Reed Kessler: I wish I could hate her but she's so darn nice! :D

[Capall]

[QUOTE=Angelico;8205436]
Funny thing is, Reed never has necessarily been riding the “best”. Cylana is obviously a very very nice mare, but she was not anything special when the Kesslers purchased her, and while I’m sure she cost twice what the house I’m sitting in right now cost, compared to the mounts of other top young riders, she was a relatively “cheap” horse.

Most of the young international stars that many of you here are so fond of are riding horses that cost quite a bit more than any horse of Reed’s, and came with a significant amount of international mileage already under their belts.[/QUOTE]

I’m sure Vindicat didn’t come cheap

[doublesstable]

It’s all about money and I think that’s hard to argue in this sport.

Maybe it was parents, maybe it was another trainer and you have talent, show hard work and dedication where someone wants to help you, or maybe it was working to get the money and DIY horses… but to get to that level you have to have a few great horses and be able to foot the bills for those horses and everything it takes to get to the shows. It’s someones money.

Horses are flipping expensive and so is showing.

As far as the article of RK - I thought it was a bit disingenuous for her to say she’s all on her own. She has been blessed with amazing parents that have helped her (if it be) money, support, love, direction, etc… it’s humbling when someone thanks those that have made their hard work and dreams a reality.

[doublesstable]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8202700]
When those strangers put their personal lives out in public (for example, by doing a puff piece on their new barn and all it’s amenities, etc.) then yeah, it becomes fodder for people to talk about it. You don’t want people to talk about your money? Stop having people write “articles” about it. Go win some stuff and give people that to talk about instead. [/QUOTE]

I would have to agree with the lay low technique. The best form of advertisement is your actions

Don’t be a Kardashian! :lol:

[omare]

“You seem to be implying that show jumpers today can no longer make their own horses. Or perhaps you’re implying that they don’t have the time or patience to make their own. That’s a sad thought for the state of horsemanship today.”

If someone is making their own horse they are going to have to be freaking lucky or have a crystal ball and be freaking lucky that all goes right and/or run through a lot of horses that cannot jump 1.6m /Olympics courses before they finds that “one.” That is why they are so expensive.

Even if they find and make the horse themselves who is paying the bills on it as they develop it and maintain it it at that level. I am assuming it can run $100,000 plus plus a year to maintain a top GP horse? That is why when someone not rich does get lucky and find and develop such a horse – the horse is usually sold to someone rich.

[poltroon]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;8205515]
You seem to be implying that show jumpers today can no longer make their own horses. Or perhaps you’re implying that they don’t have the time or patience to make their own. That’s a sad thought for the state of horsemanship today.[/QUOTE]

Even if you have the skill to make your own, it’s still going to cost a couple hundred thousand dollars to do it in show and boarding and training expenses, by the time the horse is ready to represent the US internationally. That is the cold hard reality of what riding costs in the US.

Even a relatively podunk level amateur who is competing at regional shows is putting in $20-30k a year if you are honest about adding up all your expenses.

[eclipse]

^^^ this!! Showing has become ridiculous. You can have the most talented horse in the world but if you can’t afford to show how will you ever reach the top? My showing has been quartered… We used to have an amazing show circuit and a working person could ship in for a day or 2 and each day would have a full division. Now each division is spread out over 5 days, stabling is, at cheapest $400, plus $8.00 PER BAG (and on cement floors you need at least 10), add in admin fees, association fees etc and before you even step into the ring or actually enter a division you’re over $600… It’s ridiculous!

Trainers wanted these “mega shows” where they could take absolutely everyone from their barn but they’ve actually ruined and been the death of showing for the average person in North America! Am I bitter about what’s happened (especially in Calgary)? You betcha!

[MIKES_MCS]

Exactly , Eclipse,

The best and easiest thing in the world for trainers and Show managers is to have everyone go to one mega show that lasts 8 to 12 weeks , offer everything from pole piles to GP’s and everything in between… if the rider can’t afford it to bad , go trail riding because they aren’t going to leave any one an affordable sand box to play in . BArns ands shows are disappearing and they aren’t coming back , the USEF has made sure of that in order to protect show entries for the mega shows

[Midge]

[QUOTE=Capall;8203078]
I had no idea Reed was so polarizing :lol:[/QUOTE]

I would like to believe this, but when I read the title, I thought, ‘What. Horse Show Diva is down?’

So, maybe you are completely innocent of the thread I’m referring to. But now that I have actually opened this thread, I doubt it.

[SlamDunk]

[QUOTE=Midge;8206697]
I would like to believe this, but when I read the title, I thought, ‘What. Horse Show Diva is down?’

So, maybe you are completely innocent of the thread I’m referring to. But now that I have actually opened this thread, I doubt it.[/QUOTE]

I didn’t even think about horseshowdiva, I just assumed it was because the Off Topic Forum closed haha.

[Capall]

[QUOTE=Midge;8206697]
I would like to believe this, but when I read the title, I thought, ‘What. Horse Show Diva is down?’

So, maybe you are completely innocent of the thread I’m referring to. But now that I have actually opened this thread, I doubt it.[/QUOTE]

Well actually I had no idea what Horse Show Diva was until well after this thread started to go down the rabbit hole so there goes that little theory.

I do like RK and thought it was an interesting article. Lots of people got their panties in a twist, which was not my intention.

[Capall]

[QUOTE=SlamDunk;8206723]
I didn’t even think about horseshowdiva, I just assumed it was because the Off Topic Forum closed haha.[/QUOTE]

This thread was started before OT closed.

