Blenheim!

[roki143]

Looks like all the North American horses made it thru jogs... only one withdrawn horse from Japan (after he was sent to the hold).

Any idea where we can find ride times? I can't seem to navigate the Blenheim site well enough to find them...

[Regal Grace]

It's a mystery to me but here are blogs that hopefully will be updated during Blenheim. They were great during Burghley along with the info provided by Horse and Hound on XC and SJ days:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/288982.html


Stephanie James, Jessica Hampf's groom (Canadian competing at Bleinheim but they are with the Burghley team): http://www.stephsbigadventures.blogspot.com/

Allison Springer Blog: http://allisonspringer.com/live/

Alex Huan Blog (rides for China and trains with Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks)
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/289004.html

[raave05]

maybe this was covered in an earlier thread, but is it weird that allison springer is doing blenheim a week after getting eliminated at burghley. seems like they got a good bit around burghley, so its not like they didn't get a run in last weekend.

seems like this would have been unheard of in the long format days, but is it really all that good for the horse in the short format?

[LisaB]

Most folks enter in a **** and a ***. If the **** bombs, they are in for the ***. She didn't get around that far into the course and didn't have to do sj the next day. It's not like she didn't pass the jog on Sun or anything.

[Regal Grace]

Most folks enter in a **** and a ***. If the **** bombs, they are in for the ***. She didn't get around that far into the course and didn't have to do sj the next day. It's not like she didn't pass the jog on Sun or anything.


Also other riders that retired at Burghley have gone onto Blenheim as well....for instance:

Daisy Dick and Spring Along and JP Sheffield and Crown Consort. As the Eventing season is coming to an end, I think the riders want to end on a positive note and here's wishing horse and rider do ; )

[Jealoushe]

Also other riders that retired at Burghley have gone onto Blenheim as well....for instance:

Daisy Dick and Spring Along and JP Sheffield and Crown Consort. As the Eventing season is coming to an end, I think the riders want to end on a positive note and here's wishing horse and rider do ; )

Or they could enter a one day Horse Trial in a week or twos time.

I think it's a bit much too. Not just the actual riding part, but the whole travelling, competing atmosphere. Horses need a break!

[Megsabelle]

Gesundheit!

:D

[tle]

Or they could enter a one day Horse Trial in a week or twos time.

I think it's a bit much too. Not just the actual riding part, but the whole travelling, competing atmosphere. Horses need a break!


I dunno... I doubt they entered the 3* haphazardly. I know from reading her blog that Allison had all kinds of vets check Arthur over before committing to Blenheim. Yes even part of a 4* XC is nothing to sneeze at but it doesn't seem THAT out of line for this level horse. AFter all, it's not like they did R&T AND Steeplechase AND part of XC. ;-)

[Jealoushe]

I dunno... I doubt they entered the 3* haphazardly. I know from reading her blog that Allison had all kinds of vets check Arthur over before committing to Blenheim. Yes even part of a 4* XC is nothing to sneeze at but it doesn't seem THAT out of line for this level horse. AFter all, it's not like they did R&T AND Steeplechase AND part of XC. ;-)

Like I said Not just the actual riding part, but the whole travelling, competing atmosphere. Horses need a break!

I just find it kind of - oh I didn't have a good finish at that one so let's jump on the first chance I have to get out to another competition.

Don't these riders want to take time to analyze what went wrong, school, rebuild confidence and then head back out? Just seems all about the ribbons to me.

[Blugal]

Yes even part of a 4* XC is nothing to sneeze at but it doesn't seem THAT out of line for this level horse. AFter all, it's not like they did R&T AND Steeplechase AND part of XC. ;-)

I think this is part of what's wrong with eventing.

We are told that to do a "short format" requires the same amount of fitness as a "long format". I read that to mean that even without R&T and Steeplechase, doing a "short format" will take quite a bit out of a horse.

We do a study which checks recovery rates of "short format" and "long format" and doesn't find significant differences.

We do a speed study which shows horses having huge variances in speed (and the resultant effect on heart rates and respiration).

