They do Liz - but horses are expensive nowadays in their management - in all sorts of ways. They're sore on ground, labour intensive, and food, vet bills, shoeing and bedding are all pricey-. Having horses yourself - you know that too. The good thing is that there's room for everyone. Farmer's kids will still have a pony and do unaffiliated shows. It's just that reaching the highest level requires a lot of money - no lottery funding for equestrian events (perhaps a very minor thing here and there) despite what people think. We don't have the breeding programmes that the Dutch and Germans have had since the eighties either. It's predominantly wealthy, private owners who buy horses for good riders to compete on. It would be hard to blame them for selling if they get a ludicrous offer - that horse could break a leg the next day....
Easy to replace a piece of 'inanimate' equipment - can't replace a Grand Prix or Olympic horse so readily
doc - those Brownlee boys are pretty special. All those hills and good, clean Yorkshire air eh?
and a work ethic that would likely cripple most of us!
So many others have been brilliant - the two lads in the badminton (or bee twatting as it's now called in this house) are magic. I loved the interview they did when they said it was down to sheer hard work, as they didn't think they were technically that great compared to others. That's a tremendous message to send to youngsters
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I spend more on my dog than on a horse, living in France! They aren't shod, tough hooves, I have a friend who is a qualified foot trimmer, farmer next door sells me hay a quarter the price of English hay, rarely need the vet. They live out all year round, with rugs in winter. But I know that horse athletes cost a lot. Just don't want people to think I'm wealthy!
Hardly watched any Olympics today, been shopping and tidying up for my Charity BBQ on Saturday.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
You're right of course - personal circumstances and requirements make all the difference to the costs involved. Horses for courses....
Hope the weather holds for you at the weekend. I'm hoping the forecast rubbish weather changes too - I want to get up to Fort Bill and do some of the Mamores. This week's lovely weather would have been perfect...
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Very impressed with the Brownlee brothers Pdoc
. What an achievement
Can't help yourself can you Verdun?
I don't think anyone wants to re-start the economic debate, especially on an Olympic thread.
/
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
They do Liz - but horses are expensive nowadays in their management - in all sorts of ways. They're sore on ground, labour intensive, and food, vet bills, shoeing and bedding are all pricey-. Having horses yourself - you know that too. The good thing is that there's room for everyone. Farmer's kids will still have a pony and do unaffiliated shows. It's just that reaching the highest level requires a lot of money - no lottery funding for equestrian events (perhaps a very minor thing here and there) despite what people think. We don't have the breeding programmes that the Dutch and Germans have had since the eighties either. It's predominantly wealthy, private owners who buy horses for good riders to compete on. It would be hard to blame them for selling if they get a ludicrous offer - that horse could break a leg the next day....
Easy to replace a piece of 'inanimate' equipment - can't replace a Grand Prix or Olympic horse so readily
doc - those Brownlee boys are pretty special. All those hills and good, clean Yorkshire air eh?
and a work ethic that would likely cripple most of us!
So many others have been brilliant - the two lads in the badminton (or bee twatting as it's now called in this house
) are magic. I loved the interview they did when they said it was down to sheer hard work, as they didn't think they were technically that great compared to others. That's a tremendous message to send to youngsters 
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
True Yorkshire grit.
Although only having lived here 25 years, I am still a tourist.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
doc
And surely Nicola Adams and young Tom and his budgie smugglers must be in with a shout
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I spend more on my dog than on a horse, living in France! They aren't shod, tough hooves, I have a friend who is a qualified foot trimmer, farmer next door sells me hay a quarter the price of English hay, rarely need the vet. They live out all year round, with rugs in winter. But I know that horse athletes cost a lot. Just don't want people to think I'm wealthy!
Hardly watched any Olympics today, been shopping and tidying up for my Charity BBQ on Saturday.
BL
You're right of course - personal circumstances and requirements make all the difference to the costs involved. Horses for courses....
Hope the weather holds for you at the weekend. I'm hoping the forecast rubbish weather changes too - I want to get up to Fort Bill and do some of the Mamores. This week's lovely weather would have been perfect...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...