Straight to you from the archives of three-day eventing, we bring you the sixth World Three Day Event Championships, held in Gawler, South Australia. I have to admit, one of my favorite things is old eventing videos, and it’s part of the reason I fell in love with the sport. Having grown up watching old Badminton and Burghley tapes on VHS, I just can’t seem to get enough of them. This specific championship was won by Ginny Leng on the great Priceless on a 71.4, with silver going to Trudy Boyce of New Zealand on Mossman with an 81.6, and bronze going to Lorna Clarke on Myross with an 84.2 for Great Britain. The highest-placed American was none other than Mike Plumb on Bluestone finishing on a score of 119.80 for eighth place. Hat tip to EN reader Brett Huard for finding this gem and sending it my way. Part 1 is above and Part 1 is below. Enjoy!
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Ahhh ... summer days spent schooling cross country!
To say that the thrill of the winter season has worn off would be an understatement. Oh, it’s not all horrific; in fact, there were lovely moments where my town, the village, and parts of this state looked like images extracted directly from a postcard. My uncle from Georgia always comments on the snow acting as a cleansing blanket for the earth and how natural and beautiful this weather can be. Couples want to retreat to romantic getaways in Vermont ski lodges, where fireplaces and cozy surroundings make their journeys worthwhile.
Except after six to eight weeks, the newness of the frigid temperatures and the various winter sports become old news. The cleansing blanket covering New England ought to be torched, and the excitement of skiing, sledding or skating lose the edge, and reality settles in. Mostly, life on a horse farm in the winter is far from glamorous, particularly this winter. The weather gods have been playing dirty tricks on us and stabbing us in the back every time we get an inkling that a sunny day might be around the corner.
After the holidays come and go, some of us react to the weather patterns negatively, to say the least. Depression begins creeping closer by the day, and you start to lose your summer motivation, and in some ways, your grip on reality. Not seeing the sun for weeks, along with minimal human interaction, can cause serious negative repercussions. Many Vermonters actually follow in their wildlife’s footsteps, where hibernation becomes a viable option. Once the New Year comes and goes, there comes this long stretch of nothingness where you either need to shape up or ship out.
Valonia and Pippa playing in the mud!
So, here I am, not financially or emotionally prepared to ship out (quite yet), so I am going to shape up! Yes, the temperatures are miserable and the ice beneath the thin layer of snow is treacherous, but losing focus is not an option. I came into the winter and into the indoor with set goals, and I am going to reach those goals if it’s the last act I accomplish before the ice takes my life with one wrong step.
I came inside this winter determined to dramatically improve both my horses on the flat. I will get a stronger seat, and I will push myself to sit the trot for longer periods of time. I will use every inch of the indoor to the best of my ability. I will not ride randomly, and every day I will ride with a clear set of goals in mind. I will improve my ability to see three strides in front of a fence, and I will improve my jumping position. I will get better. I will get stronger, and I expect the same for my horses.
So the weather in New England and around the country has been off the charts this year. So the ice has created a skating rink that completely surrounds the main barn. So most of my friends have migrated to the southern regions in the U.S. So I can’t go trail riding in the snow because of the conditions. So — the list goes on forever. What am I and what are we going to do about it? Can we reach our goals? Can we turn gravel into diamonds? Can we shake this dreary, cold, depressing atmosphere and make the most out of a freezing situation?
The beauty of the winter months for me is that I am offered this extended period of time to practice and see what I am made of. Nobody but myself is around to tell me to work, or try harder. It’s up to me to reach my aforementioned list of will dos. It’s up to us to take our lessons, our competitions and our training and exchange those experiences for something grander and more valuable. Now is the time to study and do our various assignments. Not only do we hope to pass, but we long for perfect grades, so if I can reach these goals, so can you!
One of our loyal readers, Jennifer Joyce, sent in her personal recap of an Ian Stark clinic, which she participated in over the weekend at Galway Downs. Thank you Jennifer for sending your recap and photos in, and thank you for reading.
