Interesting.
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Very interesting. I like it, in theory, though I definitely do not know enough to have an opinion! I’m not sure I appreciate how FEI rankings weigh into team selection, though the pressure to compete for points must be felt by those with only one, or just a few, horses.
This jumped out to me, personally:
If a rider has only one high-quality horse, the pressure to continually compete for points is detrimental to managing and developing that horse for an Olympic Games or world championships. With a national championship, a top horse-and-rider combination would be able to earn a position on a team without having to sit at the top of the FEI computer list or other ranking systems. An experienced rider with one quality horse could plan for performance to peak at the U.S. National Jumping Championship and, if selected, the following Olympic Games or world championships. A veteran rider with an older horse should be able to go head-to-head and compete for a spot on the team. You only get to ride one horse at the Olympic Games, no matter how many you have at home.
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Very interesting.
I really appreciate the point he brings up about only being able to ride one horse at the Olympics no matter how many others you have at home.
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Jinx! Lol.
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Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems like this pendulum swings every few Olympic cycles. The trouble with having a selection trial that I recall being brought up previously is that it means the horses have to peak twice, which is harder to maintain than if you’re just preparing them for the Olympics and lead up to that. The last time that there were trials was the year that Reed and Margie tied for the win, but only Reed was put on the team, and those trials were done while WEF was going on. That was, what, 7-8 months before the Olympics? That’s a tough timeline.
It will be interesting to see what USE does moving forward.
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Wasn’t that the year MGEs horse got hurt but would have been sound for the Games but had to miss the trials? Weren’t their lawsuits too? Maybe the Sydney Games?
Anyway, not a new discussion. Theres no way that is going to please everybody. No way to deal with all the “what ifs”.
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No, Reed was a toddler at the time of the Sydney games. I’m thinking of the 2012 trials when Margie rode Indigo.
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I still haven’t gotten over that one. Lol.
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Same - I’m shocked so many people have forgotten about that! It felt like a very big deal 11 (!!) years ago.
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Margie was put on the long list after the selection trials, just like Reed and many others, and that is all the selection trials promised. This article explains more about the actual team selection after four observation events.
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/meet-your-olympic-us-show-jumping-team/
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Didn’t the Leones sue in 1984 over LA selection?
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I thought the lawsuit was later involving the Dolans. Maybe around 1990? Unless there was a previous one.
By 1992 they were trying a completely objective qualification process for the Olympics, which didn’t really work out too well.
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I think the idea of a national championship would be cool if not for trials but for spectators and US fans. All the greats in one tournament guaranteed.
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Agreed. I’d love to watch that! <please invite the Canadians so I can watch them too! 
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