Tortillas

[haffyfan]

Dunno if i spelt that correctly actually but found an interesting blog post today showing a video of him at a stallion show in germany recently...compared to a vid of him in winning form with previous rider and a couple of older clips as a young horse, pre the bloke who won so much with him and a training clip/demo with said bloke.

Just wondered what others thoughts were really? I'm not a stressage fan, especially have issues around the rolkur, long, deep and round or whatever is the current 'make it okay' word used by Anky and friends.
I think to me these clips highlight how it can literally destroy the horse...to me at the stallion show clip he just doesn't seem able to cope with a less 'strong' or 'demanding' rider? You have to feel for the young man plonked on his back too, i read reports that it's not a happy partnership all around.

I do like the 2005 clip, looked a really nice promising youngster...what a sad ending it's turning out to be.

[brigadier]

I dont know that Gal was a stronger or more demanding rider, just different and able to click with the horse and produce something almost freakishly stunning, I think that is a matter of confidence and not 'stress demanded obedience at all costs'. I think Rath appears less confident and that is borne out by the horse who doesnt have confidence in the rider, so starts several times at clapping or noise and loses rhythm several times, sometimes he appears to try to be exuberant but seems blocked.

But lets be honest, can a horse with that action remain trouble free? Something has got to go at some point, so if he has had a lay off with ligament problems, his return to work is going to be tricky, for any rider not just a new one.
Ultimately its sad he cant be at the top of his game anymore- for whatever reason- but is that a blessing in disguise for the horse?

[zara]

This is so sad to see. Edward Gal had such an amazing relationship with the horse and Rath just looks so uncomfortable and not surprisingly Totilas looks so tense. This must be heartbreaking for Gal to see; just so sad Zx

[Blonde Donkey]

I wept watching the comparison. Totilas has gone from floating on air and being a joy to watch to being tense and backwards and I found it awkward to watch.
I don't know the reason why, it may be the rider it may be various other reasons. Who really knows what goes on on yards when the photographers aren't there.
I think there has been a lot of pressure put on Matthias Rath because of the horses past and the fact that he is regarded as one of the best horses in the world because of the scores he got with Edward Gal.
I hope that his owner will keep him as a breeding stallion if he can't continue in his competitive role.