Karl Cook Wins for California In Inaugural World Cup Class (Video.)

[Rumorhasit93]

@skydy

Developing a “style” at that level comes from riding many horses, learning what works well for you, your body type, and what position affects your ability to balance yourself while guiding each horse, not from “copying” another rider’s position.

Yeah well, Conor is her coach - kinda.

I watch CMH like I get paid to do it. I also know this rider from before she started working with Conor and how she rode then. She is “copying” his “style”. It’s not like I made it up.

Once again, my point is that people watch these big successful riders and will try to copy them. I’m watching it in real time. And instead of developing their own style as you are saying (and Karl is saying), they…aren’t. And once again, it’s about being better for the horses.

[Temecula_Jumper]

Not arguing with you. The question was asked to name one upcoming rider from a non-wealthy family. I simply answered the question.

[TWilson]

@Temecula_Jumper

Not arguing with you. The question was asked to name one upcoming rider from a non-wealthy family. I simply answered the question.

I understood your intention, and I wasn’t calling you out specifically - my comment was just a general one. That wasn’t clear though - sorry.

[Belmont]

I think Skylar is an incredible young talent and works incredibly hard.

However, I wouldn’t say she didn’t come from “wealth”. Just because it’s not billions, it doesn’t mean you don’t come from more money than your average rider and have more opportunity. Her mother was/is a trainer of a successful program in So Cal. She grew up showing the A/AA circuit. She has access to Peter Wylde as her coach. They buy and sell high dollar horses. There is money there. Same with Carlee McCutcheon.

Both of these young riders work hard and I think could be the future of our sport if they find the right backers, but just because they can’t go out and buy a $15m International Super Star, doesn’t mean they aren’t wealthy. In all horse sports, there is always wealthier.

I think when people ask “name someone who isn’t wealthy”, they mean name someone like the average person. Name a kid riding in the GPs whos parents make a combined $150k a year or less, that aren’t professionals in the horse business, that are “normal”. Not, name a hard working kid that comes from an area of privilege that 90% of the young talent in the sport doesn’t have access to.

[Temecula_Jumper]

Skylar and her family are not wealthy. They are the definition of a middle-class, average family. Skylar has gotten to where she is through extreme hard work and talent and because of that, others in the sport have given her many opportunities.

[Djones]

@Temecula_Jumper

Skylar and her family are not wealthy. They are the definition of a middle-class, average family. Skylar has gotten to where she is through extreme hard work and talent and because of that, others in the sport have given her many opportunities.

I think she’s a good example of the differences for someone like Karl. He doesn’t have to build a network of owners and sponsors, he doesn’t have to build good will and leave a good impression so that down the line people with horses and money and interest are inclined to steer horses his way or even have a positive impression of him. Skylar has to build a solid personal brand in an effort to secure a pipeline of horses and backers. Karl has to be careful about who’s a sycophant sucking up to his money vs who’s real and honest in their interest in him.

Karl can roll in and be weird and sell ridiculous Fuck Off hoodies because he can do whatever he wants however he wants.

I am not saying he’s a jerk, not at all. I am saying he doesn’t have the pressure that Skylar and 99% of other riders do to conform and play the corporate game.

[Djones]

Addendum to my comment. I am local to a very, very wealthy horse woman who enjoys generational wealth. While she enjoys friendships with a range of wealth-level people, she has just lived a different life. I was at her farm for a clinic when the topic of pony rides for kids at birthday parties came up, and the collective commentary was fun and happy and collaborative. Someone asked her if she ever had pony rides at one of her birthday parties as a child. She rolled her eyes and said of course not, I already had a show pony by the time I was 5 years old. Her tone was contemptuous, even scornful of the idea. I watched her look around for a peer to agree with her and found none. I felt bad for her; you could see that now she was a little uncomfortable and the topic petered out…

He’s the odd man out, and being different can create opportunities for wrinkles and rubs.

[Peggy]

And it was not all that long ago that they were doing a good mix of county shows.

EAP got Skylar to Peter Wylde which got her noticed and brought opportunities. And probably clients.

Once Skylar started to get noticed more, natural talent, her mom’s great skills, both of their pleasantness, and a lot of hard work got them to where they are now.

[Temecula_Jumper]

Exactly! Chestnut Hills was a county-level barn for most of Skylar’s life. They maybe did one or two A shows a year. They still do their own grooming, braiding, etc. and still run an IEA team.

[MHM]

The story I remember about Skylar Wireman was the one where she stopped to help somebody who had a flat tire on their trailer when she was still a junior, or something like that. And she had the knowledge to do it because she was a farm kid.

And then a few years down the road, I believe that same person had a nice horse that Skylar ended up showing. But I’m pretty sure that’s not why she stopped to help in the first place.

And then after doing extremely well in the equitation towards the end of her junior career, I think she went on to win a Grand Prix at pretty much her first show as a professional the next month. And then she was right in the thick of things at the World Cup final last spring on her first time there, competing against the best riders in the world.

So clearly the equitation experience served her quite well.

