07/11/2025
Education by Pedigree Does Not a Trainer Make: Why Solely Riding Athletic Horses Sets Up a Future Professional for Failure
Let’s face it: the horse world is expensive, daunting, and difficult to navigate - for amateurs and professionals alike. Not only do riders need to navigate the people part of it, but some of the horses can be far more difficult to work with than others. Those who have a significant financial backing will naturally want to take advantage of that and “cut through” the horse end of the difficulties by striving to sit on only excellent mounts. Horses that are perfectly bred for many generations specifically for the sport that the rider wants to succeed in are extremely valuable. And the riders that want to quickly make a name for themselves in their chosen discipline and have the means to do so will be apt to pick these types of horses. They score well in shows, it looks great on camera, etc, so they quickly are given opportunities with more of these very nice horses to ride, and the cycle continues. Horses score well, everyone looks great, so on and so forth. No one seems to be getting hurt here, so what’s the issue?
The simple answer is: nice horses are bred to smooth over holes with athletic talent, disposition, and physical flashiness. Less desirable bloodlines tend to produce horses that are less forgiving, point out every flaw in the riding, and are more sensitive to mistakes. If you want to be a truly, undeniably great rider and have a rock-solid understanding of what is going on under you, you need to be seeking out the second type of horse actively, no matter how much backing you have available.
These days, great bloodlines alone can take you all the way to the top. With advancements in breeding technology, we are able to produce “freaks of nature” consistently without the parents ever meeting each other. These “FON” types are so phenomenally bred, many of them can be seen doing the full scope of the Grand Prix or jumping 2m courses by the time they are 7y/o! (Not that it’s a good thing by any means) But what does that mean for the future of the equine sports, especially the top levels?
If we don’t have flaws pointed out to us, there is no way we will know they are there, and we will have no means to work out for ourselves how to fix them. If a professional grows up, never knowing the full extent of their own flaws, they will eventually pass those flaws along to every horse and student along the way. Their students will grow up, pass these flaws along, and so on and so forth - like the xerox machine making a copy of a copy, degrading with each rotation.
Now, what I am NOT saying is that aspiring professionals should only ride difficult horses. Around the age of 20, I was taking a clinic from a very uplifting local legend who knew my history with horse difficulties, having come from a blue collar family with no backing resources. This time, I was on a client’s nice little pony mare, and I mentioned how fun it was to sit on someone more comfortable for a change. She softly said “Young professionals need nice horses. It gives you some space to think.”
Only riding the very troubled, difficult horses can be just as destructive as only riding top-notch horses. As a rider, you develop survival mechanisms, sometimes very literally to keep you alive. There is no room for finesse and feel, it becomes a feedback loop of exhaustion and tension. If you are a young pro looking to succeed, and you don’t come from a background of means, I suggest you do your very best to catch rides on nice horses in between your difficult cases (even if it’s pro bono). You’re going to work a lot harder to get these horses than someone who has more resources, but being able to have mental and physical space to focus on yourself is invaluable. It’s soothing to your nervous system, it gives you some major reward feedback for things you do well, and it’s just plain fun. It’ll boost your confidence and prevent burnout. And, let’s face it, riding those super nice horses poses a whole other set of challenges that you will need to learn about! I am forever grateful to the folks who not only trusted me but actually paid me at the very dawn of my career to exercise their schoolmasters. Those horses truly lent me wings when I needed it most and that cash helped me make it to the next horse so I could develop further.
The reality: professionals need both types of horses to have a truly well rounded education. Be weary of any pro who only has worked with one side of the spectrum. Especially a very young pro who has suspiciously numerous extraordinary horses who are doing fabulously in the show ring. Remember, no one person is born with THAT much talent. It takes time, energy, and a lot of mistakes to make real talent, and that’s just something that money can’t buy.
The pros who have worked with both types of horses are more likely to have learned tact, grace, biomechanics, feel, and correct positioning. They are more likely to pass along great things to you and your horse.
Best of luck to the young professionals and the amateurs who believe in them. The future of our sports and the state of equine welfare need you to be the best that you can be.
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