Perplexed and saddened by what? A lovely photo of a beautiful little girl who can obviously ride on a gorgeous little pony? Um…right. Don’t you think you’re being a little oversensitive? I can find you a photo of a Grand Prix rider with a spur jabbing the horse’s flank, if you’d like.
Also, photos from that angle are very hard to make judgments about. I think a side-angle of that same photo would prove much different.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Originally posted by 2ndyrgal:
The thing I find most appalling about this “thread” is that people confuse “child” with a novice or inexperienced rider. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
AMEN to that!
Farside, to answer your question: no. I do think the models look awkward/funny just standing around as they do, but that’s just the nature of modeling! Would you want Nike retail stores to start advertising used, sweaty sneakers so you can get a better idea of how they will smell post-purchse? How about used kitchen pots & pans from Sears? Ewww…!! I think they are just showing the product in its best light, clean and shiny and new, and how I would hope it would arrive at my doorstep after I ordereed it!
Here is one to critique!!
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/images/10878.gif
Just trying to lighten up the mood!!
I don’t think the issue here is the child herself. Very few of us are perfect riders and most of us have plenty of flaws ourselves. I think the issue is that Dover should have chosen a more “correct” photograph.
I agree that the leg position and spur usage is a little excessive, as I noticed this immediately when I looked at the catalog. Not saying I haven’t done the same thing! But then again, they certainly wouldn’t put ME on the cover of Dover. It is just a shame that it is the first thing that I noticed, and therefore detracted from an otherwise lovely cover.
I’m sure her trainer is able to made an informed decisioned on how her ponies should and should not be ridden. I am also sure that two simple does this on every topic she posts on… She tries to use one of her examples from her “vast life experience” to justify a dumb statement…
Also, like jump_it29 said, have you NEVER seen any of our top riders have a bad picture…
jump_it29… very well said and I totally agree.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>I take offense that a small child is wearing spurs. Children do not have the motor coordination nor the understanding to properly use spurs with discretion. Just because she is a child does not excuse the incorrect use of or too-high placement of, her spurs. In fact, it exemplifies why children should NOT use spurs. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
If a high accomplish pony rider who is a wonderful rider wearing spurs is the worst thing that offends you then you have it pretty good 
. And there are plenty of ponys that need spurs to get around with a little kid, point blank, period, end of story.
As far as I can tell, the pony is VERY short coated so how you can even tell that the skin is damaged I don’t know? If she’d been jabbed so many times I don’t think she would continue to jump in such beautiful form with such an obvious liking of it.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Really, if the pony is a brat, either a more suitable mount should be used or she should stick to using her crop. Personally, if I were a pony and was jabbed in the side by some kid, I’d be a brat too. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
That pony is a VERY nice pony hunter who has won a lot, I don’t think that it is an unsuitable mount for her at all, infact I think riding her is probably teaching Lillie a LOT of important skills. And I don’t know which nice, big shows you go to but the ones I attend it’s not too common to see people beating their ponies around with a crop - generally that’s looked down on but hey you’re area might do it differently, whatever works I guess 
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Please note that I do not place one ounce of blame on this child. She’s a gorgeous girl trying her level best to put in a darned good ride. It’s her trainer and or parents allowing the use of spurs on an uneducated foot that makes my skin crawl. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Her trainer/barn has turned out MANYMANYMANY a beautiful, educated, succesful rider in the ponys and later on in the juniors and big eqs - as I said before, I’m pretty sure that they don’t need any of your help telling them which of their kids should have the “privilage” of wearing spurs. And to me that picture doesn’t look like she’s even wearing spurs in the first place, much less does it look like her toe is turned out as much as it is in the picture of discussion. Like I said, a bad picture of the her leg but possibly very effective for what she was trying to accomplish in ‘real life’.
Its threads like this that are making me read this board less and less! Cute kid on an adorable pony. Why does everyone have to be so negative and find fault with everything!