[Inimitable]

I remember Shayne as a young pro on the GSDHJA circuit in the early 90s, a good decade before Skylar was born. They really are a remarkable - dare I say, unique - story in today’s H/J world. I am huge fans of both Skylar (and Shayne) AND Karl and appreciate what they are each doing for the sport from their very different perspectives.

[Temecula_Jumper]

@MHM

And then a few years down the road, I believe that same person had a nice horse that Skylar ended up showing. But I’m pretty sure that’s not why she stopped to help in the first place.

Yes, that was Nick Haness’ flat tire she changed. And he later helped her in getting Tornado.

[skydy]

Oh, I didn’t think you made it up. There’s just not much anyone can do about a person copying another’s style, especially if it’s their coach. Hopefully most people will develop a good, balanced, effective, position as they become more experienced.

There are “trainers” out there who don’t know what they don’t know and are teaching their clients incorrect position, in Jumping as well Dressage. Until the U.S. has a qualifying system for instructors and horse trainers (which will never happen) we’re stuck with them.

[LSBC]

This is a really good explanation. I have often been baffled in some of his interviews and occasionally find him to come off as haughty or rude, but, in actuality, he is just different than your typical professional equestrian because he truly does not have anyone he needs to impress in order to continue in the sport. He is allowed to be different because, even if he offends the entire equestrian community (NOT saying he does this), but if that were to happen, he would still have a lovely string of horses and the funds to compete.

[Demerara_Stables]

@MHM

So clearly the equitation experience served her quite well.

This is the thing - Karl is right that there are some kids in the eq that just pose and aren’t effective. But I worked at a barn that did the big eq and those kids can RIDE. Certainly not every trainer is the same, but the trainer I worked for didn’t allow tall boots or half chaps in lessons, and you only got to show in tall boots when you turned 14. I still see videos of her kids doing the 1m jumpers (and winning) in paddock boots and garters. Dropping your stirrups to jump in a lesson (or in the warm up at a show if she thought you were ducking/bracing/whatever) was a daily occurrence. There are still people out there doing the eq right, and creating strong, balanced, effective riders, and maybe McLain sees more of that than Karl does.

[MHM]

@Demerara_Stables

This is the thing - Karl is right that there are some kids in the eq that just pose and aren’t effective.

That’s true in every division. It doesn’t undermine the importance of doing it right.

[FieldMack]

Karen Healey didn’t hold back. lol.

I’m guessing Karl is not a great teammate or anyone’s favorite on the circuit. If he was an affable guy, this fairly innocuous post wouldn’t have received such backlash.

Also, his Walking & Talking brand is so cringe.

[Midge]

@TWilson

@Temecula_Jumper

Skylar Wireman

And she will need…wait for it…VERY wealthy sponsors if she is going to make an international name for herself. None of these riders are financing their horses with their own money. Someone on McLain’s FB post asked where Karl would be without his parents’ money. My answer is: the same place McLain would be without his sponsors’ money.

No, he would not be. You want to buy a top dollar horse to develop into an Olympian and you can send it to anyone in the world. Is Karl in your top ten? Top 25? Where is McLain?

[173north]

@Djones

I am not saying he’s a jerk, not at all. I am saying he doesn’t have the pressure that Skylar and 99% of other riders do to conform and play the corporate game.

And the game isn’t just about money, it’s also about politics and hierarchy. A lot of the vitriol and defensiveness from big name US pros is because they see Karl’s success as a threat to — and a criticism of — the American system these trainers have built their lives and businesses around.

If you are a very wealthy young American rider who wants to compete for the team one day, you are meant to do what Reed Kessler or Jessica Springsteen or Lillie Keenan did. Ride with Andre or Stacia for your junior years, then with McLain or Laura Kraut or Katie Prudent for the next phase of your career. At some point you will want to spread your wings and move to Europe or work with a European trainer… and that’s fine, once you are a confirmed product of the American system. All the millions of dollars your family is spending on your riding will circulate among a small group of US pros from your pony days until your early to mid 20s, and you will be connected to those pros who mentored you for the rest of your career.

But Karl came up in the jumpers, not the eq. He’s from CA but didn’t align himself with Karen Healey or Archie Cox, who would have sent him up the chain to someone on the team. Instead, he linked up with Eric Navet of his own accord and has worked with him since. He did something different than he was “supposed” to at every point, bypassed the long-standing US system of mentorship with a select handful of pros, and ended up with an Olympic medal anyway.

His success threatens the status quo. The importance of equitation is a huge part of that status quo and the lineage of the team via Katie and GM. The argument has always been that the eq is what makes the US system different and better than our competitors. Karl’s career shows there is another way, and worse, he’s openly STATING that there’s another way.

[TWilson]

@Midge

You want to buy a top dollar horse to develop into an Olympian and you can send it to anyone in the world. Is Karl in your top ten? Top 25? Where is McLain?

We aren’t talking about developing young horses for the Olympics. I simply pointed out that neither Karl nor McLain are bankrolling their careers by themselves, with their own money. Whether the money is coming from family or unrelated sponsors, neither would be where he is without it.