tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post4082692364196622276..comments2024-03-01T06:49:59.106-05:00Comments on Behind the Bit: Ravel and Totilas: Aachen 2011Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-47791512474586916792011-07-30T20:09:35.043-04:002011-07-30T20:09:35.043-04:00Peters and Ravel: Inspiring.
I was loving his hal...Peters and Ravel: Inspiring.<br /><br />I was loving his halfpass (trot, canter, and passage) and double pirouettes, anyone? Ravel looked like one horse in the extensions and Peters looked like he was just enjoying the ride. I believe Peters' training pyramid is "suppleness, suppleness, suppleness". It shows!Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-39623478514178675092011-07-29T16:42:46.482-04:002011-07-29T16:42:46.482-04:00Gah, I DO NOT understand the hype about totilas......Gah, I DO NOT understand the hype about totilas...he is just waaaay too flashy and like someone else said, looks like he is lacking basics. His hind end CLEARLY is not engaged hardly ever, and his front just is distracting. Even under gal I did not like him, he too showy and I fear the same for dressage as the "big-lick" people or hunters with their heads and feet dragging.Checkmark115https://www.blogger.com/profile/08875106264738444238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-28555593036296880842011-07-27T18:38:38.173-04:002011-07-27T18:38:38.173-04:00Peters and Ravel have been robbed before ( see Hon...Peters and Ravel have been robbed before ( see Hong Kong 2008) but this is something else altogether. As magnificent as Totilas is, that ride just was not pretty to watch. I can't agree more with a previous commenter's concern about taking the sport /art in a dangerous direction. More wet noodles, please!one eyed jacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-24491161302780018372011-07-27T14:26:30.101-04:002011-07-27T14:26:30.101-04:00Boy, oh boy. I could not even finish watching Toti...Boy, oh boy. I could not even finish watching Totilas's performance, because I found it so discouraging after seeing Ravel's. Ravel was soooo fluid, his head carriage looked natural and comfortable, his tail was a go-go, his ears were a-floppin' and he just looked like he was actually ENJOYING HIMSELF. Totilas? Not so much. Chin cranked in, front legs reaching for the sky while back RiderWriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05679157278313699794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-34648310975391350562011-07-27T05:59:43.425-04:002011-07-27T05:59:43.425-04:00This is [IMHO] exactly what is "wrong" w...This is [IMHO] exactly what is "wrong" with the majority of the show industry. I don't show anymore (haven't since I was a kid), but I have been to a number of shows as a spectator. <br /><br />I found it both mind boggling and disheartening to see which way the ribbons went. Made me wonder if the judges were looking at the same horses and riders I was.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608579972739041880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-29646372871131599452011-07-27T02:18:17.196-04:002011-07-27T02:18:17.196-04:00I won't comment on the horses' movements s...I won't comment on the horses' movements since I don't even begin to understand the judging at these high level shows. But Mathias' riding, yikes. His toes are pointed down nearly the whole ride, he seems to be working harder than Toto at many points, he just looked very akward in the whole ride. No, I am not a grand prix rider, far from it! This is just an observation; in case Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-70414827021053491232011-07-27T01:10:12.985-04:002011-07-27T01:10:12.985-04:00Well, I think probably Peters had the better ride....Well, I think probably Peters had the better ride. But I can't help noticing that BOTH horses are very showy and yet missing some basic elements. Ravel isn't straight on the straights. And at at least two points he is four beating at the canter. Totilas is very very uneven - at one point he is waving one front hoof far out in front of the other. Call me a snob but a Grand Prix horse Allienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-14794886387333517202011-07-26T21:56:53.638-04:002011-07-26T21:56:53.638-04:00@Net - it depends on the American audience.
