Training in the Right Way: Why the U.S. Should be Training Our Own Olympic Horses

The United States has come to rely on European bred and trained horses in order to field our international dressage teams, and this is problematic. Let’s talk about why.

Dressage training is supposed to be the process of training ANY horse to be a better riding horse. The more the horse learns, in theory, the easier it is to communicate with and therefore complete more complex tasks with. Although competition dressage training often is more focused on training for the dressage test, that is not what the original intention (and original judging requirements) were for competitive dressage. Initially, it was designed to give riders and trainers a way to determine how their training measured up to the theoretical ideal of the training process. That said, it is critically important to understand the meanings and reasons for some of the terms we use to describe dressage training and what to look for when observing training and competition (and videos and photos), regardless of whether you intend to compete or just train your horse to be a better whatever you do with him. That, ultimately, is the main purpose of my articles. To provide education and knowledge for riders to understand and improve their eye and understanding of what dressage training is supposed to be. While there will always be some differences in practice and theory, good horse training is always recognizable to the educated eye. That said, it absolutely is necessary that we remember and understand that limited knowledge is limited judgment.

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To start, it is absolutely necessary to pause and recognize that any rider that is competing for or on an international team, overseas, deserves our respect. Being psychologically and physically capable of this feat it commendable. And the personal sacrifice that these riders make in order to travel and compete at the highest levels is extraordinary. It is not possible to represent your country in elite sport and not be an exceptionally good competitor.

 

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That said, our country has come to rely on European bred and trained horses in order to field our international dressage teams, and this is a problem. This is actually a relatively newer phenomenon, and one that should not be necessary. Currently, our sport is represented in international competition by riders who have access to huge money sponsors. While there are reasons this has become necessary, it does have deleterious effects as well. One of the most obvious being that it has shifted the focus from the development of the horse to the purchasing of a produced one to compete on.

What we must all come to understand is that the future of the development of our sport in this country is dependent on changing this focus on buying trained horses for an elite few riders with access to sponsors, back to a system where excellent riders have the support to train quality horses to compete at the international level.

Having access to training done in the right way is vital for ensuring continued development for the individual rider but also riders as a whole here in the U.S. Photo (c) Liz Caron.

While numerous articles could be written diving down quite the assortment of rabbit holes discussing why this shift is so vital, let’s take a moment to consider just a few of the reasons that it is important to train our own horses in the US:

• The quality of the training and riding increases both on and off the team. The more riders that are educated to train their own horses increases the learning opportunities for the riders that surround them. Essentially, if we have more, better educated riders who understand how to train, we also have better and more plentiful avenues to pass on the information to other riders.
• The quality of the partnership in competition improves. A relationship between horse and rider takes almost a year to fully develop, and certainly the more time spent working together results in a greater ability to have a more intimate partnership. The end result of that should be a more solid, fluid, and nuanced performance in the competition arena.
• It is less of a “money game.” If we are being frank, money will always play a role, but young horses cost significantly less than trained horses and as such offer a more attainable entry point for excellent riders who may not have the big time backing. And yes, there is a longer term financial commitment with a young horse, but it’s often easier to pay out over time than all upfront (well, mostly upfront since there are always additional costs).
• There is greater depth both on the team and at home. Depth is imperative to improving the quality of our current competitors as well as our up-and-coming riders. When training is being evaluated in competition, instead of wealth, we give our students the opportunity to learn from top trainers, not only top competitors.
• It is better for the animals. Horses who have humans that they have been around for years tend to travel better and endure stress better than horses who have recently been moved from the humans and environment they are familiar with to a totally new training program, feed, stabling situation, etc.

So, where does this start? It starts in the Federations and the external learning programs. In these places, the narrative has to change from looking for a trained Grand Prix horse to learning how to make one. We need leadership that focuses on educating young trainers and US trained horses for international competition.

At present, our current system focuses on sponsors who not only fund the horse and rider through training and competition, but also the initial purchase of a fully training Grand Prix horse (and this is admirable and much appreciated), but many of us don’t even own real estate that costs the same amount as one of these horses’ initial purchase prices. While riding at the top of the sport will always be an economic privilege, it could certainly be made more accessible if we shift our focus in the right direction, seeking to further educate our riders as trainers as well. Which in turn, can also provide the avenue to which we can bring US Dressage back to the power-house it was when we had US trained horses on our teams.

Remember: Limited knowledge is limited judgment.

Cover photo credit: Flickr/Randy Sellet

Gwyneth and Flair in competition at Grand Prix. (c) flatlandsfoto.

Gwyneth McPherson has over 35 years experience competing, training, and teaching dressage.  She began her education in in the late 1970s, riding in her backyard on an 11 hh pony. Her first instructor introduced her to Lendon Gray (1980 and 1988 Olympian). who mentored Gwyneth for a decade during which she achieved her first National Championship in 1984, and her Team and Individual Young Rider Gold Medals in1987.

In 1990 Gwyneth began training with Carol Lavell (1992 Olympian) who further developed Gwyneth as an FEI rider and competitor. Gwyneth achieved a Team Bronze in 1991 and a Team Silver in 1992 in the North American Young Riders Championships, and trained her stallion G’Dur to do all the Grand Prix movements while riding with Carol.

In 2008, while Head Trainer at Pineland Farms, Gwyneth began training with Michael Poulin (Olympian 1992). Michael was trained by Franz Rochowansky (Chief Rider for the Spanish Riding School 1937-1955). Michael has shared much of Rochowansky’s knowledge and wisdom with Gwyneth, completing her education as a Grand Prix rider, trainer, and competitor.

Gwyneth’s teaching and training business, Forward Thinking Dressage,is based in Williston, FL. In addition to teaching riders and training, Gwyneth also loves sharing her knowledge of the sport and art of dressage as well as discussing relevant topics pertaining to the training itself and the current competitive landscape.