Just wondering if you even know what I was talking about… I am totally against this North Dakota law and I think the final decision of the court is kind of ridiculous, because it didn’t eliminate the law but told the companies which run the reservations to provide street names for the houses in the reservation…
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Of course for all this money you pay you need some nice ribbons… My path is different…you are right about it…
This thread is, um, controversial enough. I’d let the politics die. Or continue the conversation over in Current Events.
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My apologies - I didn’t read the sarcasm in your original posts and I’m not good with tracking names with personalities here. There are more than a few COTH posters who would have posted what you did completely “straight faced”.
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Not a problem at all, glad we sorted it out 
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So much this. Just look at where the money goes for “grants.” And, more importantly, where it comes from.
Board members are well funded -or believe me they would not hold positions on the board at USEF. Those Pro’s who receive grants (the big one’s/50k plus) aren’t necessarily the “best & most talented.” They’re just the best WRT their friendships with said board members. ESPECIALLY board members who directly are reps to the USOPC.
The Ammies and YR’s who receive grants- are given 500 - 1k only. And guess where it goes? Right back in the pockets of the people who first received the “big grants.” An example- a YR or ammie gets a $500 grant to “develop her career,” or “discover dressage.” She wrote in her application that she wants a clinic with (totally randomly picked by me “sort of,” bigger name trainer ) Endel Ots. (Sorry EO… just picked a name from the grant recipient program - out of a hat… if you will, no harm intended.) Endel just received (let’s say) a huge grant from the Fritz Kundrun fund. “Discover Dressage.” Now, YR/ammie will use her “grant,” to pay “Endel,” to take whatever $500-1k will buy her. A nice recycling of funds, just a bit lopsided in size and scale. The YR (or ammie) can’t earn money from “clients who train with them.” That would deem them “pro.” Yet, the lion’s share of the grants are awarded to the bigger name’s in the sport (NOT the biggest - Bc they are busy “running the show) who can and do earn big bucks from their clients.
And let’s face it. What does 500 or even 1k really do for a YR or ammie really wanting to develop their skills & horses? One lesson? 3? One clinic?
The point is, USEF has pretty much zero interest in keeping ammies or even “low level pro’s,” in the competition ring. Or, the participation circle. Will they take your $$? Of course? But, They have their “winners,” already chosen by the largest donors’ reps/in pocket board members of USEF and their chosen board member rep/s to the USOPC. I think it should all be re-written. I think there shouldn’t be a CEO for the charity of “private donors.” If we were all privy to who works directly for these private donors - who also sit on the board of USEF… the picture would become a whole lot clearer- and much less like-able.
Zipping my flame suit now… Bc… if we really took a closer look, we’d have to admit, some VERY shady things have occurred. USEF receives “Discover Dressage,” “Developing Dressage,” and almost every other Dressage related charity donation- NOT USDF. The people running the show are few. But, they are running the “show.” And until something is done about that -tiny squabbles re “who is really an ammie or pro,” and “how or if (g) we should ‘report them” (maybe so, maybe not) - is just a distraction to the bigger picture. And whether it’s fair or not, (not even thinking about providing my opinion here) this is the way it will continue. It was never meant to be “inclusive.” Just to provide the illusion that it is while both ammies & lesser known pro’s happily throw more & more money at the most well funded NGB possibly ever. USEF.
Either some of us love competing & training Bc it’s fun regardless of that “bigger picture,” - or some (g) love competing to put others down. Until the larger issue is solved, (something tells me it’s not off the table at the moment) the best we can do is be the former- NOT the latter. Just my 2 cents- and that’s exactly what’s it worth.
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Sometimes, I read your posts and wish there were a way to press the “like,” button 500 times. 
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I write better than I ride 
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Then why keep complaining about my path? (and I dont pay all that money for ribbons. I usually dont get one unless the class is small. After all, with my median score hovering around 63%, I am hardly up there with the blue ribbon winners… )
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Hey, a skill is a skill! We probably all have our riding struggles! But… if I could write like you, (pointedly, without any condescension- humorously, without any person being the “butt of the joke,” thoughtfully, providing an opinion worth reading …etc, etc) - I’d have myself quite the parade! :-))
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I think you are over-simplifying people’s concerns here. This post proves it.
It’s great that you have a ride-a-test at your barn. Not everyone does. Sure, I’ve ridden tests with S and I judges but it’s not the same in my home arena. The issues aren’t about ribbons, but relative placements and scores. Sure, they leads to ribbons but please stop over-simplifying that it is all about the ribbons for some. That’s inaccurate and a bit obtuse.
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I just got myself a world’s Okayest horse rider sweatshirt, and I love it.
I do nothing for accolades, I just do what I like, and try to enjoy myself! I don’t know why people keep doing this if they aren’t really enjoying it.
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I believe our horse’s first championship cooler cost about $50,000 only to become our dog’s favorite for to sleep on
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I did say I don’t understand the issue, so please help me see what I’m missing. If the concern is solely about placement relative to other riders, then how is that different than a concern about ribbons / winning?
If the concern is solely about scores, then it doesn’t matter who you are competing against. Your score is your score.
Again, isn’t that the whole point of dressage? You can control (to a certain extent lol) how well you and your horse perform your test. You have the power to influence your score.
It’s totally out of your control who you are competing against on any given day. You have no power to influence whether they all have terrible rides, placing you at the top of the class, or they all have better rides, fancier horses, and more training time than you, placing you at the bottom. So why waste energy fretting about something completely out of your control?
In both scenarios, you ride your test the same and your score doesn’t change more than a point or two each way, depending on how much “room” the judge likes to leave themselves when scoring the first couple of rides. Judges really do have a good idea in their heads of what an 8 or a 7 or a 5 looks like at each level and they really do judge to that standard.
I apologize that I don’t understand why some are so concerned about how other people ride and score when that has little to no bearing on your own scores.
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Where?? Sounds like something I must purchase! Although “okayest” is a stretch for someone like me who still struggles with sitting trot lol
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Stop complaining that this is about ribbons and winning. It’s not. So obtuse and short sighted.
Yes, your score can be very influenced by who is in the class. I’m not fretting, I’m making an observation. Please stop trivializing peoples’ input if you can. Yes, your score does change as the judge often judges you against the others in your class. No, judges do not have a constant scale in their heads, esp with collective marks. I’ve done enough clinics and socialized with S and I judges to make this statement.
You seem to boil this down to something as simple as people being “so concerned about how other people ride and score”. I’m sure that’s how you mentally wrap up the whole argument. You don’t seem to be very apologetic about your seemingly fixed mindset despite your words. I’m sure in your mind, it’s all about the ribbons.
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Etsy, my friend, land of magical comedic sweatshirts 
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? I don’t complain about your path, you always take the blame and tell me that I am wrong… I am not interested in your path of riding… I saw you once riding and thought it looked competent.
the only thing I am worried about it your uncritical love for the organisation… And it’s not your uncritical love for the organisation per se, That’s your personal thing…
But that you are representing other members as well… I would think if you represent other people, you should at least try to accept that they feel different… When I was still member and had to choice to pick my representative I never picked you because I would like to be represented by somebody who tries to represent me…
But that’s only stupid me… I am gone now and wish you well for your path…
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Great post!!! Of course it’s about the ribbons!! But nobody would ever admit it!!
and BTW I am riding for ribbons as well!! Of course getting one is nice… but the tougher the competition, the nicer it is to get it…
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