A Twitter conversation inspired me to do a discipline survey where I asked riders of various disciplines what they thought of other riding disciplines. The participants were instructed to keep their answers light-hearted and fun, as this was not a survey to bash other disciplines but merely to see some of the “funny” stereotypes that exist amongst the different riding disciplines. While some participants didn’t stick with the light-hearted, fun theme, for the most part, the answers were meant to poke fun at the stereotypes that exist – and boy were there a lot.
Participants
Most of the survey takers were hunter riders (45%). The second most popular discipline was eventing with 30%. The rest of the disciplines were as follows:
- Jumpers: 22.5%
- Equitation: 22.5%
- Western: 17.5%
- Dressage: 12.5%
- Leisure: 12.5%
- Saddle seat: 12.5%
- Other: 2.5%
After entering their own discipline, each participant was asked to give their opinion of various riding disciplines. For each one, we will highlight the good, the bad, and the ugly answers. All answers were anonymous.
Tori Colvin. Photo Credit: 27east.com
Hunters
The good:
- “Sexy.”
- “Hunter riders always seem to be floating. They always seem so graceful.”
- “Skilled hunter riders are incredible.”
- “It’s hard to be able to ride strong, expressive horses but make it look easy.”
- “They are a happy medium between sloppy daredevils and perfectionists.”
The bad:
- “They don’t know how to ride! And everything they do is SO boring. Do they think that laying on they’re horses necks is attractive?”
- “Tend to be bitchy.”
- “Hunters are ok but really boring, I don’t mind it but the judges are so goddamn biased it makes me crazy.”
- “I do think that the hunter discipline harbors “cliques” that become overly obsessed with looking the part more than riding it.”
The ugly:
- “They ride perched on top of their horse, overuse standing martingales, think having shitty eq makes their horses jump look better..”
- “I think they wouldn’t last in an actual hunt field.”
- “We get stereotypes for being snotty and bitches.”
- “Can get sloppy. Need to focus more on how their riding affects the horse.”
McLain Ward. Photo Credit: SidelinesNews.com
Jumpers
The good:
- “Intense.”
- “Brave as hell.”
- “Brave, and a little crazy.”
- “They are fabulous bitches.”
- “Hard-headed, stubborn and crazy! Although they are very confident and talented equestrians.”
- “They put a lot of hard work and effort into everything!”
The bad:
- “Pull too much on the horses mouths.”
- “Most jumper riders I know have horses not suitable for the hunter ring and eq not quite solid/good enough for the eq ring, so they do jumpers where they can get away with themselves and their horses being a little “sloppier” as long as they are in good physical condition and can make the time. I don’t think it’s good for children to do the jumpers without a solid background of hunter/eq.”
- “Low levels are terrifying, but if you’re in the big leagues you have some serious talent. I think it’s easy for anyone to climb up to 4′ but getting beyond that takes skill.”
- “Some of them need to work on their equitation.”
The ugly:
- “Often think they ride the hardest horses in the world but I find this is often not true – I’ve met some really nice ones but I’ve met quite a few that think their s*it don’t stink”
- “I think most are bitches.”
- “But also some people seriously need to get out of the jumper ring because yes it’s about speed but you still have to be a rider, you can’t just race around the course and ride like a sack of potatoes. The amount of times I’ve seen people crash through jumps and almost kill their horses because they speed around like idiots is ridiculous.”
- “Like eventers but too wimpy for cross country and too impatient for dressage.”
Lillie Keenan. Photo Credit: PhelpsSports.com
Equitation
The good:
- “Skilled.”
- “Talented.”
- “Classy as …”
- “Perf.”
- “It takes a lot of dedication to get your equitation perfectly so good for them.”
- “They’re really talented and some of the best riders I’ve ever seen”
- “Perfectionists, usually hard on themselves for messing up. Horses are a happy median between the slow and steady hunters and the handy jumpers. The riders are often of similar builds, because they “look the part” of a new rider. They usually strive to be recognized for their riding and want criticism on themselves, unlike hunters and jumpers.”
The bad:
- “How they put up with the eq ring is beyond me so good for them.”
