Mary Kate Olsen at WEF

[Jersey_Fresh]

[QUOTE=Kalele;8532227]
These are the pictures that came out. People were also ragging that she had the watch and rings and bracelets on. Who carrrrrres. I was told she went around looking great–and hey, jumps higher than me! I had conversation about the driving reins with my trainer. Its very interesting and not necessarily easy to do.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBQCjbGJBOT/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBQCR0RpBNb/[/QUOTE]

I wouldnt mind having her leg over fences Nice horse and she look like she rides well.

[OveroHunter]

She looks fantastic! Is that what we’re supposed to be discussing?

[AmmyByNature]

I saw the driving reins photo and it sent me down a rabbit hole of youtube videos of her riding.

She’s actually quite a good amateur. This grey horse does NOT look particularly easy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY2Irjgv-HU

and she does it very well. She has a good forward eye. My trainer would be very happy with me if I could let go and gallop a bit between the jumps like she does.

I hope she is able to enjoy herself without getting harassed every 5 minutes. She seems to enjoy it and always looks appropriate. I’ve seen plenty of non-famous people ride with more jewelry than I’m comfortable with. Hell, Serena Williams plays tennis in giant earrings bigger than what I would wear out to dinner!

I also found a video of Iggy Azalea getting stalked while all the poor girl is trying to do is take a lesson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcT__AS7g-4

Must suck to be famous sometimes.

[VelvetsAB]

My coach made me ride in the driving rein yesterday and last week. It’s a frequent coaching tool for her (on me), as it really helps me with my position. By making me have my hands way out (like driving a wheelbarrow), I cannot perch and brace on the neck, like I would be able to by doing a crest release. This forces me to really concentrate on having my leg under me, and to engage my core.

I, myself, actually find it really helpful, as I cannot “fight” the horse the same.

Of course, she also made me close my eyes after taking off from a first fence in a gymnastic yesterday…but hey, she likes to torture me. :lol:

[yellowbritches]

I saw the one IG pic reposted by some defending her and I honestly couldn’t understand why she needed defending. Her seat and leg are lovely and had a soft, following hand. I didn’t even notice the driving rein (the galloping picture makes it far mor obvious, but anyone fussing about it obviously unschooled and doesn’t realize it is a valuable tool to have in your tool box).

i admit I noticed the jewelry, but it doesn’t bother me…I was just like “OMG. All those rings make my fingers hurt!” But I also had my hands torn up as a teenager who was into lots of rings, and now never wear them…and the three times a year I get on without gloves I immediately regret it

Lovely rider. I wish I was brave enough to gallop on like that!

[hoopoe]

Ammy by nature video is the first I have seen of MKO riding, didnt really know she did the shows

wow enviable leg and seat position, obviously well schooled in following hand and uses her eye beautifully

obviously not being packed around, I could see some of her line and decision making.

I would be content to have ever ridden half as well

[skyy]

We saw her at Saugerties this past summer and she rode well and looked like she was having a great time. She kept to herself and hung around the ring and did nothing to draw attention. I don’t even know that I would’ve noticed who she was but one of the girls at our barn said “Look at the girl. Doesn’t she look like MKO?” and lo and behold, she was.

[Lord_Helpus]

WTF? I thought “driving reins” must be some adaptation of ‘draw reins’.

All this stupidity over how she holds her reins?!?!?!?

I think she looks great, has excellent equitation and should be applauded, not berated.

[PaintedHunter]

She looks like a pretty good rider to me. Good for her.

[Foxglove6]

A few years ago I thought she looked over-horsed. I think she not only looks great now, but has definitely improved over the years. Something to be emulated!

[lindsay.anne]

[QUOTE=AffirmedHope;8531648]

Now I have heard that she’s been rude to show employees and other competitors but that could just be TMZ type rumor that plagues all celebrities. “Rude” probably means “quiet and keeps to herself.”[/QUOTE]

Quite the opposite actually. As I’ve had run ins with her at the locally rated horse show she attends at times. She is pleasant, and a lovely rider. She hangs out at the rings, mingles with other riders, and is very nice. Doesnt draw attention to herself, but everyone knows who she is there (as its a relatively small show). No one harasses her, she is just a normal rider like the rest of us. She does very well with her horses too. I’ve only had pleasant encounters with her.

