YouTube - TSmith CHP #85




Had I been the TD, I probably would have sent the incident to the Ground Jury for consideration of a DR penalty. Not because I think the second attempt at the jump was dangerous because, the rider was balanced and the horse had appropriate impulsion. Rather, it's the rider's actions immediately after the stop that is cause for concern.

The rate of speed in which the rider backed the horse was quite dangerous. Had the horse reacted by going up with his front end, or had he slipped or tripped on some rough footing, both of them could have gone over backwards very quickly. True, the rider was balanced throughout, but dangerous riding isn't defined by a poorly balanced rider. It is defined by the rider putting the horse into a dangerous situation. By backing the horse as rapidly as she did, the rider definitely created a situation where she placed both the horse and herself in harm's way.

I'm also not totally convinced that this correction was all that good of a learning experience for the horse. Yes, it could be argued the horse learned that at no time is it appropriate to turn away from a fence. However, as an unintended consequence, the horse also may have learned that it should back away from the fence as quickly as possible if it stops in the future. In that instance, if the rider is unbalanced and thrown up the neck, chances are she will hit the dirt if the horse goes backwards as rapidly as it was asked to do in this situation.

There are instances when backing a horse in front of the jump is a good learning experience. Normally, however, this exercise is used in a schooling setting to teach horses not to rush their fences, the stop is initiated by the rider early enough to give the horse plenty of room to go forward to the jump without having to back up, and any backing that is necessary is done in a slow and gentle manner. In this situation, the horse was not rushing the fence, the rider did not initiate the stop, and the backing was far from gentle. In my mind, the rider used a good exercise, but executed it harshly and at an inappropriate time/place.

As a PC National Examiner, I have learned to accept different training methods and not impose my own in every situation.
I might not do this, but horse goes quietly forward and jumps well the second time.
It is a matter of opinion,
Geez, Eventing has changed in 33 years, not so much always for the better.

you could see from the way the horse traveled to the fence he was going to refuse. His head wasn't in the game. To me, it is much more dangerous to allow your horse to become unfocused in the first place than to correct him by backing. Although in this particular video, i can see the merits of backing the horse rapidly then taking the fence again over turning a circle or other options available. Eventing is, after all, a timed event.

Watch it again, very closely. The horse actually doesn't refuse until the loud Droid-sounding announcer starts her racket. He appeared to me to be calm and collected until the loud noise.
And afterward, he jumps calmly and very smooth. Didn't appear to have a problem with it to begin with.

I'd be having issues with that ANCR if I were this rider.

The rider doesn't seem to be pulling extremely hard, though could have been a little gentler. However I do have horses that will back SUPER QUICK as this one is, without any hard pulls. I use mostly leg when backing. This rider is clearly using his/hers to back as well as rein.

My opinion is that the horse and its rider doesn't have synchronization within themselves. Horse back off, doesn't just mean he was confuse but hesitate to do that lift since I was thinking the rider too has this doubts with his ride....no offense///

...er...exactly what now?? *scratches head*