CFiona - actually, Nike does portray athletes in sweaty, dirty clothing, doing the sport that their gear was intended to be used for. As a stockholder, I see this sort of advertising from Nike all the time.
I forgot to mention…was auditing a GM clinic several years back and observed him removing the spurs from a rider who rode a horse over fences much as this child is doing. It appeared to me to be one of his “cardinal sins.” She wouldn’t get them back, he told her, until her leg improved enough that she didn’t jab her horse at the appex of the jump.
<<Oh for the love of god…it is a small child cut her a break >>
Agreed!!!
Really folks…lay OFF. I’m reminded of the time a well meaning neophyte horse show dad made a beautiful gesture of ordering a large, framed photo of me jumping–everything about the photo was perfect, except that the horse I was jumping had hit the rail and knocked it out of the cups…it was painful for me to have to tell him it wouldn’t be going up on the tack room wall…we all have these moments, and it surely wasn’t in the rider’s control (who knows if it was run by her parents, and if they realized what they were looking at if they saw it?) that it has been used in such a prominent place.
Guaranteed this photo will soon enough be a source of embarassment to this fine young rider, but just look at the pony, not bothered ONE bit by the rider, her spur, or this thread. We aren’t talking PETA material here. Dover’s production people goofed; maybe it was intended to crop out the leg entirely, which would have been a nice shot. Perhaps Randi Muster (the photographer) will be more careful not to overlook similar details when submitting photos for publication in the future…
But gosh, write or e-mail Dover privately or leave it alone for the child’s sake!
PS check out the OP’s leg position in this photo on her website–quite similar, wouldn’t you agree, to the rider’s in this cover shot (is that a spur digging into the horse’s side?); it’s her “favorite” jumping photo. Puzzling that she could be so hard on a little kid.
Haven’t read past page 3 of this thread, but the pony and rider are adorable. I try not to criticize kids much because having just watched an event where a small-for-her-age 13 yr old just went clear on a Prelim CC course, I know quite a few kids can kick my butt in the riding/guts dept.!
The people that are upset enough about this photo to talk about writing Dover to complain, obviously have too much time on their hands, and need to take up some kind of worthy cause where their “outrage” could be well directed and put to much better use. Criticizing a picture of a cute kid on a cute pony…please, get a life.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Ponies are serial killers reincarnated… </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I just fell off my couch!!!
I don’t think anyone is stating that they are a “perfect” rider. I know I’m not! My point was that in a catalog like Dover, or any other well known one, they should have enough photos available to use ones that are a bit more “proper”. I’m sure that this little girl can ride her pony just fine & this might be one of those “bad timing” types of photos. I just don’t think it belongs as a cover shot JMHO!
Is it just me here or are many of us ovverreacting? Nobody is accusing this girl of cannibalism, prostitution and rampant drug use. The issues pointed out with the magazine cover are not “HORRIBLE THINGS” being said about an 8 year old girl. This kid is good, good enough to land a huge magazine cover. This has been acknowledged repeatedly. Some people feel that the photo is not textbook perfect, and when a catalog is sent to hundreds of thousands of people, some of us expect the “perfect” cover picture, if it even exists.
We’ve critiqued pictures of many riders/horses which appear in publication. It is not personal, it is just a discussion of where our sport is going and why certain errors are/are not overlooked lately. Nobody is attacking this girl! Relax, pleeeeaaaase.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Originally posted by Coca-Cola:
I take offense that a small child is wearing spurs. Children do not have the motor coordination nor the understanding to properly use spurs with discretion. Just because she is a child does not excuse the incorrect use of or too-high placement of, her spurs. In fact, it exemplifies why children should NOT use spurs.
This kid is a classic example. She is jumping ahead, she is looking down, and she’s jabbing her pony in the side. She should not be wearing spurs. If you look at the hair on the pony’s side, it would seem that he’s had more than one “accidental” jab. She has not “earned” her spurs.