[Mardi]

[QUOTE=ybiaw;8203033]
I think that Reed could take 2 steps to improve her public image to those who dislike her…

1. Receive some media relations/public relations training.

2. …Stop talking. Just stop. Stop talking about your program, your horses, how riding and showing in Europe is SOOOO much better than riding and showing in North America, and how North American shows are basically (garbage) compared to shows in Europe and how she’s so above North American competitions and trainers anymore.[/QUOTE]

Your two points are important for another reason as well. The USET Foundation regularly asks for funding from the general horse public to help pay the expenses of these top riders.

A negative perception of any one of the team riders (current or future) kills the desire to donate to USET.

Media relations are taught at the George Morris Horsemastership sessions and at the Robert Dover Horsemastership clinics. Granted these clinics are for the top young riders in jumpers and dressage, but at least someone is trying to teach them at an early stage in their careers.

[Countrywood]

The same thing in dressage…many of the top competitors have big money behind them ( family or marriage). Then again, a number of top competitors are from middle class bg and are so talented they become pros and thus attract top sponsors. Let’s face it, none of the equestrian disciplines are set up to nurture talent from people of little income, we don’t see any outreach or sponsoring of talented kids with no resources from inner city neighborhood such as seen in basketball or baseball. Which is one of the reasons those sports are so hugely popular in the USA and equestrian sports are not.

The international level is so far beyond most of us we can only speculate about what it is like. Jealousy is normal and nothing to be ashamed of…the very wealthy unless they are clueless are aware of how they are perceived. Imo Reed is such a talent and has so much focus and nerves of steel that even without the family money she would have made it to top pro, only it would have taken longer.

[Equitational]

Why is the OT forum closed?

[Mardi]

[QUOTE=omare;8205486]
I have to say without the big money no rider is going to the Olympics --I thought that was a complaint the US BNRs had the last few years is getting hold of that top horse because without that top special horse not even the best of the best rider is competitive at the level – you do not jump a course on two feet. Without a top horse horse a rider is nowhere.

(It is not the system-it is the astronomical price of the asset needed to compete.)[/QUOTE]

This is one reason the Owners Task Force was created for dressage. Their website has an extensive list of riders looking for sponsors, either to help purchase a new horse or support through a syndicate. It’s part of the goal to not only to grow the sport, but field an exceptional Olympic team next year.

http://www.experiencedressage.com/dotf.aspx

Just last May, a syndicate was formed through the task force to purchase an upcoming GP horse in Europe for Adrienne Lyle to ride, and hopefully earn on a spot on the team.
http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=31022

[Tiger_Paws]

[QUOTE=Countrywood;8207206]
The same thing in dressage…many of the top competitors have big money behind them ( family or marriage). Then again, a number of top competitors are from middle class bg and are so talented they become pros and thus attract top sponsors. Let’s face it, none of the equestrian disciplines are set up to nurture talent from people of little income, we don’t see any outreach or sponsoring of talented kids with no resources from inner city neighborhood such as seen in basketball or baseball. Which is one of the reasons those sports are so hugely popular in the USA and equestrian sports are not.

The international level is so far beyond most of us we can only speculate about what it is like. Jealousy is normal and nothing to be ashamed of…the very wealthy unless they are clueless are aware of how they are perceived. Imo Reed is such a talent and has so much focus and nerves of steel that even without the family money she would have made it to top pro, only it would have taken longer.[/QUOTE]

To many rich people being poor means having to buy an Audi instead of a Mercedes.

Seriously, you would be surprised at how clueless the wealthy are, they do not know how they are perceived, nor can they relate to others that do not have the resources they do.

Many of them tend to downplay the role their financial advantage played in getting them where they are, and over estimate their own efforts. Many are born on third base, but think they hit a triple.

[nekvt]

I want to know what USEF and USHJA is doing for ME and the others that are so far down on the totem pole - Allowing us the opportunity to pay big fees to have the privilege of showing at their mega shows? i am tired of receiving notes and cards from them both asking for donations to help the “team”. Many of the “team” can already afford to go to Europe, buy expensive horses, and show a season or two there. I can’t show a full season here with old Dobbin. And I am sick to death of the continued rumours of getting rid of the C shows. the Horse master Clinic are not for everyone - only those who ride in that upper level and can afford it in some way. Maybe that’s what USEF and USHJA think are the “lower levels.” How about a little more support at the south end of the stick? OK, I’ll get off my soapbox now.

[vineyridge]

I’ve just had a brainstorm. Since it appears that the under 30 crowd of up and coming international riders are all born into uber rich families that can afford the cost of the sport, how about requiring an annual mandatory donation for Team consideration of, say, one million dollars per horse and rider combination? For the few riders who don’t have the funds or the sponsors who could pay for them, there could be a sort of scholarship fund set up to cover needs based riders. There could even be a rider futurity with costs for being named to young rider lists.

Why not take advantage of what the sport has become and use it to finance the high performance athletes instead of asking for donations from the less affluent?

(This is said somewhat tongue in cheek.)

[omare]

I thought the article made clear why she thought it was a better standard of living for the horse and rider in Europe because of the reduced distances-- and the reality is at the big big shows you are going to get the top horse/rider combinations from every nation there (super mini-Olympics) and since the USA riders do not hog the top 50 spots in the world right now, what she said is factually based… 6 Americans are in the top 50 in the world right now.

https://data.fei.org/Ranking/Search.aspx?rankingCode=S_WR

[ACMEeventing]

The smallest species of armadillo is the Pink Fairy armadillo, weighing in at only 4 oz (roughly the size of a chipmunk). They are a rare find and quite elusive in the field. A little known fact about the armadillo is that during heavy rainstorms they are forced out of their burrows due to the risk of drowning.

Just thought I’d throw that out there. Carry on.