Removed

[freestyle2music]

*

[canticle]

4th place? That's great, but who came in 1st? Isn't this a bit disrespectful to the person who actually won?

[Eventer13]

I don't want to make it sound like this kid can't ride- but how much does it matter that she's riding P&P? I mean, could *I* get on that pony and actually look good?

I'm sure this 11 yr. old is better than I'll ever be at dressage, but it seems like her mount is pretty darn nice.

[ise@ssl]

Power and Paint is just phenomenal. Congratulations to him and his very young rider.

[EqTrainer]

Congratulations to the *11 year old girl*. Hope she doesn't frequent COTH. Think we've been thru this before with the kids on the cover of Dover Catalog....

[canticle]

And congratulations to the kids who came in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Even though they don't have their own publicity machines to issue press releases, their accomplishments have not gone unnoticed!

[canticle]

CDI - Pony Riders - Preliminary Test

* 1. Deinhard - Sonke Rothenberger - 73.583 % (Germany)
* 2. Dornik B - Katharina Weychert - 70.417 % (Germany)
* 3. Centrum - Nanna Skodborg Merrald - 70.333 % (Denmark)
* 4. Power and Paint - Rachell Fokker - 69.833 % (Holland)

http://www.eurodressage.com/scores/2008/bonn.html

[YankeeLawyer]

4th place? That's great, but who came in 1st? Isn't this a bit disrespectful to the person who actually won?

Huh? I think it is nice to recognize that it isn't all about who got the blue. The rider who was 4th was ELEVEN years old, for God's sake.

[retrofit]

When I was eleven years old, I was hearing "UP down UP down" while I learned to post! Amazing.

[freestyle2music]

Huh? I think it is nice to recognize that it isn't all about who got the blue. The rider who was 4th was ELEVEN years old, for God's sake.

And since Power and Paint is a stallion, they had to ask special permission from the FEI to compete.

But here is the link to all results :

http://www.eurodressage.com/scores/2008/bonn.html

[canticle]

Huh? I think it is nice to recognize that it isn't all about who got the blue. The rider who was 4th was ELEVEN years old, for God's sake.
You're right, it's not all about who got the blue. It's really about what horse you rode. Must be nice to get treated like you're special just because you ride a famous horse.

I can't believe more people aren't upset by this press release. THREE people placed ahead of her, but they don't even get mentioned??? :eek: Generally you have dropped off the podium by the time you get to 4th place. Theo, does little Rachel happen to be your niece, or does she just share the same last name as your sister Inge? There is nothing wrong with boasting about your niece on this BB, but please don't disguise it as an official press release. It is very disrespectful, and it makes the sport of dressage look very stupid and unprofessional.

FINALLY:
Congratulations to Sonke, Katharina, Nanna, AND Rachel on your great rides!

[Ambrey]

You're right, it's not all about who got the blue. It's really about what horse you rode. Must be nice to get treated like you're special just because you ride a famous horse.

I seriously didn't think that was the point. I thought the point was that she was *11*

How old were the first 3?

[seeuatx]

Congrats to all the top 4.

But seriously.... She is ELEVEN. I know kids that age that have been riding for years, and it is all they can do to find the correct diagonal. An 11 yo to ride the FEI pony test to a score of 73% is a huge deal. I don't care who she was riding... big time horse or not, because she still had to *ride* it, didn't she? It is an awesome accomplishment for that kid. :yes:

[BoyleHeightsKid]

Congrats to all the top 4.

But seriously.... She is ELEVEN. I know kids that age that have been riding for years, and it is all they can do to find the correct diagonal. An 11 yo to ride the FEI pony test to a score of 73% is a huge deal. I don't care who she was riding... big time horse or not, because she still had to *ride* it, didn't she? It is an awesome accomplishment for that kid. :yes:

I agree...PP didn't go out there and perform the test by himself! Is it too hard to give the kid some kudo's canticle?

[YankeeLawyer]

You're right, it's not all about who got the blue. It's really about what horse you rode. Must be nice to get treated like you're special just because you ride a famous horse.


Perhaps I would take your posts more seriously if any of them weren't so bitter, cynical, and lacking in factual basis. And I am sure the three ponies that placed AHEAD of the "famous horse" were garbage. Right.

