Horse sport in danger for next Olympics!!

[chukkerchild]

[QUOTE=flshgordon;3484455]
Yes you CAN rack up a 6 figure bill doing anything, but none of those other disciplines require you to have more than one (at least 4) horses to compete

Can you imagine the bill to import 16 horses for every team to play polo in the olympics?[/QUOTE]

You don’t. Horses are provided by the host country for polo; at least, they are for international tournaments and the world championships. The horses aren’t as big of an issue in polo as they are in showjumping and eventing and dressage. Yes, you want good ponies, but it is expected that a good player can handle most horses and still perform well.

When we have tournaments with teams visiting from considerable distances, our club bands together to supply them with horses. It’s common courtesy that you give your visitors good horses. Usually there’s a discussion about what sort of horses best suit the visitors (quieter ones, faster ones, greener ones, etc) the night before.

But of course, the fabulous team comes in all prepared to whip you… “Here ya go, have old Bucky here…”

Polo is trying to get back into the Olympics. I don’t really think it will happen, but we’re trying. London could have been a great venue, lots of horses avaliable there.

[ThreeFigs]

I’d like to see the Equestrian sports remain in the Olympics. Every subjective sport has its problems, as others have stated, gymnastics and skating and diving and the like have all had their share of judging scandals. So what? We at the lower levels have to deal with that, too from time to time.

I buy the DVD’s of the Olympic rides because I do not subscribe to any cable or satellite TV and could not always find any way to access video on the 'net. I followed the scores and placings as best I could. I would miss equestrian sports if they were dropped from the olympics.

JMO

[Drvmb1ggl3]

@ponyjumper4;3484528

Actually, it’s pretty true. I know one of the top reiners in the US, who is also a judge and won many world titles. This is the best breeding year he’s had, selling all his weanlings born (about 18 or so) to clients overseas. He travels over to Europe frequently to clinic. He’s got trips to the UK and Italy coming up. When I was at his place about a week ago, he had just had a client from Italy leave, and had from the Netherlands I think there. The market is huge over there.

There is no doubt that reining is a growing sport in Europe (of course it had no where to go but up, as it was unheard of 15-20 years ago), but whoever has been telling you that it eclipses any of the 3 Olympic disciplines in popularity has been telling you porkies, or grossly exaggerating. It’s still very much a minority sport. It would have a long way to go to get bigger than Showjumping esp. I would say it even lags behind Endurance and Driving and maybe vaulting, in terms of participation and general familiarity/popularity with the public.

[DancingQueen]

@Equibrit;3484863

I am quite happy that horse sports will never find popular support amongst the masses. It means we will probably never have to;

Wear sequins.
Make public appearances at grocery stores.
Appear in People Magazine.
Make TV commercials.
Have “Viagra” embroidered on a saddle pad.
Give clinics to large middle aged housewives.
Witness more horse abuse.
etc, etc, etc.

Aww. I always wanted to get Always to sponsor me on my junior horse Adrienne back in the day.

The slogan would be
“Always Adrienne”, now with wings for extra protection!:lol:

[belambi]

[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;3485452]
There is no doubt that reining is a growing sport in Europe (of course it had no where to go but up, as it was unheard of 15-20 years ago), but whoever has been telling you that it eclipses any of the 3 Olympic disciplines in popularity has been telling you porkies, or grossly exaggerating. It’s still very much a minority sport. It would have a long way to go to get bigger than Showjumping esp. I would say it even lags behind Endurance and Driving and maybe vaulting, in terms of participation and general familiarity/popularity with the public.[/QUOTE]

reining is the fastest GROWING of the FEI disciplines.

[Geneva]

@belambi;3485519

reining is the fastest GROWING of the FEI disciplines.

Not at FEI level, as you can see from the FEI annual report (p. 78-9). As an FEI discipline (which is what would be proposed to the IOC) it is actually still quite small and has nowhere near the rate of growth of endurance.