Really, if the pony is a brat, either a more suitable mount should be used or she should stick to using her crop. Personally, if I were a pony and was jabbed in the side by some kid, I’d be a brat too.
The adults here go on about how if their horse is lazy, yadda yadda, they give the horse a jab. Fine, but as an adult, with years of experience, you know when and how to apply a spur. Kids don’t. Big difference. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Bravo, Coca-Cola!!! Beautifully said!
Once again gang, as the OP I’m not remotely interested in hurting some poor little tyke’s feelings and feel terrible if it does. I am, however, reacting to something big & glossy meant to get my attention that I received in the mail…and it DID, unfortunately for the wrong reasons. I’ve been char-broiled on this forum for expressing my sadness that a leg which is punishing a horse (whether intentionally or not) is evidently now considered to be pretty mainstream & that I’m grossly abnormal for being concerned about it. I’ve seen enough to be seriously concerned about the way we’re headed, and somebody has to have the nerve to talk about it.
All I can say is that I love horses and don’t like to see them made uncomfortable. I’ve admittedly had a yearning today to walk around & jab my finger into that really sensitive space between the rib cartilage & rib of some of the posters here, to be honest! 
Think it would get old pretty fast? We are indeed lucky that so many horses are so very tolerant of us, God Bless 'em.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Originally posted by Two Simple:
I don’t believe the issue at hand is “oh my god this girl is a sucky rider.” I believe the topic at hand is that children that young should have a secure enough core, seat, and leg to handle spur usage and if they can’t, then take the spurs off.
When I was that young, I rode a crotchy old b@stard of a pony who liked to duck out and stop. My trainer gave me a crop and not spurs because she knew my base of support wasn’t advanced enough to wear spurs. Only when I developed a strong, independent seat and leg over EVERY SINGLE FENCE and ON THE FLAT did I ever get a pair of spurs to put on my boots. It was a right of passage, if you will.
If that were my child on the front cover, or my student, I would take the spurs off until the child develops a strong, secure leg from the hip to the knee. This child is relying 90% on her calf squeezing the horse to hold her on.
Trust me, I have not one single gripe with this child. She is probably going to be dy-no-MITE one day. She is determined, talented, and cuter than hell. Her parents and/or trainer are the ones who should recognize that she is relying on her calf too much and compromising her base of support drastically. She would do well with gymnastics, longe line exercises, etc. to advance her base of support, and THEN graduate to spurs. But right now, she doesnt appear to be ready for them. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Well you know what? She isn’t your child.
Many parents and trainers don’t like to put their kids on nasty little ponies who will stop out on the kid, dump the kid, and in general make them have a bad experience and oftentimes quit riding. Riding is supposed to be fun and it looks like that cute girl and her pony are enjoying themselves.
DIE THREAD DIE!
My land ! Isn’t the topic about a catalog cover, and the choice of photos ?
It’s not the rider’s fault she’s on the cover. Let’s question the rationale of the adults for allowing a less-than-flattering photo to be used.
Surely there must be better photos of this young rider available.
This should take you to the picture, as you can see the ponys sides are bloody and she hates jumping.
Cashew - I don’t believe the original poster was critiquing leg position alone. I believe she was critiquing leg position IN COMBINATION with wearing spurs. When spurs are put on the boots, leg and foot position becomes a more prominent issue because a poor or weak leg can give an unintending jab. This is how a good many horses and ponies become dead sided. Then the tiny nubs are replaced with a slightly more prominent spur, and then a sharper one, etc. because the animal becomes desensitized. Harsh bits work the same way.
I think everyone agrees that the pony is jumping in great form and is happy, relaxed, and going with ears perked. If the spur was bothering it, it would NOT be jumping in such form as displayed.
For God’s sake people, it is a child and a pony, jumping a jump in good form. Let’s not overanalyze everything we see and tear this child and Dover Saddlery apart!! Lighten up!
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