All photos by Jennifer Joyce.
From Jennifer:
I had the privilege of riding with Ian Stark at Galway Downs this weekend. The first day was a private dressage lesson. He helped me get my horse to carry himself without a pulling match. Patience goes a long way on a young horse. He worked on my position and pace. I was allowing him to move through my hands too much, and my tendency was to rush him forward, onto his forehand. Ian had me keep my hands very still, relax my legs, and wait for Riley to relax and carry himself.
At times I felt like I was holding a 100 pounds in each rein. After 35 minutnes of holding my position, Riley lightened in the reins and carried himself easily. For the first time, I have a horse that is easy to ride, and I found his canter work and the corners of the ring to be my friends. Ian was confident that once he is made to carry himself every day and gains the correct strength, the extended work will come very easy for him.
The second day was show jumping. Ian really worked on getting riders to ride their horses more forward and freer to the jumps. The first exercise was a line of five bounce fences that encouraged the horses to use themselves more. He helped the riders come into the exercise with a more forward pace and better balance. After the horses were doing the bounces well, he made the line into a vertical in and oxer as the last element. V-poles were added to help keep the horses straight and jump bigger.
Each horse and rider combination improved as the exercises went larger. He is great at building confidence in the horses and riders. After the gymnastics, he worked on rideability in bending lines and through turns. Emphasis was on keeping the stride forward and consistent. Most important was to keep the horses coming forward without interfering by overusing the reins and remembering to keep your leg on to support them off the ground. Ian keeps it simple and fun! He is truly amazing.
I rode my 6-year-old Connemara stallion, Blue Rock Riley. He has done three Training horse trials and one Training Three-Day. After the the clinic, Riley feels like he’s ready for a move up to Preliminary this year. I learned how to keep a better pace and ride through my turns with more power, instead of getting quick and flat.
Another key element for me was to stay more up with my body over the jumps, which allowed my horse to jump rounder and have more power after landing. I am hoping Ian will come back to California soon and be available for more lessons. A huge thank you to Robert Kellerhouse for bringing him to Galway Downs and offering us the wonderful chance to ride with the Master.
Within a week, American eventing lost two of its most promising equine athletes, Lionheart and Santa’s Keeper. Over on Horse Nation, Jennifer Ferrell contemplated why, despite the fact that she knew neither horse personally, it made her feel so sad. RIP Lion and Simon.
Left: William Fox-Pitt and Lionheart. Photo by Samantha Clark. Right: Buck Davidson and Simon’s Keeper. Photo by Jenni Autry.
It was while I was waiting in the drive-thru line at Burger King (don’t tell my New Year’s resolutions) that I read on Facebook that Allison Springer’s Lionheart had succumbed to colic.
I know I gasped and, for a second, became teary eyed when I read about heroic efforts the veterinarians had made to try to save him. Before I realized it, I had my finger on the button to add a comment to the growing string of well-wishers to let Allison know just how sorry I was that she had lost such a wonderful partner.
Then I remembered that I don’t really know Allison. I know of her through my daily study of Eventing Nation, through her Facebook page and from watching her ride at Rolex and other events. I don’t know Buck Davidson personally either but his loss earlier this week of Santa’s Keeper also left me down in the dumps. I began to wonder why. Why does news like this always affect me this same way?
A few months ago, when Hollywood hunk Paul Walker was killed in a car crash, I remember feeling briefly stunned and thinking that his was another life cut too short but that was it. I also remember seeing all the people gathered at his crash scene for candlelight vigils and that I may have even scoffed at some of the devastated remarks from some of his fans on social media. And yet, here I was twice this week sniffling over two horses I had never met and feeling sorry for two people I don’t know personally.
Maybe it was because both of these riders specifically pointed out just how special their horses were. They weren’t just talented partners who had a nice extended trot and had never had a fault on cross country. When Allison Springer said this about Lionheart in an earlier update from his hospital visit, “He loved me scratching him and the twinkle was definitely back in his eyes. He is one of the sweetest horses I have ever been around and truly does have the heart of a Lion!” I remember thinking he sounded like a regular guy.
