Just as the military say ” if it moves salute it – if it doesn’t paint it white”, there is an unhealthy obsession with tidiness in the dressage world. This is seen not only in the primly painted approach to presenting horse and rider for competition, but most clearly in the paranoid supercleaning of the average yard, with highly paid trainers chasing behind horses with scoops to avoid any blemish in the sand. All rather bemusing to the novice THF.
Tag Archives: how to survive dressage
How to survive the world of Dressage (and related activity) – Observations from the Frozen Ringside
3 AprMuch is written by and of equestrian dressage stars and wannabees. To the uninitiated a narcissistic vortex of media mash; to the cognoscenti an unending source of interest and inspiration. Much less however is heard of the (increasingly) poor “support” team, that has little interest in horses and none in dressage other than that acquired innocently and unexpectedly through marriage and blood ties. But without whom none of the first category would survive.
The Horse Funder knows his place and his role as deeply subordinated funder of first and last resort, required to have no opinion other than the right one (i.e. that of the Funded). There have of course been some bold THF’s who have expressed a personal and independent view. The silence and looks of disdain that follow such foolish outbursts ensure these are limited and that the true order of things is soon restored.
After 25 years of watching and listening it seems only right to set out a number of observations and some rules of the road. The focus is on the true novice THF, but there are useful digressions outlining steps towards higher levels of horse funding. I cannot hope to dissuade, but merely inform, the novice THF who may be setting out on a career of expense and disappointment with innocent optimism and an as yet undefiled cheque book.
So…..it is a truth universally acknowledged that a young female in possession of an averagely wealthy parent and an equestrian bent is in need of therapy. Unfortunately the world does not operate like that and what they get is a series of inescapable temptations and opportunities put in their way to satisfy their desires and deplete the family coffers. The most common amongst these are set out in these notes. Many have yet to be observed and categorised for they are legion. They will however be exposed…
thehorsefunder 