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30 Nov 2008 20:10
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It didn't quite turn out as planned! I applaud Stewart Bunting and his team for their audacious plans to take this hybrid of eventing into the public domain, and for attracting some seriously big prize money (a welcome change for event riders). However, from where I was sitting, I think there were a number of oversights and errors of judgement which spoiled the day. First the going - yesterday the turf had been used for a rugby match and it looked thin on top and very slippery in places - a number of riders only just stayed upright. Then there was a full on show-jumping track at 1.3m which is a bit above 4 star level - fair enough for the £100K first prize but light and skinny poles made it difficult to judge, a quick change and onto the cross country section which was fast and furious with, what looked like, some dodgy (unintended, I'm sure) horse illusions, the double of corners and the banks, in particular. Coupled with extra stimulation in the form of noise, lights, and brighly coloured (unoccupied) seats to within feet of some jumps, I really think it was a dangerous overkill for horses (possibly riders too, a number of whom got lost). Borne out by only 6 finishers from an invited world class field and one serious horse accident which proved fatal!
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Nikki C
30 Nov 2008 20:27
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I am undecided about the event. There was much to enjoy – the opportunity to see everything in a fantastic setting and the fact that people were willing to put in the effort to try something new. Perhaps ‘new’ and ‘different’ are the key words here – it was a new and different sport and the fact that there were only six finishers means that it was not traditional eventing. Do not forget that many of the non-finishers were due to the fact that many riders could not actually remember their way around the course!
Things I did not enjoy included the fact that there were insufficient food outlets – and by the time I had queued for food there was nothing left that I wanted to eat or drink! Not only that, I had the pleasure (?) of sitting in front of someone who spent the afternoon saying in a loud and irritating voice how she had jumped bigger/better and how she would tackle every fence.
I do not think that the show jumping was too high – after all the first prize was £100,000, compared to Badminton’s £60,000. The competitors were the best eventers in the world and as such should have been more than capable of riding to the ground conditions and the course. No one expected it to be easy – perhaps better ridden at times though!
And I almost forgot - congratulations to Vittoria for a superb performance
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rachyrooster
01 Dec 2008 11:10
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I think the concept is an excellent idea. I thought the organisers did a grand job and making an interesting and stimulating course. I thought the dressage to music was most enjoyable and the show jumping fair, considering the prize money and that it was top riders were going round. The pit stop box was just hilarious, it was a bit like, world class eventing meets pony club fancy dress race! Quite bizarre but entertaining. Of course the chaos started on the cross country phase. Both horses and riders seamed completely over whelmed. The jump I really didn’t like was the bank. It looked like a plywood wall jump, how were horses meant to figure out that they were to land on it? (especially as the top was rounded so they couldn’t have seen the full width) And I’m sure that I wasn’t the only one who was horrified to see the corner was not solid, who would have thought that if you present a horse with a new jump with sand on the top that they think they jump over, but they land on top of- that they would see another sand-topped jump directly after it and want to land on that too?!?!
Of course it was not that element that lead to Call Again Caviller’s fall. A very sad loss. My heart goes out to all who were involved with that magnificent horse.
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nickinoo
01 Dec 2008 11:44
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I was very excited about going to the express eventing yesterday. I really enjoyed the dressage to music, in particular Oli Townends and Vittoria Pannizon.
The jumping was totally confusing and the pit stop was ridiculous and confusing for the horse. I felt the xc was a question too far with very challenging fences so close together, no time for the horses to think about what they were doing and some visibly did not enjoy it. I think the course was punishing for the horses and the riders did not have enough time to get to grips with it properly. They'd have 4 days to walk a 4*, they had only a few minutes yesterday. It was a pleasure to watch the ones go round well but it was obviously too much when only 6 completed out of the best riders in Europe at the moment. What happened to Mary was a complete tragedy and I honestly can say I haven't seen anything as awful. Staff appeared to handle it very well but I couldn't watch and left walking past several people and children in tears. I feel awful for all the connections to the horse.
I applaud the organisers for trying to do something new but I think it was not thought out properly with tragic consequences.
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Vittoria Panizzon
02 Dec 2008 02:58
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Firstly thank you very much to everyone!
Secondly my opinion may be a little biased as Bug is such a superstar and finds everything easy! He just loved it! A cheering crowd and XC jumps in a stadium.. much more fun than just SJ!
I feel I benefited from the competition: I raised my game for the dressage, mastered canter pirouettes and managed to survive loud music.
I learned from my mistakes in the Show Jumping, it was certainly not too big for horses of such a calibre, the main problem other than a pressurised atmosphere was the very thin light poles that I almost couldn't distinguish myself. Spectators must also consider that many of us were in XC tack and therefore the wrong bit - Bug's XC cherry roller running gag is strong and pretty heavy and may have weighed him down!
As for the XC my riding certainly benefited, the pressure made me attack fences positively and not take unnecessary pulls that I sometimes can't resist, I felt I was able to get a great rythm despite the limited space as the big loops spaced out the fences. It is one of the XCs I have most enjoyed with Bug whilst I was actually riding it. The brilliant supportive cheering was obviously a huge boost! I know some had trouble skidding, but Bug actually had no trouble at all, perhaps thanks to the big new studs Mel made me buy the day before! Other horses' action may have been less suited, but Bug does sometimes skid a bit at normal events. The surface seemed springy enough to jump off and not at all jarring. It was soft without breaking up.
The course shouldn't have resulted too technical, there were 4* horses tackling a 3* course with smaller dimentions, there would be no competition without any combinations and there were several rest fences. The unusual situation tackled out of season seems to lead to horses being confused by corners and skinnies, which certainly required accuracy but were not at all big, I do feel there should have been very simple alternatives with a penalty so horses could get round. I let Bug have a close look at all the fences during the familiarisation in the morning to reduce surprises. The first water was spooky, but easily tackled with a kick, which is what XC riding is about.
I also felt the stridings were unrealistic off the bank, most horses will take a shorter stride on landing, luckily Bug could bank the corner to make it over as he is so little.
The biggest problem with the event in my view was the lack of thorough explanations of everything to us riders, there was no time to get to grips with what was going on and be sure what I should do when. There was definitely not enough time to walk the course which is why so many got lost, it all comes up so quickly when riding, I needed more time to think about it all, particularly the SJ. The most unfortunate problem was the change of a SJ fence without warning leading to eliminations and confusion. These sort of problems can very easily be ironed out with better briefings and explanations. I would also be far better prepared a second time.
The pit stop was quite fun and the variations in kit and clothing were not an issue in the end. Separating XC and SJ would have made the whole competition take much longer and be less exciting.
It is most unfortunate that many of the eliminations were simply errors of course, a big waste, and it is a shame a few horses struggled to cope, however we were all aware this was a potential consequence. The riders invited took the risk because there was a lot of money and publicity on offer that are sorely needed. Riders need to know their horses well enough to know if they are versatile enough to be suitable. The ultimate event horse should perhaps be versatile? (or am I biased by my awesome fun pony club handy pony that will jump anything out hacking?)
Cavvi's terrible accident is incredibly saddening, I don't know what I'd do if something happened to Bug, but accidents do happen in eventing just not normally under thousands of eyes, but that was the downside of the incredible breathtaking viewing!
It will all run far more smoothly next time with less confusion leading to better results, riders will be better prepared and the sport will benefit from attracting a new audience with such a exciting format, although it should not take over from the original one, just enhance it! About time there was a decent prize on offer for all our expense and effort!
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03 Dec 2008 17:02
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I totally agree with the first comment, yet again a trusting and brave horse has died in the course of entertaining the public ! So sad.
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Timomarino
03 Dec 2008 17:23
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I too was at the Express Eventing on Sunday. I really enjoyed the competition and loved the fact that with Dressage to music I managed to watch 20 dressage tests back to back and could watch three disciplines from my seat. I think the riders are absolutely spot on with their constructive critism on thin fence poles, the lights etc I am sure Express Eventing will take note and learn from the experience. I think it is great that an event gives riders and owners an opportunity to win a decent sum of money for once, maybe Badminton and Burghley should increase their prize money considering I view riding round their courses far more dangerous (usually due to the weather). I was very saddened when I saw Mary and CAC fall - I know instantly that his leg had been severely injured and would most probably be put down, however riders and owners all know the risks, I lost my horse as a result of incompetency from a veterinary hospital, he was in extreme pain following a scoping for gastric ulcers (they tore his stomach lining allowing stomach juice to enter the bloodstream) and still the vets kept wanting to investigate even though we could all see there was no hope - next time I will be stronger to make my own opinion listened to save his suffering, losing my horse this way does make me think how sad an ending my horse had - had I been out hunting or eventing at least I could think he was out doing a job and loving every minute of it! My condolences go our to anyone who knew CAC. Accidents happen and I dont think Express Eventing should be blamed, all equestrian sports have risks, look how many race horses have heart attacks after they have raced and are back at the stables etc its just they are out of site which makes everyone ignorant of it.
Roll on the next express event!!!
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clement82
30 Jun 2009 19:26
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I enjoyed watching it on the tv, but the riders were the best-of-the-best and they should have been able to cope with it in my view. I also think that some of the accidents that occured were avoidable and certain riders should have been more careful!
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dressage4life
12 Aug 2009 22:31
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Such a shame that the first ever event was marred by such an unortunate string of events. I really loved the dressage to music, especialy Mary King's "phantom of the opera" music. People say that it was dangerous but at the end of the day, horses have accidents and slip ups at Badminton! Does that mean that Badminton should not run anymore?
RIP Cavvy, you really were one in a million. My sympathy goes out to mary and the horse's connections.
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