And exactly the kind who would jump into a class like this and work like mad to win it even though it’s for nothing but the bragging rights.
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Well, bragging rights and some prize money. Lol.
A friend of mine did the class for jumper riders, and he was getting all whipped up about it ahead of time, and practicing keeping his heels down, and everything. And he had a really good horse lined up to ride in it, so he really thought he could be a contender.
And then that good equitation horse got sold on Sunday afternoon, so he ended up doing the Tuesday class on a young jumper that had come out of quarantine from Europe on Monday morning. Lol.
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She certainly still looks like an equitation contender in many of her current pictures. Some of the past winners stick with the classic position, and some don’t, but she definitely still looks the part.
For people who have really been on the BB a long time, there was an absolutely unreal thread about her when she was a pony rider, and someone felt the need to comment on her position and predict that she would not get very far. That was really just hilarious in hindsight. Lol.
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I remember that. If I remember correctly, it was a critique by someone who was in no way qualified to judge a photo of an excellent young pony rider.
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I don’t remember now who started it, but I don’t think anybody needs to critique any young pony rider unless that pony rider asks for their opinion.
I think that’s a good rule of thumb for critiquing any rider, really. But particularly for a young kid.
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Yes! It was tiny Lillie on the cover of a Dover catalogue, IIRC, and the photo was taken at such an angle that it made her spur appear to be making extraneous contact with her pony’s side. Cue the pearl-clutching!
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It was so far over the top.
Yet somehow, she seems to have turned out just fine. Lol.
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She is training with McLain Ward now, yes? If so , she probably won’t be losing that equitation leg. 
We have so many good young people riding for the U.S. now, committed young people. I’m happy for their success and think the future looks bright for the U.S.
@glenburn , if you are really as unaware of the success of U.S. riders as you seem, it’s too bad.
You are missing some great rides and of course, your bragging about your horses and your connections while having no clue to whom you are speaking on this forum, diminishes your credibility.
ETA If English is not your first language, I understand that posts can be misconstrued. However, the hostile attitude you have shown when communicating with people here, people that you have not taken the time to know, is not polite in any civilized society.
I see by your posts that you believe your experience is an excuse for your rudeness.
It’s not.
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That must have been great fun for all
The prize: a $25,000 purse, tack room curtains, coolers and the maintenance of one’s delicate ego
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DIHP does a $25k Pro Eq Challenge class. I believe Lillie came in second last year 
*edit: Lillie was actually 4th in the $15k Dec 2022 edition of the class lol. How’s that for stiff competition?
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So, as much as I don’t like GM’s personal issues his riding and teachings are on point. Great riding hasn’t really changed. We have lots of new gadgets that many buy into but great riding IS great riding. I’m sad that things turned out this way for him but I don’t condone the things that happened.
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I’m having a bit of conflict with the notion of having standard bearers these days simply because we are more aware of the nasty stuff that may be happening behind closed doors (and not so closed doors). So, what looks like perfection or slick riding in the ring maybe the result of some not so savory training techniques. Going back to GM- not only was there the personal issues and the abusive manner but there was that poling incident. Was that a one time occurrence? I’m not naive.
What about the hunters- maybe things have become better but there’s still a good chance that the perfect round at the top shows had a little “help”. Should that kind of ride and horse management be seen as the standard bearer? Do we really want the semi-stoned borderline laminitic heaving itself around a course to be the ideal that we want to strive too.
Although a top rider’s personal life shouldn’t affect how I see them as a standard bearer, but it does because it is part of the whole picture. Drunk driving, affairs, these men that date women questionably younger, questionable selling practices, abusive manners towards students and clients. Sometimes you’ll see a rider being fawned over by the media but you know in real life they are complete asses. I suppose though this happens in all sports at top levels due to large egos, entitlement and just being human. It’s just a bit deflating seeing that a lot of top people are in fact morally terrible humans.
At the moment my top three are Beezie, McLain, and Kent. I don’t know how clean they are and I hope they are (but again not naive)- however I do want to retire to Madden Mountain myself! Madden Mountain should be the standard bearer for retirement!
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I was at Thermal that weekend, wandered by and ended up hanging out and watching a bunch of trips. Plenty of lovely riding, for sure, plus the vibe was very fun and supportive at the in gate, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Lillie even broke out the green coat!
I so hope we’re beyond the point at which a top clinician can publicly berate riders (“You’re not a learner, are you?”) and not only get away with it, but also be rewarded for it.
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It’s still funny to think that she almost single-handedly resurrected the green coat as an acceptable color in the show ring as a junior. Lol.
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I could be Lillie’s grannie and even I went out and got a green coat!
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