Jumpers, if you want an audience, we need to change our image

[ladyj79]

(I am very confused about what jumper riders people are seeing not wearing technical fiber stretchy everything)

[Denali6298]

@ladyj79

(I am very confused about what jumper riders people are seeing not wearing technical fiber stretchy everything)

I’m very confused about jumping big sticks in paddock boots and jeans.

[PintoPony]

When/if show jumping is on TV, I think it would benefit from being presented more like how the big horse races are.

Have some footage of individual horses “behind the scenes” showing them getting a bath, munching a treat, doing the funny trick they know, etc. It makes the horses more interesting and helps people see the horses are individuals, not just breathing sports equipment.

I think it might also help to have a short segment that explains things a bit such as how faults are accessed, what makes certain jumps more difficult other than height, etc.

[ladyj79]

@Denali6298

I’m very confused about jumping big sticks in paddock boots and jeans.

I know a number who jump in paddock boots, but like parlanti paddock boots and half chaps, and then a couple who are riding in the click in paddock boot “systems”.

But as someone who does frequently ride in jeans, they really aren’t that great for jumping. Fine for flatting though :lol: but not really as flexible as tech fabric breeches.

i feel like people think jumper riders are riding in two way stretch tailored sportsmen’s and wool jackets.

[ladyj79]

@PintoPony

When/if show jumping is on TV, I think it would benefit from being presented more like how the big horse races are.

Have some footage of individual horses “behind the scenes” showing them getting a bath, munching a treat, doing the funny trick they know, etc. It makes the horses more interesting and helps people see the horses are individuals, not just breathing sports equipment.

I think it might also help to have a short segment that explains things a bit such as how faults are accessed, what makes certain jumps more difficult other than height, etc.

If you have ever watched from spruce meadows, or you watch the lgct streams, they do lots of this. Also like many other industries, lots and lots and lots and lots of this happens on social media these days.

[Denali6298]

@ladyj79

I know a number who jump in paddock boots, but like parlanti paddock boots and half chaps, and then a couple who are riding in the click in paddock boot “systems”.

But as someone who does frequently ride in jeans, they really aren’t that great for jumping. Fine for flatting though :lol: but not really as flexible as tech fabric breeches.

i feel like people think jumper riders are riding in two way stretch tailored sportsmen’s and wool jackets.

I just can’t get on board with the jeans because this one time they split at the seam at my butt! :lol::lol:

[trubandloki]

I laughed at the post above about a child not getting into riding because the parents saw how much a show outfit cost and how you can’t show rated with out a certain brand of breeches. I have shown rated hunters (when I was younger than my currently old self) on a shoe string budget (sleep in my truck budget). I have never owned a pair of Tailored Sportsman breeches but some how I was still allowed in the ring and we placed how we should have for our round. My very cheap breeches fit and were clean and were the current color (I was not wearing rust when rust was not the in thing anymore for example). No one checks the tag at the in gate and radios your brand to the judge.
I also have never encountered a barn that did not tell a parent that their kid’s first show (assumed local non-rated) the kid did not to have the whole get-up. Most barns also know where a new rider can get used stuff for next to nothing for the kids just starting out showing, which makes it far cheaper to get into showing than say dance, where a new outfit is required all the time.

@ladyj79

What kind of shirts do people think show jumpers are wearing??? Nearly every one of them is wearing a stretchy breathable tech shirt.

And usually a very stretchy breathable jacket.

Stop with the darn facts, it is ruining the complaint.

[jhg140]

@ladyj79

What kind of shirts do people think show jumpers are wearing??? Nearly every one of them is wearing a stretchy breathable tech shirt.

And usually a very stretchy breathable jacket.

I think what people are getting at is maybe ditch the jackets and have something almost jockey-like - maybe a “jersey” sort of? With sponsor patches, rider colors, etc. I really don’t think that will solve our sport’s problem but I think that’s what people mean when they say “we” need a more athletic look.

[ladyj79]

@jhg140

I think what people are getting at is maybe ditch the jackets and have something almost jockey-like - maybe a “jersey” sort of? With sponsor patches, rider colors, etc. I really don’t think that will solve our sport’s problem but I think that’s what people mean when they say “we” need a more athletic look.

