i am utterly disgusted with this topic. it shows how jealous and insecure some of the people that post on here are. this child is quite an accomplished pony rider, even at the young age of 8 years old. she rides at the same barn as addison phillips, so i’m just going to go ahead and assume that her trainers know what they are doing. along with that point, i doubt the child chose to put those spurs on herself. so if you’re going to bitch about the kid wearing spurs, bitch about the trainers and not the kid. on another note, i find it highly interesting that you critique a childs leg position when you have NO IDEA what happened before the jump, or what she was trying to accomplish over the jump. there is a possibility she was legging for a longer distance, or the pony was jumping off to the left, or that she was trying to get the lead over the jump. it amazes me how accomplished and smart some people on this board think they are. i think everyone needs to give it a rest and leave the child alone. and stop bitching about dovers “poor catalogue cover choices” because i know for a fact that i have seen worse equitation on their covers before, regardless of how old the rider was, since this topic is solely about her poor equitation. its an adorable picture of a fancy pony and a cute kid-obviously everyone who is bitching is jealous about the fact that they were never that cute kid on that fancy pony on the cover of a magazine.
Thanks ponies123
Now that I actually see the picture I just wana say one thing… You all need to relax. Look how happy the kid is and how happy and eager the pony is…
Oh for the love of god…it is a small child cut her a break and I’m sure we all have had to spur off the ground at some point. I know that I did just today. 
While we are all entitled to our opinion there are days that I feel this board has become more of a gossip rag than a helpful place to come and ask questions and get good solid answers.
It just amazes me how many “perfect” riders there are here.
I am really bummed to have to get this off my chest. I love Dover Saddlery, and always look forward to getting their new catalog in the mail. Literally a Wishbook and loaded with scrumptious photos.
However, the one I got today is really bothering me. The cover pic is an adorable little girl on a TDF grey pony. Very determined & darling expressions on both their faces. What is bothering me so much though, is the little girl’s leg is off the saddle and horse, the little gal’s toe is turned out at an extreme angle and the very back of the calf is on the horse well behind the girth…with the spur visibly jabbing the pony. It caught my eye immediately as I sorted through the mail. All I can see now is that spur… 
Nobody’s perfect, for sure…but now I know why the old concept of “winning your spurs” was the old way of doing things. People didn’t get to wear a spur until they could be relied upon to have a super leg position that would never accidently spur the horse. To see that on the cover of a huge catalog just makes me so sad…
Again, I don’t remotely mean this as a slam against Dover, I love shopping there! I’m just really perplexed & saddened by the choice of using that pic.
I went through a similar phase when I was a little kid. I always had my toe turned way out. It’s actually a pretty easy thing to fix. My pony at the time was remarkably lazy…so more often then not that was how I got him to respond to my leg. I certainly don’t see anything in the ponies expression that would indicate pain or inhappiness.
I think alot of us probably have more than a couple unflattering pix in our portfolio. Sometimes they don’t give an accurate representation of one’s true ability. The editor must not have thought much of the little equitation faux pas. There truly are ponies/horses out there in much more dire circumstances.
I thought it was a lovely pony and picture. I know my small is sure lazy and a peanut kid like that would definitely need to be spurring him to keep the pace.
one more thing to add before I back off and retreat to a place I feel more comfortable, but this whole who’s entitled to wear spurs and what not (fyi, NOT related to the pony girl-dover cover thingie): in hunters, and please, tell me you people know something about hunters, it’s a bit more attractive to get a lazy horse to go (for instance, my guy, who usually goes in what my trainer and vet refer to as a “coma state”) with a dig of the spurs rather than with a crack of a crop. Let me tell you, I ride with a small pair of nubs and a crop, and at home, if I’m not getting the UMPH I need out of him over a fence, or if he’s being lazy about a distance, I will most certainly use the crop. The spurs I use mainly for steering and straightness, b/c although he’s only 15.3, he’s built like a small, more-flexible-than- nessecary tank. However at shows, sometimes the occasion arrises when he’s not responding off my leg as quickly, and I’ll upgrade the spurs so I don’t have to crop him in the corners, since again, it’s not a very attractive image at a show. A crop at a show should only be used to discipline, or perhaps better put, to make a horse go foward, after a refusal or run out. I won’t lie, my leg is never perfect at times, and I’ve always had a severe issue of controling hyper-flexibility in my ankles and heels, which essentially forces my toe and knee out, and thus I grip more with the back of my calf rather than inner. But you know, there are far worse faults to have and to overcome, and just because someone doesn’t have the ideal leg for eq, doesn’t mean that person doesn’t understand the basics of a good foundation and the use of spurs. Alright I’m done with you people, I’m going to bite the heads off of some teddy grahms and imagine they’re some of you and your inconsiderate, ill-justified, and ignorant comments.
OK…What’s a TDF???