Many...@Net - it depends on the American audience. <br /><br />Many moons ago, I was at Dick and Jane Brown's farm for a Grand Prix. They act as patrons to Guenter Seidel. At the time he was on Foltaire, owned by the Browns.<br /><br />So, Debbie McDonald was on her gelding...can't remember his name. Cool horse, though. And she had a great go. <br /><br />And then it was Steffen Peters turn. Carolynhttp://www.fanfreakingtastic.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-62541489768447038332011-07-26T21:05:25.803-04:002011-07-26T21:05:25.803-04:00Ravel won. Hands (hoofs?) down. The routine was el...Ravel won. Hands (hoofs?) down. The routine was elegant, relaxed and well executed. <br /><br />Totilas was amazing under Gal, but not so much under this new rider. It looks like he's being pushed too hard to make the front end flashier, and the back end is just trailing behind. Totilas' extended trot in this performance was nowhere close to what it used to be. It's a shame, too, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-38078071869690539182011-07-26T20:47:56.022-04:002011-07-26T20:47:56.022-04:00What a great post. Thanks for sharing.What a great post. Thanks for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-55495523462156544752011-07-26T20:27:36.525-04:002011-07-26T20:27:36.525-04:00Exactly Jean!
I love Totilas. He is a gorgeous h...Exactly Jean! <br /><br />I <i>love</i> Totilas. He is a gorgeous hardworking horse who gives his all for his people, but I'm sorry - his front end very often looks disconnected from his hind. His "expensive" trot is disharmonious to my eye.Calm, Forward, Straighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08360276614916635500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-29756464560334590632011-07-26T18:39:40.953-04:002011-07-26T18:39:40.953-04:00Good to see an informed audience.Good to see an informed audience.Domhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00139769676714813261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-25187266006801424862011-07-26T16:11:14.306-04:002011-07-26T16:11:14.306-04:00On technical difficulty along, Ravel and Peters fa...On technical difficulty along, Ravel and Peters far outshone Totilas in a ride that looked like a standard Grand Prix test instead of a freestyle. Totilas also blew the tempis--at least twice from what I could see and was definitely not as "clean" in his transitions.<br /><br />I am afraid Peters earlier rides in the Grand Prix and Special which were in the 77% range forced the judges Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10029423500476995817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-10861508947823161012011-07-26T16:09:52.852-04:002011-07-26T16:09:52.852-04:00Peters was the undeniable winner. The level of di...Peters was the undeniable winner. The level of difficulty of his ride was leagues above most of the competition. It is a shame that the glamour of the WEGs shone so brightly for the superstar stallion, while the pilot of said superstar got no such acknowledgement.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13328644280872276242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-45667519798878875442011-07-26T16:09:22.400-04:002011-07-26T16:09:22.400-04:00Peters was the undeniable winner. The level of di...Peters was the undeniable winner. The level of difficulty of his ride was leagues above most of the competition. It is a shame that the glamour of the WEGs shone so brightly for the superstar stallion, while the pilot of said superstar got no such acknowledgement.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13328644280872276242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-30737757204122377482011-07-26T15:39:09.293-04:002011-07-26T15:39:09.293-04:00I would have to agree with the people in Aachen. ...I would have to agree with the people in Aachen. Ravel performed a beautiful freestyle that was wonderfully choreographed as well as technically well-executed. He had great self carriage and was very light in the bridle, making the whole thing look effortless (especially those tempis **drool**)<br /><br />Totilas is a beautiful and talented horse, but I fear he is pushing our sport in a Bizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02594715461058227518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-48086005897321752072011-07-26T15:33:23.555-04:002011-07-26T15:33:23.555-04:00Very interesting post, it just makes you wonder if...Very interesting post, it just makes you wonder if the judges now see the name Totalis and are already thinking of it as the winner before they have ridden the test... Maybe I'll rename my horse! Totalis is beautiful though!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13595833485081969708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-77044720131146930402011-07-26T14:56:21.024-04:002011-07-26T14:56:21.024-04:00I've seen articles and coverage from European ...I've seen articles and coverage from European sources stating that the audience clearly felt that Steffen and Ravel should have won. And that's a very knowledgeable audience! I was kind of impressed by that, as few American audiences would work that way. Well, unless it was a grey baroque stallion at the WEG.<br /><br />I loved my instructor's description of Ravel. "Like a Nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08817230186352688525noreply@blogger.com