PrintOur columnist would like to see show jumping be more inclusive and accessible to all those who love horses and wish to practice the art of horsemanship in this discipline.
I often wonder what my life would be like if I were a youngster today instead of back when I grew up. Just like many of you reading this, I was obsessed with horses from a very young age.
My parents were supportive of my addiction, yet they were of modest means, and trainer/instructors in English riding were not to be found within 100 miles of where we lived. Despite these handicaps, I managed eventually to achieve many of my goals on the national and even international levels.
I often wonder what my life would be like if I were a youngster today instead of back when I grew up. Just like many of you reading this, I was obsessed with horses from a very young age.
My parents were supportive of my addiction, yet they were of modest means, and trainer/instructors in English riding were not to be found within 100 miles of where we lived. Despite these handicaps, I managed eventually to achieve many of my goals on the national and even international levels.
Could the same be done today?
I honestly don’t know. While I never had the benefit of full-time training or coaching, my success was largely due to some top professionals who were willing to give me their best help. They did so despite the fact that I could only get to them on a sporadic basis and even though we never bought a single horse from any of them. I fear that many of today’s top professionals are just too busy to do the same for a kid like me.
I never had good horses to take to shows—we just couldn’t afford them—yet my personal goal always was to get to the next level up. I didn’t win as much, but I’m sure that I learned far more, with my mediocre stock. But, most importantly, the professionals who helped me were willing to accept me for who I was, what I was working toward, and with all of the limitations that our finances imposed.
Breaking In
In the various clinics that I do with Pony Clubs around the country, I’m saddened, but not surprised, by the comments that “show jumping is the most difficult discipline to get involved in.” Eventing and even dressage are far easier, according to everyone I speak to.
They cite three factors for this situation: the cost, the dearth of good instructors willing to work with average horses, and the “friendliness factor.” It’s not just Pony Clubbers who feel this way; these same three items are frequently mentioned discouragements to other individuals who are trying to go forward in the sport without turning themselves and their horses over to a full-time training program.
There’s no doubt that costs are through the roof. Even many of our most successful grand prix riders say that this is the major issue facing the sport in this country today.
Some people are making their feelings known to the U.S. Equestrian Federation via the newly formed North American Riders Group. For a variety of reasons, the costs associated with competing in show jumping are easily three to four times higher than anywhere else in the world. If our most successful riders are finding it impossible to develop young horses for top sport here in the United States, it’s not surprising that it’s equally difficult to develop riding talent in any but the most financially advantaged youth of today.
The answer to this dilemma isn’t an easy one, but in large part I believe that the problem stems from the loss of quality smaller shows—the sort that offers riders and horses a less expensive option for working on their skills and gaining experience before graduating to the larger, and more expensive, events.