We notice an increase in the number of upper-level horses that are dying during or after upper-level XC from things like pulmonary and cardiac issues.

So why do we think it's a good idea for a horse to ship half way around the world, to do 3/4 of a 4-star XC, and the following week do a 3-star XC?

[fernie fox]

http://www.blenheim-horse.co.uk/page.asp?section=000100010014&sectionTitle=Competitor+Information

[roki143]

http://www.blenheim-horse.co.uk/page.asp?section=000100010014&sectionTitle=Competitor+Information

I believe that is everyone that entered... not that actually are going.

At least I hope since Diana Burnett and Manny are listed.

[GotSpots]

Before folks start casting stones without knowing the specific situation.

I can assure you that Arthur was looked over very carefully by fantastic vets, farriers, and has the best care imaginable, and had there been any concern, he wouldn't be going to Blenheim. He is very fit and strong, and I am sure that the decision was made that this was a good choice for him, taking into consideration the travel as well as his condition and how he looked coming off of the course. Allison is a consummate horseman and absolutely cares for these horses to the utmost.

Allison's one of the good guys in this sport. She develops her horses herself, she works her tail off to do so, and she cares passionately about the welfare of the horse, about teaching and helping students grow in their riding and helping them meet their goals, and about training and bringing along young horses. It is definitely NOT "about the ribbons" with her - in fact, I know she cares far more about how a horse went and how its feeling than how it placed. Folks talk about the kids with the will and the drive and the passion to develop in this sport -- Allison's that story! No one handed her anything - she found her horses (including ones that others had given up on, or who no one ever thought could do anything), developed them, trained them, brought them to the top, worked for top professionals to learn and grow, and even today continues to seek out experiences to expand her skills and horsemanship. I have owned horses for her and had my own horses with her for almost ten years now, and would (and do) trust her without question to do right by any of them - from the most baby-2 year old to my Advanced horse.

So, please, can we just cheer her on this week?

[nomeolvides]

Don't these riders want to take time to analyze what went wrong, school, rebuild confidence and then head back out? Just seems all about the ribbons to me.
I think that's rather presumptious and judgemental.

[Badger]

She didn't get around that far into the course

Actually, she got most of the way around the course and was eliminated at the Cascade (21 C), leaving one complex (the line of four jumps in the arena) and four individual fences (Jubilee Leap, Flower Frame, Lambert's Sofa, and the Land Rover Finale). Just clarifying.

[nomeolvides]

I believe that is everyone that entered... not that actually are going.
I just want to quote this to emphasise this point. Loads of those entered combinations will be withdrawing having done Burghley.

[retreadeventer]

Before folks start casting stones without knowing the specific situation.

I can assure you that Arthur was looked over very carefully by fantastic vets, farriers, and has the best care imaginable, and had there been any concern, he wouldn't be going to Blenheim. He is very fit and strong, and I am sure that the decision was made that this was a good choice for him, taking into consideration the travel as well as his condition and how he looked coming off of the course. Allison is a consummate horseman and absolutely cares for these horses to the utmost.

Allison's one of the good guys in this sport. She develops her horses herself, she works her tail off to do so, and she cares passionately about the welfare of the horse, about teaching and helping students grow in their riding and helping them meet their goals, and about training and bringing along young horses. It is definitely NOT "about the ribbons" with her - in fact, I know she cares far more about how a horse went and how its feeling than how it placed. Folks talk about the kids with the will and the drive and the passion to develop in this sport -- Allison's that story! No one handed her anything - she found her horses (including ones that others had given up on, or who no one ever thought could do anything), developed them, trained them, brought them to the top, worked for top professionals to learn and grow, and even today continues to seek out experiences to expand her skills and horsemanship. I have owned horses for her and had my own horses with her for almost ten years now, and would (and do) trust her without question to do right by any of them - from the most baby-2 year old to my Advanced horse.

So, please, can we just cheer her on this week?

Hear, hear!
See my post over on the Kids thread - the more negative WE are, the harder it is for our riders! They need our support, not our criticism!

[Jealoushe]

I think that's rather presumptious and judgemental.

oh ya?