- “When they aren’t on a made horse, and they do it right, they are a great cross between hunters and jumpers, and they need to have a working understanding of dressage.”
- “Either they have amazing eq or horrible I find.”
- “Horses too round.”
- “Stuffy, stiff good-two shoes types show equitation. But their dedication to improving themselves is quite admirable.”
The ugly:
- “I don’t know any predominantly eq riders, but my overall impression is that they are perfectionists with an awful tendency to perpetuate eating disorders for the sake of the ‘eq body.'”
- “They have a lot of value but often the focus on equitation can lead to ineffective riding or even poorly muscled horses. I dislike the focus on dull horses.”
- “HOLY F*CK WHY ARE BIG EQ HORSES SO EXPENSIVE DO THEY SH*T GOLD?”
- “Even level of bitchyness as hunters.”
- “I can’t stand the perching that so often occurs at the lower levels.”
Western
The good:
- “There are misconceptions that western riders just “sit” when they ride. Thu deserve more credit.”
- “It takes hard work to do what they do.”
- “Western looks super fun and fast paced, but I don’t know much about it. Some of the shows people wear really glitzy and sparkly stuff and that’s just flat out awesome!”
- “Nice, fun, down to earth!”
- “I think they want a more relaxed relationship with their horses and may not want to spend as much money as circuit riders do. There are lots of options for them, from trails to barrels, the horses are (usually) less expensive and easier to control at all gaits making them ideal for leisure or the occasional pole bending/barrels.”
The bad:
- “It all depends on what they do. I absolutely loathe the broncs and bull riding that occurs at rodeos, but I’ve got a totally open mind when it comes to the types of western riding where animal welfare isn’t compromised. To be honest, barrel racing looks like a blast and I would love to try it!”
- “Western has value but take away the smooth gaits and a lot of them can’t actually ride or move with the horse.”
- “LAZY.”
- “Overall I feel like ALL western horses are ridden front to back which drives me insane, I will say barrels and reining looks fun, but western pleasure is like watching a rock grow…”
The ugly:
- “They’re very rude to other disciplines and act like theirs is the hardest thing ever in the horse world.”
- “Classless, tacky, and I’m sorry but western pleasure is so much easier than any English discipline. I hate their attitude towards helmets.”
- “No.”
- “I don’t.” (think of them)
- “Ew. Ew. Ew. A thousand times ew.”
California Chrome.
Racing
The good:
- “Brave!”
- “Well my trainer is a trainer so it’s a really cool aspect to see the behind the scenes!”
- “I have a lot of respect for jockeys.”
- “I love to watch thoroughbred racing.”
- “I think jockeys are bad asses.”
- “You can find the best of horseman in the racing world, people who truly know how to nurture a horse as an athlete.”
- “Exercise riders and jockeys are awesome people generally just trying to make ends meet!”
- “I think the industry gets an undeservedly bad reputation. Yes, there are people in the industry who mistreat the horses but you get those types of people in all disciplines. I know some amazing people in the racing business and overall I have no problems with it.”
The bad:
- “They are crazy and out to ruin a breed of horse.”
- “I feel like some do it right, and prepare the horse for a life after races, but most dont and run a horse into the ground for a few dollars.”
- “Most are great and take good care of their horses, some are down right cruel though.”
- “Big money often brings out the worst in people, and you see plenty of that too.”
- “There are both good and bad people in the race industry. Some actually care about the well-being of their horses and others just care about the money.”
The ugly:
- “There’s too much abuse in that sport.”
- “Trainers and owners are often shady and mistreat their horses.”
- “Too many horses get abused or killed.”
- “Terrible.”
Saddle seat riding.
Saddle seat
The good:
- “Very skilled.”
- “The horses and riders do have beautiful turnout, and perfecting all those different gaits must take at least a little bit of skill.”
- “Saddle seat riders are classy, and I give them props, it’s amazing.”
- “A really fun group of people. Usually very serious riders. Can have fun and be 100% dedicated at shows. I love that I get to know so many of them really well.”
- “I think it looks fun.”
The bad:
- “Saddle seat riders really care about their sport some to the extent that they care more about the sport than the riders.”