And Buck Davidson was quoted as saying that Santa’s Keeper was, “He was the kindest horse in the world” and that he was, “a horse we all loved,” it reminded me that this was a living creature with a personality. Not a high-dollar, syndicate owned jumping machine.
And it’s not that I value the life of a horse I don’t know more than the life of an actor I didn’t know. I think the feeling is empathy which is, “the feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions; the ability to share someone else’s feelings.”
As much as I wish I could say that every morning I send a blonde, blue-eyed actor off to film big budget action movies it’s not the case. But I do scratch the ears of a bay thoroughbred gelding and laugh when he squeals before his dinner. It’s that empathy that makes me sad when I think of the two now empty stalls and all the broken hearts of the people who lost their horses/friends this week.
Collegiate eventing is a growing sport among college athletes, offering an alternative to the traditional hunter/jumper, saddleseat and western options typically seen in athletic programs. We recently spoke with Lizzie Walters, who created the University of Alabama eventing team. Do you have a tip about a college team? Email [email protected].
Roll Tide!
Tuscaloosa, the home of the Alabama Crimson Tide, is not exactly a buzzing hub for eventing. Lizzie Walters, a junior at Alabama, kept tabs on the schools that were developing eventing teams and realized there could be other eventers at school with her who were looking to form a team. “I made a Facebook group with just two girls I knew who rode and asked them to spread the word just because I missed my eventing community,” Lizzie said. “The word spread much faster than I thought, and soon I had enough interest to start a club.”
Having found several like-minded individuals by September 2013, Lizzie set about organizing the club and applying for funding from the university’s Student Activity Council Funding Board for help with competition costs. The eventing team received official recognition as a club sport from the university in November 2013.
Lizzie Walters promotes UA Eventing at Chatt Hills
While the team hopes to focus more on competition as their membership grows, a big focal point for the team members right now is to create a supportive environment for eventers. “Our club is not solely based on competing,” Lizzie said. “My purpose for starting the club was just to get everyone back in the saddle. So many of us have had to stop riding since coming to school, and this club connects riders with horses and barns that need a hand.”
A few of the members on the team either do not own their own horse or were unable to bring their horses to school with them. To that end, the team works hard to assist riders who are looking for a lesson program, lease or a riderless horse while they are at school. “Right now we have more opportunities than we do riders, which is a really good thing,” Lizzie said.
She said that she gets almost daily emails and phone calls from people who are either looking to place a horse in the Alabama Eventing program or someone to help out with exercising horses. For team members who are without a horse, there are endless possibilities for being involved on the eventing scene.
Team member Whitfield Broughton gets some tips from Jim Graham.
The Alabama Eventing team has a strong roster of about 20 members currently, and more are always welcome. Experience levels range from members who have not competed to some actively competing at Preliminary or above. Because of this, there are plenty of opportunities for the team members to help each other out. “We’ve all kind of become each other’s trainers; it makes us work together a lot more,” Lizzie said.
The team is currently based out of several different barns in the area, but there is not a designated coach for the team at this time, although Bryan Tweed and Jim Graham have both helped out with clinics and lessons. Lizzie hopes that with additional sponsors and fundraising, the team will be able to bring in other clinicians in the future.
Most recently, the Alabama Eventing team received the good news that they had been awarded $2,000 in funding from the university that is allocated to use to send a team to the Intercollegiate Eventing League’s Spring 2014 College Challenge at Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials.
Team member Meagan Majchszak and Caramba at the Hagyard Midsouth CCI*.
“I did a presentation (to the Student Activity Council Funding Board) on why our club should receive the funding and what we do,” Lizzie said. “I had to explain what eventing is and why it was important that we attend the spring challenge.” Within a short amount of time, the funding was approved, and now the team is hard at work preparing for its first formal competition.