[Sabine]

I seriously didn't think that was the point. I thought the point was that she was *11*

How old were the first 3?

Thank you Ambrey for having the best 'down to earth' attitude...not sure why it's such a big deal- but ELEVEN is really young to be riding at this level and a STALLION!!

comeon ladies- let's be less acidic and more kind- if it was your daughter, niece , grandchild- you'd be taking out an ad in the ...(whereever you live) TIMES....

Smile - relax- and big congrats to the little lady- who will undoubtedly be just full of herself shortly...LOL!!!

[Tiki]

The 3 who scored above her are very experienced. Sonnke is at the top all the time - for years!! It is incredible that an 11yo can go in the ring on a stallion and even be placed in a CDI!

[hluing]

Congrats to all...that is a who'w who list of talented ponies. Yummm!

[SapeloApp]

When I was eleven years old, I was hearing "UP down UP down" while I learned to post! Amazing.

And at 11 I was saying, "But Daddy! I NEED a pony!" and hearing, "You do NOT *need* a pony!" (He was wrong, of course.)

But... are we perhaps witnessing the budding of the next Anky? That would be pretty neat, huh? And, if she's as full of herself as many of the DQ's in training here stateside, I thank the good powers that be that she's not MY child as I don't deal well with the sanctimonious 11-year-old's of any age. And I think it's astonishing good fortune for this child that she 1) did well on ANY horse, and 2) has a supportive "fan club" of some type. This is just neat. And she took 4th against some hefty competition... Good job all the way around, I'd say.

Candace

[Brookes]

Great job to the little munchkins, both of them! What a wonderful accomplishment, she must of worked very hard! Although as others have mentioned at 11 I was doing the up down too! Hopefully she will continue to ride and progress and we will be able to watch this little star throughout her career.

Oh and Canticle, seriously take a freakin pill will ya.

[canticle]

The 3 who scored above her are very experienced. Sonnke is at the top all the time - for years!! It is incredible that an 11yo can go in the ring on a stallion and even be placed in a CDI!
They may be experienced, but that doesn't mean they didn't earn their placings. Why is everyone so against congratulating them? I'm sure Theo's niece is a great little rider, but the competition was filled with great riders. Those who placed ahead of her should not be marginalized just because we feel Rachel is "special."

[Dune]

Hey, Theo, congrats on your niece doing so well. Next time, just tell us it's an uncle's brag thread and more of us will hop on the bandwagon more quickly to congratulate. :yes: Now you need to post a video!!!!:cool:

[Horsepower]

Congratulations on the 4th place scoring. That is awesome for an 11 year old. I'd love to see a video also.

[Ajierene]

At 11, I hadn't even started riding yet. It's great that she did this, but I worry....


Is she going to grow up thinking she's the best thing since sliced bread?

Is she going to be unhappy because as she gets closer to adulthood she doesn't want to ride as much and hang out with her friends more, but feels pressured to compete?

Personally, in any sport, I don't think there should be international competitions, or even state competitions - kids are not given time to just be kids when they are spending all their time preparing for competition. Yeah, some do love it, but some don't and that's what worries me.

Congrats on her score, her placing and congrats to the kids that beat her all the same.

[TropicalStorm]

Hey, who cares whether or not she got a fantastic horse? She still would have had to ride it well for him to go so nicely.
She's still only 11, and did an amazing job.

And also, congrats to the top 3, of course :)

[YankeeLawyer]

At 11, I hadn't even started riding yet. It's great that she did this, but I worry....


Is she going to grow up thinking she's the best thing since sliced bread?

Is she going to be unhappy because as she gets closer to adulthood she doesn't want to ride as much and hang out with her friends more, but feels pressured to compete?

Personally, in any sport, I don't think there should be international competitions, or even state competitions - kids are not given time to just be kids when they are spending all their time preparing for competition. Yeah, some do love it, but some don't and that's what worries me.
.

I have been riding since I was 3 and at 11 was winning on the A circuit in junior hunters (NOT the same as Ms. Fokker's accomplishment, by any means, but I was competing at a decent level). I had a very intense training schedule throughout elementary and high school, and turned out fine, I think. I was a straight-A student and stayed out of trouble because I was always with my horses. At university, many of my classmates likewise had pursued some interest at a very high level from a young age.

