It’s not often that high-profile show jumpers like McLain Ward weigh in on social media with an opinion about a topic, much less weigh in to directly contradict an Olympic teammate, but Ward made waves Tuesday when he shared a Noëlle Floyd Facebook post on his own page along with his own thoughts disagreeing with its premise. Ward’s post went viral in the equestrian community, picking up hundreds of comments and shares. Just a few hours later, John Madden took to his keyboard, writing a post on Beezie Madden/John Madden Sales’ social media agreeing with Ward’s sentiments and expanding upon them.

The post that started it all? A two-year-old column from Karl Cook, Ward’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games and 2023 Pan American Games (Chile) teammate, written for the Noëlle Floyd website in 2022 and reshared on its Facebook page Monday, “Let’s Dispel the Myth of the ‘Perfect Position.’” 

In the column, Cook posits that “the way a rider looks in the saddle or in a snapshot from a round is secondary to the effectiveness and balance of that rider in the saddle.” In other words, he argues that the American system’s focus on form, or equitation, is overemphasized, and that riders should focus more on effective riding than their position. 

“There’s no one position,” he continued. “If you’re a rider who finds that you’re far more effective in a different position than you’re currently riding in, then change it! Position is dynamic; it’s not a snapshot. The only requirement of position is this: does it allow you to be the most accurate, effective, and balanced rider that you can be? If so, that’s your position.” 

Cook, 33, is among the top riders who have created “Equestrian Masterclass” content for Noëlle Floyd—instructional videos available to paying subscribers. The California-based jumper was called up from reserve position in Paris at the last minute and turned in two clear rounds—one of just a few riders to do so—to help the U.S. team earn silver. 

“This theory is absolute nonsense,” Ward, who is known for his technically correct position and support of the U.S. equitation system, said of Cook’s column. Along with his medal from Paris, Ward also has Olympic gold medals from the 2004 Athens and 2008 Hong Kong Olympic Games; team silvers from the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games; and team gold, silver and bronze medals from the 2018, 2006, and 2014 World Equestrian Games. 

“Correct position creates good balance over the horse’s center of gravity, and a solid base allows freedom for the rider to help his horse and not interfere,” Ward wrote. “It is true there are some very competitive riders who are successful despite flaws in their position, but their success is not because of those flaws, it is because their natural talent and instinct is so strong they succeed in despite of those flaws. Often though, these departures from classical riding become evident in one’s results and consistency over time or when riding different types of horses. Classical position and balance on the horse should always be taught and is something every rider should strive for to reach their potential and to allow their horse to be their best.”

John Madden’s post, which also has hundreds of comments and shares, begins with the statement: “It’s one of the few times I’ve seen something on social media that I thought deserved a comment from me,” noting that he’d seen both the original Noëlle Floyd post and Ward’s response.

He expanded on the value of a classical position, detailing how Olympic team gold medalist Beezie consistently works to improve her position, even though she’s known to make 1.60-meter courses look like an equitation final. 

“One’s position is something we CAN control,” he wrote. “I can’t fathom good horsepeople being dismissive of striving for excellence in one’s position, if they truly understand position’s relationship with both safety and effective communication.

“I worry Karl’s statements can be interpreted by young or inexperienced riders to mean working hard to create a good position isn’t necessary, when I believe it is the most important fundamental of learning to ride,” he continued. “I worry he missed the ‘why’ of correct position.  The entire point of classical position is not about the right look or winning. It is about safety and clear communication. Safety for rider and, in my opinion most importantly, safety for the horse.”

Comments on the two posts flew in from around the world, and from some of the biggest names in the sport. 

Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, No. 1 in the Longines World Rankings, commented: “Could not agree more Mclain! I have had so many rails in my career cause of incorrect position, this is something I work on every day. It’s a fundamental part if you want to have a consistent career.”

Top equitation trainer Missy Clark wrote: “As an observation in today’s world of show jumping where the level of riding, sensitivity of hot horses, size of fences, difficulty in courses and delicate nature of materials used for jumps continues to amp up, I’ve noticed more and more riders displaying correct position. There might be variations in styles from Mclain, to Harrie Smolders, to Martin Fuchs to Kent and Laura …but fundamentally their positions are correct, especially at the moment their horses are leaving the ground. All I know is in my life of teaching and developing riders, the pursuit of correct position is a paramount component for all who aspire to aim for the highest levels.”

Winning hunter/jumper Jimmy Torano chimed in: “There’s a reason everyone has tried to model their position after McLain and Beezie [Madden], for the last 20+ years. They’re in perfect balance, which then allows for their horses to be in perfect balance. I can’t count how many times I’ve used them as examples, when teaching. You try to copy the best. The ones that are doing it the best, consistently, and consistently winning at the highest level. Not the ones that win with a wing and a prayer, and Hail Mary. Anyone can win a class, but correct riding equals consistent results.”

Vicki Roycroft, who competed in three Olympic Games for Australia, agreed: “Absolutely correct. Unorthodox riders rarely last, as they get by on sheer talent. Once timing is lost, that’s it. Having said that, [Australian Olympic show jumper] Kevin Bacon was a rare exception!”

French Olympic show jumper Herve Godignon weighed in as well: “So well said McLain, I suffer all my life of that deficit of basic [position], and I think I lost more classes than I win because of that.”

And while many stars of the sport lined up behind Ward’s response, other commenters pointed out that perhaps his philosophy and Cook’s were not so far apart from each other. Both riders, they noted, ultimately were advocating for having an effective position, in balance with the horse.

The cumulative effect of the social media kerfuffle was a fascinating combination of top riders and fans carrying on conversations in the comment thread, showing we can all still argue over the value of form versus function.