USA Today 06/30/08: "Equestrian O'Connor riding with a heavy heart"

[JER]

"Equestrian O'Connor riding with a heavy heart" (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/2008-06-29-equestrian-oconnor_N.htm)

Very nice work by Janice Lloyd in today's USA Today. Don't miss the multimedia about preparing for competition (with video of KOC).

(I haven't seen the print ed but I hope there are some good photos.)

[ellebeaux]

What a heartbreaking story, her grief is palpable. The story made me cry all over again.

[SparklePlenty]

"....And near his training course, Teddy will stay.

"He's got the best view," Karen O'Connor said of the burial spot on top of a mountain on the farm's cross country course. "He's a king among kings."

Very kind and well written article. JER thanks for sharing..

[TBCollector]

Am I skimming over it or does the reporter call him "Teddy" throughout without ever referring to him as "Theodore O'Connor?"

[Ajierene]

I don't see him use the words 'Theodore O'Conner', but that could be because Karen never called him that in the interview. Does it matter?

[shea'smom]

Oh, geez. Bless her heart. I hope and pray she makes the team. Karen has always been such a great role model for our sport.

[asterix]

That was a really nice piece.
One quibble, though -- I wish they had had Karen wearing her approved helmet during the "close up" bits of the video -- she is clearly wearing it while jumping, but I assume they thought the hunt cap looked better. Would have been a better message to show her wearing the proper gear for what she was doing.

[Ajierene]

Yeah, she's jumping with the proper helmet, but when she's talking, she's wearing a hunt cap. In some of the shots you can see the hunt cap on one of the jump standards. She was probably switching for talking and jumping.

I agree, though - it would have been better to have the proper helmet on the entire time. If I had not read your post first, I would not have been looking for it and probably would have not noticed the different helmet while jumping and thought she was wearing her hunt cap the whole time.

[purplnurpl]

I can't find the link for the video.
I clicked on something but received only an annoying pop up.

where is it?

[LexInVA]

You have to click on the "How do Equestrians prepare for Olympics.." link. That will take you a multimedia page with graphics and vids but you have to cycle through the stuff to get to the vids.

[goobs]

So heartbreaking. The ache will go on for a long time. Like a piece of her soul is gone forever - and the ripple effect has reached all of us.

[Ginger]

"Theodorable"...... Teddy's people, you're never far from my thoughts. Wishing you growing strength and peace and gentle breezes on Teddy's aerie.

[mjedge808]

what a lovely article. I can't imagine Karen's loss. To have such a partner is rare, and to have that partnership propel you both to the very best of the sport is amazing. So horrible. It still doesn't seem real, even after more than a month.

[Got_Oldenburg?]

this started the tears for me:
"So my line for Mandiba is like the last line in The Devil Wears Prada where they say, 'You have some pretty big shoes to fill,' " O'Connor said. "My line is: 'You have some pretty little shoes to fill.' "

[poltroon]

What a heartbreaking story, her grief is palpable. The story made me cry all over again.

Me too. :cry:

[JER]

I saw the print ed (I'm on the road, only place I see USA Today) and it's the cover story for the sports section. Two nice photos -- one of KOC on Mandiba and another of KOC on Teddy in dressage.

The article doesn't call Teddy anything other than Teddy but then big-time sports stars don't need any explanation. Like Shaq or Tiger or Pele.

I highly recommend everybody click on 'recommend' (under the byline) for this article. USA Today does notice who reads what and ranks articles by popularity. This piece is a good one (despite the sadness of the Teddy story) and I'd like to see more good coverage like this.

[TBCollector]

I don't see him use the words 'Theodore O'Conner', but that could be because Karen never called him that in the interview. Does it matter?

Yeah, I think it matters. In stories about Big Brown he isn't exclusively referred to as BROWNIE.
How about the sheer coincidence (or kismet) of a horse named THEODORE O'CONNOR finding international fame with a rider named KAREN O'CONNOR? And the fact that he was so named before he got to her barn? I think it's pertinent.

[Ajierene]

I agree with JER. I think there is a difference - I have never/seen heard Big Brown's owner call him anything other than Big Brown.

I did not know Teddy had any other name when I first heard/saw about him in the Eventing world. It is likely that the interviewer never heard Karen use any other name and felt that using the name Teddy would give him the most recognition outside of the event world.

I did not know that Teddy had the name Theodore O'Connor before Karen started riding him and while it is an interesting piece of information, it was likely not relevant to the story. Newspaper writers only have so much space available to them, and he is focusing on the Olympics so that little story was destined to fall to the wayside.

Unfortunately not everything can be included in an article and while his full name would have been nice to use, to me it does not damage the integrity of the article. Everyone possible knows which horse is being discussed, which is the important part.

