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Kauto Star performed a short dressage demonstration at Olympia today. I wish I could link a YouTube video to this thread, but I’ve only seen uploads of the footage on Facebook.
From what I’ve seen around social media, there has been a new explosion of anger and concern about Kauto’s new career. Several presumed dressage experts commented that he seemed to be very uncooperative and rather lame behind, possibly arthritic. I’m no expert, but even I didn’t think he was moving well.
Has anyone else seen it? What do you think?
There’s a video on the BBC website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/equestrian/30516647
Rob
Well no sign of lameness or anything like that.
Terrible from a Dressage point of view I would have thought. Didnt lengthen out at all.
SHL
He looked very mulish – on the BBC video she looks to be having trouble even getting him to trot.
The BBC website says that he won’t be going to the Olympics in Rio
From Racing UK website
Kauto Star overcame "stage fright" when he took part in a dressage demonstration in front of a 6,000-strong crowd at the London International Horse Show at Olympia on Tuesday.
The five-times King George VI Chase winner and dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was partnered by international three-day event rider Laura Collett showcasing how the 14-year-old gelding has adapted to his new career since being retired from racing.
"We threw him in at the deep end really and he got a bit of stage fright, but he’s never been in that kind of atmosphere before and it’s a huge ask for a horse like that who’s used to open spaces," said Collett.
While Kauto Star is likely to compete in dressage in 2015, but will not take part in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"He’s ready to go whenever it works," Collett told BBC Sport.
Kauto Star’s owner, Clive Smith, was delighted with his pride and joy.
"I’m very proud of him and I feel he can do it," he said.
"He won’t do any three-day eventing with cross-country and show jumping, but dressage is harmless for him and he’s intelligent, so he will learn the steps."
British Olympic Equestrian team performance manager Yogi Breisner said: "He is magnificent and very healthy and fit, but he has done his work and is a superstar who deserves a happy retirement.
"We won’t be seeing him in Rio, that’s for sure, unless they want a demonstration of what a real racehorse is like."
Didn’t look to me like he was enjoying himself, but he’s tolerant enough, if not forward going. Couldn’t believe my eyes watching the riding, all that moving around and yanking at his mouth.
He was wagging his tail like an unhappy cat.
Does he not have to jump anything now then?Premio Loco will be next.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
I think people are very unfair towards Clive Smith. For a start Kauto is his horse and, if he hadn’t’ve forked out so much money for him, we would never have had the pleasure of seeing him race. He also loves him more that the sum total of the rest of us put together. He saw him have a life threatening fall and it has affected him so much that he can’t bear the thought of anything like that happening to Kauto again, so he found him a new career whereby he could have the regime that he needs [and horses do need a regime]. My main concern is that, even though dressage looks easy compared to, say, team chasing, it puts a lot more strain on the tendons than people realise. However, he has a new life and a new career and people still get the chance to see him. Yes, he would have been well looked after at the Nicholls yard, but he would also have served as jolly good publicity for them as well and, given that relations appear to have broken down between Nicholls and Smith, it would have been awkward for everyone.
That’s one of the saddest things I’ve seen in a while.
Kauto Star was for me, and so many others I’m sure, a true equine hero so to see him
reduced
to this is a great pity.
Kauto Star clearly enjoyed his racing but even to see him in a parade ring as a runner or a retiree was heart warming because he did it with such obvious pride. Pride which was very clearly absent from the video. As Nathan said, the manner in which his tail was swishing gave the distinct impression he wasn’t enjoying himself and whilst I don’t know anything about dressage (and I don’t really want to know much about a sport which is barely a rung above a circus), Kauto doesn’t seem to be very good at whatever it is he’s supposed to be doing. I certainly don’t buy into this "stage fright" theory either since he was always at ease in front of much larger and rowdier crowds at Cheltenham, Haydock and Kempton.
Why is he doing this? Who could possibly enjoy watching this sad spectacle? What has Kauto Star done to deserve getting "re-trained"? He clearly owes nobody nothing so I can’t say I’m thinking too highly of those responsible for this.
I watched some of the Olympia competition last night on the BBC red button to see if Kauto got a mention or they showed his performance. Watching it made me think of a certain Monty Python sketch only as a horsey sketch
No mention of Kauto though from what I saw.Looking at that video made me feel sad as I thought Kauto looked very sad and uncomfortable.
I wanted to let him out in the field with his old mate Denman and watch them kick their heels and run free.As nice a man as Clive Smith might be surely he can’t feel happy watching Kauto in his new discipline.
I saw the fall that Kauto could easily have broken his neck and can understand that Clive Smith wants to wrap him up in cotton wool but surely he would be happier seeing him show jumping than doing something that, in my opinion, is making him depressed and anxious.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...but surely he would be happier seeing him show jumping than doing something that, in my opinion, is making him depressed and anxious.
He looks so stiff in his back end nowadays, as if his racing career took a heavy toll. I don’t think he’s in a fit state to jump anything.
Kauto Star is not enjoying this. I know that because my horse doesn’t enjoy it either and displays the same behaviour. He will become sour before they know what’s hit them, that’s if he isn’t sour already. I agree with Moehat that Clive Smith wants the best for his horse, but he clearly doesn’t realise that his horse is not happy at the moment. Nothing wrong with low key showjumping or working hunter and he’d probably love it – KS that is, not Clive Smith lol
I know that because my horse doesn’t enjoy it either and displays the same behaviour.
Not wanting to sound off with you but if your horse doesn’t enjoy it why have him doing it
He was wagging his tail like an unhappy cat.
Does he not have to jump anything now then?Premio Loco will be next.
I was hoping we might see
Mad Moose
at the Olympia next year. He already does similar moves down at the start of every race. Who’ll sign my petition??
SHL
No mention of Kauto though from what I saw.
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