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=belambi;3485519]
reining is the fastest GROWING of the FEI disciplines.[/QUOTE]

Well, the allegation was that reining has overtaken (eclipsed) all other FEI disciplines worldwide. As I said, I find it hard to believe even if you just consider the THOUSANDS of Hanoverians born in Germany alone each year, not to mention all other WBs, all other countries, and all other breeds bred for performance other than reining. That someone exported 18 QH weanlings this year to Europe is a mere droplet in an ocean (and btw, exports of all youngsters are up now due to the strength of the Euro).

[Rainbow_Farm_Unltd]

Since when do we believe allegations???

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=DancingQueen;3485486]
Aww. I always wanted to get Always to sponsor me on my junior horse Adrienne back in the day.

The slogan would be
“Always Adrienne”, now with wings for extra protection!:lol:[/QUOTE]

LOL! I think that’s marketing genius.

And sequins? Please. Swarovski crystals give you much more bling for your buck.

[Happy_Feet]

I’ll admit now I haven’t read most of the responses…
Although I understand the argument our beloved sport is hard for the average person to love and appreciate, I do think it is a cop out. Honestly, any artistic sport can be difficult, how many average people know if the diver did a 3 twist yadyada or a 2 1/2. Uhhhh certainly not me! Or if the vaulter had its knees slightly bent of a nano second? Not me! To truely appreciate artistic sports you must know a bit about them. That doesn’t stop diving (honestly lovely and fun to watch but a bit boring after the 3 round of dives) or curling, or ping pong. For Gods sake, Golf is a prime time (okay a GAME not a sport and not in the Olympics…) with hundreds of thousands of dollars in price money to the top 5 or so players. You can’t even see the ball most of the time and end up looking at the tops of the trees!
We as dressage professionals and lovers, have done a terrible job marketing, packaging and pushing our sport onto the public. Dressage is expensive, in order for the sport to continue in the USA in an internationly competitive capacity, we have to attract sponsors, prize money and noteriety for our professionals. Dressage being an Olymp[ic sport is one of the few things that attracts sponsors. The thought of having your horse in the Olympics or sending your trainer there etc…
The people who say let it go - very sad.
This should be a wake up call, and a push to get our act together to keep this sport going.

[ise]

I’m not sure pulling equestrian sports from the Olympics would be bad for the sport in general. There clearly seems to be a disconnect between the FEI and the horse competition world. The cost and overloaded bureaucracy that is exists to send a small number of horse to the games is disproportionate to the various disciplines involved.

These issues of doping and testing in various venues always creates more questions than answers. As far as I’m concerned they should pull blood on all the horses daily and it would be pretty obvious if any were doping and also obvious if something unusual was going on.

There’s enough competition at the WEG’s and other big competitions to facilitate assisting more horse/riders to compete instead of this manic obsession with the Olympics. In the past it was different - marketing and TV were not such a major issue. Now it the sport doesn’t fit some entertainment guru’s formula - well change the sport to fit the time slot. The price is being paid by the horses and in some instances the riders.

If we truly love our horses and the equestrian sports - stepping away from contrived adaptations of the disciplines to fit some viewing audience that may or may not get a glimpse for more than 10 minutes at a time - then we have completely failed our responsbility as horsemen and horsewomen.

We need to take back our sport.

[ponyjumper4]

@YankeeLawyer;3484570

I agree that there are some reining enthusiasts in Europe. But do you have any idea how many Hanoverians alone are bred in Germany alone each year? Not to mention all other WBs, all countries? Plus other breeds not used for reining? That showjumping is the second most popular sport in England next to football (so empirically reining is at least not more popular there??)

I never said it was larger than the 3 main disciplines, I agreed to it growing very quickly, and it is, worldwide. It still has a lot of ground to catch, but it is the fastest growing equine sport.

[YankeeLawyer]

[QUOTE=ponyjumper4;3485978]
I never said it was larger than the 3 main disciplines, I agreed to it growing very quickly, and it is, worldwide. It still has a lot of ground to catch, but it is the fastest growing equine sport.[/QUOTE]

Someone else did

[freestyle2music]

Putting all these discussion and postings aside :

It’s nice to see that we have somebody who fight (quod none) to keep the equestrian sport on the Olympic agenda. From day one I found that the election of Princess Haya etc.etc.etc… was the biggest mistake the FEI could make.

