Shouldn't More Riders Be Successful?
This article examines a troubling pattern in the equestrian world: why do so few riders progress past the lower levels? It challenges the idea that this is normal, exploring how our training systems and historical biases may be creating a pattern of mediocrity. Discover a new perspective on what true success means for both horse and rider.
The Kjrsos Experience ~ Is knowing that success means we all succeed.
Article Summary
This article confronts a difficult truth in the equestrian world: why do the vast majority of riders get stuck at the lower levels? It questions the very foundation of a training system where so few succeed, suggesting we've created a 'pattern of mediocrity'. We explore the historical context of competitive dressage and how a focus on precision over partnership may be failing our horses and students.
The full text is a call to action, asking us to seek a new beginning—a path where success isn't for the elite few, but for everyone who is willing to listen to the horse as the true teacher.
Read More From the Article...
My job. To go to as many top dressage shows as possible over the next few months to get the images needed for a horse magazine. With an emphasis on finding shows where we could get some lovely images of exceptional riders showing off their horses.
I started with a local show at the top stable in the city.
I ended up at regionals hundreds of miles away where the best from half of the country would attend their final show in preparation for nationals.
Since there were multiple rings going at any one show, one of my jobs was to be set up at the right ring before the horse I wanted to photograph entered the arena. Timing was everything as I bounced between rings and horses looking for the best of the best at any one show. Although it often turned out that one of the best places to be was at the warm-up arena. Just pick the horse doing the best at any one moment, snap a picture, and then in the next moment, you have twenty other horses to pick from to take another photograph.
When I went to the local horse shows, I wasn't surprised to see the majority of the riders riding in the basic levels with only a couple of riders riding at the higher levels—and I do mean a couple. What confused me was how many were in the first couple of basic levels, and just a few were able to cross the line into medium or what some countries called Level 3 at the time.
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The Kjrsos Experience ~ Is knowing that success means we all succeed.