Lizzie is very thankful for the support she has received from the collegiate eventing community as the Alabama Eventing team continues to grow. “Other schools have been so supportive and have really helped me get on the right track with getting this team started,” she said. For more information on the University of Alabama Eventing Team, visit its Facebook page.
Horse & Hound has commemorated the life of the Lionheart with a gallery of photos spanning his successful career with former rider William Fox-Pitt. While we are devastated that we will not get to witness the partnership between Lion and Allison Springer, this gallery reminds us how truly great this horse was.
I cannot begin to thank everyone enough for all their love and support through this terrible time. Naturally my team and I are completely heartbroken. We feel blessed to have had Lion in our lives and know that he will forever be with us in our hearts. I personally am completely blown away by the outpouring of support. Your letters, emails, texts and voicemails have helped to keep me strong in a time when simply putting one foot in front of the other has been a huge challenge. Thank you for being by my side. Your friendship means the world to me and is the greatest blessing of all.
Rest in peace, Lionheart.
To view the full Horse &Hound gallery, click here.
As Minnesota steels itself for another polar vortex, I’m huddled in my pajamas and a heated blanket with my laptop open, about fifteen tabs open with different goodies and gear on my post-holiday shopping list. It might be frigid and miserable outside, but I’m planning ahead for this year’s training, clinics, and shows, and I want my horse and I to look and feel our best. Nothing beats the winter chill like an online shopping spree, am I right?
Ever wonder why people bet on horse racing and not eventing? Perhaps the lack of international appeal (unlike big-stakes races like the Kentucky Derby) and relative complexity of the scoring system contribute to the lack of bets on events like Rolex and Burghley. Maybe once more people catch on to the thrills that eventing has to offer, spectators might be more willing to throw down money on their favorite horse and rider team. [Eventing Worldwide]
Speaking of betting: according to bookmaker William Hill, the odds of Zara Phillips naming her daughter “Poppy” are 8/1, as opposed to yesterday’s 33/1. I’m more interested in seeing photos of this particular royal baby and her first pony ride. [DailyMail]
Holy horse acquisitions, Batman! German dressage rider Sara Marburg purchased five top-notch horses from Andreas Helgstrand. “What happened here was serendipity,” Marburg said of her new additions, which will hopefully become competition mounts for riders Anja Plönzke, Andrea Vodermaier, and Yeliz Marburg. [Eurodressage]
Lucinda Green will be holding a clinic at Full Gallop Farm in Aiken on January 27 and 28. What could be better? How about a chance to audit her clinic with a simple donation of $20 to benefit Friends of the Animal Shelter? Improve your jumping technique and help improve the quality of life at animal shelters! [Full Gallop Farm] [FOTAS]
Cavalor Feed For Thought: Too often people will swear up and down that alfalfa is a major cause of laminitis in horses. While any high calorie component in a horse’s diet can contribute to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), that lush, green alfalfa is not the high sugar culprit; instead, it’s the grass hay in your alfalfa-grass blend hay. [Feed For Thought]
Which horse and rider do you think had the best season last year? Don’t forget to vote for 2013 EN Horse and Rider of the Year. The polls will stay open until 10 p.m. EST Thursday night, and we’ll announce the winners Friday. [Vote]
Our friends at Horse & Hound presented a lovely tribute to Lionheart, documenting his life and career in a series of photos. RIP Lionheart. [H&H]
It’s time to vote for the Equestrian Social Media Awards! Not to toot our own horn (what am I saying? Of COURSE I’m going to promote EN in every way possible!), but Eventing Nation is a finalist for Best Blog and Best Social Network. Voting closes on February 7. Go vote, Go Eventing! [ESMA]
Video of the Day:
Do you love SmartPak’s product review videos? So do we! Our friends at SmartPak posted a hilarious blooper reel on their Facebook the other day, complete with an air vest inflation!