Theo

[Mardi]

[QUOTE=grayarabpony;3483179]
Honestly I really wish that the Olympics had a permanent venue.

It would really be a shame for the equestrian sports to be dropped.[/QUOTE]

I agree about a permanent venue. Trying to find adequate facilites or build them in each host city has become very, very expensive. A permanent Olympic venue - one for summer, another for winter - would become a mecca for atheletes from around the world.

I’ve felt the same way about the Super Bowl. The NFL should build a new stadium in say, Arizona, and hotels, and training facilities would be built around it. That way they can buld the stadium just as they want it, and stop torturing cities into expanding or renovating their city-owned stadiums just to have a shot at joining the rotation of selected cities, and hosting a Super Bowl once every few years.

[slc2]

I think the horse sports could be removed merely due to the three separate banned substance incidents. No pageant likes that kind of stuff.

[J_Turner]

Maybe they could move it to the winter games … indoor venues for dressage and sj … more like the World Cup. Of course that would leave eventing out, but then again, maybe they plow a track and put down tapeta/all weather footing. You wouldn’t have to worry about heat issues … that’s for sure. The Winter Games have far fewer sports … many supported by the same countries (northern European) that excel in equestrian like biathalon, x-c skiing, curling.

Why aren’t volleyball, ping pong, and fencing in the winter Olympics?

Maybe they could have a modern winter pentathalon: riding, biathalon, slalom skiing, speed skating, and figure skating.

Partly jest, a little serious!

[Ajierene]

[QUOTE=Mardi;3488034]
I agree about a permanent venue. Trying to find adequate facilites or build them in each host city has become very, very expensive. A permanent Olympic venue - one for summer, another for winter - would become a mecca for atheletes from around the world.

I’ve felt the same way about the Super Bowl. The NFL should build a new stadium in say, Arizona, and hotels, and training facilities would be built around it. That way they can buld the stadium just as they want it, and stop torturing cities into expanding or renovating their city-owned stadiums just to have a shot at joining the rotation of selected cities, and hosting a Super Bowl once every few years.[/QUOTE]

The problem with this, for both the NFL and Olympics is where to put it. Countries halfway around the world complaining that it isn’t fair they ALWAYS have to travel to the farthest, which is impeding their economic ability to go to the Olympics. Countries will complain that all the economic advantages go to one country. While building the stadium may be expensive, if you have people continue to visit the location, the country will eventually break even and may even profit.

For the NFL, you will have the same arguments with the states.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=J. Turner;3488634]

Why aren’t volleyball, ping pong, and fencing in the winter Olympics?

Maybe they could have a modern winter pentathalon: riding, biathalon, slalom skiing, speed skating, and figure skating.

Partly jest, a little serious![/QUOTE]

Hey, there’s been some serious suggestion that dancesport should be in the Winter Games because the major “season” sort of runs fall-late spring. Of course there are comps all year, plus figure skating has kind of maxed out the sequin quotient…

I think the reason indoor sports end up in the Summer Games is most of the winter events (if you set aside the invention of artificial ice rinks and snowmaking machines for ski runs) require that there be actual winter outside to do them–you can’t ski without snow. No skating without ice. Whereas the summer sports, while some can be done strictly indoors, aren’t really weather-dependent.

[ridenslide]

Hey
Pony-I’m the other reiner that isn’t believed.:winkgrin:
At our small regional shows this summer,we have shown from 7:00AM until 2:00AM without fail, one even went until 6:00 AM,beginning again at &7:00, an hour later.

This is a local show. The entries were JUST a little unexpected.:eek:
You can verify that somehow!
You CAN check the number of entries at NRHA events.THe Derby &Futurity,the NRBC all have 300-600 Open Entries,making the first round last over 2-3 DAYS.The same goes for the Non-Pro Division.
THere are usually no less than 25-45 per class in Rookie & Youth at the local shows.Limited Non Pro is usually 40+…Our shows have Young Rider/USET classes at Regional shows, not just FEI shows.And kids show in them.

