PrintOur columnist hopes that eventually it will become commonplace again for international show jumpers to start their horses from scratch.
Having so many different disciplines within equestrian sports is part of what makes it so interesting. We’ll be seeing all eight Fédération Equestre Internationale-recognized disciplines at the end of September in Kentucky at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Along with the competition, we’ll see demonstrations of a broad spectrum of national breeds and disciplines. Horses will spin and slide, gallop cross-country, cover long distances, balance whole teams of vaulters, piaffe and passage, navigate hazards pulling carriages, pair up with para-equestrians, as well as jump 1.60-meter courses in Kentucky.
It’s astounding just how many unique skills horses are able to perfect! One must wonder how they can be members of the same species!
One factor spans all disciplines: the time, effort and expertise involved in bringing any horse to the pinnacle of its game.
Every animal taking part in the WEG will have had its own story of the trip to these Games. Each horse was either bred for that particular part of the sport, or its potential was recognized at a relatively early age.
Then someone took the green animal and put the early work into it in a way that provided a solid foundation for what came later. Most often it was a series of people; occasionally, one person did it all.
Most jumping horses in Kentucky will range from 10 to 14 years of age. Some will be 9—the minimum age for a horse to participate in the WEG. Since most show jumping prospects begin some specialized training sometime during their 4-year-old year, this situation means that five years or more of work must be invested before even the FEI considers them ready to walk into a championship venue.
For the other two Olympic disciplines—eventing and dressage—similar training periods are required.
Show Jumping Is Different
Looking at these three disciplines here in the United States, I see one big difference between show jumping and the other two: in show jumping it’s far less likely that the international-level rider did the early riding and training of his or her championship partner.
In dressage, Olympic veterans Debbie McDonald and Brentina were partners from the mare’s 3-year-old year. Some of the many dressage riders who brought horses all the way to the top had competed at Grand Prix on other horses before, but a few reached this highest level step-by-step, learning as they went.
Similarly in eventing, there are many, many stories of top-level riders achieving the championship goals on horses they made “from scratch.”
Good examples are Olympians Amy Tryon with Poggio, and former World Champion Bruce Davidson who purchased his 1978 winner Might Tango as a 3-year-old.
It’s interesting that while event horses are subject to some of the most extreme physical tests of any discipline—in training and competition—you’ll see some of the oldest horses at the highest level in this group.
I don’t doubt that their longevity has much to do with just how well the riders know their horses after so many years together and thus know how best to tailor their schedules and care to maximize their careers.