What's the reasoning behind this then? Enlighten me.

I'm not pin pointing ONE rider, I'm talking about anyone who went out on cross at Burghley and is now entered and planning on competeing here. I don't care if the vet said the horse is fit enough to fly to the moon. It's my opinion that if you didn't get around Burghley successfully you should be taking time to analyze, school, etc.

So now riders who push their horses at back to back competitions without time in between to asses issues need our support. I can imagine what everyone would be saying if it were a rider they weren't a fan of.

What do I know, I give my horse a week off after having 2 pre-entry HTs in the same month.

[hookedoneventing]

Allison in the lead half way through Day 1 on a score of 36.9!!

[monstrpony]

I doubt the entry at Blenheim is a last minute decision. I bet many of these riders made the entry just in case something didn't go right at Burghley.

Personally, I think seeing back-to-back runs in competition is a side-effect of the change in format, and not one that thrills me. But I do see it as nothing more than how business is done in today's eventing world.

And, I'm confident that the horses are very, very, very carefully evaluated and that these decisions are not made lightly, so I'm comfortable with that aspect of it.

[Robby Johnson]

HOORAY for Allison!

I would also like to echo GotSpots sentiments. I personally witnessed - firsthand - Allison's process for deciding to go to Blenheim. Not only was it very pragmatic, it was passionately pragmatic from the perspective of her horse and his welfare. As we were chatting Sunday morning, just sitting at a table, and she was verbalizing I honestly just wanted to lean over the table and kiss her on the mouth for being so amazing.

Her horses are ALWAYS first.

[SaddleFitterVA]

While I may have rolled my eyes at the Brit-slamming comments in Allison's blog, I think it sounds, from her blog about why, like she has carefully considered which should be her last outting of the season. And, Blenheim won out over Fair Hill.

She sometimes teaches a friend at my farm and my friend loves her. Allison comes with excellent recommendations from everyone who knows her and her horsemanship.

Sometimes, maybe the rider does know the best course of action for that horse.

And, yay for her, being first place after dressage.

[nomeolvides]

oh ya?

What's the reasoning behind this then? Enlighten me.

I was mainly referring to this:

Just seems all about the ribbons to me.

You didn't single anyone out but it seemed like you were lumping everyone together. I may have misunderstood, though.

I was mainly thinking of Daisy Dick and Spring Along who had an unfortunate moment at fence 6 at Burghley and called it a day. That seemed more like a unfortunate error than some major serious issue that they need to work through.

[Jealoushe]

You didn't single anyone out but it seemed like you were lumping everyone together. I may have misunderstood, though.



Yes, I was lumping everyone together. Obviously, some horses had more of a competition run than others that didn't finish.

I hope all these posts about Allison aren't directed towards me - you don't have to convince me - I wasn't posting in regards to one person in particular.

[Blugal]

To clarify, my concern is more the "atmosphere in which decisions are made" rather than an individual decision.

I don't think Alison's decision was made in a vacuum - there are lots of factors. Such as:

1. her own experience & knowledge of her horse
2. the vets' opinions
3. what CMP thinks
4. how much money was spent (of her own and of the USET's) to get to Europe
5. her performance result(s) and what that means in terms of qualifications and future selection

etc.

BUT - if nobody is even allowed to question what is going on - a lack of independent thinking - I think that is almost more dangerous than running around a CMP-designed 4* course.

[tle]

I can certainly see where all of that would play into ANYONE's decision on "what to do next." They ARE valid factors. However...Here's hoping #1 and #2 VASTLY outweight #3 and #4.

[nomeolvides]

I hope all these posts about Allison aren't directed towards me - you don't have to convince me - I wasn't posting in regards to one person in particular.
And I assume this part of your post isn't directed at me seeing as I haven't mentioned her at all :)

[JanWeber]

Are scores posted anywhere?

[lizajane09]

Are scores posted anywhere?

http://www.bdwp.co.uk/cgi-bin/3d.pl?page=dr_res&fn=ble09.csv&sct=A

All the dressage that went today (first half) is up.