:lol:

It’s hilarious because this complaint is coming from outside, not from the actual riders.

I wonder if people feel anything inside when they demand that people who arent themselves dress ridiculously and further commercialize themself for the complainer’s amusement. Like why arent riders more like gladiators who provide me more spectacle?!

More bread and circuses!!

[foursocks]

I guess it comes down to taste, but I like the jackets. When I go to schooling shows and wear a polo or whatever it doesn’t feel as put together. Also, I’m still not seeing how changing riding clothes is going to make people want to watch, or feel more connected. I’ve mentioned this before in another thread, but the rest of the show jumping world doesn’t seem to have these issues. People watch DRESSAGE on tv in Europe. Regularly.

Americans don’t have the same connection to or understanding of horses other countries do; I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked about when my next race is…on my WB. I think doing that groundwork and focusing on the horses instead of the riders would go much farther toward getting people interested. And, actually, getting into how difficult it is to do a big track, some education about the various jump types, and so on. And, people always think riding is so easy for the rider, but there are definitely ways of presenting the challenges of riding that would be effective in humanizing it a bit more.

[Pennywell_Bay]

It isn’t what people wear. In 2020- the “greats” need to have a social media presence, IMO. A lot of the “greats” are of the older generation, not really glorifying themselves or their accomplishments.

Also- be careful what we wish for. Along with a higher profile sport comes greater scrutiny. I remember at Devon a few years back, we had an unruly colt. I had a chain over his nose, gently and rhythmically pulling down on the shank as we walked. Nothing mean- it just kept his pea brain occupied. A bystander started viodetaping me and accosted me on the sideline yelling and screaming I was “abusing” the horse and he was going to post it on social media. Yes- we need to be accountable for how we treat animals, but the average person doesn’t understand horses.

[M_al]

Can y’all help us figure out how to get VAULTING set up as an Olympic sport? Or a television-covered sport? We’ll cover the bases … splashy, figure-skating-esque outfits and lower cost to entry level sport. Exciting (freestyle round, at least) for spectators. By this measure, we’ve got it made! (In reality, we’re rolling the boulder up the hill even within equestrian sport!) :lol::lol:

[173north]

@Pennywell Bay

Also- be careful what we wish for. Along with a higher profile sport comes greater scrutiny. I remember at Devon a few years back, we had an unruly colt. I had a chain over his nose, gently and rhythmically pulling down on the shank as we walked. Nothing mean- it just kept his pea brain occupied. A bystander started viodetaping me and accosted me on the sideline yelling and screaming I was “abusing” the horse and he was going to post it on social media. Yes- we need to be accountable for how we treat animals, but the average person doesn’t understand horses.

Even with the best riders and best intentions, shit happens - if a horse stops and needs a tap with the whip, to a non-horsey audience that could certainly read as cruel. What happens when someone digs in a spur wrong and bloodies their horses’ flank - which has happened to top dressage riders at the Olympics, which seemed to be an utter accident? What if we have another Hickstead and a horse drops dead on live TV with a huge audience?

When the Kocher electric spur drama went down I was so grateful we don’t get massive media attention.

This all happens in racing but racing fans are in it mostly for gambling, I think, not love of the horse. If we are trying to push the horse as star and the partnership between horse and rider as what makes this sport special - plenty of what happens in top sport is at odds with that.

[kaya842]

@Compadre

I’d be more interested in watching (and TBH, even trying) something English like jumping, if I didn’t find the required attire really stuffy and boring looking. I’m not about to spend a few hundred dollars on an outfit that I frankly would feel stupid in, and its my least favorite part of watching the events. Jockeys wear bright colors, but other than that their outfits are pretty much designed for practicality. They look more like athletes than starched gentlemen.

I’m not trying to offend anybody who likes the outfit. But I do think it’s not completely unfounded. If the requirement was removed I imagine a lot of top level riders would keep it out of tradition anyway.

But, a high financial barrier of entry is already a big problem for equestrian sports. Why make it worse with a bunch of purely aesthetic requirements?

I have a similar disagreement with certain Western disciplines, where you need a silver encrusted saddle and bridle.

