Posted on 05/01/2007 7:28:28 AM PDT by Help!
See video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqUPoQj5hV8
Tryon Under FEI Investigation Following Rolex Kentucky Le Samurai’s injury before the last fence at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event left spectators at the event and around the globe, who were watching on the Internet, shocked and upset. He jumped the last fence almost on three legs, and Amy Tryon, who had been in the lead after dressage, dismounted immediately upon crossing the finish line.
Members of the ground jury met later on April 28 to investigate the incident for alleged abuse. They reviewed written statements from the fence judges, watched the videotape and interviewed FEI Veterinary Delegate Dr. Catherine Kohn. They could not reach Tryon, because she had left the show grounds to be with Le Samurai.
Ground jury officials then referred the matter to the FEI Appeal Committee because the matter falls under their duties, according to article 164.4.5 of the FEI General Regulations, “In serious cases, immediate disqualification with one or more horses from a competition or from the whole event with referral to the Secretary General (for referral to the Judicial Committee.)”
Tryon was disqualified from the competition. She released a statement on April 29: “Le Samurai is resting comfortably at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute [Ky.] and has the best care that could be provided anywhere in the world. I wish to express that I am totally devastated about the injury he sustained yesterday but cannot comment further pending a review by the FEI. I’d give anything if this had not happened. I love this horse. Le Samurai is very special to me, and we share a deep bond that is beyond competition. Although we will no longer be competing together, we will always be partners. I thank everyone who has generously assisted with Le Samurai’s care and been so supportive.”
The FEI Judicial Committee (Ken Lalo of Israel, Erik Elstad of Norway, Jens Adolphsen of Germany, Patrick Boelens of Belgium, Leonidas C. Georgopoulos of Greece, Helen Huggett of Great Britain and Philip O'Connor of Ireland) may take any action, ranging from a warning, to a fine, to a suspension for any period of time or for life, if she is found to have violated the rules.
All I can say is, I’ve been on horses who pulled a shoe or nicked themselves slightly, and it felt like they had shorn off a leg. I’ve been on horses who were seriously injured and, full of adrenalin, they ran straight and true. It is very difficult sometimes to figure out what’s going on down there. And if Tryon pulled the horse up because he threw a shoe or got a surface cut, the horse world would be pounding on her over that. I’m just having a bit of trouble with the vicious tone taken toward someone who has clearly made an error in judgment in a difficult situation. Let’s put down the rope and disperse the lynch mob until after the FEI investigation is over.
There was nothing difficult about it. When you are riding a sound horse, and it suddenly goes lame, a little or a lot, you immediately get off and check to see if it's serious or not. That is if you care. If it's not, you continue. There was no reason here for an error in judgment.
On a forum that is designed to debate issues, to let people voice opinions, it's a cop out to suddenly say, let's not voice an opinion till the investigation is over. I don't care what the FEI says, this is my opinion, I'm not going to wait to have someone else do my thinking. I can see the same video they are looking at, and I can make an opinion.
Becky
If you ride, and definitely if you compete, you are taking a calculated risk every time you swing into the saddle. No matter how you prep you can not guarentee that both of you are going to be crossing the finish line or going home. A hole in the ground, a misstep going into the water, a bobble, and for one of you it is all over. That is the nature of the sport and riding in general.
Originally Posted by Lord Helpus on the Chronical site:
I am not going to comment on Amy Tryon. She does not deserve my thoughts. It is the job of the FEI to deal with her.
Le Samurai however has gained my highest respect. He is the epitome of courage and trust that our equine partners have. The elite athletes at the **** or World Cup level must have total faith that their riders will not ask them to do anything that they are not capable of doing.
These horses will gallop until they drop, jump until they break, all to please the human on their back. A less generous and brave horse will set its own limits, but not an elite equine athlete. Yes, they must love their job. But, without a rider, a horse will not jump the Rolex fences. He does it because he is asked to, not because it is a natural instinct.
However, TB’s are bred to race and Barbaro would have kept racing, but for Prado’s superhuman efforts to pull him up, beginning THE VERY STRIDE after his leg broke. (For those who say that a rider cannot tell immediately, watch the video of the Preakness in slow motion. Edgar Prado was going for the second leg of the Triple Crown on the favorite and yet he reacted on the very next stride to get Barbaro stopped.)
Riders of these special horses owe them a higher level of care, since the horses will not stop on their own, if their riders continue to ask them to gallop or jump.
