Hidden Footage By The FEI From The Pan American Games Team Dressage - Dressage DIsaster

The FEI tried to bury this dressage ride from the live stream at the Pan American Games in 2023. In trying to watch why Ecuadorian rider Carolina Espinosa was eliminated in the prix st george test the screen was blank. The FEI did their best but failed to recognize that we are in the day and age of cameras. They also underestimated that we have the best fans in the world here at Dressage Hub.

This rider looks like they were put on a schoolmaster two weeks before the Pan Am Games and told to go compete for their country. This ride is beyond a disaster it should have never happened in the first place. The horse is so overwhelmed by the aids being all over the place that it looks for an exit strategy from life when she heads into the walk pirouettes.

[GrainneDhub-llvw]

That horse seemed like a fundamentally nice horse who couldn't make a lick of sense out of what that rider wanted. He was so stiff through the entire ride, I was actually surprised he lasted that long. He was a lot nicer than I am, I would have been clawing for the sky after the first 5 seconds.

[emilybender]

Honestly, what was with her hands? The horse had every right to protest.

[mauram]

I was wondering why they removed the video until the very end. The rider see-saws the horses head with her reins and he had enough

[sarahwagland]

I've commented before on how adept dressage riders are at sitting a rear as though it is commonplace and many admire their ability to handle them. In my book a horse should never be put under such immense pressure that the only way out is up.

[emeseipacs]

The horrible seat, the sawing, the stiff hands, the mixed signals, the poor horse with a "collapsed" back, i just can't even compile what's wrong with this ride. How can pony club entry level riders even consider to enter these competitions? I wouldn't even let her close to a double bridle. It's a travesty to such a talented horse.

[Bluemoonfarm]

That rider looks way over-horsed. I had this problem when I put my nice dressage home bred warmblood on the market to sell. The middle aged, out of shape women coming to try him couldn’t sit one side of his big gaits. It was painful to watch. He put up with it, but I know down the road when he’d had enough he would have spit the bit out and given the middle finger. Ultimately I pulled him off the market and I’m just enjoying riding him myself. People underestimate how athletic you have to be to ride the fancy, big moving ones. 🤷‍♀️

[superlativesultan]

Good horse ! Show them you're not just a mindless puppet

[evecory]

As soon as the ride began i thought the same as you... Like he was plopped on an advanced horse for the first time. The horse did brilliantly to cope with such sloppy riding. But then we all have our limits, this horse clealry could not manage it for the whole test.

[rachelgearinger]

Honestly, I would much rather see this than horses giving obvious pain signals (gaping mouth, tail swishing, etc.) who are in a state of learned helplessness. I'm glad this horse was able to advocate for himself and hoping the reprecussions of this were not severe.

[sarahmoore]

He was very behind from the start of the ride and tense, you could see him getting more and more tense and snow the rider had her legs in almost no contact with him and held him more and more in, so not surprised he burst, he couldn't go forward anymore, nowhere to go but up or backwards

[kimsutherland]

So so sad that we are seeing more and more horses throwing the towel in. There is just too much pressure and dressage today is light years away from the lovely relaxed classically ridden horses of decades ago. 😢

[dawncolorado]

From the get go, weird rider position, flopping around, gah the hands!, and the toe flicking no matter what she had him doing. He was tense to start and you could see it getting worse and worse as he got more confused.

I dont think comments are trying to just relish in bashing a rider, more that at this level these basics shouldn't be the issue.

[FallDogBones]

Looks like a first level rider on a grand prix horse. Feeling so bad for this poor animal

[esmekuiper]

The only thing they think about every second is pulling that head down. They are obsessively busy with keeping the head in the same place. WHY.. First thing I learned is the solution for a problem is speed up and give the horse space in the front. You only need a gas pedal and not the breaks. If you do botch the only release for the horse is going up like this.

[lyndatrenholme]

The position of the rider is so bad that she is incapable of communicating with her horse. Look at the outside arm i.e rein, the whole elbow arm flopping and her knees are so bent, instead of a long leg that can influence horse which puts her on her crotch, which means all hands and brakes, which is the aid to rear. Just look at the circles and extended trot.

[elkefaber]

Es ist zu schlecht geritten um es sinnvoll zu kommentieren.
Aber das Internet vergisst nicht.

[ezire]

Can you imagine a close-up video of the horse's mouth equipped with the curbs when the rider seesaws like this? It would be horrifying. The horse's response is still mild given the pain she subjected him to. I remeber going through a lesson as a youngster when the instructor introduced us to reins and bits. He made us to press a bit against our shin bone and pull. Then he made us to seesaw it. We all remembered well not to do this ever again. Not to ourselves, not to anyone or anything!

[Bmwdressage]

Extreme level of tension in her hands and arms. Poor horse. Did she expect a different result? Like a machine? Poor thing. It still baffles me why tense riders aren’t stopped. You’re literally allowed consistently to pull on your horses mouth in dressage - it is not against ANY rules!!! WTF 🦗 🦗🦗

[p.mccarthy-sher]

The horse in and of itself is stunning.

[sophiesaraby]

I’ve seen much worse abuse from top international riders. Rider may be far too novice for this level but at least the horse doesn’t show signs of definite pain as in egg beater tongues and wringing tails.