I’m slightly confused: jockeys wear a very similar outfit as jumpers except for their “colorful” silks. The silks aren’t chosen by the jockeys FWIW, and tend to look a little “billowy” on their small frames. Are the silks what make them look like athletes over jumper riders? Or is it that racing has been seen as a sport for much longer where the jockeys are seen as reigning in a fire breathing, muscled up TB (which they 100% do) where as a hunter horse could be mistaken as something anyone could ride?

I also disagree that the costs of a jumper “outfit” is a barrier for entry. My first boots and half chaps cost maybe $50 together, a $75 helmet that lasted forever, a pair of $25-30 breeches and hand me down show shirt and jacket that I showed in and placed/ won. Sure the argument could be made that the hunters are more about what brands you are wearing but they still aren’t a requirement to compete or ride well.

[Trees4U]

Late to this party-

I haven’t read all the posts but I assume (given the title of the thread) its about getting a larger viewing audience. I believe that although people know what a horse is, few have ever sat on one,much less competed. However, just about everyone has thrown, kicked, or hit a ball.This translates into something relatable. Kids throwing a basketball, baseball, football, soccer, etc. -possibly playing sports in elementary, middle and high school (male & female). And maybe college.Most people can connect if they have some experience - maybe its taking golf or tennis lessons.And car racing - well we all drive so thats a connection (and the danger!!)

Just my thoughts from experience being a female jock (not jockey) who was on a few recreational ball teams back in the day and has owned and rode in (small) hunter shows over the past 35 years. (And will “go long” for a pass from my husband when football season opens)
And lets not forget,we lost one of our greatest horsewomen/sponsors/ advocates in Elizabeth Busch Burke and Anheuser-Busch !!

[mmeqcenter]

@trubandloki

I laughed at the post above about a child not getting into riding because the parents saw how much a show outfit cost and how you can’t show rated with out a certain brand of breeches. I have shown rated hunters (when I was younger than my currently old self) on a shoe string budget (sleep in my truck budget). I have never owned a pair of Tailored Sportsman breeches but some how I was still allowed in the ring and we placed how we should have for our round. My very cheap breeches fit and were clean and were the current color (I was not wearing rust when rust was not the in thing anymore for example). No one checks the tag at the in gate and radios your brand to the judge.
I also have never encountered a barn that did not tell a parent that their kid’s first show (assumed local non-rated) the kid did not to have the whole get-up. Most barns also know where a new rider can get used stuff for next to nothing for the kids just starting out showing, which makes it far cheaper to get into showing than say dance, where a new outfit is required all the time.

Wow, I can’t roll my eyes harder. Because I said anything about the expensive items being a requirement that stewards check?? Sure.
One only has to peruse the COTH forums to see evidence of modern-day people at A shows, even non-A shows, telling other people they MUST get TS breeches or whatever brand helmet or they’ll stick out “and not in a good way.” Much less talk to trainers at barns that show on the circuits, even those that don’t sometimes. Probably it wasn’t as strong of an expectation in the community when you showed A hunters, possibly you didn’t care what others had to say, but I assure you, right or wrong, many people do care what others are saying about them. Especially children. My boyfriend recounts tales from middle school where his mom bought him sneakers from Kohls and he was ridiculed the next day school. My middle-school age niece now tells me similar stories, such as the time her mom got her off-brand “Airpods” and her own “friends” made fun of her at school. Only five years ago, a friend a few years younger than me was signing up for the IHSA college team, and after sign-up was told she was required to have TS breeches and a CO helmet.
Also, I’ve encountered many barns who showed local who required that all students DO have the full get-up.

What a place of privilege, to not understand how the difference between $700 to have their kid fit-in while participating in a sport vs $100 to have their kid fit-in while participating in a sport can be the deciding factor between which sport a kid gets to do.

[gottagrey]

@Denali6298

The coverage has always been so edited that there wasn’t time. And also, they need better announcers. I mute my TV or feed. If we had the announcers the UK has? It would be more enjoyable. Instead we get Melanie Smith and Karen O’Conner. Dry for the non-equestrian and annoying for us who ride.

Agree - most of the UK announcers can be quite colorful - I remember watching Badminton or Burghley video . a rider took a head over into a ditch. The commentator " I dare say if she was in a dive competiton she’d rate a pretty high tariff" LOL. As much as I like Melanie Smith and Karen O’Connor I seriously doubt they’d come up with a line like that but rather analyze the reason for the fall, play it back.

