Possibly the worst riding I have ever seen

I haven't watched it all. But I already know what to expect. I ride with a girl who was on the Canadian Pentathlon Team. These riders are put on a strange horse. Given about 20 minutes to warm up and get an idea of what the horse is like then go.

So to the OP. Let me see you get on a strange horse you have never seen before and do better.

I do not in any way shape or form agree with posting videos of other riders to make fun of and talk about how "horrible" they are. Post your own videos and we will rip you apart and tell you how pathetic you are and how you shouldn't be allowed to jump.

As for this being the worse riding ever? Obviously you haven't been exposed to very much. And on that. I would love to see you do what these athletes do. I bet you would fall flat on your face before even getting to the second phase.

Yikes.
While not the absolute worst I've ever seen, it's up there as a giant "WTF" - the W standing for "why?!"
The horse at 29:30 was awful.. I've never seen a jumping technique quite like that.
I want to round up the whole lot and bring them to sell as Ammy horses here in North America - most of them were point and shoot saints that would do well with anyone with a lick of sense.

Yeah, you know so much more about riding than women competing in international competitions...because these women competing probably know NOTHING about riding. They just go around the world and try to fool people. Some of them even managed to fool their way into the Olympics...

Maybe you ought to LEARN instead of ASSUME.

Each additional year of riding - I'm at about 4.5 now - brings me new reasons for humility. And I suspect I will never be as GOOD a rider as those women are...

You know what though? It isn't fair to the horse. It isn't. Period. These women have minimal balance and their riding style leaves MUCH to be desired. I get it, they're athletes, and good on them - hell I admire them.. they're BRAVE! However, IMO they have no right to be getting on a horse and jumping that height when their ENTIRE style/knowledge base is "yank and go." When they have no more than just BASIC riding skills, if that.
They're brave, definitely. I'll give them that.

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good riders that can jump that level should be able to get on a horse and figure it out in 20 minutes or less and jump MUCH better than that.
I watched a video recently of George Morris getting on a horse at one of his clinics... after 30 seconds he popped over a 4' brush fence to a 4'+ vertical. Then asked them to raise both fences. I assure you he had a release and stayed with the horse.

I agree its not the best riding. And coming from a Pony Club background where I did national rallys, we had to get on horses we didn't know and go jump a course with no warm up time.

Is their style ideal? No. However it is very tacky to post a thread devoted to talking about how horrible these international level athletes ride.

I know you have been to shows with Grand Prix classes, and you know as well as I do that there is some pretty awful riding done there as well.

My entire riding "career" at this point in time is based on riding other peoples horses and showing them. I know darn well it is not easy. And I know darn well the first ride usually isn't ideal. But I don't claim to be George Morris, nor do these riders.

The horses are absolute saints. If it was up to me, I would change the rules from a maximum height of approximately 3'9" to no more than 2'. A 2' course would be safer and still be challenging enough for competition.

However, if you have correct horsemanship and riding technique, a new mount should not cause any issue.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th_SIAbYvDM



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUqh7bpOCaA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1q0HMu5cWk



There's a HUGE difference between riding a 3'6" hunter course and stadium or grand prix jumping and even puissance jumping.

I'll add a point some riders may not think about. Running is one of the events in this sport. Running and riding use different muscles. I took up riding after 40 years as a jogger, and one of the big challenges, even 4 years later, is that my hips are very tight. That is a protective reaction of my body to jogging, and helps explain why I've gone so long without injuries from running. But tight hips force you out of the saddle. It makes you bounce, because you cannot relax all the way into the saddle.

Most of these competitors are in their early 20s, and most come from a swimming or running background. They are NOT George Morris. They are competing in a world championship. Some of what I saw is defensive riding. Stirrups homed? If you aren't a specialist, that isn't a bad idea. You trade some effectiveness in jumping for some security.

My point is merely that they are obviously athletic, and they have undoubtedly received very good training to get to this level - in this particular sport. They may well be making compromises based on this particular sport. I make compromises all the time while riding, based on my age, physical condition, and the history my mare has of spooking.

It amazes me that someone would think these women are a bunch of incompetents.

In WORLD CHAMPION COMPETITION???????????? Oh do tell.....