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Olympics

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  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Ahh I remember the good old days - Mister Softee and David Broomr, Stroller and Marion Coakes.  Does that date me?image  I'm still only 27image.  They didn't seen elitist to me.

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,042

    I remember those days too and I'm only 27.

    Anyway, Nick Skelton and Ben Maher are still competing in the individual SJ on Friday.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Sorry Frank/Dad, but showjumping has changed because of money and sponsorship.  There are thousands of people regularly competing week in week out at all levels throughout the country, but there's a massive gulf between a kid on an average pony doing a novice class at a local show, and Scott Brash on a million pound plus horse. There's huge money spent in the pony world, usually from outside interests ( footballer's wives) which is spent on buying success. Top ponies are infinitely more forgiving and regularly help riders out of trouble, even when the rider makes a massive mistake, so skill is less important. Horses are totally different. You can't cock up too often with a horse or it'll jack it in and lose confidence, and it takes a lot of years to bring on young horses. The good young riders, if they want to make a career of it, need sponsors and owners willing to support them long term. If they have a good horse, you then need owners who're prepared to turn down the blank cheques they'll be offered, so that those horses stay here and don't go abroad. That happens a lot - those horses change hands for millions, and there's no guarantee a horse will perform well for a new jockey either. It's simply not the same as replacing a set of golf clubs or any other piece of equipment. One of the best examples of that was Caroline Bradley's horse Tigre. After she died, Paddy McMahon took over the ride. Couldn't 'ride one side of him' is the expression. 

    Anyway - Harvey Smith couldn't have been less 'elitist' if he'd tried. He was a Yorkshire farmer. Still is. image

    The Broomes and the Edgar family are still heavily involved in showjumping  image

    Nick's horse looked in good form Liz. Jumped a good round. The water jump 'fault' was a bit debatable. image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Where is tomorrows programme DHR?

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489

    My Olympic viewing is much less now. . . Cincinnati tennis has taken over.

    SW Scotland
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410

    Very excited about the hockey team - one of them went to the same school as the Chicklets, and has been back numerous times with her 2012 bronze medal to talk to them all about following their dreams.  Looks like she will have another medal soon to add to that collectionimage

  • PalaisglidePalaisglide Posts: 3,414

    Fairygirl/Daughter, nothing to be sorry about what you say is true, all I was saying was the bread and butter people like us are now priced out of it. Daughters then Granddaughters rode from an early age which meant horses a means of transport and all the kit including Saddles, expensive but parents and grandparents did it. Now only one rides usually in one of the paddocks and this year the all weather one as the others could become mud baths.

    Being brought up with heavy horses, Clydesdale, Suffolk and Dad had Cleveland bays you quickly learn how intelligent they are they do not suffer fools gladly, they can tell your mood before you know yourself. Any one can learn to hack, feeling at one with your horse over jumps something else. That is what is missing, all those kids from the Pony clubs are not there now learning the craft from the bottom up, well not in our area, once it was a pony now it is an I-phone. Watching those same old faces trying for medals to me is a turn off.

    Frank/Dad. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    I know what you mean Frank/Dad - it's a different world now, but there are loads of people who can compete at a very minor level - we do a lot of rosettes for Pony Clubs here. We had a nice letter and photo from one today, because we give them rosettes when they qualify for Wembley (HOYS) -  they use them for the table at the dinner before the event. The issue is at the highest level rather than at basic level unfortunately. image

    John Whitaker's horse isn't really ready for that level yet, it was only his (John's) massive experience that got him that far. It shows that we haven't got anyone else quite good enough if we're sending horses who shouldn't really be there. It's a great pity. That horse will be fine though - his confidence will be back after a few more rounds at a suitable level. It reminds of a comment made when he was winning everything with Milton. Someone said 'isn't John lucky to have found Milton'. Another, wiser, expert said 'no - isn't Milton lucky to have found John Whitaker'.  Quite so.  image

    That's lovely chicky. One of the girls who got a young horse from us and competed at National level with him, was a member of the British hockey team at the Olympics back in the 80s.  Rhona Simpson - really nice girl. She was very friendly with my employer's girls as they all competed (show jumping) at the same time - they were the same ages.  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,042

    It all seems to have got so expensive. When my sister and I were young we lived next door to a farm and were lucky enough to have a scruffy native pony each. We adored them and hacked to local shows for jumping and gymkhana events, quite far sometimes, couldn't afford transport. To start with we shared a saddle and had to swap between events! Dad said he couldn't afford 2 saddles that year. We rode bareback quite a lot, which was very good for our balance. We played all sorts of games in the paddock, like being stunt men, circus riders and Red Indians.

    Do children still do that sort of thing? Once when staying in England with my sister I went to a Pony Club test day to watch her step granddaughter riding. Most of the children arrived with posh cars and trailers and very showy looking ponies.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Yeeaaahhh, more medals.

    Well done to the Brownlees. I am sure they are very grateful for the coaching they have received!image

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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