Firstly, this sport is a sport of time old tradition, I like the tradition and I like the fact that this sport is what is it, and they need to bring back the old formats.
Each and every rider, at Rolex Level, have been in this sport from BN to where they are. They've seen every single possible fence out there, and every single possible scenario out there - so by the time they get to 4*, they are fully aware of what they are getting into, when they walk into that Start Box.
Jim Wofford wrote a great article about rotational falls and the idea of making fences "breakable"
"Another suggested solution is to accept that hores and riders will make mistakes at obstacles and therefore to create "frangible" and "deformable" jumps. (These terms are FEI-speak for breakable obstacles) This has a superficial appeal, based on the instinctive desire to protect our horses from injury.
However, if we do that, we have to go all the way and make every obstacleon the course either frangible or deformable. Horses learn from experience. If they feel one or two obstacles break under them, they may make ess of an effort at the next fence. If this next fence is NOT breakable, the result may well be a fall.
In addition, the technology for frangible pins is not yet well developed. It is worth noting that the fence that caused 3 rotations falls at Rolex this year 2010 were mounted on frangible pins......which did not work. The subsequent explanation was that the pins are rated for 500lb rails, but the rails used in the construction of this jump were lighter. In addition, we are now told that the pins will work in certain types of rotational falls but not in other types.
This year's deformable obstacle (termed a "polylog") at fence 16, the Head of the Lake, was tested only once and broke under pressure. However, the reles regarding penalties for breaking obstacles are still in a state of flux. Currently, the ground jury may penalize a rider for breaking a deformable obstacle if, in its opinion, the damage was caused by dangerous riding. It may equaly decide to assess no penalty.
This leaves a great deal of discretion to the ground jury, making me think that the rule regarding deformable structures should be revisited. One of the best parts of our sport is that it is, for the most part, empirical. I would hate to see a future Olympic team medal determined by a ground jury's two-to-one vote that a certain contry's rider was "riding dangerously." FEI has a history of getting involved in controversy when its rules are not well written with specificity. The scandal ensuing from the sudden eliminations of McLain Ward and Sapphire at the FEI Show Jumping World Cup is only the most recent example of the dangers of this sort of rule.
I continue to believe that the safest andswer, however, does not lie with technology, but with our training methods. If we train our horses correclty, they will take care of themselves, and us in the bargain. And we must not forget what a stirring spectable Rolex is when a good horse and rider get it right on the day.
All of the worry and concern regarding the near-disasters cannot take away from William Fox-Pitt's superlative performance with Cool Mountain. William's horse was admittedly short of four-star experience, but William gave him such a cool, poised, professional ride that Cool Mountain becamse, as William said, "A very cool customer, indeed."
It was a special thrill for me watching this pair, they won it with an obvious reliance on sound, classical training principles."
I like how Jim Wofford talks about how the new short format has turned the emphasis on dressage, creating horses minds to lose their instinct to resport to their "fifth leg." and to beable to think their way out of tough spots and situations.
I think we need to go back to classical training and the classical way of Eventing, before this new fandangled short format came about. Take this sport back to where it belongs - I don't think we need these breakable fences, I think we need to go back to proper training, proper long formates and training our horses to beable to resort to their fifth legs, to beable to think for themselves.
Each and every rider, at Rolex Level, have been in this sport from BN to where they are. They've seen every single possible fence out there, and every single possible scenario out there - so by the time they get to 4*, they are fully aware of what they are getting into, when they walk into that Start Box.
Jim Wofford wrote a great article about rotational falls and the idea of making fences "breakable"
"Another suggested solution is to accept that hores and riders will make mistakes at obstacles and therefore to create "frangible" and "deformable" jumps. (These terms are FEI-speak for breakable obstacles) This has a superficial appeal, based on the instinctive desire to protect our horses from injury.
However, if we do that, we have to go all the way and make every obstacleon the course either frangible or deformable. Horses learn from experience. If they feel one or two obstacles break under them, they may make ess of an effort at the next fence. If this next fence is NOT breakable, the result may well be a fall.
In addition, the technology for frangible pins is not yet well developed. It is worth noting that the fence that caused 3 rotations falls at Rolex this year 2010 were mounted on frangible pins......which did not work. The subsequent explanation was that the pins are rated for 500lb rails, but the rails used in the construction of this jump were lighter. In addition, we are now told that the pins will work in certain types of rotational falls but not in other types.
This year's deformable obstacle (termed a "polylog") at fence 16, the Head of the Lake, was tested only once and broke under pressure. However, the reles regarding penalties for breaking obstacles are still in a state of flux. Currently, the ground jury may penalize a rider for breaking a deformable obstacle if, in its opinion, the damage was caused by dangerous riding. It may equaly decide to assess no penalty.
This leaves a great deal of discretion to the ground jury, making me think that the rule regarding deformable structures should be revisited. One of the best parts of our sport is that it is, for the most part, empirical. I would hate to see a future Olympic team medal determined by a ground jury's two-to-one vote that a certain contry's rider was "riding dangerously." FEI has a history of getting involved in controversy when its rules are not well written with specificity. The scandal ensuing from the sudden eliminations of McLain Ward and Sapphire at the FEI Show Jumping World Cup is only the most recent example of the dangers of this sort of rule.
I continue to believe that the safest andswer, however, does not lie with technology, but with our training methods. If we train our horses correclty, they will take care of themselves, and us in the bargain. And we must not forget what a stirring spectable Rolex is when a good horse and rider get it right on the day.
All of the worry and concern regarding the near-disasters cannot take away from William Fox-Pitt's superlative performance with Cool Mountain. William's horse was admittedly short of four-star experience, but William gave him such a cool, poised, professional ride that Cool Mountain becamse, as William said, "A very cool customer, indeed."
It was a special thrill for me watching this pair, they won it with an obvious reliance on sound, classical training principles."
I like how Jim Wofford talks about how the new short format has turned the emphasis on dressage, creating horses minds to lose their instinct to resport to their "fifth leg." and to beable to think their way out of tough spots and situations.
I think we need to go back to classical training and the classical way of Eventing, before this new fandangled short format came about. Take this sport back to where it belongs - I don't think we need these breakable fences, I think we need to go back to proper training, proper long formates and training our horses to beable to resort to their fifth legs, to beable to think for themselves.
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