I also wonder what attire the OP would rather see SJ riders wearing? For most classes other than formal ones, jumper riders are wearing polos or the more techwear shirts. And I’m sorry I know plenty of people rally around Danielle Golstein’s “style” but frankly having just seen a picture of her in a black lace jacket and white tank, she looks like she’s channeling 80’s Madonna fashion with the addition of masses of flowing feathers . IMO it’s simply not a great look - Madonna gave it up for a reason (and she was in her 20’s then)

And then there are the riders who represent their country and as such wear their team/country coat. What does the OP suggest as an alternative? IDo you think McLain Ward or Markus Fuchs would be more honored to enter a arena in a team crew neck t-shirt or the team jacket?

I know some of the folks on the MD5* planning committee - never have I heard any of them say what we need to do to attract spectators is better clothes on the riders. One of them comes from tennis. In our conversations he never once mentioned attire as a driving force to tenns viewership - in person or televised. Badminton and Burghely both attract about 250,000 spectators over the 3 days - XC day being the largest attendance. When I went to both last year, I will admit I was curious about outfits - but for the JOG not anything else. Maybe it’s the 500+ vendors that attracts them? Maybe it’s the love of horses and the 500+ vendors

We have a big steeplechase here - the Virginia Gold Cup. It gets a huge crowd. While the attendees frett over what to wear but could care less what the jockeys are wearing. Fact is only a small percent of the attendees there even watch the race that much. It’s a gianormous cocktail party. So again OP please share with us what you think riders should wear .

[trubandloki]

@mmeqcenter

Wow, I can’t roll my eyes harder. Because I said anything about the expensive items being a requirement that stewards check?? Sure.
One only has to peruse the COTH forums to see evidence of modern-day people at A shows, even non-A shows, telling other people they MUST get TS breeches or whatever brand helmet or they’ll stick out “and not in a good way.” Much less talk to trainers at barns that show on the circuits, even those that don’t sometimes. Probably it wasn’t as strong of an expectation in the community when you showed A hunters, possibly you didn’t care what others had to say, but I assure you, right or wrong, many people do care what others are saying about them. Especially children. My boyfriend recounts tales from middle school where his mom bought him sneakers from Kohls and he was ridiculed the next day school. My middle-school age niece now tells me similar stories, such as the time her mom got her off-brand “Airpods” and her own “friends” made fun of her at school. Only five years ago, a friend a few years younger than me was signing up for the IHSA college team, and after sign-up was told she was required to have TS breeches and a CO helmet.
Also, I’ve encountered many barns who showed local who required that all students DO have the full get-up.

What a place of privilege, to not understand how the difference between $700 to have their kid fit-in while participating in a sport vs $100 to have their kid fit-in while participating in a sport can be the deciding factor between which sport a kid gets to do.

Peer pressure and teasing has been around since…forever. Even when I was a kid.
Maybe I just had a good team of people at the barn I trained with, or maybe I just have a thick skin from always being the person who did not have the in brand of things, but though the pressure to have the right brand was clearly there no one acted like it was wrong to not have the TS breeches or a certain name brand of helmet.
There were certainly people I showed with that did have the seasons most in style clothes, helmets and even saddles.
I will add that even a requirement to have TS breeches would not have gotten me to buy them. They did not (and I assume still do not) make a pair of breeches that fit the shape of my body. (Or maybe they have come out of the dark ages and realize that some women have thighs that are bigger around than their upper arm is.)

Because there is peer pressure to have a certain brand in no way makes it a requirement.

MMeqcenter, my comment was not and is not a personal jab on you. I just found your post different than my personal experience and I wanted to say that.

[ladyj79]

Let’s also please stop combining show jumping and hunters in our minds and conversations. These are very very different sports, with different mindsets, mentalities, real and perceived requirements.

[Pennywell_Bay]

Agree with LJ79. Side note- I showed in the jumpers wearing a safety vest last weekend. I also showed in the hunters in July wearing it. But I’m older and REALLLYY don’t care if anyone gave me the side eye. The only thing I had was a few juniors telling me to take it off before their moms saw me in it LOL.