[TBCollector]

Big Brown's barn nickname is Brownie, much like Teddy's was...Teddy. You see the point I'm making. Please don't infer that I think the reporter should be hung for not using his registered name; I was just surprised to see it overlooked.
And Theodore O'Connor WAS Teddy's name for his entire career, which before Karen included going from training to advanced with Christan Trainor, a talented rider based in NC.

[LexInVA]

I just wish I had gotten to see that horse ride in person. Just once. If anything, all these recent events have reminded me just how many things I take for granted and what I'm missing out on in life.

[Gry2Yng]

That was a really nice piece.
One quibble, though -- I wish they had had Karen wearing her approved helmet during the "close up" bits of the video -- she is clearly wearing it while jumping, but I assume they thought the hunt cap looked better. Would have been a better message to show her wearing the proper gear for what she was doing.

Would you have been comfortable with her choice of headgear if she had been doing dressage in this piece as opposed to jumping? Just curious, not trying to start a helmet discussion.

[Ajierene]

Personally, Gry2Yng - I saw a picture Laine Ashker and Buck Davidson doing flatwork and was upset that they were not wearing a helmet. Not because I thought they would fall off at any minute, but because of the silent message it sends: All the greats do not need helmets on flat, so if you want to be great, you do not need a helmet.

Kind of like kids want to be like their favorite NFL star so they drink the same Gatorade he drinks.

Not that every kid will be running to toss their helmets during flatwork, just a safety message that I think needs to be sent - and who knows, even though they are great, something crazy might happen.

TBCollector - you seemed rather annoyed at the article for this aspect, though I did not mean for you to infer that I thought you wanted to crucify him. Look at your own typing, though - Big Brown is known as Big Brown. Theodore O'Connor is known as Teddy - the writer might not have even known his full name of Theodore O'Connor, though that would be poor research, in my opinion. He may have chosen to use Teddy because it was more recognizable and likely not being a horse person, there is a lot he would not think about. The story of Teddy's name is interesting, just not critical to the article, so left out (if he even knew it).

[Gry2Yng]

Personally, Gry2Yng - I saw a picture Laine Ashker and Buck Davidson doing flatwork and was upset that they were not wearing a helmet. Not because I thought they would fall off at any minute, but because of the silent message it sends: All the greats do not need helmets on flat, so if you want to be great, you do not need a helmet.

Kind of like kids want to be like their favorite NFL star so they drink the same Gatorade he drinks.


Maybe it is because I come from a generation in which helmets were an apparel item and often broke your nose when you fell with one on, but I don't look at a picture of an BNT without a helmet and think "They must be too good for a helmet." Honestly, I don't even notice headwear. On a typical day I watch riders do flat work with out any headwear. I watch some adults jump bare headed and some with approved helmets. I watch riders do flatwork in approved helmets. The only thing I concern myself with is what is on my head and that children are always wearing helmets. Again, not interested in starting a helmet discussion.

Kids need to understand the principle of "Do as I say not as I do" as this applies to much of life for those under 18/21. I would not expect everyone at my barn to wear an approved helmet so that my child has a good example. Nor would I expect Buck to ride his horse more slowly at a 4* just because other riders can't go as fast.

All said in good faith, please.

[Ajierene]

Kids need to understand the principle of "Do as I say not as I do" as this applies to much of life for those under 18/21. I would not expect everyone at my barn to wear an approved helmet so that my child has a good example. Nor would I expect Buck to ride his horse more slowly at a 4* just because other riders can't go as fast.

All said in good faith, please.

I understand where you are coming from - the days when you weren't required by law to wear seat belts in cars and somehow survived a childhood of riding bikes without helmets, kneepads and elbow pads.

I used to not wear a helmet - and have never fallen off while riding without a helmet. Then I moved to a new barn and noticed all the kids riding there and how they looked up to me (it is a backyard barn and I am the best rider there - the only one that really knows how to use leg...). The kids started talking about 'why do I need a helmet is she doesn't have one' and I realized one of them could seriously hurt themselves. I have been riding with a helmet ever since. This is where I am coming from - not being as safe as possible to set an example.

Speed at cross country is not a safety issue unless you are being reckless. Not wearing a helmet or your safety vest is a safety issue. It isn't about what adults notice, either, it is about what the young ones see. If they see Buck riding a horse out of control, they may be less likely to concentrate on control in cross country. If he is in control, the speed does not matter.

This is where you and I diverge - I do not believe in 'do as I say, not as I do'. I believe in 'lead by example'.

[Shrapnel]

Really nice article. I really hope Karen makes it on Mandiba.

[Gry2Yng]

I understand where you are coming from - the days when you weren't required by law to wear seat belts in cars and somehow survived a childhood of riding bikes without helmets, kneepads and elbow pads.

