Equestrian Politics

Equestrian Politics
The Equine industry is over a billion dollar industry in Canada alone, with thoroughbred, standard bred racing, big horse shows... Etc. To be a part of this industry and a good feeling, there is lots of history with in the industry and within certain horse breeds related to Canadian history. There are many different things that contribute to the politics of the sport, such as "Horse people" assume the sport is only for those with "money" and not the "middle/low" class people which are completely not true. For example I had my appaloosa mare at a top barn in Ontario, Canada and because the care for the horses was excellent I didn’t mind paying top board price, I have a part time job to pay for it as it is too expensive monthly for my parents to afford.

So therefore I have to pay for everything myself, and as I had a few other bills and couldn’t afford the top coach there for lessons I was “pushed" out I'll say... They did things to just annoy me and eventually I got the point that they wanted more money for lessons on top of board and so I moved to a quieter smaller local casual barn with 10 riders at it, where my horse is happier just being a horse, and being ridden daily. The top trainers and coaches who train the "juniors" in the sport that can import a horse and then go and show on a huge circuit and spend thousands doesn't understand the value of money. Kids that have that horse handed to them without having to lift a finger to pay for it, won't get too far in life if everything is handed to them. Most judges will glance over at the in gate and see who is the trainer standing at the in gate to see if that rider and her $50,000 horse is "worthy" of the first place ribbon. I’ve have seen this happy many times, when a rider on a 5000 horse has a much better round then the more expensive horse and because the horse is a "Warmblood" and imported they automatically deserve to win. Does it make sense to buy a $50,000 horse for a 5 cent ribbon... an possibly some prize money, but nothing compared to what was put out to get to the show and pay for the stall, groom, trailering, entry fees, horse tack, show clothing... the list goes on. I personally being from a middle class family and I had to pay for everything I wanted because it is an expensive sport is much more appreciative of everything I have.

Trust me any equestrian discipline is easier if you have an unlimited bank account, but as a few TV shows on the sport of riding horses has shown that only those with money will succeed which is entirely not true. People who have to work for the things they have in the horse industry are better off because they understand that they can't just go and buy a new bridle or saddle because it is a little bit dirty. On one of the TV shows a rider didn't want to discipline her import horse because she just didn't want to break her crop, meanwhile her horse was stopping at a water jump and just didn't go over and she didn't use her crop right at the time she stopped, so her horse got away with that a few times and at a show her horse stopped and she was eliminated so all the money her parents spent on training and show fees and getting her and her horse there was all gone down the drain. 

In the hunter ring and equitation ring the judging is largely subjective, the equitation classes are based on your form and how well you show the judges you can control and handle your horse around a jumping course. Rarely do you see quarter horses, paints, appaloosas.. etc partake in this discipline in fear of losing to the $50,000 warmblood horse. Any breed should be able to participate in any class or division at a show, if the horse is capable of jumping around the course and fits the criteria for the class there should be no discrimination by the judges.

In the hunter ring it is a little bit the same but also different than the equitation ring, most horses can't go around a 3'6"-4" hunter course and do the course with a loose slacked rein, so the riders, trainers, and grooms drug their horses and hope they won't get caught and hope to win. Some judges will see that the horse had been drugged and will either chose to ignore it and or say something to the rider and have the rider disqualified.

The Equestrian industry isn't all about money; riders and trainers should focus on the sportsmanship side of it and have fun with it. After all the horses do a lot for us and provide a good friendship and have a partnership with us, so don't be bothered by those riders who can't ride and have an expensive horse that just does everything for them, appreciate what you have and have fun with your horse.