- “It looks funny.”
- “What’s the point?”
- “Hahahahahahaha no.”
- “Prissy little things!”
The ugly:
- “They like to ruin their horses’ feet.”
- “Stupid and I genuinely hate them. Their horses are hyperflexed and hollow, it’s disgusting and awful for their horses.”
- “They’ve ganged up on English riders for where we put our saddle, that’s kind of rude.”
- “I think some are abusive.”
Charlotte Dujardin. Photo Credit: HorseAndCountry.tv
Dressage
The good:
- “It’s a piece of art!”
- “Dressage riders know what their doing. It’s the core of being an Equestrian, whether you jump, event or do Eq classes. For them to dedicate their entire time to this discipline are amazing.”
- “DANCING ON PONIES!”
- “It takes a lot of patience to train dressage horses and I have a lot of respect for riders.”
- “The good ones are incredible.”
- “I adore them. It takes a lot of work to get a horse to agree with you and look pretty while doing it.”
- “CLASSICAL dressage riders are the best, people who truly ride correctly have my utmost respect.”
- “Very talented, with great understanding of how to put your horse together.”
The bad:
- “I would be bored if that was my discipline.”
- “Boring.”
- “They can be snobby and think they’re riding better than everyone else even when they and their horses make elementary mistakes. Also, when they lengthen the stirrups too much it’s just ridiculous.”
- “They are way too picky and never have any fun.”
- “Stuck up. Think the principles of dressage apply to every discipline. Think dressage is the basis of all riding or some other BS. It looks really pretty though.”
The ugly:
- “All the dressage riders I know are bat sh*t crazy.”
- “Ah, the Dressage Divas! What is there to say? They are pickier than hunters, with none of the courage of eventers. But I suppose the beautiful movements they perform while managing to look like nothing is going on is SOMETHING noteworthy.”
- “MODERN dressage riders befuddle me, most ride front to back and are constantly in their horses face, resulting in a hyperflexed and hollow horse, who is tense in return.”
William Fox-Pitt.
Eventers
The good:
- “Badass.”
- “Extremely brave.”
- “Amazing.”
- “Balls. Of. Steel.”
- “Super talented!”
- “The coolest people you’ll ever meet engaging in the most dangerous Olympic sport. That’s real riding!”
- “MAJOR respect for them.”
- “Eventers like to ride the brave horses as they are very brave themselves. They might not have solid eq since they have to ride defensively but they also have to have the most faith in their horses and be willing to fall the most often (ie cross country) However they also take the most safety precautions of all the disciplines and will always favorite one portion of the event more than the other two because they can’t be equally excellent at everything. They are also more likely to compete as a team and think less of themselves as an individual and more in a group!”
The bad:
- “Crazy on XC, but I respect them a lot. I just don’t like it when they talk down on the other disciplines.”
- “Some look fun. Most look reckless.”
- “Scary!”
- “If your horse is constantly knocking rails, it shouldn’t be going XC.”
- “They’re daring and brave, but I feel that eventing has its own problems. I love how laid back they are regarding riding and they are less likely to expect one program to apply to all riders, but I don’t like the way many of those barns put people who shouldn’t ride OTTBs on OTTBs.”
Eventing was the only discipline that had no “ugly” remarks.
We also had a question where people could address any disciplines that were not on the survey. Here are a few of the more … noteworthy comments:
- “I don’t really have an opinion on different types of riders. I used to, but since high school/early college I’ve dabbled in so many different disciplines that I’ve realized we all have things in common. You have the rich annoying ones, you have the ones who don’t know what they’re doing, but mostly everyone just loves horses and riding. I would say though that eventers were a little more laid back than other disciplines. Maybe it’s just because I’ve spent more time as an evener.”
- “Driving! They’re all f*cking crazy!”
- “Vaulters are amazingly brave.”
- “Driving is pretty cool.”
- “I think polo is interesting!”
As I mentioned, and as you may have seen, some individuals didn’t follow the light-hearted and fun comment guidelines. The award for most honest and negative comment has to go to this one stating that a certain discipline – and I quote – “can go die in a fire.”