[horseshowmom]

[QUOTE=yellowbritches;8532608]
I saw the one IG pic reposted by some defending her and I honestly couldn’t understand why she needed defending. Her seat and leg are lovely and had a soft, following hand. I didn’t even notice the driving rein (the galloping picture makes it far mor obvious, but anyone fussing about it obviously unschooled and doesn’t realize it is a valuable tool to have in your tool box).

i admit I noticed the jewelry, but it doesn’t bother me…I was just like “OMG. All those rings make my fingers hurt!” But I also had my hands torn up as a teenager who was into lots of rings, and now never wear them…and the three times a year I get on without gloves I immediately regret it

Lovely rider. I wish I was brave enough to gallop on like that![/QUOTE]

Horse and Style magazine posted the picture of MKO approaching the jump on its IG account. Most of the people responding were ridiculing her use of the driving rein. (H&S ultimately deleted the post from its feed.) I was one of the IG posters that wished that H&S had used the picture of MKO’s jumping picture, but I failed to say why I felt that way in my post. I believe that the jumping picture wouldn’t have invited nearly the criticism that the approach picture did.

What absolutely kills me is the need for people to act like a bunch of piranha on social media and rip a rider to shreds. I compare the MKO IG situation to Kristen Hardin, who chooses to show with her pony tail out of her helmet. Kristen is a very talented rider who wins quite a few jumper classes, yet the first comments out of the gate once her picture is posted on a social media site have to do with her ponytail and how George Morris wouldn’t approve of it. Really?! Why can’t we just enjoy the sport and the talent?

[Edith_Piaffe]

[QUOTE=lindsay.anne;8533155]
Quite the opposite actually. As I’ve had run ins with her at the locally rated horse show she attends at times. She is pleasant, and a lovely rider. She hangs out at the rings, mingles with other riders, and is very nice. Doesnt draw attention to herself, but everyone knows who she is there (as its a relatively small show). No one harasses her, she is just a normal rider like the rest of us. She does very well with her horses too. I’ve only had pleasant encounters with her.[/QUOTE]

Good for her. It’s nice that she has a place where she can go and have fun and be “normal” without being stalked by paparazzi.

I saw some videos of her riding and she looks like a pretty strong rider for someone who is so tiny and a chain-smoker! Hopefully her strength is evidence that she is now maintaining her size in a healthy way. It’s extremely difficult to ride at that level when you’re not taking care of yourself (ask me how I know…ha), so hopefully riding will continue to motivate her to stay on track. Go MK!

[vxf111]

I actually think she rides pretty well, it’s amazing what people will nit pick over. AK advocates the use of driving reins. I guess she doesn’t know what she’s talking about either (eye roll).

[AmmyByNature]

[QUOTE=Edith Piaffe;8533303]
Good for her. It’s nice that she has a place where she can go and have fun and be “normal” without being stalked by paparazzi.

I saw some videos of her riding and she looks like a pretty strong rider for someone who is so tiny and a chain-smoker! Hopefully her strength is evidence that she is now maintaining her size in a healthy way. It’s extremely difficult to ride at that level when you’re not taking care of yourself (ask me how I know…ha), so hopefully riding will continue to motivate her to stay on track. Go MK![/QUOTE]

Speaking of ripping her apart, was this really necessary? You don’t know her and it seems pretty inappropriate to start speculating about her smoking and eating habits - whatever they may be.

She seems properly mounted and like she’s having a good time. I hope she continues to enjoy the sport and doesn’t let people discourage her from something that she clearly enjoys and has an aptitude for.

[SendenHorse]

Good for her! she rides well and I wish her all the best.

[ParadoxFarm]

I was watching a live streaming show a while back and saw her riding. It may have been a class at Thermal. Before that, I hadn’t known she was a rider. I thought she did a great job.

[danceronice]

I tried the driving rein once with Lucky–I wasn’t comfortable, but that’s probably just habit, and I wasn’t doing anywhere near as big a fences as she is, so whatever works for her, because it’s clearly working for her. I liked the video with the grey and looked good to me. (Rings and a watch? Zomg onoes, let me guess, the commenters there didn’t know the difference between hunters and jumpers. She’s also not wearing gloves, the horrorz.) Haters gonna hate.

[sarcam02]

She is exceptionally nice and kind to her horses and very, very low key. I’m sure she appreciates/appreciated that most of the riding community gives her the ability to be like everyone else (mistakes/victories and all)

[luvdogz72]

I’ve read multiple riding books that suggest the driving rein. Each book called it something different - lol - but the same hold. Supposed to be a great tool to help your feel of the horse.

Thanks for reminding me - I need to go back to using it again - forgot about it.