WTF Are We Doing?

[Mounted]

@LSBC

I don’t really feel like that is a fair assumption. It equates horseback riding with things like skydiving or bungee jumping or drag racing. I don’t think it is the same. There’s no such thing as “therapeutic skydiving” or “therapeutic car racing,” but there is therapeutic riding because it is deemed safe enough that a person can’t get a traumatic injury. That’s not saying it doesn’t happen, but it is certainly safer than climbing a mountain. We can slow riding down enough and take extra precautions to make it safer.

I have been eventing for nearly 30 years and have been involved with the sport in many ways. I love it deeply. But it is risky, as are all horse sports. That riding can be made accessible does not mean it can be made risk-free.

Also, just saying:

Skydiving for the Disabled | Start Skydiving

Skydiving with Disabilities | PNW Skydiving Center

Skydiving With a Disability | Skydive Tecumseh

[Willesdon]

Eventing is a high-risk, high adrenaline, hugely exciting sport. That is precisely why people do it. It is demanding, challenging, skillful, it requires training, preparation, dedication and so finishing on a dressage score is, for many, as big as finishing in the top ten, let alone winning. If not into risk or excitement, and not an adrenaline junkie, well, there are many other equestrian disciplines available to suit. And even as a lowly volunteer these days, I’m able to sit a field for nine hours straight watching eventers over a Fence but I last about four dressage tests before I go to look for something interesting.

[LSBC]

I think perhaps I haven’t quite articulated my point well enough. I’m not saying that riding is without risk, but I take issue with @endlessclimb comparing it to the submersible or climbing Everest. The way to mitigate the risks for those is to just not do it. For riding, it’s different. You can choose to wear a helmet, other safety equipment, decide how high you want to jump and do so. Of course there are freak accidents and falls just like the one we were discussing that show even when you think you are doing something “safer” it is clearly still very dangerous.

I wanted to illustrate that there are different levels of risk, whereas in sports like skydiving or drag racing you still have to jump out of a plane or go fast. There’s nothing to make that simpler. If I felt like riding was as dangerous to me specifically as going down in a shoddy submersible I wouldn’t do it.

[enjoytheride]

There are times when I think a few posters on this thread would not be satisfied until they end horseback riding period.

[Highflyer1]

I’m pretty sure that going down in a shoddy sub is the equivalent safety wise of going xc unprepared with an unsuitable horse and inappropriate equipment.

[enjoytheride]

Given the feelings about endurance riding or riding in general on this thread I thought I’d share the 2023 Tevis Cup Winner Jeremy Reynolds and Treasure. This is the mare’s 5th Tevis, second win, with a under saddle time of 15.5 hours. She’s 13 years old. This year doing the entire ride without a bridle. Photo taken 85 miles in.

[tabula_rashah]

Also I believe Jeremy ran 35 miles of the trail himself
He is seriously the nicest guy and a complete class act

[Cowboy_Girl]

I think you are incorrect.
“Eventing is a high-risk, high adrenaline, hugely exciting sport.” It may be for some people but not everyone. Some see it simply as a comprehensive test of horse-human partnership. Rodeo, chuck wagon racing, the Omak stampede, first flight fox hunting are a little different animal.

[Bearx2]

I think you bring up a very good point, there are lots of ways you can mitigate risks while riding horses. I think the thing is that some people can’t get their head around is that you can’t get rid of ALL risks when you are riding horses ( neither for yourself or the horse ) .

[Willesdon]

Do you get butterflies before you go xc? Do you get a lift as your horse jumps out of his stride, rolling along in a lovely, forward canter. Do you feel a massive buzz as you finish? That is something unique to Eventing, I believe. Surely that is because of an awareness of risk, speed, excitement? Eventing is indeed a comprehensive test of horse-human partnership but that is something also available in other disciplines without running xc. Dressage I find intellectually interesting but it produces a different, quieter satisfaction. Showjumping I just find stressful!

I watch a rider carefully counting strides and slowly showjumping their way around an xc course and personally feel that rider is completely missing the point of the test. If they are enjoying themselves, however, good on them. Are they low risk?

ETA Foxhunting and Eventing are closely linked. Watch e.g. Harry Mead riding xc. Part of his business is preparing people to foxhunt.

[fivestrideline]

@Willesdon

Do you get butterflies before you go xc? Do you get a lift as your horse jumps out of his stride, rolling along in a lovely, forward canter. Do you feel a massive buzz as you finish?

This is not unique to Eventing or XC by any means. Personal preference and all that. Maybe YOU only get that feeling from XC, but plenty of people find the same fulfillment and satisfaction from gasp a derby course, or a show jumping course, or just riding their horses .

I say this just as a reminder that people who “just show jump around xc” might be having just as much fun as someone dirt biking around, but they’re doing it in a way that works for them or might be safer for that particularhorse. And that’s totally fine.

[TwiSedai]

@LSBC

I’m not saying that riding is without risk, but I take issue with @endlessclimb comparing it to the submersible or climbing Everest. The way to mitigate the risks for those is to just not do it

This is incorrect.

Taking Everest, for example. You mitigate the risk by learning to climb smaller mountains first. Learn everything you can about mountaineering. Have the proper equipment. Listen to the experts that are guiding you. Learn how to listen to your body. Want to get an Everest experience without as much risk, just go to base camp. There are a million steps you can take to prepare for an expedition and mitigate the risk, though never completely.

Racing cars? You can enjoy driving a car on a leisurely ride around town. Or you can go Formula 1.

Horseback riding? You can do a lead line pony ride, or a guided trail ride on horses that plod along trails they know better than you know the back of your hand. You can also run 5* XC. There are varying levels of risk in every one of these activities. None of them zero. All of them have ways to mitigate the risk, mostly by preparing correctly and not jumping in recklessly. And we each decide what our personal acceptable level of risk is.

[Bogey2]

August 19th a rider was hurt at Area 1 Championships on cross country. She passed away last week. RIP Jessie Aikman

[Rel6]

My understanding is she had been hospitalized following her fall, and passed away this morning. Incredibly sad and heartbreaking.

I was two out when they held the course following her fall. There were a usually high number of rider falls at the event, despite good footing and courses that seemed to ride nicely. It was a bizarre day.

ETA: edited to clarify RF as rider fall.

[trubandloki]

So tragic that she passed.

And her fall was not at the typical type of jump that people worry about, from what I understand.

@Rel6

It was a bizarre day.

This is an understatement! A huge understatement.

[starsandsun]

I disagree. When I gently ask for more and the Ferrari engine kicks in on my dressage horse, that’s a pretty incredible rush.

[Willesdon]

Totally agree, the G force on a big striding dressage horse is amazing. Personally, I think the adrenaline rush lasts longer running cross country. Of course, Eventing has three types of buzz in one competition - bargain!

[Bogey2]

Was her fall at the ditch? Someone posted a pic of her in hospital and made the comment watch out for the ditch…her face looked awful. I am hoping they delete the pic even though she was alert. Im surprised she passed but maybe she had worse injuries than first thought.
Anyway, to hear there were a lot of rotational falls is scary.

[trubandloki]

@Bogey2

Anyway, to hear there were a lot of rotational falls is scary.

I do not know that there were lots of rotational falls, or even one.

I believe the initials RF in the post above = Rider Fall. That is what it means in the results online.

[Bogey2]

oh sorry, thank you for the correction