Because sometimes you just need to watch a video of a chinchilla taking a dust bath, especially in slow motion. Lynda Clary-Burke saw this video on MSN and shared it on our Facebook page. Thanks, Lynda! This video is also appropriate considering the occasion. In addition to today being Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we also opened the voting for the 2013 EN Horse and Rider of the Year. The winners take home a shiny Golden Chinchilla award and eternal glory. Go eventing.
Which horse and rider will win the Golden Chinchilla? That's up to you, EN!
With 2013 behind us, it’s awards season around the world, and we’re naming the 2013 EN Rider and Horse of the Year! The EN team combed through results from last season to ultimately choose five horses and riders who excelled in the U.S. and abroad during the 2013 competition season. Now it’s up to you to vote for the winners. Read through the nominations below and vote in each poll, which will close Thursday at 10 p.m. EST. Then we’ll announce the winners Friday morning. Which horse and rider will win the elusive Golden Chinchilla? That’s up to you, EN. Go vote!
2013 EN RIDER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry.
HAWLEY BENNETT-AWAD: Hawley Bennett-Awad started the 2013 season in truly dominant form, winning three events in a row with her superstar mare Gin & Juice: Twin Rivers Advanced, Copper Meadows Advanced and the Galway Downs CIC3*. She and Ginny then went to Rolex, where they finished in seventh place. Hawley ended her season at the Pau CCI4*, where she and Ginny finished in 16th place with what was perhaps their personal best dressage test together. Much loved by her students and fans, Hawley is a huge advocate for eventing on the West Coast and remains a backbone of the Canadian national eventing team.
Jan Byyny at Rolex. Photo by Samantha Clark.
JAN BYYNY: Without a doubt, no rider has shown more drive and determination this year than Jan Byyny. After overcoming the odds to return to the CCI4* level following the devastating accident she suffered in 2010, she had to withdraw Inmidair at Rolex due to an airway infection, and Syd Kent ended the weekend with a disappointing show jumping round. But she never gave up. When she clinched a very emotional win at the Fair Hill CCI3* with Inmidair, holding off a late run from longtime friend Buck Davidson, it became official: Jan is back on top. The USEA honored Jan with the Ironmaster Award at the 2013 annual convention, highlighting the incredible courage she showed last year.
Buck Davidson and Park Trader. Photo by Jenni Autry.
BUCK DAVIDSON: No one rides more horses at events than Buck Davidson, and — as he often jokes — no one falls off more, but he always gets back on and keeps kicking; and he does it all with a smile on his face. The top-placed U.S. rider at Rolex this year with his beloved Balleynoe Castle RM in third place, Buck also finished in ninth place with Mar De Amor. Buck garnered numerous other top placings in 2013: second in the Jersey Fresh CCI3* with D.A. Adirmo, second in the Bromont CCI2* with the late Santa’s Keeper, second in the Fair Hill CCI3* with Park Trader and first in the Galway Downs CCI3* with Petite Flower. It’s no surprise he ended the season in first place on the USEA Rider Leaderboard.
Meghan O’Donoghue and Pirate at Rolex. Photo by Kasey Mueller.
MEGHAN O’DONOGHUE: Meghan O’Donoghue burst onto the international eventing scene in 2013 with her off-track-Thoroughbred gelding Pirate, a horse she campaigned from the very beginning of his career. Meghan and Pirate jumped clear around their first CCI4* at Rolex to finish 12th, which earned them a Jaqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grant to contest their first overseas competition at the Blenheim CCI3*. Despite enormous pressure, Meghan and Pirate jumped clear around cross country to finish in 11th place out of 84 starters as the second-highest-placed American pair. Meghan showed a tremendous amount of grit and drive in 2013, garnering a huge fan following along the way.
Lynn Symansky and Donner at Rolex. Photo by Jenni Autry.
