At a recent interview during the Olympia Horseshow in London Katie restated her Olympic ambitions :
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v17012265x9zaNYcb
Happy X-mas
Theo
errrr… so?
She made one mistake.
“Anyone can do it, if they have the time and the right horse”.
That isn’t true, actually. I’ve been watching wealthy and/or heavily supported riders fail to even qualify or even come close to qualifying, for the Olympics, for decades. Wanting to doesn’t quite do it.
First of all, she’s starting late, and she also doesn’t actually seem to be spending all that much time at it. She should be riding 6-12 horses a day, every day, starting a while ago.
Almost anyone can become ‘real good’ at something if they work at it. And that’s jolly. But what she’s talking about is a little different than ‘real good’. It’s ‘one of the 4 (or 3!) best dressage riders in the country’, and a whole lot of other people also have time and the right horse.
I’m not sure she has it, actually, unfortunately.
Physically, I don’t think she has the athleticism, balance or reaction time. She often seems quite tense and off balance.
She also seems to be going at it the wrong way - seems to be trying a little too hard, riding the wrong horses, and is developing a lot of bad ‘defensive riding’ habits rather than developing a secure, stable position stuck down in the saddle. She also seems to be working alot harder at promoting her clothing line than riding. It’s too bad, really, I like her enthusiasm. But I’m afraid money, time, even enthusiasm, isn’t enough.
There is neurology (fast reaction times, the ability to work very, very hard and react very fast, and still keep the muscles loose, some people just can’t do that sufficiently), innate balance and athleticism.
And temperament. It takes a kind of blind, single minded focus and a certain amount of sacrifice. As Tony Meiboc said, for eight-ten years, one’s job, one’s only job, eight hrs or more a day, every day, is ‘qualifying for the olympics’. Just qualifying.
She is a long, long way away from doing a decent job on a 2nd or 3rd level test at this point and there is a lot of ground between that and even doing a regional or national level winning test at GP, let alone one at the international level, or after that, a whole string of them at the international level.
There’s 4th level and PSG, which is a point where a lot of people just stop and don’t do well any further; they don’t have the reaction times or the stomach for the pressure, even at a local level.
what exactly are you doing slc2 to promote the equie industry as a whole
katie has the same right just like anyone esle to perform and she also has the money and the back up to do it
shes being tuaght by one of the best as in andrew gould of whom is a execellent trianer
and also a very nice man
and just for arguements yes i do know him to… i have spoken with on occassions
if katie bring morre public to the sport as follwers then the more the sport can get in sposorship monies and the more sponsorship monies the more classes for all to ahve to enter
its a no game the more you have the more you get
GOOD FOR HER! She has the drive, the money, the support of her family, and nice horses. It also looks like she enjoys horses for the creatures they are, not as tools to accomplish an end result. Even though she has set her goals a bit high (cough), she strikes me as the type who will enjoy the ride regardless of whether or not she actually makes it to the Games.
[QUOTE=slc2;3750430]
She made one mistake.
“Anyone can do it, if they have the time and the right horse”.
That isn’t true, actually. I’ve been watching wealthy and/or heavily supported riders fail to even qualify or even come close to qualifying, for the Olympics, for decades. Wanting to doesn’t quite do it.
First of all, she’s starting late, and she also doesn’t actually seem to be spending all that much time at it. She should be riding 6-12 horses a day, every day, starting a while ago.
Almost anyone can become ‘real good’ at something if they work at it. And that’s jolly. But what she’s talking about is a little different than ‘real good’. It’s ‘one of the 4 (or 3!) best dressage riders in the country’, and a whole lot of other people also have time and the right horse.
I’m not sure she has it, actually, unfortunately.
Physically, I don’t think she has the athleticism, balance or reaction time. She often seems quite tense and off balance.
She also seems to be going at it the wrong way - seems to be trying a little too hard, riding the wrong horses, and is developing a lot of bad ‘defensive riding’ habits rather than developing a secure, stable position stuck down in the saddle. She also seems to be working alot harder at promoting her clothing line than riding. It’s too bad, really, I like her enthusiasm. But I’m afraid money, time, even enthusiasm, isn’t enough.
There is neurology (fast reaction times, the ability to work very, very hard and react very fast, and still keep the muscles loose, some people just can’t do that sufficiently), innate balance and athleticism.
And temperament. It takes a kind of blind, single minded focus and a certain amount of sacrifice. As Tony Meiboc said, for eight-ten years, one’s job, one’s only job, eight hrs or more a day, every day, is ‘qualifying for the olympics’. Just qualifying.
She is a long, long way away from doing a decent job on a 2nd or 3rd level test at this point and there is a lot of ground between that and even doing a regional or national level winning test at GP, let alone one at the international level, or after that, a whole string of them at the international level.
There’s 4th level and PSG, which is a point where a lot of people just stop and don’t do well any further; they don’t have the reaction times or the stomach for the pressure, even at a local level.[/QUOTE]
SLC2 Please get your records straight.
She rides horses since she was 6 years old. She has (and can buy) the best horses available. Can afford, and has the best trainers. And… she attracts people to visit dressage-competitions. Like one of my UK-cliënts stated, " this is the first time my sponsor (husband) wanted to join me to a stressageshow".
Next to this when she is going to use her screenname “Jordan” she might have some advantages within the FEI (comprende)
Actually, she said “If you put enough time and effort into it and if you’ve got the right horse, I don’t see why you can’t do it. Anyone can do anything if they set their mind to it.”
She sounds sincere and dedicated. Good luck to her, I hope she achieves her goals.
