Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Springfield — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:06:05 GMT

WEG was not the "world class" event I'd hoped it would be. As you mentioned there was much walking to be done about the broad expanse of the Horse Park. I trust you took notice of the quarter of a million golf carts that were zipping about? Where was there a decent shuttle system that took one anywhere in the park? The pathetic tractor-drawn people carriers were slow, not friendly to the disabled or elderly and only stopped 4 places in the park. The carbon foorprint must have been huge with all those gas-driven carts. Why weren't there more shuttles stopping everywhere in the park? Did every team, volunteer and athlete really need all those carts. What an experience it could have been if visitors could have mingled with competitors more easily! There were hundreds of carts parked at any time outside buildings and venues.

Don't even get me started on the price-gouging. From the hotels, to the foot on site, to the $20 to park in a pasture and then hoof acres to a shuttle, to the closing ceremonies that started at $80 and then decreased in price until they were letting everyone in the gate the night of.

I think too many politicos were involved in the "planning" who viewed this as merely a cash cow and not enough horse people who would have known waht was really needed.

I hope there is some sort of feed back site set up so we can do better the next time, if there is a next time.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Laura — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:55:46 GMT

I have watched Becky & Courageous Comet at Rolex a number of times, they are always one of my favorites. Was at the Head of the Lakes this year for Rolex and got to see them jump, and got some great pictures of them.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

ALGAJA — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:07:45 GMT

I love Courageous Comet. I have ever since I saw him go at Galway Downs in Southern California. I watched his XC it was fabulous. I wish he would have been able to finish.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

HollyT — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:13:28 GMT

Becky Holder and Comet were the only team I really got to watch on TV the day it was one and let me tell you what, that horse is amazing. I've never seen one so calm and so responsive going though an eventing course. That horse would have bent over backwards for Becky if she'd have asked. You could tell too during the ride that Becky noticed he had lost his shoe too and compensated for it the best she could without injuring her horse. That is a great rider. I can see these two going far together.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Rachel — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:13:28 GMT

The USA eventing team had 7 out of 10, including substitutes, that were TB's, though I think CC was the only OTTB...Woodburn is a New Zealand bred TB, Neville Bardos is an Australian TB and Bally Noe Castle is an Irish TB...substitutes for the WEG Event Team also had TB's Mandiba, Tru Luck and Leyland....Canada has several TB's on their eventing team.

Poggio from the 2008 Olympic Team was also an OTTB...

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

KarenK — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:56:18 GMT

Thanks for highlighting the joy of owning and riding an ex-racehorse. I'm blessed to have one named Bourbon Boogie in my life, he's a pleasure to be around as well as a great foxhunter, eventer, dressage horse, and trail rider. I had the pleasure of watching Cross Country at WEG from his back as a Mounted Steward. Best seat in the house!

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Linda in Texas — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:04:25 GMT

What a beautiful horse. The photo of Holder and "Comet" coming out of the water was breathtaking, he looked like a statue, just perfect and 14 years old and my favorite color to boot.

What a wonderful testament for a retired racehorse. I hope this gives other's the thought of following in Holder's footsteps with the likes of all the Courageous Comets waiting.

It is inspiring and gives true hope for second lives for all thoroughbred horses.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Pedigree Ann — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:58:43 GMT

The winner of the 3-Day was at least 3/4ths Thoroughbred - officially a warmblood, his sire and damsire were both TBs. The second finisher is 7/8ths TB. Charisma, the legendary New Zealand-bred mount of Mark Todd, was 63/64ths Thoroughbred. The Thoroughbred is the basis for all the cavalry breeds, and it was testing cavalry mounts that the 3-Day was originally designed to do.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

annie — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:13:02 GMT

YES...CC is beautiful and was going great....then he lost a shoe. What a shame, his poor foot, running on that ground without protection. The course was scarey, hard to watch at times. Lots of TB's. The US show jumpers don't like TB's, they should, because they really boombed out.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Catnip Lane — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:14:51 GMT

I went on 7 days and enjoyed every minute of the games! Not only was the competition exciting, but all the other exhibits and demonstrations were entertaining and informative as well. I watched a lot of the horsmanship gurus (Clinton Anderson, Pat Parelli, Lynn Palm, John Lyons, etc) and was amazed at all the information that was available for free with a day pass!! I watched my first vaulting event (freestyle team) and was totally blown away by what they can do on a galloping horse. I wish I had takent the time to see some driving. Overall it was a great experience!!

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

MRO — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:55:29 GMT

I taped the TV coverage to watch during the evenings this week. I had hoped to catch a glimpse of Courageous Comet. He appears to be such a beautiful boy. Hopefully, he'll help to convince more 3 dy eventers that OTTBs are the way to go.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Dianap — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:30:04 GMT

Thanks for the great piece about Comet. At the TRF WEG booth we played the video of Comet breaking his maiden at Belmont. It was great to watch him in race and then see him at his real calling.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

txhorsefan — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:29:43 GMT

Thank you very much for the update on your time at the WEG and seeing Courageous Comet. I'm sorry to hear he had so much difficulty, but its a relief to know he will be all right. Hopefully just his being a part of the US Team will give others a desire to choose a retired TB for their next eventing partner.

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Rachel — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 20:53:59 GMT

He lost the shoe at the around the 3+ minute mark, so went 8 minutes over that cross country course with 3 shoes...the commentators were saying he's the horse all the other competitors want to try!

I've loved him for a long time...Becky is a great partner for him. They had a very nice dressage routine, too.

I couldn't be there, but I watched it all!

re: Courageous Comet Puts Forth a Stellar Effort at WEG

Wahoowa95 — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:11:05 GMT

Thanks for the great story on Courageous Comet. As an eventer myself, I have seen a number of ex-racehorses go on to compete very successfully in eventing (as well as hunter/jumpers). So it's great to raise awareness on this as a very viable 2nd career.

We went to the team jumping finals on Oct 6 and were quite impressed with the caliber of the horses and riders. The courses looked quite challenging and a worthy test of the world's best. Very exciting!