Riding teaches kids about hard work, commitment, and sportsmanship, among other things. Many kids spend way too much time sitting around watching TV and playing video games. That is preferable how?

If kids are unhappy doing something, it is the parents that are to blame, not the availability of competitions. I don't see why competitions should be unavailable to those who do love it just because some *parents* need to get their priorities straight.

[Ambrey]

They may be experienced, but that doesn't mean they didn't earn their placings. Why is everyone so against congratulating them? I'm sure Theo's niece is a great little rider, but the competition was filled with great riders. Those who placed ahead of her should not be marginalized just because we feel Rachel is "special."

I don't have ANYTHING against congratulating them. I also don't have anything against recognizing the achievement of one so young who is doing so much.

Why do they have to be mutually exclusive??

[YankeeLawyer]

Why is everyone so against congratulating them? I'm sure Theo's niece is a great little rider, but the competition was filled with great riders. Those who placed ahead of her should not be marginalized just because we feel Rachel is "special."

NO ONE is against congratulating all the riders. Many have expressed disagreement with your attack on the OP on the basis that the thread congratulated an 11 year old for an unbelievable accomplishment. And I fail to see how lauding a fourth-placed finish marginalizes the top 3. Quite obviously, by pointing out that being FOURTH in that competition is a big deal, the OP acknowledges that rider was in excellent company. Otherwise, being 4th *behind* them would not be impressive.

In addition, there have been many threads here that congratulate one competitor on a top-six finish, without mentioning the others. Maybe it was because the poster bred the horse, or the horse made a comeback after injury, or there is some other factor that makes the placing remarkable. Here, the rider was 11. That is remarkable. This, however, is the first thread in which I have seen anyone express any kind of objection to the fact that one competitor was singled out for such congratulations.

[Equibrit]

I'm sure that, or better, is what Power and Paint's owners were hoping for when they bought the pony and his impressive record.

[Ajierene]

YankeeLawyer, you have a valid opinion. It does not decrease my worry much. Yeah, there are kids out there that turn out great, but there are those that do not. It is the parents, it is the friends, it is the coaches, it is the culture of the area.

I think when it is shown it is the culture of the area is when it bothers me the most. I just see so many kids - and not necessarily in equine sports - spending so much time and worry over a sport, competition - up at 4am for practice, two more hours of practice after school, by the time they get home and done homework, not in bed until 11 or later. Sports are great for learning how to work with a team. They are great for learning discipline and how set and work for goals - but it can go overboard and I see it going overboard more and more.

[YankeeLawyer]

- up at 4am for practice, two more hours of practice after school, by the time they get home and done homework, not in bed until 11 or later. Sports are great for learning how to work with a team. They are great for learning discipline and how set and work for goals - but it can go overboard and I see it going overboard more and more.

That was pretty much my schedule growing up. Except add 3 hours of training after school as well and an even later bedtime.

My point was not that abuses cannot occur; of course they can. I just do not agree that the solution is to ban these types of competitions.

[Ajierene]

You have a point - one extreme cannot be simply answered with another extreme...we'll see what happens if I ever get around to having kids.

Since I currently plan on being the perfect parent, I'm sure I'll be fine....right?

[YankeeLawyer]

You have a point - one extreme cannot be simply answered with another extreme...we'll see what happens if I ever get around to having kids.

Since I currently plan on being the perfect parent, I'm sure I'll be fine....right?

You'll be fine because you will have perfect children, making being a perfect parent inevitable ; ). At least, that would be my game plan! (and maybe explains why I have horses and stepkids so far instead!)

[Ajierene]

You'll be fine because you will have perfect children, making being a perfect parent inevitable ; ). At least, that would be my game plan! (and maybe explains why I have horses and stepkids so far instead!)

HA! I like the plan to have perfect kids.

I was talking to my sister-in-law about my parenting fears being at odds with my desire to have kids. We decided I would be the best Aunt ever! They would come see me...ride horses....have lots of sugar....then I would send them back...perfect plan!

[ise@ssl]

Wow great news for Der Feine Lord doing so well with his new rider. We now have 1 States Premium Mare by him and 3 fillies. The youngest is only 10 days old and shows the tremendous movement that he passes on to his foals.

