If you’re anything like me, your gut response to the question in this article’s title is something akin to a Secret Service agent in the movies running towards an armed gunman in slow motion with arm outstretched yelling NOOOOOOOOOO. All of the fears I have of the political and catty environment in hunter equitation classes that we all hear about surge to the front of my mind. But, in a recent article in the Chronicle that was just published online today, Denny Emerson makes some good points about why an equitation class for the lower levels might be a good way to help riders develop sound fundamentals:
“Advocates of creating a structure in which young riders are judged on style, position and effectiveness will argue that correct basics, instilled early, will lead to a lifetime of more effective riding…
I suggest that U.S. eventing might want to consider creating some type of equitation class for eventers, similar to those already in place for young riders in the hunter/jumper ranks…
They should be judged on posture, the “Bill Steinkraus Lookalike Contest,” aiming for heels down, leg secure, hip and knee angles closed, chin up, arms softly allowing. They should find their distances, get their changes and be effective as well as stylish. They should absolutely be able to rate their horses, to lengthen and shorten the stride, and be secure and balanced.”
I still have a lot of concerns about taking eventing away from the objective nature of the sport, which is one of its strongest qualities. Yes, dressage is subjective, but when I was growing up the fact that most of eventing was just based on performance rather then who I knew or who my trainer knew was one of several big reasons I chose eventing over hunter/jumpers. I am also worried about who would set the standards for eventing equitation and whether these standards would diverge from making better eventers to making prettier eventers over time. One way or another, we do need to find a way to get better basic principles of riding taught to up and coming riders. Go eventing.