I used to not wear a helmet - and have never fallen off while riding without a helmet. Then I moved to a new barn and noticed all the kids riding there and how they looked up to me (it is a backyard barn and I am the best rider there - the only one that really knows how to use leg...). The kids started talking about 'why do I need a helmet is she doesn't have one' and I realized one of them could seriously hurt themselves. I have been riding with a helmet ever since. This is where I am coming from - not being as safe as possible to set an example.

Speed at cross country is not a safety issue unless you are being reckless. Not wearing a helmet or your safety vest is a safety issue. It isn't about what adults notice, either, it is about what the young ones see. If they see Buck riding a horse out of control, they may be less likely to concentrate on control in cross country. If he is in control, the speed does not matter.

This is where you and I diverge - I do not believe in 'do as I say, not as I do'. I believe in 'lead by example'.

I take no issue with your statements and commend you for leading by example. That is your choice. However, if Buck does not want to lead he doesn't have to. He is not responsible for teaching my child to wear a helmet, I am. I would of course be grateful to you if you set a safe example for my child were she riding at your barn. I would in no way expect you to do so. Does that make sense?

Edited to add, I also believe that we have crossed a line in this country whereby 12 year olds think they are entitled to the rights and privileges of adults. While I may ultimately fail, it is my intention that my daughter will understand that children ARE NOT adults. Thus the "do as I say" philosophy. Not because I don't want to be an example, but because children earn privileges when they demonstrate the ability to reason and act responsibly, not just by virtue of reaching a certain age. When my daughter is 16 she may or may not be allowed to ride preliminary. What other 16 year olds are doing is irrelevant. What other adults are doing, even if she rides better than they do, is even less relevant.

Apologies to all for hijacking this thread.

[Ajierene]

Gry2Yng - I understand what you are saying. It is the problem with a lot of professional athletes. They are more in the lime light so when they do something that appears unsafe or illegal people are condemning them for doing this - more so because their kids will see it than what the person is actually doing. Meanwhile the athlete is just trying to say - "dammit, we are just people! Quit holding us to this higher moral standard than you even hold yourself!"

You are correct, Buck is not responsible for teaching your child to wear a helmet, or anyone's child to wear a helmet other than his own kids.

[AM]

In the past, riders have said that photographers requested they not wear helmets with chin straps as it's very hard to see the rider's face in photographs.

[poltroon]

TBCollector - you seemed rather annoyed at the article for this aspect, though I did not mean for you to infer that I thought you wanted to crucify him. Look at your own typing, though - Big Brown is known as Big Brown. Theodore O'Connor is known as Teddy - the writer might not have even known his full name of Theodore O'Connor, though that would be poor research, in my opinion. He may have chosen to use Teddy because it was more recognizable and likely not being a horse person, there is a lot he would not think about. The story of Teddy's name is interesting, just not critical to the article, so left out (if he even knew it).

I always liked the way certain reporters would write ".... Theodore O'Connor (no relation) ..."

:D :cry:

[Jumphigh83]

At least referencing his "real" name would allow the non believers (joke!!) to look him up online and get more information on what a great horse he really was! Google "Teddy" and god knows WHAT you would pull up !!!!!:eek::eek::eek: Very nice tribute....not everyone "knows" Teddy the non equestrians could learn more about him for sure!

[TBCollector]

I always liked the way certain reporters would write ".... Theodore O'Connor (no relation) ..."

:D :cry:

I LOVE THAT!!!

[Ajierene]

I always liked the way certain reporters would write ".... Theodore O'Connor (no relation) ..."

:D :cry:

HA! Non-horse people are always a great source of amusement.

[MunchingonHay]

Teddy (lingerie) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

was up first followed by 3 more lingerie sites. LOL..


perhaps I should have typed O'Connor

But really people, I love the fact that Teddy was called by this name Teddy in the article. If you sat and talked with Karen or Max (which I have) they refer to him as Teddy never as theodore oconnor. It would be like calling your horse by his "show" name all the time too.

Honestly, I love the informal way the writer calls him Teddy, because that is how we all grew to love that little guy.

[Gunnar]

What a nice article! Brought back my tears! I was blessed to see Teddy "O" this year at Rolex and it is a moment I will hold dear forever!:cool: :sadsmile:

Hopefully Karen will make the team and ride for her Teddy Boy! :sadsmile:

[TeddyRocks]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ellebeaux
What a heartbreaking story, her grief is palpable. The story made me cry all over again.

Me too. :cry:

ME TOO...

[Carol Ames]

Good article, :yes:thanks! ;)I've it to many of my non, or no longer horse owning friends

[CookiePony]

I have been catching up reading my COTHs and her "Road to the Olympics" interview is pretty heartwrenching, too. The photo with the article (and on the magazine homepage) is really sweet.