What’s Wrong with Equitation - A Response to Karl Cook
In early November of 2020, Karl Cook, a professional 5* Grand Prix Jumper rider, who is also Kaley Cuoco’s husband, posted two videos to his Instagram series Walking and Talking regarding equitation. I myself am a staunch supporter of good equitation, and spent a number of my junior years chasing points and trying to qualify for indoors/year end finals; and it always ruffles my feathers when I hear people say that there is no point to riding in the equitation. So, when I read the social media feedback about Karls’ videos, I automatically assumed it was going to be a roast on equitation. All anyone needs to do is watch Karl ride, and you know from his unique style, he wasn’t the kid trying to qualify for medal finals. So after the holidays, I finally got around to watching the videos and, admittedly, I couldn’t agree more with most of what he said. He brought up a lot of great points but, I also think that he took a totally wrong approach to his analysis of what the Equitation ring is, and should be.
My feeling after watching the videos was “sad”. Watching Karls videos reminded me of all the the things that were wrong back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and how they have only gotten worse. I am obviously aged out of the equitation but, I would never waste my clients money competing in those classes now; it is impossible to be successful without a $50K plus horse, and that’s unrealistic for most people. I find that directing kids to the eventing world for a solid start, even if their aspirations are in the big jumper ring, gives them a far better foundation then any modern day equitation class/division can now. The cross-country makes a braver, smarter, rider that can get up out of the saddle and gallop to a fence. Having to ride in the the dressage ring requires an understanding of, and ability to use, proper aids, and be scored less objectively on equitation. Lastly, they can go win and be competitive on a $4,000 OTTB making upper-level competition an achievable goal.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF EQUITATION
As I previously said, I do disagree with Karl on a few things; mostly on his approach to his analysis. Karls argument is driven by his belief that the purpose of the equitation is solely to “prepare riders for the jumper ring”. I wouldn’t argue this is totally wrong from a H/J point of view but, it is overly simplistic. The true purpose in the eyes of H/J land, is that the equitation ring is to prepare a rider to “move into the jumper ring” because, the highest level of competition in the sport, is riding at the Grand Prix level (i.e. the jumpers). Therefore, the ultimate goal of the equitation is to prepare a rider to compete at the highest levels of the sport, not to just get a pony or child/adult rider from the 2.6” hunter ring into the 3.3” jumper ring, as Karl would imply. Equitation classes are progressive, they start in the short/long stirrups and have a complementary division/class for riders as they move-up. Each level of equitation preparing the rider for the next level of competition, and progressively increasing in difficultly and height.
My own interpretation of what good equitation means is simple. You’re a good rider. When you go in the ring you have a solid seat, stable leg, you can use your aids, you can find a good distance, you’re a good catch ride, and you have some finesse and ability to flow with the horse. As the USHJA does not have a definition of equitation, I have provided an excerpt from Denny Emerson of Tamarack Hill Farms recent post on equitation for a more formal critique. (Denny is a gold medalist in eventing
“If you look in the dictionary, equitation is defined as "the art or practice of riding horses," which doesn't tell us much that we didn't already know.
Any time that a human climbs on a horse, and asks a horse to perform just about anything, the presence of that rider will be a hindrance to the horse, in the sense that the horse performs athletic feats more easily unencumbered by weight on its back.
So, following this path of logic, "good" equitation must involve the art of riding the horse in a manner that, while giving signals and aids, creates the least disruption and the least encumbrance, allowing the horse its best chance of performing the task at hand.
Which leads to words like balance, centeredness, harmony, softness, agility, elasticity, all conveying that the human is staying in the best possible position, changing constantly as the horse moves, to permit the horse to do its job.
And this should hold true for all types of riding, at all gaits, on all terrain, in all sorts of saddles, in every kind of action.
Functional equitation, therefore, is "stylized" most correctly if the style being displayed gets the rider as completely as possible out of the way of the horse, because it is primarily the horse that has to function.”
When "equitation" becomes stiff, falsely stylized, something done for its own sake, rather than for the sake of the horse's ability to perform, it can't be called "good" equitation.”
I like this description of equitation. I like that it focuses on harmony with the horse. I think Karl would appreciate this definition as he has a style of riding that is whatI would call “soft”. Although, I do think with his softness comes a lack of strength in his body position but, he’s a successful GP rider who seems to want the best for his horses so, who am I to say it is wrong.
If I were to pick a few riders who I think embody good equitation as stated above I would suggest McLain Ward, Beezie Madden or, for the younger generations Reed Kessler and Eve Jobs.
