To set the stage, three weeks ago Coren linked to a blog entry from Robert Dover in which the mega dressage queen king complained about the horse fatalities in eventing. At the time, the point that I made here on Eventing Nation and that many readers made on EN, the COTH forum, and Robert’s blog entry is that Robert should worry about problems in his own sport and that event horses unquestionably love eventing more than anything. You can read Robert’s blog here.
Today, eventing legend William Micklem wrote an article for the Chronicle of the Horse responding to Robert’s blog. In the beginning of the article William essentially expands on the point that eventers take great care of our horses and event horses love their job. [The Chronicle Article]
Later in the article, William makes three points about how we might change eventing. William’s first point, which he strangely calls “drive for show, putt for dough,” is quite surprising:
From Wlliam: “I know that the cross-country has historically been the centerpiece of eventing and is supposed to exert the greatest influence, but we need to face facts and accept this is no longer the case.”
…and…
“By accepting that there is nothing wrong with the leading competitors all being clear inside the time on cross-country, it changes the mindset of course designers and encourages a slightly less challenging course at each level.”
I think everyone realizes that eventing is a three phase game and that having good dressage and show jumping phases are now critical to winning–just ask the US WEG team–but I’m surprised that someone like William would say that we should accept that cross-country is no longer the centerpiece of eventing. William follows his comments up with the disclaimer that “I am NOT suggesting a major reduction in the level of difficulty at each level…” but that sounds like that is exactly what he is suggesting. It’s a little bit like a politician saying we need to increase spending on education and defense and then promising not to raise taxes. Cross-country either is a major influence on competition results or it isn’t, and course designers should either design courses that way or they shouldn’t. And if they shouldn’t, then we should all go out and buy a bunch of Totilas babies and teach them to show jump. Heck, Windfall and Ringwood Cockatoo would have won 7 Olympics. I have a ton or respect for William and he is one of the most respected horsemen in our sport, but I never heard him make that kind of a point when he was writing for Barnmice.com.
That said, William’s last two points make a ton of sense: what William calles “holistic training”–being sure to train thoroughly at all three phases, and “fifth leg training”–teaching the horse to stay balanced itself on the cross country. Both of these should be advocated at eventing barns everywhere and are stressed at 90% of the top eventing coaches I have known.
As Larry King says: Eventing Nation, your reaction please.