LYNN SYMANSKY: Lynn Symansky had a breakout year in 2013 with Donner, an off-track Thoroughbred gelding she produced herself through the levels. The second-highest-placed American at Rolex, she and Donner finished in fifth on their dressage score. Lynn received a Jaqueline B. Mars Competition and Training Grants on the merits of that performance, which helped her get to the Pau CCI4*, where she and Donner finished 13th with the fastest cross-country trip of the competition. This photo of Lynn checking her watch over the final cross-country jump at Pau says it all. Lynn is truly a fierce competitor who is committed to bettering herself as a rider and making future teams.
2013 EN HORSE OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
Buck Davidson and Balleynoe Castle RM at Rolex. Photo by Kasey Mueller.
BALLEYNOE CASTLE RM: One of Buck Davidson’s most recognizable mounts — and also one of his favorites — Balleynoe Castle RM started 2013 with a bang, finishing third at both the Red Hills CIC3* and The Fork CIC3*. Reggie then went to Rolex, where he finished as the highest-placed U.S. horse in third, which earned him a spot on the U.S. team at Aachen. Unfortunately, a bone bruise kept him from making the trip overseas and prematurely ended his season, but he still earned enough points during the first half of the year to finish in fifth place on the USEA SmartPak Advanced Horse of the Year leaderboard.
Marilyn Little and RF Demeter at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry.
RF DEMETER: RF Demeter garnered numerous top placings with Marilyn Little in the irons in both the U.S. and Europe last year, finishing fourth at both The Fork CIC3* and Jersey Fresh CIC3* before crossing the pond. Demi went double clear on cross country at the Luhmuhlen CCI4* to finish in seventh place, and she had top-five placings at Blair Castle, Breda and Schenefeld — all competitive CIC3* events. She capped her season with an 18th-place finish at the Pau CCI4*, and she was honored as the winner of both the USEA SmartPak Advanced Horse of the Year and the USEA Mare of the Year leaderboards.
Lynn Symansky and Donner at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry.
DONNER: Donner amassed a huge fan club this year as he dominated cross country in his trademark Thoroughbred style. Affectionally nicknamed Donner the Deer, he started 2013 by winning the very competitive CIC3* division at The Fork with rider Lynn Symansky. Just a few weeks later, he finished fifth on his dressage score in his first CCI4* at Rolex. While not the fanciest mover, he makes up for it on cross country, where he didn’t pick up a single jumping penalty all season. He finished off a stellar 2013 by placing 13th at the Pau CCI4*, where he had the fastest cross-country trip. He finished the year in fourth place on the USEA SmartPak Advanced Horse of the Year leaderboard.
Hawley Bennett-Awad and Gin & Juice at Pau. Photo by Jenni Autry.
GIN & JUICE: A perpetual favorite with fans, spunky Gin & Juice continued her stellar Advanced career in 2013, starting the season with an incredible three wins in a row at Twin Rivers Advanced, Copper Meadows Advanced and the Galway Downs CIC3*. She and Hawley Bennett-Awad then finished eighth at Rolex, adding just .4 jumping penalties to their dressage score. Always a feisty mare, Ginny relaxed to put in one of the best dressage tests of her career at the Pau CCI4*, where she ultimately finished in 16th place. Ginny ended the season in third place on both the USEA SmartPak Advanced Horse of the Year and the USEA Mare of the Year leaderboards.
Kristi Nunnik and R-Star. Photo by Samantha Clark.
R-STAR: An absolute force to be reckoned with, R-Star’s powerhouse jumping style and lovely movement on the flat has made her a perennial favorite with fans. The stunning mare started her season by finishing third in the spring CIC3* at Galway Downs with Kristi Nunnink before heading to Rolex to finish eighth. Rosie also won the CIC3* at Rebecca Farm and was the Reserve Champion in the Advanced division at the American Eventing Championships. She finished in second place on both the USEA SmartPak Advanced Horse of the Year and the USEA Mare of the Year leaderboards.
Clockwise from upper-left corner: 2012 team and individual Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics Gabby Douglas, four-time Olympic gold medalist in tennis Serena Williams, 2008 and 20012 Olympic gold medalist swimmer Cullen Jones, 11-time PGA Player of the Year Tiger Woods, 2006 and 2010 Olympic gold medalist in speed-skating Shani Davis, 1988 Olympic bronze medalist in figure-skating Debi Thomas. All photos used under Creative Commons License.
