Show Jumping

[MHM]

@Texarkana

came an equivalent place of advantage.

I’m going to question the validity of that statement a little bit.

McLain had lots of advantages, for sure. But I don’t think there is a comparison to someone who always had the best of everything from the word go. The best livestock, the best training, the best of everything money could buy.

One of McLain’s advantages is that he grew up in a barn with probably literally thousands of horses passing through it, so he got to ride a huge variety of animals, including some great ones, but also some not so great ones. That is part of the deal when you grow up in the horse business. You get experience on a huge range of horses in all sorts of circumstances, which has to be an advantage for the rest of your life every time you swing a leg over a horse.

Jessica has been extremely successful, and she has won a lot, but she does not have the same breadth of horse experience that McLain did at the same age.

That being said, she deserves credit for everything she has accomplished in the saddle. All the advantages in the world are no substitute for riding ability once you set foot in the show ring.

Best of luck to the whole team. I will be cheering them on from the live stream!

[the_continental]

It seems that she has had more experience—and success—going into the Olympics than the young riders we’ve sent to the previous two, right? Not to knock them or their accomplishments. I’m always impressed watching her on the Global Champions League feeds (I love RMF Tinkerbell), so I was happy to see her representing the U.S.

[Texarkana]

@MHM

McLain had lots of advantages, for sure. But I don’t think there is a comparison to someone who always had the best of everything from the word go. The best livestock, the best training, the best of everything money could buy.

McLain attended the same private school as presidents and children of millionaires. I guarantee you he was never without an endless string of the best “livestock” and top training, given how his parents were premier industry professionals.

It’s not a competition for who had the most humble beginnings. I’m not trying to take anything away from either of them, because all the money and privilege in the world can’t keep the rails in the cups.

My point is that it’s a bit ridiculous that some people are implying she hasn’t earned her spot because of her last name. Especially when those same people are arguing McLain is more deserving. When he was getting named to international teams at the same age in the late 90s and early 00s, he was also beating out older riders who could be considered more deserving.

And the beat goes on.

We can agree we want the whole team to succeed, regardless of their parents!

[ravenclaw]

On another (non-horsey) board that I read, someone was talking about Jessica going to the Olympics like she bought her way onto the team with a nice, expensive horse. I let that person know that the horses don’t jump the courses by themselves.

[MHM]

A few more team details from around the world.

https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/Olympic-Games/The-horses-and-riders-for-the-Olympic-team-qualifier-in-Tokyo-announced.html?fbclid=IwAR3RdlOx4Gpp0AiISYrKZbX0VIHdKfqXkPWKrIdxXeLakgZ5n6kBjm4PqrY

[Texarkana]

@ravenclaw

On another (non-horsey) board that I read, someone was talking about Jessica going to the Olympics like she bought her way onto the team with a nice, expensive horse. I let that person know that the horses don’t jump the courses by themselves.

Which is especially hilarious when you consider the fact that every single participant in the Olympic equestrian competitions “bought” their way onto the team in one way or another. This isn’t the movie Sylvester where a cowhand gets discovered on her wild horse. It doesn’t matter if you are the daughter of a rock star, the son of international rider, or a kid from the projects who spent 20 years as a working student before getting a sponsor.

Even the odd rider who may not be riding an ultra expensive horse bred and bought for upper level competition had to spend $$$ to qualify for the Olympics. Maybe they funded it with their own money or family money, maybe they had other sources backing them. But horse sports aren’t known for their affordability.

[Mara]

Not like these are “point and shoot” horses either. It doesn’t matter how much the horse cost, or what its record was prior to coming into Jessica’s/McLain’s/Ashlee’s yard - if horse and rider don’t click and form a partnership, the future is limited.

And…horses. Injury is no respector of the owner’s bankroll.

[MHM]

@Texarkana

I guarantee you he was never without an endless string of the best “livestock” and top training, given how his parents were premier industry professionals.

Funny you should say that.

I knew a horse McLain showed in the equitation in Florida when he was maybe 14 or 15 years old. The horse was not, by any stretch of the imagination, an example of “the best livestock.” Don’t get me wrong, he was a perfectly nice horse. But he was not a world beater. And there were probably other horses that McLain could have shown instead of that one.

But that horse was for sale, and McLain was riding him to help him get sold. I have no doubt whatsoever that that was the story of his life from very early in his childhood. There is no substitute for that kind of extensive experience, which we see in the offspring of many professionals, who go on to become great riders themselves.

There are multiple examples right now at the Olympics, where we see the offspring or relatives of previous Olympic riders on several teams. It’s not a coincidence. All that mileage on all those horses, good, bad, and indifferent, helps to make great riders.

It’s not the only way to make a great rider, but it provides an entirely different level of coping skills than primarily riding very good horses from day one. So all young riders at their first Olympics are not created equal.

Best of luck to the whole team. I will be cheering for all of them.

[Peggy]

@Texarkana

@RSEventer

Just want to say that it serves the US right to not get into the individual rounds for leaving McLain Ward out- who thought that was a good idea? Oh, he only has two gold medals- let’s leave him off the team of three. I guess they say hindsight is 20/20. Jessica Springsteen has not paid her dues enough to be there.

https://data.fei.org/person/Performance.aspx?p=74BA1FB1E94129141692A22BB52D544D

What other dues would you like her to pay?

I had to laugh when I saw that one of her horses is Hungry Heart.

[Darkwave]

I think that when you grow up as the child of professionals, you also grow up understanding how a horse business is run. Which is incredibly helpful experience when trying to obtain and retain owners as an adult professional. Which in turn is a key part of how you make it to the Olympic level.

[MHM]

Very, very true.

[MHM]

@Peggy

I had to laugh when I saw that one of her horses is Hungry Heart.

Hasn’t she had one or two others with song title names? I think she has, although I’m not remembering them off the top of my head.

[McGurk]

Hungry Heart is the only one I’m aware of; and I just took a quick peruse through her FEI record, as posted above.

[MHM]

It might have been a couple of years ago. Born in the USA, maybe? Or something similar. There is certainly no shortage of options. Lol.

[MrsFitzDarcy_amp_Feliks]

@Texarkana

https://data.fei.org/person/Performance.aspx?p=74BA1FB1E94129141692A22BB52D544D

What other dues would you like her to pay?

She has a horse named “Hungry Heart”! LOL

[RSEventer]

So glad to see this! Wish I would have scoured the internet and done my research- then I would not have gotten spanked by all the friendly equestrians here at COTH! [edit]

[skydy]

Jog photos https://www.worldofshowjumping.com/Olympic-Games/Behind-the-scenes-at-the-team-trot-up-in-Tokyo.html

[MHM]

Fun pics, thanks!

[skydy]

A view from the backside of the Sumo statue.

How a statue of a sumo wrestler may be spooking horses in Olympics equestrian...

[MHM]

Hilarious that there are at least two articles in the regular media about the sumo jump. I wonder if he will reappear for the team rounds?