Why the hell are we doing dressage and showjump on grass. These are some of the most valuable horses in the world. We know they can go on grass or they wouldn’t be eventers. The crap footing takes away from the horses shine and also tires them out for XC the next day. In the showjumping, it makes an already tired horse work so much harder and puts them at greater risk of injury having to jump in that when tired, wear studs etc.
At least if it’s on grass then irrigate it so it’s like Spruce Meadows and not my back yard.
I love seeing them on the grass. These are eventers not dressage horses. Although I hate seeing XC jumps in an arena whether it is artificial footing or grass.
I don’t mind it. I would rather show on grass than in a ring - it’s actually one of only competitive advantages over other competitors I have now.
Eventing is already too Hunter-Jumperfied - in expectations of perfect footing, perfect accommodations, perfect venues, and in trainer expenses. I don’t want to see us turn into them, because it destroys our grassroots. We already have competitor entitlement that is killing the small venues in my area (Area 1) – including expecting perfect dressage rings and show jumping rings. That’s not what eventing is about in my opinion. Horses are made to move over grassy terrain.
I worry that if the big 5* venues convert to these perfect dressage rings and stadium rings, it would put more pressure on other venues to provide the same. Small venues just cannot feasibly provide these amenities. It might seem like a leap to you but I promise it’s all related. When we get pushback at my local venue that I volunteer at that our dressage ring is on “grass” (former alluvial fan from a long gone riverbed - it’s the PERFECT natural footing), I tell them to check out Badminton next time they think grass doesn’t belong in eventing.
I’m not talking about us though, I’m talking at these 4/5* events.
I love riding on grass too!
I agree with your comments and we already get that here in Canada. A lot of complaints about footing.
I guess I just don’t see why horses at this level have to “prove” they can dressage or showjump in a bog. If the footing was good it would be one thing but the footing is terrible at Badminton right now lol
I think tradition is important and as I said above these are event horses. If grass is so horrible why don’t we just build XC courses on artificial footing? I guess you’re a fan on indoor eventing, express eventing and other crap like that that calls itself eventing but is done in a ring.
I think we’re already there, unfortunately. Every year more and more smaller events, which tend to have rustic stabling and may show jump or do dressage on grass, are being lost in favor of events at big “equestrian centers” that can afford fancy stabling and manicured footing (often because they cater primarily to h/j and dressage clientele most weekends).
The article really inspired some negative feelings in me. The article failed to address the real issue of what is killing Area 1 events. It’s the cost to host them recognized. The reason there is a healthy unrecognized scene in Area 1 is because they are not having a governing body prey on their profits. It is profitable to run an unrecognized without having your governing body cannibalize you.
I wanted to comment on it on FB but I try really hard not to espouse negativity on that platform. However, I felt that USEA, and the writer of that article is missing the forest for the trees here. The “shifting business model” of USEA encouraging hosting events at equestrian centers is a H.J model and it needs to go if you want to preserve the authenticity of eventing in Area 1.