He's lovely in person and I'm so happy for the Bockholt's who bred him - they also bred our GRP pony stallion Popeye!

[FleetwoodStarr]

When I was eleven I was galloping around bareback on crazy horses and getting dumped daily. It wasn't always pretty or impressive, but it was a lot of fun and built the base of my passion for the sport. I actually kind of feel bad for this little girl. Maybe she is ok with riding at such a mature level at her age, but most people that young riding higher levels of dressage that I've seen don't really seem to enjoy it much. Still, a wonderful accomplishment though.

[YankeeLawyer]

Wow great news for Der Feine Lord doing so well with his new rider. We now have 1 States Premium Mare by him and 3 fillies. The youngest is only 10 days old and shows the tremendous movement that he passes on to his foals.

He's lovely in person and I'm so happy for the Bockholt's who bred him - they also bred our GRP pony stallion Popeye!

Hey, that's cool! Congratulations!

[YankeeLawyer]

When I was eleven I was galloping around bareback on crazy horses and getting dumped daily. It wasn't always pretty or impressive, but it was a lot of fun and built the base of my passion for the sport. I actually kind of feel bad for this little girl. Maybe she is ok with riding at such a mature level at her age, but most people that young riding higher levels of dressage that I've seen don't really seem to enjoy it much. Still, a wonderful accomplishment though.

Seriously, you guys, there are a lot of people worthy of these kinds of sentiments long before anyone competing in dressage. Oh, those poor dressage kids. Get real! ; )

[FleetwoodStarr]

Seriously, you guys, there are a lot of people worthy of these kinds of sentiments long before anyone competing in dressage. Oh, those poor dressage kids. Get real! ; )

I don't quite understand what you're saying- I must be having a blonde moment:lol:

[YankeeLawyer]

I don't quite understand what you're saying- I must be having a blonde moment:lol:

What I am saying is, that before feeling sorry for these young athletes, there are a lot of other people who are truly less fortunate to worry about. I included the winky face to indicate that I do not mean to be snarky. It's just an observation.

[ShowjumpersUSA]

Wow! Great accomplishment for one so young. It's wonderful to see an eleven year old girl focused on something positive. She's obviously got a lot of natural talent, a good trainer and is fortunate, indeed, to have such a nice pony to ride.

I can't think of anything negative to say about the child or the pony... nor would I want to. She must have worked very hard to have reached the level she has. Good for her!

[FleetwoodStarr]

What I am saying is, that before feeling sorry for these young athletes, there are a lot of other people who are truly less fortunate to worry about. I included the winky face to indicate that I do not mean to be snarky. It's just an observation.

Thats a fair point- I think someone brought up a similar one in the other young rider thread about others less fortunate. Its not that I spend my nights worrying about those poor pony riders, I just wonder about it whenever I come across a situation like this.

[Equa]

Just because kids are riding dressage successfully at a "relatively" high level doesn't mean they aren't having fun tooling around bareback and jumping logs. I know my daughter was! Besides riding her own home-schooled pony, she was showing a leased 3rd level anglo arab and riding my FEI level horse. At 12 she rode PSG. And also rode in state championship mounted games on another 25 year old pony. So what? Now all she wants to do is be an eventer. Dammit.

[egontoast]

Nice accomplishment for a very young rider!

Since when did posts here have to be considered 'press releases" and cover everything that happened at a show or even to kids that don't show?

If you want all the scores, they are out there on the sites that publish these things. It's pretty funny that some people here are worrying about the other children who placed (not exactly crying in their milk, I expect!) and other people are worried about some kids jumping over logs in the backyard JUST because this is posted.

LIGHTEN UP! It's just a post on a bulletin board.

[freestyle2music]

Hey, Theo, congrats on your niece doing so well. Next time, just tell us it's an uncle's brag thread and more of us will hop on the bandwagon more quickly to congratulate. :yes: Now you need to post a video!!!!:cool:

Hey Dune,

This is not my niece, it's no family of me at all.

The only thing I love seeing is : that such a young girl is walking around with a breeding stallion like he was a puppy dog. And also that she can keep up with all these marvelous German ponies.

[Carol Ames]

isthere:confused:er a link?

[Carol Ames]

What can oy utell me about the pony?

[Carol Ames]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/149313.htm did (http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/149313.html) this ever get investigated?

