Dressage Disaster: Dark Legend Shows Charlotte Fry His Dark Side At The World Cup Grand Prix Final

Grand Prix dressage horse Dark Legend showed Charlotte (Lottie) Fry his dark side at the World Cup Grand Prix dressage final this weekend. He came into the dressage ring a bit hot and a dressage disaster followed.

Charlotte Fry did a fantastic job of sticking with it and riding him through to complete the Grand Prix Dressage Freestyle, pulling her score back up throughout the second half of the test.

This dressage fail was averted by the skill and precision of the 26-year-old Olympian Lottie Fry.

[hime]

If this is considered a disaster my riding can be classified as a whole catastrophe

[gracinhaabecasis]

Overall I really like your content but I wonder why do you post this kind of videos… “Dressage disaster “ it’s not a disaster, every horse has its bad days and by posting this you are only putting the rider in the spotlight but in a negative way

[rosemarymoore]

This is not a disaster, it was an unfortunate glich! The horse is a highly trained very sensitive animal, spooked a bit at something x the rider delt with it!!
This is a good recovery NOT a disaster. Gives people who have no knowledge of dressage or riding completely the wrong idea!

[MR-lqss]

No enjoyment watching this when I see spurs constantly kicking the horse in the sides. Not smooth at all.

[annesharp]

looks like head carriage to tight and he not enjoying his work rgardless off how good she is the horse is in pain like a lot of equines these days riders and owners too busy focusing on the rewards and not the pain do dressage without spurs and double bridles then we see the real riders

[DeniseCummins]

The horse spooked several times at objects/people outside the dressage arena, and Fry handled it beautifully. Kudos to her!

[janetpoludniak]

In a difficult situation, if a rider keeps their seat, whether or not the complete the required functions, it's NOT A DISASTER. This gal did well, kept her head, and was able to keep herself and her horse safe in the ring. Kudos. Another time, another place, and things will be better.

[kazzakarlsson]

In interviews she said there was a huge camera. He spoked in the short GP and they put it higher up on some piedestal for saturdays freestyle and it made it even worse. I think Fry handled it well and she was certainly one of the softer and more balanced riders in the World Cup Final. Horses are flight animals. Just one of thoose days...

[viollet]

You can see the worry on her darling face at the halt and salute! She's like "oh no, here we go, what am I in for? Wish me luck"!! She handled it well, she is such a lovely young lady. Nothing to do with her, the horse was just spooked and scared of the environment. She did everything she could. Love her style and nature!

[jonoquinenaibisate]

It is incredible how only by bad test Lotte Fry is criticized. I think that the title can get to anchor it, it is clear that it has not been at all its best test. But I think she has more than proven that she is one of the best riders of today, maintaining the security of finishing the test without losing the papers with the horse. More than a disaster I would say that it has been the proof that something can go wrong for all of us but that if we propose it we can finish it to be able to improve for the next show.

[serafinatruth]

The horse is not a mashine.
It is a living creature and it can get scared or uncomfortable.

[azariasewell]

Man I don't blame this horse for acting out. Her spurs kept hitting the horse in the sides, which I know wasn't comfortable. If u take a set of spurs and hit ur sides constantly it does hurt and bruise. This horse was clearly unhappy from the very start it looked like in the beginning they spooked at something. The horse looked like it had a lot of pressure on the mouth from the bit and reins. This horse's body language and behavior showed clear signs of discomfort and stress. So many think a horse foaming at the mouth is a good sign when it isn't. Horses in acute stress display signs of forward-pointing ears, wide-open eyes, widened nostrils, a high head, a stiff stance, a raised tail, along with blowing through their nose, and defecating. Horses just coming out of stressful situations often lick and chew as a sort of involuntarily reaction. This occurs because switching from a sympathetic nervous system response(acute stress) to a parasympathetic nervous system response(rest and restore) causes the horse to go from a dry mouth to a wet one causing them to salivate, which causes licking and chewing. People put horses through stressful situation and then mistakenly interpret the horse's body language of licking and chewing as a sign of submission or special bonding, but that isn't the case it's a sign of a horse being released from a higher to lower level of acute alert, alarm, or stress. Personally I think it's the positions the riders put the horses in for extended periods of time like forcing their heads down for instance, which, causes airflow restrictions as well as development issues. Many dressage horses r ridden wrong like being ridden behind the vertical plane aka riding "behind the bit". Many people don't understand a horse's body language and behavior. I think many people just don't realize their horses r unhappy and uncomfortable not because they don't care about their horses, but because they don't know any better. Many people r taught different training techniques, riding techniques, grooming techniques, feeding techniques, learning techniques, ground work techniques, etc from different cultures, traditions, and experiences. I think people just need help being educated on what makes the horse happier and what makes them live longer healthier lives. A lot of horses live good lives, but they r constantly put in uncomfortable situations that make them unhappy. Personally I don't like dressage because it just looks uncomfortable and unnatural to me, but I do know there r riders out there that put the horse first, and we need more of those people.

[lynnevarley]

If we look at the training of most dressage horses, in Europe especially, they are ridden in a very tight short necked way.
Even when the rider releases the rein many stay curled up.
It is not correct or classical but based on a system of hold in front and push hard from behind.
Correctly trained advanced horses shouldn't need a double bridle or spurs.
This tightness may produce extravagant showy front leg action but the tension caused by the discomfort is evident in the mechanical movements.
It should look relaxed and effortless, not jerky and false.

[mjr]

Not every day is a good day. Most certainly that was not Dark Legend 's day... Horses are so sensitive that sometimes it's hard for them to understand what's being asked from them. It seems that was the case.😟

[erynd]

I’m impressed with the recovery on the rider’s part when the horse became upset. She definitely knows her stuff.

[haroldcushner]

Not trying to be horrible but as an bserver I’d say that horse wants to do something else now

[harinu]

it happends sometimes, horses are not robots, they can be scared of something (here a camera) and i think she handled the whole situation pretty well

[Boyland]

Why do you have to be so dramatic and say his dark side. There is clearly something going on with this gorgeous horse which requires understanding and empathy rather than drama!!!🤬🇦🇺

[AvalancheCleo]

In other news: horses spook. Lottie Fry is an amazing rider, the horses love her, she has huge talent.
And the horse spooked. Shit happens.

[beverleybalshaw]

Talk about making a mountain out of a mole-hill!! Horses, just in case you're wondering, are REAL LIVE Animals with a mind of their own and get the jitters just like we do. His young rider stayed calm and well done too, to both of them 👏
What a Beautiful Horse 😍