These numbers jump to near 100 entries in classes at the larger shows that have any money added or a Big Derby or Futurity.

At the AQHA classes, in the Amateur this year we have been running 20-30 horses in an area where most people use AQHA shows to school IF they are not at an NRHA show.When they are home, the open can close in on 30,too.

The AQHya World Championship show had 40 more entries this yearin the Youth reining, even withthe gas prices.

The AQHA reached the 5,000,000th horse registered earlier this year.
THEY keep records of what breeders are breeding FOR and once horses show, what they are showing in, even if they are registered with the
West High Blue Mountain Packing Mule Company.The FEI is one of the organizations that they keep up with,since reining IS an FEI sport.There will be reining at the WEG. THere has been reining at the USET Festivals.

I used to laugh at th AQHA.Until I realized that companies that I won’t name, but you would recognize the names of,go there to learn how to build teamwork & how to work more efficiently.!TRUST ME. They are a BUSINESS. Ask Andrew Ellis.

I wish I could say that showjumping was growing at a faster pace, or endurance, or driving, but it is not.

They put reining on NBC & TV for a reason. There IS an audience.
85% of people who ride, do so in a Western saddle.Most of those never compete.Of the ones who compete, the MAJORITY are doing so in weekend jackpot rodeos.The rest…

Most are just your average, weekend trailrider, whose horses actually work a lot harder than our “elite” athletes."
A lot of these riders are men.

I have had to learn this humbling lesson since adding Western tack, Justin , Wrangler,Cruel Girl & especially Carhartt to an ENGLISH tack shop!! :eek: :eek: :winkgrin::lol:
So,after 32 years of riding hunters & jumpers, WOW…it has been eye opening.
What do these people want to see on TV?

Well- they evidently want to see stuff about the Quarter Horse. There is stuff about reining & cutting ALL the time.And they Love Show jumping.
I love to watch the upper levels of ALL horse sports.So, this is not my opinion.

And they LO_OVE PBR! & Barrel Racing!So…
I don’t see bull riding making it to the Olympics, but I guarantee, it would be a sell out!
Remember, though,A lot of these people ARE men.
Nobody really watched swimming like they did until these olympics!
I wanted to see more archery. Go figure.:lol:
THAT ain’t happenin’!!!
Polo in the Olympics :eek:,mmm,no.:no:

I can see Crosscountry being on its way out.It is too expensive to put in such a specialized course that is up to the standards needed today. It is not like the days of Bromont or LA.Big & open would do.Then there is the need for the land.It just is not there all the time.Even here.

Ponyjumper is right on all counts. Those people go shopping before they go to the airport. They always have.Even when the Euro wasn’t as strong.It is awesome now, thoughfor them:( horse wise!!!
I understand your doubts Yankee, but it is amazing.People can have a dream, a sand arena,a saddle with no silver,a cheap horse that slips through the cracks, and thre are SOOOO many being bred- do you know how many??With unlimited embyo transfers now able to be registered a mare can have unlimited babies a year.My horse now has 23 FULL siblings. He is 11.
14 are showing.All are Big money winners.His 3/4 brothers …I can’t even count now, with just a few of them winning a total ofover $1,000,000 a few years ago, the past two years, the number is over a hundred.That is from ONE breeder.
There are breeders all over the county who have 100 or more babies a year.
I will get the NRHA number of competition licences it gives a year. Horses don’t even have to be recognised to rein. They can be the"extra" in the straw!Grade, if you will.One of the nicest horses out there right now, is GRADE. She is by a great stallion, out of old Bessie.

But this isn’t supposed to be about reining. It is supposed to be about Horses in the Olympics.

I think the most user friendly, easiest to understand, entertaining of the FEI sports are
Show jumping
Reining
Dressage-if it were judged like reining,tests were shorter, and there could be ride offs!
3 day- love it- not user friendly for tv!!

And whoever didn’t want to see sequins & logos…LOL!Watch out for the WEG!!THere is BLING in the RING!:lol::lol::eek: