Former racehorses in the Olympics at SHA TIN!!!

[Antitrust32]

14 people dying is 14 people dying no matter how you look at it.

My good friend in Ireland grew up around horses, loved fox hunting. she broke her back a couple years back.

Like I said before, my friend from college was a top show jump rider, she's paralyzed from the waist down.

I know it sounds horribly insensitive, but if it was 14 horse deaths it really wouldn't bother me. But 14 people is a different story for me.

I'm not calling for this sport to end by no means. I just think it would be insanely irresponsible for a parent to let their child get involved in eventing.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

14 people dying is 14 people dying no matter how you look at it.

I'm not calling for this sport to end by no means. I just think it would be insanely irresponsible for a parent to let their child get involved in eventing.

Or serious Little League baseball as a pitcher? Football? Gymnastics? Swimming? Skateboarding? Skiing? Motocross? Let a 12-year-old drive an ATV? (which I think is a national sport in Kentucky)

Obviously some sports have markedly more physical danger than others, riding horses certainly is one of them.

But - many parents haven't got a clue what's going on. Susie is 10, and this week after watching equestrian on TV, tells Mom and Dad she loves horses, and wants to, "grow up to be an Olympic rider".

Dad has lots of money, so next week Susie is at her first riding lesson, two months from now Susie owns a horse, and three years from now Susie is competing with two very fancy new horses at a level that she really has been rushed to.

If her first trainer was sensible and old school - and doesn't let Susie ride over her head or her horses abilities - the parents yank the kid from that trainer, complain they've wasted $500,000, and go to another trainer willing to say, "No problem! We'll put you on the national scene and Susie will win!"

That's an accident certainly waiting to happen. No letting Susie's natural "talent" and years of practice as a rider dictate if she's top caliber - you can buy your way into it.

It's not just the essential inherent nature of the sport, to which yes, danger is a concern - it's also the people participating, and perhaps to a far greater extent, as they control the rules of the sport. What happened to roads and tracks? Steeplechase? Why won't they pass more restrictive qualifying initiatives?

Because people want it now, and they feel they "deserve" to compete at certain levels, whether they or their horse are fully prepared for it or not. Not earn it by ability and years of work. And no matter how many safety initiatives happen in the sport (helmets, vests, vet checks, changing jumps, etc) humans will still be there.

[Sightseek]

Good posts Riot.


I didn't see the pre-qual and Oxygen only showed part of the Individuals yesterday, but did anyone else fall in love with Ravel? What a beauty! I wish I got a chance to see more of the dressage, but Show Jumping is tonight!

[FGFan]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Good posts Riot.


I didn't see the pre-qual and Oxygen only showed part of the Individuals yesterday, but did anyone else fall in love with Ravel? What a beauty! I wish I got a chance to see more of the dressage, but Show Jumping is tonight!

Yes...ohhhh, ahhhh, Ravel was beautiful and did so well for his first time big int'l competition. I didn't catch all of it either. I wish oxygen would put them on first like they did in the beginning.

Trusty....I feel for you....are you going to let your kids out of the house at all?????
What about public school...yikes!!!

I see your points, but mostly agree with Riot. Geez, you can just let your kid out to play and something bad might happen. But as always in sports changes do need to be made to protect both the animal and the human.
Did you see the guy that broke his arm weightlifting...gross!!

Now the 4 wheelers...yup got to get these kids off of them. I call the sheriff dept about once a week to come get these kids recklessly FLYING up and down the road and tearing up people's private property. The odd thing is the parents are the ones that let them do it and think I'm a bi-otch for complaing, although I am a bi-otch...
But then again the parents I speak of well...their family tree is really just a stump in the ground..living by rednecks don't ya know...

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Riot

Or serious Little League baseball as a pitcher? Football? Gymnastics? Swimming? Skateboarding? Skiing? Motocross? Let a 12-year-old drive an ATV? (which I think is a national sport in Kentucky)

Obviously some sports have markedly more physical danger than others, riding horses certainly is one of them.

But - many parents haven't got a clue what's going on. Susie is 10, and this week after watching equestrian on TV, tells Mom and Dad she loves horses, and wants to, "grow up to be an Olympic rider".

Dad has lots of money, so next week Susie is at her first riding lesson, two months from now Susie owns a horse, and three years from now Susie is competing with two very fancy new horses at a level that she really has been rushed to.

If her first trainer was sensible and old school - and doesn't let Susie ride over her head or her horses abilities - the parents yank the kid from that trainer, complain they've wasted $500,000, and go to another trainer willing to say, "No problem! We'll put you on the national scene and Susie will win!"

That's an accident certainly waiting to happen. No letting Susie's natural "talent" and years of practice as a rider dictate if she's top caliber - you can buy your way into it.

It's not just the essential inherent nature of the sport, to which yes, danger is a concern - it's also the people participating, and perhaps to a far greater extent, as they control the rules of the sport. What happened to roads and tracks? Steeplechase? Why won't they pass more restrictive qualifying initiatives?

Because people want it now, and they feel they "deserve" to compete at certain levels, whether they or their horse are fully prepared for it or not. Not earn it by ability and years of work. And no matter how many safety initiatives happen in the sport (helmets, vests, vet checks, changing jumps, etc) humans will still be there.

good post can't argue that! You would think a parent would want to be well informed especially when dealing with a sport where one error could end your life (obviously worst case scenerio).

I just know I'm going to be really protective of my babies LOL.. Heck NO to the ATVs or motorcross... no dirt bikes or motorcycles! That is way more dangerous than horses.... know a few friends that lost younger brothers to 4 wheel accidents.

But I also feel that it should be illegal for people with children (especially young children) to ride motorcycles... so many people die from those accidents... your chance of survival is so small and even if you are a real careful driver... anything can happen. You cant risk not being there for your children! And I also think women who smoke cig's or drink when they are pregnant should go to jail. So I have some extreme views when it comes to some things! Just protective I guess!