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When American buyers look for their next jumper or dressage horse, they often turn to Europe. The breeding isn’t necessarily better overseas, says trainer and rider David Reichert. The problem lies in the pipeline.
“The breeding is good in the U.S.,” Reichert explained on The Plaidcast. “The problem’s not the breeding. The problem is what are we doing with these horses when they’re four, five, six, seven years old?”
In Germany, where Reichert grew up, young horses move through a deliberate, accessible development system. In the U.S., he argues, the system doesn’t exist in a meaningful way and that gap shows.
The German Model: Frequent, Affordable, Educational
In Germany, the structure is simple and consistent:
- Four-year-olds go to about 10 shows, competing in 70–80 cm classes.
- Five-year-olds compete in 1.00–1.10 m classes at 15–20 shows a year.
- Six-year-olds step up to 1.20–1.30 m, again in 15–20 shows.
By the time a horse is seven, it has seen 40–50 quality, confidence-building classes. Importantly, these shows are designed for development: shorter courses, fewer fences, and judging based on performance rather than time.
“You trailer to the show, you ride the class, and then you go back home,” Reichert said. “You don’t keep the horse at the show for weeks and weeks. And it’s judged on the performance of the horse. It’s not timed, it’s not 13 jumps, it’s seven, eight, nine jumps built fairly to give the horse confidence.”
This repetition, he explains, is what makes German seven- and eight-year-olds so competitive and why American buyers so often import them.
The American Problem: Cost and Course Design
Try to replicate that model in the U.S., and the numbers are staggering. With shows costing $1,000–$1,500 a week, giving a young horse 40–50 starts can run $50,000–$70,000 before the horse even turns seven. By then, an American-bred horse would have to sell for over $120,000 just for the breeder or trainer to break even.
“That’s why we’re not competitive,” Reichert said. “The young horse has to cost double or triple just to cover the expenses. In Germany, the same horse can cost $50,000 or $60,000 because the cost to get it there is so much lower.”
Course design compounds the problem. In the U.S., many so-called “young horse” classes are just watered-down versions of standard divisions: long tracks with 12–13 jumps, two combinations, and questions designed for much older horses.
“At the big A shows, the same course gets labeled as a young horse class,” Reichert said. “And then you’re supposed to take your five-year-old in there. That’s not development. That’s not giving the horse a positive experience.”
Local shows don’t always solve the issue, either. While some offer thoughtful courses, many are plagued by inconsistent footing, poor warm-up areas, and classes that don’t reflect the careful progression young horses need.
A Cultural Difference: Valuing Young Horses
Perhaps the biggest difference Reichert sees is cultural. In Germany, the young horse scene is not an afterthought, it’s foundational. National championships for young horses draw attention and prestige equal to, if not greater than, many top sport classes. Owners, breeders, and riders are rewarded and recognized for producing quality four-, five-, and six-year-olds.
“In Europe, people acknowledge good young horses,” Reichert said. “Here it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, well, it’s a young horse class.’ It doesn’t carry the same weight. We need to focus more on the development of these young horses in order to be competitive and to stop having to import everything from Europe.”
Building a Better System in the U.S.
Reichert believes change is possible, but it requires a shift in priorities. The U.S. needs:
- More local shows designed specifically for young horses.
- Affordable entry costs that make it realistic to campaign a horse 15–20 times a year.
- Courses tailored to development, with fewer fences and confidence-building tracks.
- Recognition and prestige for young horse classes, so owners see value in producing horses at home.
“It’s about mindset,” Reichert said. “We need to create more opportunities for trainers and riders to give horses proper exposure. That’s the only way we can build a competitive pipeline here instead of buying it from overseas.”
The U.S. doesn’t lack talent, breeders, or quality horses. What it lacks is infrastructure: a thoughtful, affordable, and accessible system for producing young horses. Without it, American-bred horses will continue to struggle to compete with their European counterparts.
As Reichert put it, “We can create it here, but we need a better system. We need a better show system.”
Want more insight from David Reichert? Listen to his full conversation on The Plaidcast, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