She isn’t “starting late”. As Theo wrote, she’s been riding for years. She’s wealthy, has access to the best training and best horses. With all that going for her, she could very well go to the top.
I find her enthusiasm for the sport refreshing. Her high profile will also introduce some people who previously knew nothing about the sport. Maybe even spark their interest in it. Better Katie’s attitude than some dour, negative nellie who only turns people off.
Good for her!
If she’s been riding since 6, then I have more doubts she’ll make it to the Olympics.
I just don’t see her riding well enough to make it any time soon. And no, that doesn’t imply I ride better. All I’m talking about is watching someone else, and thinking about their chances of making it to the Olympics in 4, 8 or 12 years. I’m not sure most people have a good picture of how really difficult it is to succeed internationally, or how LONG it takes to be an ‘overnight success’.
If she was riding better now, I’d be more confident she would make it. She just doesn’t look real good up there to me - the first video I saw was stiff and awkward and hectic and sloppy and rough and inaccurate, even for a beginner or a first/second level rider, the second video I saw, she was not much improved in those areas, and unfortunately, developing some ‘defensive riding’ habits and an extreme, awkward ‘driving backward’ position, rather than developing a stronger seat and better position.
I actually wish she DID look better, just like anyone else learning to ride. It looks like she’s trying to rush through things, and not get a good base. Is that her or a trainer she works with driving that, I don’t know.
In spite of the pooey being tossed my way, I stick to my guns, and keep in mind, it is not required for me to agree with the majority opinion. It’s ok for me to not believe right now, that this person is going to the Olympics any time soon. It’s a legitimate point of view. And, I still believe that in general, yes, it just isn’t everyone who CAN make it, even if they DO try.
I know people HATE hearing that and I accept that anyone who says what I’m saying is going to get attacked here. It’s part of our American dream that ‘anyone can do anything they want, just try’, but this isn’t like learning how to drive a car, or make a cake.
But I still believe - not everyone, even given unlimited resources, can make it to the top of the heap. And I feel there’s a lot more than riding ability and a nice horse involved.
Look guys, I actually like her, and said so. She’s enthusiastic and down to earth. I like her attitude, and her personality, and I love that idea of giving it ones best, and I don’t care WHAT she’s done in the past, or how she makes her living if she’s not breaking any laws and not hurting anyone. I honestly don’t bear her any ill will and actually do hope she does well. I just don’t see her riding going that well.
I’ve watched over the years many, many lovely riders with nice horses, simply not make it to that sort of competition, despite working very, very hard, having great horses, having a lot of resources. It just isn’t that easy.
Wow
SLC2 You sound very negative and nasty. If you have nothing kind or important to say, better to say nothing. I don’t see the point in posting something just to be unkind. Further, I don’t believe you have a crystal ball, nor do I believe that you should judge someone you clearly do not know.
Happy Holidays-
In the immortal words from National Velvet, “What’s wrong with a little Folly?”
I think too many people give up before they even begin, and I’m not just talking about Dressage. I don’t care if she falls flat on her face, she’s putting herself out there and trying. For that, you have to give her credit. Sure, she may never make it to GP, but then again, she definitely won’t if she decides that she can’t make it and goes home to sulk. Let a girl dream, she just might surprise you:)
Apparently the “S” in SLC stands for Scrooge :lol:;):lol:.
I am afraid you are trying to equate ‘working hard’ with saying ‘I’m going to the Olympics’ in 4 years (or 8, or 12).
If i said I was going to the Olympics, all of you dears would be in a very long line to tell me how that was ridiculous, and what all was involved.
If I said I loved riding, and I was going to try my heart out to do my best and find out how well I could do, the reaction would be different.
I’m talking about something specific - riding in the Olympics.
Most people are not going to do that - I know people who have worked for decades to do that, worked hard, loved it, had great horses, and not qualified.
I just don’t believe that happens to be all that easy to do.
I do NOT believe that ‘wanting to’, ‘working hard’, ‘being all you can be’ is the same as riding in the Olympics.
But I also do not feel that going to the Olympics is a necessary part of being a great rider, enjoying riding, or having a great journey. It might be a regional or national championship or some other achievement.
I love that interview.Ive allways liked Jordan.She has a public image that makes her a good living and then she has her private life which is so different.Id love to ask her how she manages to ride with such long false nails.Now she has had a boob reduction I cant ask her the other obvious question.Whats wrong with setting your sites high?I wish I was that confident about my riding skills.
I really dont mean to be rude, but she really doesnt look like an up and comer to me. It looks like a brunette dolly parton trying to ride dressage. I dunno, there is nothing classy about the look. Perhaps they are just bad photos…does anyone have a video of her riding?
Ok, NM, I found one…and it is of her on the same horse as the photo above, so this vid cant be that old. I would say maybe an up and comer in the first level adult amatuer classes. If SHE gets to the olympics, truly, anyone can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAyEnZqzkqs
Poor thing. She has the ambition of a child! Why squelch it? I fear that this is the reason dressage becomes less popular, and gains more of a reputation for being snooty.
I think we all know the reality of the situation .There are probally a few people on this board who secretly would love to go to the Olympics but just dont say it out loud.At least we actually know she is riding and not just talking about it…
That’s what I like about her, at least she’s up front about it!
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
[QUOTE=indyblue;3753124]
I think we all know the reality of the situation .There are probally a few people on this board who secretly would love to go to the Olympics but just dont say it out loud.At least we actually know she is riding and not just talking about it…[/QUOTE]
No, Katie Price doesn’t have over 20,000 posts on this board does she?
