In light of the most recent tradgedies and fatalities at the 2008 Kentucky Rolex Event, I was spurred to finally express my thoughts in writing to the USEF/USEA Safetey committee. Even more poignent, this letter was sent just days before the magnificent filly Eight Belles gave her life while running the Kentucky Derby. I can only hope that we ALL as equestrians take a look at our sports and a moment to examine and hold ourselves responsible for the actions we choose to take with our equine partners.
Hello,
At 24 years of age, I am completely new to joining the eventing community (I basically grew up riding hunters and some dressage). However, as a younger girl, I had big dreams of growing up to be a “Karen O’Connor.” My career path has definitely not gone in that direction, but my underlying dream is still quite alive, albeit only recreationally.
I currently own two young Arabians who I know have the athletic capabilities to take me as far as I ever thought I wanted to go in eventing (most likely novice or thereabouts). But now I wonder if I’ll ever want to leave the “safety” of Beginner Novice or schooling horse trials that are not completely maxed out at height and width. There’s nothing like several fatalities on both the part of horse and rider to make one realize their mortality. I simply can’t help but wonder, “What/Who am I really risking to play in this sport I love so much?" and "What is it exactly that we are riding for?”
I keep coming across the same theme: horses and riders pushed to upper levels before they are really prepared. While the news is full of stories like Darren’s, this also became apparent to me in a recent FEH/YEH competition I attended at Sporting Days Farm in Aiken, SC.
While I really like the premise of the FEH/YEH competitions, I began to question, “Are we pushing the horses we hope to one day be phenomenal eventers too hard, too fast?” With all the literature out on developmental structure and time lines of a horse’s development, what is the point of so quickly cramming my horse into a dressage test and hunter/xc course (both of which require some degree of collection and extensions of stride) at the very young age of 4 (even allowably 3 if the horse hasn’t even turned 4 yet that year!). And beyond the physical part, what are we doing to these horses mentally? If our point is to find the “greats to be,” are we maybe sacrificing some of their potential greatness by pushing them too early? After all, what really is pushing us to ride them like this so early?
Ours is a sport different than others in the fact that we are the ones responsible for another party: the safety of the horses we choose to be riding. This safety comes on the course as well as time spent training before we are even on them. Lets just take some time to ask ourselves, “Am I really putting the good of the horse above my own personal desires?”
I know you all have been berated with negative comments, so I don’t want this letter to be a complete “downer.” I want you to know that I really, really do appreciate all that you guys are doing to make this beloved sport safer. I just thought I would share some thoughts that I’ve been having over the past few months. Thank you so much for your time. I am really looking forward to a safer, but still thrilling future of eventing. I have no doubt that this can be attained.
Best Regards,
Jessica
Hello,
At 24 years of age, I am completely new to joining the eventing community (I basically grew up riding hunters and some dressage). However, as a younger girl, I had big dreams of growing up to be a “Karen O’Connor.” My career path has definitely not gone in that direction, but my underlying dream is still quite alive, albeit only recreationally.
I currently own two young Arabians who I know have the athletic capabilities to take me as far as I ever thought I wanted to go in eventing (most likely novice or thereabouts). But now I wonder if I’ll ever want to leave the “safety” of Beginner Novice or schooling horse trials that are not completely maxed out at height and width. There’s nothing like several fatalities on both the part of horse and rider to make one realize their mortality. I simply can’t help but wonder, “What/Who am I really risking to play in this sport I love so much?" and "What is it exactly that we are riding for?”
I keep coming across the same theme: horses and riders pushed to upper levels before they are really prepared. While the news is full of stories like Darren’s, this also became apparent to me in a recent FEH/YEH competition I attended at Sporting Days Farm in Aiken, SC.
While I really like the premise of the FEH/YEH competitions, I began to question, “Are we pushing the horses we hope to one day be phenomenal eventers too hard, too fast?” With all the literature out on developmental structure and time lines of a horse’s development, what is the point of so quickly cramming my horse into a dressage test and hunter/xc course (both of which require some degree of collection and extensions of stride) at the very young age of 4 (even allowably 3 if the horse hasn’t even turned 4 yet that year!). And beyond the physical part, what are we doing to these horses mentally? If our point is to find the “greats to be,” are we maybe sacrificing some of their potential greatness by pushing them too early? After all, what really is pushing us to ride them like this so early?
Ours is a sport different than others in the fact that we are the ones responsible for another party: the safety of the horses we choose to be riding. This safety comes on the course as well as time spent training before we are even on them. Lets just take some time to ask ourselves, “Am I really putting the good of the horse above my own personal desires?”
I know you all have been berated with negative comments, so I don’t want this letter to be a complete “downer.” I want you to know that I really, really do appreciate all that you guys are doing to make this beloved sport safer. I just thought I would share some thoughts that I’ve been having over the past few months. Thank you so much for your time. I am really looking forward to a safer, but still thrilling future of eventing. I have no doubt that this can be attained.
Best Regards,
Jessica
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