all three phases. I feel sorry for Andrew Nicholson and Ollie Townend though.

I went down to watch on Thursday and again on Saturday. Had a great time.

DENMAN03 · 10/05/2015 19:02

I've just returned from a fab 5 days there. My horse (Wii Limbo) did a lovely double clear and finished 36th! Very pleased. The course rode really well and all fallers were ok.

Original poster
Velociraptor · 10/05/2015 19:41

Wow, well done DENMAN, that must be an incredible feeling!

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honeyroar · 10/05/2015 22:31

We'll done Wii Limbo, how wonderful and a lovely horse you have there. I hope you've had a glass or two of fizz.

I think that it turned out to be a lovely Badminton and the weather was great in the end.

CherryLips1980 · 11/05/2015 14:13

Congratulations DENMAN , your horse is immense - loved watching GS's round. We have some lovely young riders in the UK [proud].

I'm glad WFP won. I can't warm to AN for some reason, I'm sure he's a lovely guy and all, and I do hope he wins Badders at some point (33 years and not yet, the poor bugger) but I'm really happy for WFP & Chilli Morning. Lovely horse and rider.

Craig Nickolai tugged my heart too. Did you see the way he hugged his horse after they fell? Denman, do you know if the horse was OK? It looked knackered (in the tired sense!) as he walked it out.

Also, how great was it to see Pippa back at her old form?

Steadycampaign · 12/05/2015 08:21

Yes it was great to see Pippa back!

And well done to William and Chilli (many congrats to you too Deman and hats off to your bravery!!)

About the air vest thing; how long do they take to deflate/re-set?

What is the point of battling to stay aboard (like the German rider, Niklas Bschorer did) when your air vest prevents you from riding on?

Northernlurker · 12/05/2015 08:25

I really enjoyed watching it. I do have one question though - obviously Badminton is a great day out and people take their dogs. Some dogs are better than others with horses and I noticed that quite often as the horses approached jumps it was accompanied by hysterical barking from a hound. Does this not distract rider and horse? Or are they oblivious? I was watching it thinking I wouldn't take my dog if I couldn't trust it to keep quiet. But I suppose a lot of the horses will have spent time hunting at some point so perhaps aren't fussed?

honeyroar · 12/05/2015 10:23

I always think it's much more noticeable on TV. We go and walk round with our dogs (who couldn't give a stuff about horses, being labs their biggest interest is the lake and other people's picnics!) and only very occasionally notice any yapping.

I used to event (at a much lower level!) and never even heard what the loudspeakers were saying, let alone anything else. There is wind in your ears and you are so focused on the fences, I expect it's the same for the horse to some extent.

Some people there do drive me mad with their dogs, they let go of leads while they picnic and don't pay attention. Despite my two not being remotely interested in the horses I have them in harnesses just to be really safe.

Craig Nickolai really touched me too. He'd already given it a big pat when his horse helped him out at the lake, and even after he fell off and hugged it he was checking it's walk as the fence judge led it away. He really seemed to care about that horse. When he is more experienced he would be the type of rider I'd send my horse to if I had one good enough.

A lot of people are saying it was a very easy Badminton, but I thought it went well. It threw up enough issues to cause faults and problems without anything/one being hurt. What did everyone else think?

Northernlurker · 12/05/2015 16:21

It didn't look easy to me! (but then I'm not a horse person) It seemed to be quite tough to get back within the time for the cross country, or maybe that's just the ones I saw.

Interesting about the dogs, thanks.

Can I ask another question - the air jacket thing - is that to protect your chest and abdomen if the horse falls and lands on you or is it to protect you from the ground if you land on it?

honeyroar · 12/05/2015 23:47

It's got a pin on a lanyard that is attached to the saddle, so if you fall off the pin pulls out and it inflates before you hit the ground. It may or may not protect you if a horse falls on you,

Northernlurker · 13/05/2015 08:14

Thanks

Original poster
Velociraptor · 13/05/2015 09:07

I can't imagine dogs barking would cause anyone any issues, with all the other noise that is going on, but I saw a couple of loose dogs, which seemed incredibly dangerous to me.

I thought it was about right this year difficulty wise. As you said honeyroar, no one got hurt, but there were plenty of fences that caused issues. I seem to recall it being a bit ridiculous last year, with only about a third of them getting round.

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Chillipops · 13/05/2015 15:45

Amazing badminton. I know WFP - hooray for the win!! - and his comments on the course were that it was easier than last year. Last years course he felt was a great test but combined with the conditions (strong blustery winds & rain) it didn't look good on paper. He hopes next years course will be a bit tougher. This was said on Friday (before he rode it).

Some air jackets deflate once inflated so you can continue if it has gone off. They provide extra support to your body on impact but some riders don't like them. They make quite a noise when they go off.

With regards to dogs, when riding you don't tend to hear them yapping. You are so focused on what is ahead and hopefully the horse is too. However I do think owners of loose dogs should be charged a substantial sum of money. It would be a shame if they were banned from events but they are dangerous if loose and chasing a horse.

Steadycampaign · 13/05/2015 15:52

Thanks for the info re the air jackets Chilli

Agree about fining owners of loose dogs!

backinthebox · 13/05/2015 17:37

Craig Nicolai's horse was fine. A bit surprised at falling, and caught himself with a stud, but all well. Craig was disappointed, but at least delighted to have been able to start this year - he has been on the waiting list for a few years but not made the final cut before.

There were (I think) 14 clear XCs inside the time this year, from 90 starters. The course builders aim to get about a 10% clear/time rate, that should have given 9 clear rounds inside the time this year. I think the course will be tweaked just a bit to slow people down next year, having said that the going this year was about as good as it is possible to get.