By Piper Klemm, Ph.D.
I was once working at a horse show with a very funny cameraman who was a tech person and not a horse person by trade. The days flew by as he peppered us with quick quips or his observations about the horse world, which were accurate and stung–the tension and relief from tension that makes great comedy.
On one occasion, he turned around, and went, “Okay, okay. Here’s my impression of a grand prix winner interview.”
We all laughed ready for it. This was years and years ago now, but as I remember it:
Today I won the grand prix on my dream horse. I love him. He is my horse of a lifetime. He is the best. He changed my life. I got him yesterday, I don’t know, probably going to sell him tomorrow.
Even to an outsider, it is clear that we have let ourselves move so far away from building relationships with our animals.
I walk through the horse show and I hear people tell me about their young horses and their green horses who are 7, 8, and 9 years old. Do they consider the decade of care, training, and concern that went into breeding and training? Are they flippant or do they really not know?
Michael Blake, Team Ireland’s chef d’equipe, told World of Show Jumping in January, “Some riders from certain nations think that the horse was born at the mounting block with the tack on.”
Ouch. And is he wrong?
I got into this like most kids; because I love horses. I love specific horses too. I loved watching pairs and teams. The dream is the horse of a lifetime–the actual horse of a lifetime, who we are able to have for decades and enjoy through the seasons of life. The horse who trains you how to train young horses, then trains you how to manage middle-aged horses, and then trains you how to be a responsible steward of an elderly horse.
These relationships are rich in character and messy. The horses we still discuss years and decades later often had idiosyncrasies that boiled our blood at the time. They taught us to be in the moment, to have a sense of humor, and how to turn up the heat in competition. They taught us to appreciate our team of people and everyone who shows up to make things happen. They made memories that we can joyously tease each other over dinner to this day. They are real, and they are imperfect.
Thinking of our sport from the bottom up, we can do a better job of sharing this culture with new and young people in our sport. We can share the magic of every horse, the truly special animals, and those who just make us wake up in the mornings and smile.
Fundamentally, we need to answer the same questions within ourselves on so many issues- do we give in to this culture or do we fix it? I believe in us. I believe in how powerful our relationships are with these horses. We can fix so much within ourselves and how we approach this sport. We can do it. It starts at home. Run your barn how you think is right. Lead as a role model and by example. Show and tell your values. It starts with every single one of us and we’re up to the challenge!