Le Samurai is a hero. I get goosebumps just thinking about his bravery jumping that last jump, three legged, in pain, and exhausted. Just because his rider asked him to.
For all these horses do for us, we owe them more than second class consideration. Their welfare should come before EVERYTHING. And I mean EVERYTHING. One more jump, one more stride, one more step.
AT was doing more than riding Le Samurai; she was representing a sport which has a dicey reputation in the eyes of animal rights activists, anyway. And she is/was a role model of thousands of children who aspire to ride like her, but who now question the morals and goals of those at the top levels. She probably also has sponsors who are now in an awkward position.
Riders at the top are not just going for a gallop in the park, they have many levels of responsibilities. She hurt more than a noble horse. She has a lot to answer for.
But, first she has to answer to her horse. He will probably be the first to forgive her because that is his nature.
“it is very dangerous to pull up a galloping horse on XC in front of a fence.” from post # 16.
Given that horses are bred for jumping, and that some are injured or killed jumping, is it possible that your attachment to horses may have resulted in your having lost awareness of the obvious fact that horses are more expendable than the riders?
They are animals, after all. The rider in question has an exemplary record and I am curious as to why you are so condemnatory of her.
My experience with horses was limited to saddle horses in the mountains of Colorado, back in my prep school days. I am afraid that broom polo was as competitive as I got. Oops! I forgot a bit of barrel racing, which thanks to the horse, I won.
Good post by Lord Helpus.
But having said this
I am not going to comment on Amy Tryon. She does not deserve my thoughts
I don't think there as any doubt what he thinks about the woman and what should be done about her.
Becky
She was a good distance from the fence, she had plenty of time to pull up. And besides the horse was trying to slow down on it’s own, she wasn’t going to have to pull him up from a gallop.
I am condemnatory of her because at the level of horsemanship she should be at to be competing at that level, she should have, and I feel did know something was wrong.
I’ll say it again, when you are riding a sound horse, and it suddenly goes lame, you stop immediately and check to see if you can tell how serious it is.
Becky
I agree. His feelings about her are clear. I appreciate his sentiments for the horse. They were very well put.
Fine, you can have an opinion. No one is saying you can’t. But the fact that you have not addressed the point I raised—that sometimes it is impossible to tell what is wrong or how serious a problem is when a horse goes off, particularly on uneven ground—makes it unclear what your level of experience is, and thus how much stock to place in your opinion. How many times in your life have you had a horse go off under you when he was at a dead gallop? In other words, if you’re really Catherine Henriquet or Sally O’Connor writing incognito, we’re more likely to defer to your wisdom.
LOL...so how come when I say the same thing only more bluntly, why do you consider me pitchforking, torching and joining a mob....guess I’m just not PC enough, huh.
Becky
Sometimes pitchforks and torches are called for... I just want to be sure is all. :~)
I HAVE addressed the point you raised. I agree sometimes it IS impossible to tell when you are riding....You don't want to address my point...which is BECAUSE it is impossible to tell what is wrong when a sound horse suddenly goes lame, a caring, good sportsman, good horseman, GETS OFF IMMEDIATELY AND CHECKS, especially when a horse is trying to quit. You do not continue on especially when a big big jump is involved.
Address that point!!
Becky
Another point for you to address.
Becky
You are right. Race horses are bred to run. And horses such as Le Samuri are bred to jump. They love their jobs. If the lameness occurred just before the jump after they were committed and it was either the rider is injured or the horse, I say save the rider. BUT, the question is, whether Tryon had (1) the knowledge that the horse was injured and (2) had time to pull the horse up. And granted it IS in the heat of the moment during the biggest Horse Trial in the US. Tryon IS a very knowledgable and talented horsewoman who has worked her buns off to get where she is. And I think she DOES care about the horse.
That’s why there is such a debate on this issue.
It is too fair, because that is what you said.
And you have never committed to saying you are coming around to my point of view. You said you didn’t want to talk about.
Becky
Madame, you are hysterical. I cannot see how any debate with a person not fully in control of her emotions could possibly be fruitful.
Well good for her.... and I don't doubt she felt bad about her horse's injury after this was over.... but there on the spot where character counts, when she weighed her win against her love for her horse... the horse was sacrificed. This much is obvious and tells you a lot about the character of the person involved.
I hadn't told you yet. :~)
I’m not hysterical...not at all...you just can’t address the points:), so I think I’ve been pretty fruitful:)
Becky
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