28/02/2024
Last year I put up a post asking how people see equestrian sports these days and do they still think it’s achievable to get to the top level. I found it really interesting, informative and sad reading going through the answers. However I did have some thoughts on it and I do want to offer some encouragement. It’s just taken a very long time to get a round to writing it. I'm going to break this in to two parts because by the time I wrote it out it was like an entire novel, so here my part 1, attitude and why it's everything.
I feel there are some really important things we can do to help keep equestrian sport going into the future. Fundamentally I want to see people stay in the sport, I want them to think it's possible to produce a horse through the grades in whatever discipline they choose and have it be a rewarding process. The more people in the sport the more supportive environment it is the better the standards of horsemanship.
Having just been at a show on the weekend, I watched a class where the judge asked all the kids on ponies to come in and show off their best trick. Fifteen or so kids went in and some were back flipping off their horses, others were crawling under bellies, sliding up necks and more. It looked very cool and was great to see. Especially the kids practising their best tricks on the sidelines, everyone looked to be enjoying a great day out and having fun. I can see far more of these young riders going to have a future in the sport from having a fun day out than being drilled into perfection and going home in tears. To really truly excel in the sport long term you have to love it.
This brings me to my first point, it is meant to be fun. I don’t know when it all got so serious, but the reality is 99.9 % of us are not going to the olympics or wining national titles. That is okay, it’s fine to just enjoy going out with your horse and showing off your best work. It’s okay to have the realisation that you are doing this as a hobby and you don’t have to win every time to justify you being there. You are valuable to the sport, essential for shows to continue running and the horse world is a better place for people attending events and having a good day out whether you win or not. So enjoy it.
The more enjoyable an event is the more inclined people are to stay in the sport and want to improve those performances and go up to the next level. They are also far more likely to give back to sport itself, whether that be in future entries, volunteering, judging, sponsoring or helping out ringside. If it is fundamentally an enjoyable process to be a part of it will continue. Don't hate on people because they enjoy it and maybe don't have aspiration to be the next national champion. For those that do have those aspirations, encourage them, it is hard enough and everyone experiences set backs and doubts, don't be another voice tearing down the dream.
Competitions need to be a positive place I was at an A&P show recently and the judging was so lovely, there was great feedback for the riders and handlers, explanation of results and advice. There was leeway and explanations when people didn't understand or know all the rules and etiquette. It was really positive. The organising committee, judges and everyone made it it a great event. I'm already thinking about what horses I'll take next year as are a couple of my students who were a little nervous beforehand to go there first "big" show. I think this is such an important part of the sport. Most people aren't there to break rules and most shows aren't olympic try outs. Encouragement is key.
I was then disappointed to hear comments the next week about some horse only won a class because the standard was low, or there weren't enough entries. Another horse wouldn’t have won at a national level. Blah blah blah. I absolutely hate this attitude. If you are the only one in the class and you won a ribbon, you beat every person who thought about it and didn’t put their entries in, who didn’t show up on the day and who didn’t follow through with training goals or actually thought it was to much effort. No one needs to hear their achievements weren't deserved.
Be genuine and congratulate people on their success. If a horse or rider isn’t a national or international calibre and won locally, that is still awesome. That is why we have local shows. The sport relies on the 99.99% who are not going to the olympics to keep going. Again let people have their success. If someone wins locally who can’t compete nationally, they deserve the win. I guarantee they have been hoping, dreaming and working towards these goals and recognition in the form of a win goes a long way. Don’t steal people’s success from them.
I speak from experience, I was a professional eventing rider for 10 years with lots of amazing sport horses. Now I have 1 amazing sport horse and lots of wild horses that I love taking out. I love getting a good performance out of my little wild horse as much as I do the “professional rides”, I’m well aware they are not quite the same calibre as those I used to ride. The riders who were not nice when I rode ponies as a kid, when I rode amazing sport horses and when I ride my little wild horses today are still there. I’m thick skinned, love my horses no matter what, and am always immensely proud of them. People's derogatory comments do not bother me and never have. But for those new to sport, their horse is there everything they are still figuring it out and trying their guts out and they don’t need off handed remarks to bring them down. I’ve watched negative comments really crush some of the young riders I coach and amateurs as well. Again it costs nothing to be nice and might help someone else continue with their dream. I will always do my very best to never be that person making fun of someones horse. Very few champions can be spotted at the start of their careers both horse and human anyway.
If you are still figuring it out, don't worry it gets easier and none of start knowing it all. For every great horse I have been lucky enough to ride, there were people telling me it would never be any good. I got more experienced, wiser, and never gave up and loved my riding my horses no matter what. It all worked out in the end. I got to be a professional rider and I got to the level of the sport I was aiming for and I loved it.
On this same note, the amateurs in our sport are so important. Those that produce horses up the grades locally, who may not always win but put in nice solid, well schooled performances. Who produce a couple of horses on the side of their full time job. That rider who has had their one and only trusty steed and are successful across multiple disciplines, we need them. It is these people that go and put so much back into the sport, they are our pony club coaches, riding school teachers, show organisers and ring stewards. They are just as important as our high level riders on olympic campaigns. Those riders actually don’t have the time to give back to grass roots level. Maybe this person isn’t winning national titles, but consistently doing well or in the middle of the field. Compliments are free, there’s no limit to how many you can give and it doesn’t hurt to tell people they are doing a lovely job if they truly are. Just because you didn't win doesn't mean you didn't do a great job.
The amateur rider doing their first level 4 dressage test on a quiet little cross bred or their first 1.20m showjumping are awesome. The mum trying to get her horse presented nicely while watching the kids and getting to the ring on time, is probably the same busy mum putting on the local pony club show to help the next generation of riders. Again sport runs on the backs of amateurs and we need them. If people feel valued and appreciated in the sport and it’s a supportive place to be, the sport grows and improves. Amateurs need to be celebrated a lot more than they currently are.
Make the sport nice, we all give up a huge amount of pay checks, sleep, down time and everything else to be part of it. Everyone is trying their best. It should be fun to turn up to a horse show. After all it's the one place we all have something in common. I have always found the lower levels to be quite toxic in certain circles, while the higher I progressed the more supportive everyone became. It does not need to be this way at all. This is the starting place for us all, let's not let dreams die there. I will always try to smile, say hi to people, tell some kid they are doing a great job on their pony or ask about someone’s horses. I’m genuinely interested, but also because I remember how lonely it could be at a show, knowing no one, starting out, making mistakes and feeling very isolated. It as the bottom where we need the most support and guidance not to be torn down.
Everyone feels insecure at times, however being able to criticise and pick apart someone else’s performance and appearance, doesn’t make you more of a professional or make you any more deserving of success than the next person. You don’t need to make it seem like you know more by tearing the next person down. The one comment I hear again and again is that shows are a toxic environment to be in. They don’t and shouldn’t have to be, if it feels that way hang out with new people who support you. There are some truly amazing people in all the equestrian sports who help so many, so many people helped and encouraged me, hang around and learn from those people.
We all have a responsibility to make the sport and competitions an enjoyable place to be. At every level, at every event, wether you are a professional or just there for a day out with your horse.
Picture of Jet & I out on cross country, I just loved being out there on my horse every time. I never regretted chasing the dream and we were far from the most promising combination when we first started. The sport has given me so much and I would love to see it stay an encouraging place for those starting out.