[Kimberlee]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/149313.htm did (http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/149313.html) this ever get investigated?

Same pony, but go find the other threads if you want the answer to your question. That is a whole other can of worms.

[ise@ssl]

Actually if you go on UTube - and type in Power and Paint - there should be a video of him practicing a keur with his former rider.

[Equibrit]

When I was eleven I was galloping around bareback on crazy horses and getting dumped daily.


Is there some way that you know this kid doesn't do that also?

[Discobold]

Theo, first, congratulations to the 11 y/o. That is an amazing achievement :)

Second, why did you remove your post? There are a few loud idiots on this board but they don't speak from everyone. Not at all. Geez, you gotta just ignore the idiots.

[Dune]

Hey Dune,

This is not my niece, it's no family of me at all.

The only thing I love seeing is : that such a young girl is walking around with a breeding stallion like he was a puppy dog. And also that she can keep up with all these marvelous German ponies.


OH, sorry. A couple of people inferred that and since you did not correct them, I thought that it was the case. NO big deal either way, even if you had been related, who cares? We are all allowed a brag here and there, I think we just didn't understand why this specific girl was singled out by you. Now you've made it clear and I absolutely agree. What a little doll and what a super little stallion. I've always thought he was great! Thanks for sharing, but I wish you had not removed your original post due to just a few rude posters and a video is in order. :winkgrin::yes::D

[Coreene]

Hey Dune,

This is not my niece, it's no family of me at all.

The only thing I love seeing is : that such a young girl is walking around with a breeding stallion like he was a puppy dog. And also that she can keep up with all these marvelous German ponies.Amen, brother. And people, take note, Dutch and German pony kids, juniors and young riders are going to be the ones on Olympic, World Cup and World Championship podium in the future. Because many of them are riding better at age 15 than people riding in FEI classes here. ;)

[Dressage Art]

why did you remove your post? There are a few loud idiots on this board but they don't speak from everyone. Not at all. Geez, you gotta just ignore the idiots.

My guess would be that it's an 11 year old kid who may find it difficult to "ignore loud idiots" even on BB.

[fiona]

Kinda tough to find out the tiny dressage world is full of spite and vitriol at that age.

I'm impressed by her theo, pass on the congratulations. Top result.

[FleetwoodStarr]

The only thing I love seeing is : that such a young girl is walking around with a breeding stallion like he was a puppy dog. And also that she can keep up with all these marvelous German ponies.

That sound very sweet, and is the point I tried to make- perhaps some dressage people are too cynical to be sentimental? Anyways, I don't know why the word spiteful is being thrown around. I don't think anyone has been spiteful, some people wanted to know why she got the attention over the people who placed better and I commented on the stress for such a young girl, finishing my first post with a congratulations to her. To ride at that level at such a young age makes me think that she is an incredible talent and has dedication.

[SerenaGinger]

And since Power and Paint is a stallion, they had to ask special permission from the FEI to compete.

Being that she is only 11 years old, did she also have to get permission herself to compete? I thought JRs and pony riders started at age 12?

[FleetwoodStarr]

Being that she is only 11 years old, did she also have to get permission herself to compete? I thought JRs and pony riders started at age 12?

A rider's age is the age that they turn during a calender year. If she was to turn twelve in december, she will spend the entire season showing as an eleven year old although the FEI says she is twelve.

[slc2]

Most of the time the kids who place are older than 11. I think most people in the USA are so unfamiliar with the pony dressage world in europe that they don't quite understand the significance of this news. An eleven year old doing this well, even on a well trained pony, is FANTASTIC.

It's very sad that Americans don't as a whole 'get' this idea of kids learning to ride dressage early on, on well trained horses.

We give a ton of lip service here in the USA to the idea of getting lessons and riding educated horses, but when it comes right down to it, we seem to feel it's 'cheating' or 'buying your way in' if anyone rides such a horse at a show.

We seem to highly resent anyone, adult, even CHILDREN, who get to ride educated horses and then have successes in competitions. Adults who buy educated horses are routinely, regularly trashed here.

Now we can start on the kids, I guess.

Sadly, we also seem to think that anyone who is successful in competition isn't 'having fun', isn't 'getting out of the sandbox', isn't 'loving their horse'.

