Foothills, I agree in many instances, such as western pleasure when the horses are rolling peas with their noses and moving backwards, it looks ridiculous. However, form to function, it is a "useable" position for a horse who is fit and flexible to work from and gives the rider an incredible feeling of power and impulsion when you're sitting on it.
I did notice that the one palomino for the US team, looked incredibly defeated in his demeanor. i was disturbed watching his ride. On the other hand, there was a rider, Rudolf something (I think) on a lovely little mare that looked so happy to be there. Her inside ear was locked onto the rider, and the outside swivelled around constantly listening to everything. His ride was lovely to watch.
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Shannon -
I agree with the low head carriage being necessary to the horse's ability to balance itsself during such strong, forceful stops and rather imagined as I watched that some of these top level reining campaigners had learned to 'anticipate' that need to balance the stop/undertucked hindquarters with their lowered heads and therefore carried their head low as a result of their training. Your explanation of the mechanics makes for a better description of that process. Interestingly - it was the palomino that you speak of that made a positive impression on me. He came off to me as being an 'older and wiser' competitor, or perhaps I should say 'older' as in more experienced, like an old pro. He didn't seem as animated as some of the others in the spins but then livened up for the large/small/fast/slow circles, the run downs/stops/rollovers - he just seemed 'old hat' in the way he went about his work, displaying a business like demeanor/disposition, not defeated. I imagined him to be a very workmanlike, even tempered horse. But again that was to this 'novice' observeer - to the eye of the beholder as they say?!
I agree with the low head carriage being necessary to the horse's ability to balance itsself during such strong, forceful stops and rather imagined as I watched that some of these top level reining campaigners had learned to 'anticipate' that need to balance the stop/undertucked hindquarters with their lowered heads and therefore carried their head low as a result of their training. Your explanation of the mechanics makes for a better description of that process. Interestingly - it was the palomino that you speak of that made a positive impression on me. He came off to me as being an 'older and wiser' competitor, or perhaps I should say 'older' as in more experienced, like an old pro. He didn't seem as animated as some of the others in the spins but then livened up for the large/small/fast/slow circles, the run downs/stops/rollovers - he just seemed 'old hat' in the way he went about his work, displaying a business like demeanor/disposition, not defeated. I imagined him to be a very workmanlike, even tempered horse. But again that was to this 'novice' observeer - to the eye of the beholder as they say?!
Jellac, I just saw him as being stressed, introverted. His eye was not soft and settled but apprehensive, worried in my opinion, also he was very sweaty as though he'd had the snot run out of him before hand in warmup, but as you say, the eye of the beholder.
A woman needs 2 animals in her life-the horse of her dreams, and a jackass to pay for it!
I saw that palomino, Shannon. He looked like an automaton. Those peanut rollers are EASY to stop if the AQHA really wanted to: it's a judged sport. All they have to do is leave the peanut-rollers unplaced, and shazam! Watch that trend reverse itself. They keep doing it because they WIN when they do.
I left horse shows for racing because racing is not anyone's opinion. Whoever finishes first wins. The subjectiveness of judging just made it seem futile. So while I'm on my soapbox, let me also gripe about the amount of silver required for kids to show successfully these days. Why would a judge reward that? A kid in a clean outfit on scrupulously clean tack ought to be able to compete successfully. They've priced the working class out of horse shows.
I left horse shows for racing because racing is not anyone's opinion. Whoever finishes first wins. The subjectiveness of judging just made it seem futile. So while I'm on my soapbox, let me also gripe about the amount of silver required for kids to show successfully these days. Why would a judge reward that? A kid in a clean outfit on scrupulously clean tack ought to be able to compete successfully. They've priced the working class out of horse shows.
"When I am on my deathbed, I imagine I will say, 'Thank God I did that'" - Arthur Hancock, on buying back Gato del Sol from Europe after Exceller was killed in a slaughterhouse in Sweden.
Hey is anyone watching the coverage on NBC today? There was an unbelievable "Oh Sh**" moment when the main guy said "I am joined on the set today... well our first event.." and the dude to his right turns, looks at him in total shock - and you should see his face when he turns back to the camera. He never got introduced, never said anything, so they finally switched off those guys. I guess the main guy can't do anything except read the teleprompter and maybe the guy with him had some kind of unpronounceable name? 
We replayed it on the DVR and laughed over and over.
We replayed it on the DVR and laughed over and over.So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
Turns out the announcer was Tim Ryan and the redhead guy who got dissed is Jimmy Wofford.
My HB who is not a horsie kind of guy was baffled by the reining - he couldn't understand how that could even count as a SPORT when shown against the dressage and the eventing. We settled for fast forwarding thru that stuff.
How about that dressage horse Ravel? Anyone else get goosebumps watching him? They were ALL pretty good. I loved the NZ horse Woodbridge in the Cross Country and was rooting for him - I was really sad when he knocked a pole down in the jumping.
My HB who is not a horsie kind of guy was baffled by the reining - he couldn't understand how that could even count as a SPORT when shown against the dressage and the eventing. We settled for fast forwarding thru that stuff.
How about that dressage horse Ravel? Anyone else get goosebumps watching him? They were ALL pretty good. I loved the NZ horse Woodbridge in the Cross Country and was rooting for him - I was really sad when he knocked a pole down in the jumping.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
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surprisewind
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I saw that - didn't realize that's what had broken off. He did a great job in spite of that and had one of the nicest horses...
Also saw the palomino, ridden by one of the leading reining people that everyone seems to gush over. Horse looked tense and seemed to be having some problems balancing in his stops, spins and rollbacks. I'd say his placing was appropriate, given the rides that followed him.
Also saw the palomino, ridden by one of the leading reining people that everyone seems to gush over. Horse looked tense and seemed to be having some problems balancing in his stops, spins and rollbacks. I'd say his placing was appropriate, given the rides that followed him.
Tbird, I was so dissapointed not to see him in showjumping. But he is one awesome horse! I went through the resutls, ccol to see the majority were TB's!
Felt bad for team Australia, only one score counted, long trip for bad luck!
Felt bad for team Australia, only one score counted, long trip for bad luck!
A woman needs 2 animals in her life-the horse of her dreams, and a jackass to pay for it!