WHAT KARL HAD RIGHT
Where I start to agree with Karl is in his diagnosis of all the things wrong with the equitation ring. The three things I agree with him most on are one, riders are rewarded for giving up function for form; two, winning comes with the high price tag of a fancy horse; and third, the lack of transparency in judging, allowing for judges to objectively score tall thin riders on looks.
All three of the problems listed above have resulted in a class that is more beauty pageant then sport. Yes, they have to have some skill for their talent portion but, in the end, its still a beauty contest. These classes do not do a good enough job of testing rider capabilities. The courses can have challenging components but, the rider who has the nicer the horse, the taller and leaner physique, and the kid that can perch and hide a bad distance the best wins. I would doubt that if most of the top ten riders at finals had to hop of an OTTB, they wouldn’t find themselves in the finals.
And if anyone has any doubt that good equation equals a skinny rider perched on a big nice horse, all you have to do is go on Instagram to see what the youth think good equitation. One account comes to mind when I see young riders idolizing SM stars. The young trainer should be a poster child for the perfect equitation rider. She has one body position, one seat (a perch), her heels are so far down that it doesn’t allow her body to move with the horse, and she is skinny and blonde. This particular trainer has a lot of potential but, her horses run through the turns unbalanced after fences because she cannot land, sit her butt in the saddle, and get control because she is so worried about her position. She gets so much positive feedback on her perfect equitation, and none of the young kids in the fan club seem to understand what’s lacking.
HOW DO WE FIX THE PROBLEMS
I could go on all day about how bad the equitation classes have gotten and the compounding damage social media has but, you would all stop reading. So instead, here are some ways that they can “fix” what’s broken.
1. The USHJA needs to provide a definition and purpose of equation. If the purpose is solely to judge a riders ability to ride smoothly around the course and look pretty doing it, then leave it as it is and acknowledge that a year or two in equation might help get the young rider into the jumper ring. But, I think a definition that encourages the division/class to be a test of rider capability is better.
2. Change the judging. Judging should be based on the riders ability to ride the horse they have. A rider with a spooky horse, a horse with a short stride, a horse that try’s to run-out, should be judged on their ability to ride through the problem or handicap successfully with tact. I would go as far as to say that a rider who has a horse that try’s to run by a jump but, through tactful riding is able to get the horse over the jump, and onto the next test should get a higher score for that element. This would encourage riders to ride more challenging horses to optimize their scores, rather then buying the nicest horse they can find. It would in turn produce better riders who have experience on more challenging horses, drop the price on an equitation horses, and produce a nice child/adult horse for a less experienced rider to move into.
3. Provide score sheets. To help reduce the objectivity of judging, every rider should get a score sheet, like they do in dressage. Knowing that the rider, trainer, and all of instagram and facebook will get the score sheet, especially if unfair and biased judging is assumed present, will encourage judges to judge based on performance and less on style and look.
4. Provide a better description of what is being judged. Looking online, all I could find under Judging Procedures for the 3.3” equitation was “To be judged on the seat, hands, guidance and control of the horse”. Leg, one of the three aids, was not even listed here. But more importantly, they need to break these down and provide specific judging criteria that a rider can work towards.
5. Increase the difficulties of the tests to reflect horsemanship. For example, having a test where the rider needs to get off and show an ability to manage the horse from the ground. I hate to say make the rider tack and Untack their horse but, if that is truly a challenge for some youth it should be added. And make them explain their tack choice.
In a perfect world, sweeping change would bestow the equation ring and it would be a place where riders would be judged on their ability to ride functionally though the use of good equitation principles. Which means that riders would all be rewarded for their abilities, and where riding a challenging horse would gain you points because it allowed the judges to see the rider handle a test that they could not build into the course. But, I know this is not going to happen. There is to much money in selling big equitation horses, and to much hassle in teaching kids to ride OTTBs or a hotter horse.
At the end of the day, Karl is probably right. The equitation should just be its own division, and riders should chose to compete in hunters, jumpers, or equation; knowing that the hunters and equitation have taken on a style that requires a specific type of horse that comes with a mid to high five figure price tag. It’s sad really, in a time where talking about making the sport more accessible is on everyone’s minds, the most impactful and meaningful changes will never happen.
I would love to hear your thoughts on equitation and how you see it now, and how you think it will progress in ten years from now.
Walking and Talking 1 – Do you need Equitation to learn the jumpers