It's a very sad kind of twisted way of looking at developing riders. Anything that works, we just automatically trash if it wasn't our country, our region, or our neighbor, or more to the point us as individuals, who succeeded.

Most European trainers seem to include at least some outdoor riding; an article in Practical Horseman some years ago portrayed two American 2nd level Amateurs going to Holland for a few weeks for lessons, being absolutely appalled when they were hauled to a nature preserve to work their horses out on the trails. These were young horses and they were not exactly walking around on a loose rein like trail horses. It was a fairly 'up' ride!

So who says the successful horses and riders aren't out there having fun, or aren't capable enough to ride out or have a little rodeo.

In fact, I think the deep correct seat makes it POSSIBLE for them to enjoy active riding and feel secure and comfortable.

I had a really top young rider ride my horse once. The horse bucked, another horse kicked at him, my horse spooked and ran off - the young rider CLEARLY was having a riot and was VERY capable of sticking with the horse. She obviously loved to go for a good gallop and was very, very able to ride the horse outside anyplace. It was very clear that her background involved a lot of galloping, riding outside, and she felt it was extremely important for horses and riders to do so.

We seem to have an incredibly strange way of viewing successful riders. We have to find fault with anyone who is successful, instead of perking up our ears and learning from them.

It's bizarre....and then I suppose many Americans actually wonder why we don't send a horse to Verden, why we don't have a 'deeper' set of potential team riders to draw on, why we don't do even better than we are doing. Don't get me wrong, we are doing fantastic and I am proud of the super riders we have in the USA. But we'd have a lot MORE of them if people would just break out of this incredible brain paralysis that looks at what other people are doing and learns NOTHING from it.

[kkj]

I think it is awesome that she is only 11. This is just a young girl with obvious talent, drive, support and a nice pony.

Some people do push their kids too much, but the bigger problem in the US is the lazy video game addicted overweight unmotivated kids.

I have total respect for high achievers. I have little respect for couch potatoes or people who are sour grapes. What I see on this board is a lot of people who came from non-horsey families or who couldn't afford to ride or compete when they were kids. A lot of you as adults still don't have the $$ to do the sport the way you dream you could. A lot of you are cool with that and enjoy your horses as you can and appreciate what you have. Some of you still hold onto this jealously toward those who were more equine fortunate. Get over it. You are a grown up now. Don't go off on some 11 year old or project your disappointments, shortcomings or bitterness on an innocent girl. This girl and Theo do not deserve such BS.

[slc2]

what she said.

[sm]

This girl and Theo do not deserve such BS.

Many congrats to the young rider AND Power and Paint, what a wonderful partnership. And it should come as no surprise that breeders really do breed superb riding ponies.

But that Theo does not deserve such BS, are you sure?

Theo started an entire thread about an american who removed his/her dressage video from YouTube because of critism of the ride (I guess rider worked very hard to get to that level and thought there would be encouragement and compliments) -- Theo complained loudly about american riders being too thin-skinned and whiney... started an entire thread on this BB to bash a rider for simply removing a video!!!

Theo, I'm assuming you are not "thin skinned" and have taken no offense to comments/observations made here?

[Trixie]

Congratulations to a very young rider on such an accomplishment.

To a lot of you, you are really friggin unbelievable. How absolutely disappointing to see such snark over a child's accomplishment.

[TwinCity]

Theo, I'm assuming you are not "thin skinned" and have taken no offense to comments/observations made here?

I dunno, perhaps the 11 year old might have?

[sm]

TwinCity, you so completely missed my point. It had to do with a deserving Theo who can, and does, dish rude comments out to others readily enough. BTW, the Mod removed Theo's OP, read the reason: name calling. I do stand by what I wrote in my last post regarding Theo, if you care to read for comprehension.

Here are photos of the Junior Young Rider Classes, also shows another great young competitor winning with three ponies http://www.eurodressage.com/reports/shows/2008/08bonn/photoreport.html

Sönke Rothenberger competed three times and won all three classes: with Deinhard B in the international pony tour, with Wolke Sieben in the Juniors tour, with Wimbledon in the national pony tour.

I don't know the ages of the competitors, not finding that posted... but Lena Rom on Penelope B, how cute is that photo. There must be some future Olympians there!