Many pony riders wear spurs and need spurs because very few ponies are as easy as they look and they need them for the same reasons adults wear spurs: for steering, for pace, to move up or to prevent a stop. Plus many of the top pony riders are VERY accomplished and polished riders for their years and ride mounts that would make many an adult rip their hair out. The athletism and brillance that make a top pony hunter, a top pony hunter can make them very hard to ride and not push button at all.
Exiting train now
Beautiful post Coca-Cola. Thank you! Earning the spurs is a very interesting topic of discussion. As I already mentioned, earning the spurs is a right of passage, a sign of growing up, a significant advancement. Growing up, if my trainer had seen just one photograph, or witnessed one jump of me grabbing and hanging on with the spurs, the spurs would have been pulled off.
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.
Another photo of this child reveals that she probably does have a weak leg and needs more schooling on the longe and core strengthening exercises before she should be allowed to wear spurs.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Originally posted by Tha Ridge:
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. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Um, respectfully speaking…just because it’s frequently done, doesn’t mean it’s right. No need to send me pix of Grand Prix riders, have seen plenty thanks. 
Hopefully there is a large degree of difference between the motor skills of a 6 yr old and a Grand Prix rider so that’s a bit difficult to make a comparison to. Hopefully!
No, I don’t think I’m being oversensitive. I think most people aren’t being sensitive enough, by turning a blind eye to this sort of thing. I’m not a professional horse show person anymore, but have spent a lot of time in schooling rings seeing horses with bloody sides from totally improper use of the “aids” (and I do believe the accessories have their place in the right hands). I’m sorry, but the old masters had it right. No adjunctive aids until your basic position is spot-on. It’s all about the horse and it’s comfort.
A photo from another angle maybe wouldn’t show the problem, but would just hide the fact that this rider is basically hanging on by her spur. Frequently done, yes! Horsemanship in public view which needs improvement that we don’t want the whole world to see…I hope I’m not the only one saying “no”.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Originally posted by supershorty628:
It’s Lillie Keenan on Aspen Spring. I’m not sure where the picture is from, though. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think it’s from Monmouth County Horse Show, correct me if I’m wrong anyone.
It’s just a photo on a tack catalog. I can’t believe you are critiquing a small child in a cute photo. I’m sorry we can’t all be perfect as I’m sure you are. What would you have chosen? The fabulous equitation of the little girl on your homepage? God, get over it! It’s just a tack catalog.
The little girl is obviously NOT a short stirrup rider, and, as far as I know, hunter00, she did not ask for you to critique her riding either.
ha ha ha I just got mine… I think everyone should back off. She’s better than a lot of people that post pics on here to be critiqued. On a second note, who is she, she’s adoreable.
Honestly people, Dover isn’t trying to teach proper equitation. The picture is simply a cute picture of an intent little girl with an adorable pony. The photography is beautiful and that’s why it was put on the cover. The catalog is not meant to be used as a how to guide but rather a place to buy quality items at a good price.
I’m sure the child is thrilled to death that she’s on the cover of Dover. She’s probably too young to sit there and critique her riding position. I think it’s inappropriate for anyone to be commenting on a public forum about this little girl. She didn’t ask for the ctitique nor did her parents, trainers, friends etc. I’m sure she would be really upset (I know my daughter would be) if total strangers were making such harsh comments about her riding style in that picture. Why not praise the little thing for having the guts to go out there and jump the course at such a young age.
LAST WARNING…
Are you guys going to move on, or do I break out the padlock?
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-title”>quote:</div><div class=“ip-ubbcode-quote-content”>Originally posted by Scaramouch:
Either way, the child shouldn’t be insecure enough to be upset. She would probably either a) Laugh her head off and think no more of it, after all, it’s a bunch of total strangers right, who cares what they think? or b) take it into consideration. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wow. That’s surprisingly harsh Scaramouch. I’m 25 and I fully admit I’d be insecure if I ran across this thread and I was the target practice. And 10 yr olds that “Laughs her head off and think no more of it” don’t really appeal to me. Makes for snotty pony riders, which turn into snotty adults, which give this sport a nasty reputation.
I think she’s adorable. Yeah, I noticed her leg when I saw it, mentioned to my barn-mate, but only because I was so incredibly jealous that she is on the cover of a freaking Magazine! Lucky girl!
Issues, not individuals, people.
If you want to comment that the photo Dover chose for the cover doesn’t show a correct leg, fine… make the comment and then MOVE ON.
If you want to talk about children wearing spurs, talk about the subject in general, not one particular child.
Either this thread becomes about the issue instead of the individual, or it gets closed.
MOVE ON.
I agree with those who are saying it’s Dover’s fault. Whoever chooses cover photos there should be fired! But I just wanted to say that this child is actually a VERY good little rider. I have rarely seen a bad pic of her riding…until now.