Here’s something that nobody wants to talk about: diversity in equestrian sport, or more specifically, the lack thereof. While black athletes have made inroads into many traditionally white-dominated sports in recent decades, a glance around any given horse show makes immediately apparent the fact that we’re woefully out of step with that trend. Perhaps more concerning is the fact that so few people seem to realize that it’s a problem.
For the sake of brevity, let’s limit our discussion to eventing. (Mostly because if you got me started talking about the social stratification of the A-circuit hunter/jumper world, I will never shut up.) So just how “white” is eventing? Since we don’t have statistics to go by — there are no “describe your race” checkboxes on USEA membership forms or event entries — we have to rely on experiential data. And speaking from experience, I think we can all agree that, with a few exceptions, the VAST majority of American eventers are white.
Racial homogeneity isn’t unique to our sport. Despite dramatic advances in the sports world at large to provide a more equal playing field, some sports have simply lagged behind. Much of this can be traced to vestigial socioeconomic barriers: Not everyone is in a financial position to invest in the training, equipment and competition costs required to participate, much less excel, in certain sports. This speaks to a deeper structural racism of who has access to what. Eventing, being an expensive sport to participate in on even the most basic of levels, is correspondingly one of the most exclusive and least racially diverse.
How do we make our sport more accessible? That’s a question the eventing community loves to ask. But when we posit it, it’s in the self-serving context of, “How do we achieve more popular appeal, more airtime and more sponsors?” Not, “How do we share this experience with those who wouldn’t have access to it otherwise?” The two questions, however, are more intertwined that you might think.
Stephen Colbert had a heyday with equestrian elitism last year but, mercifully, his critique was sugarcoated in humor. What if it hadn’t been? If our sport continues existing in this insular white privilege bubble, someday it’s going to catch up with us. It’s worth remembering that equestrian sports aren’t a shoe-in for inclusion on the Olympic roster like, say, swimming or track. We have to make an effort to continue demonstrating global reach and appeal. As it stands, we’re just one “Nightline” exposé away from a public image nightmare.
Other traditionally white sports have made it through this dilemma intact, even flourishing through the transition to a more diverse participation. The emergence of black sporting icons like Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters put “country club sports” like golf and tennis within the grasp, physically and conceptually, of a broader demographic. Other traditionally white-dominated sports like gymnastics, swimming and figure skating have followed suit.
Let me be clear: I am not saying that eventers are racist, or that we intended eventing to become one of the the last bastions of white sport, or that non-white athletes are greeted by our community with anything less than open arms. What I’m saying is we are guilty of complacency. If eventing wants to be considered a relevant sport in the 21st century, we have to lose the tunnel vision and work harder to evolve.
I’d love to see the USEA continue this conversation and put some meaningful programs in place that emphasize inclusion. How about a diversity scholarship rewarding talented minority riders, or outreach programs providing riding lessons to underprivileged kids? Sure, it’s easier (and cheaper) to hand kids a basketball than the reins to a horse, but if winter sports outreach programs have been successful in getting under-served youth onto the side of a mountain, surely we can get them to a nearby farm.
There are things we can do as individuals as well. For instance, several years ago I got involved with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Once a week, I picked my “little” up from school and we went to the barn. She loved grooming my horse and learning the basics of riding, and those hours in the country offered much-needed relief from a troubled home life. As eventers, we’ve been given a gift, and it’s our responsibility to share it.
It makes me incredibly sad to know that the experience of eventing is limited to a fortunate few. And I feel deeply troubled when I see our community fold further and further in on itself. And, I promise you, as more money gets injected into the sport, it’s only going to get worse. Will we see a black event rider on the Olympic podium in our lifetime? Who knows. But we can commit to growing a healthier, more diverse sport in which anything is possible.