So what do you think? Are these opinions correct, or do you disagree? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us! And as always, please remain respectful.
One thing is clear – every discipline has stereotypes, and every discipline probably has riders that fit into those stereotypes. I think the most important thing to recognize is that each discipline, no matter if it’s racing, hunters, or western, has its good, bad, and ugly.
Thank you to all who participated! We think this was super fun, and we hope you enjoyed reading the results – even if they’re not always super positive.
Interesting to see people’s perspectives on the different disciplines.
I think I’m going to have to share this on my blog… (good luck studying for the bar by the way!!)
As an ex jumper, this made me laugh: ““Like eventers but too wimpy for cross country and too impatient for dressage.”
And as an ex western pleasure rider: “but western pleasure is like watching a rock grow…” haha, so funny.
And as I continue to learn more about dressage, all of these comments hit me with a laugh: “They can be snobby and think they’re riding better than everyone else even when they and their horses make elementary mistakes. Also, when they lengthen the stirrups too much it’s just ridiculous.”
“Stuck up. Think the principles of dressage apply to every discipline. Think dressage is the basis of all riding or some other BS. It looks really pretty though.”
^ Honestly that sounds like a bunch of misinformed people who don’t want to put the effort into it and want to justify their training without “dressage” basis. EVEN when I did western pleasure, I used classical dressage principles to train my horse. The AQHA people laughed at me (because instead of see-sawing my horse’s head to the ground, I taught him actual collection) but when I started to beat them, I had the last laugh! Dressage really is one of the toughest types of riding as it requires micro control of every fiber of your being- I kind of love and hate it at the same time haha.
But amen about modern dressage being terrible 🙁
Interesting eventing had no ugly remarks… 😀 I have to say I’ve been pretty involved in a vast majority of sports and I settled into eventing because it seems (to me- just personal preference) the most challenging with the biggest emphasis on training a horse slowly and correctly with the horse’s welfare upfront. Of course, there are abuses in every circuit, so I’m sure that applies to eventing!
Long comment, but there was a lot to read- very interesting survey!!
Also- an addendum to my laugh at the jumper remark. We actually think the jumpers are quite crazy. 5’+ fences!?! Are you kidding? We don’t jump anything that high… even at 4*. We watch in amazement though!
Reblogged this on Alchemy Eventing and commented:
Very interesting… As I’ve dabbled in about all of these disciplines, I had a good laugh!
This is really interesting! I found your blog through AlchemyEventing and I’m definitely following! I find it really sad that people think Western is so easy though. Sit there and look pretty? I wish I could just focus on looking pretty on my horse, lol! He’s a great horse, not spooky, very willing with good work ethic, but that’s because I’ve worked my butt off to get him that way, haha! Not super easy! 😉
Oh my goodness these are hilarious!!! I feel like a lot of them are pretty accurate. A theme I am picking up on….everyone who owns a horse is a bitch haha.
Thank you for posting this: it’s really interesting to me, because I’m British, so as far as I’m concerned, a lot of these don’t exist! However, I teach at a summer camp in NY and was wondering what the differences were, and this cleared up a few things for me. Some of the kids I teach ride year-round, so can explain bits of this, but not as well as this has. So I don’t have an opinion on many of these disciplines (that said, I know a reasonable amount about Western and am gaining greater respect for it. Everything I know about Saddle Seat would agree with “the ugly” category – I think those horses look abused, it makes Dressage look tame). It would’ve been interesting if you’d surveyed the FEI’s official sports – nobody mentions para-equestrian sports and a few of your commenters picked up on some FEI sports (driving and vaulting – incidentally, I put vaulting in the same box as polo: it’s not about riding, the horse is incidental to the sport, for me).
My favourite always has been and always will be eventing. It’s the definition of bravery and there are some true horsemen (and women) within the sport. If you’re into twitter, you may also want to look up @EquineHour and @HorseHour – they’re two networking events based in the UK but open to all, in order to promote horsey stuff online 🙂
Listen.. Morgan, Arabian, Fresian, Hackney and Saddlebred saddle seat are abuse free aside from the bad apples.. I ride all disciplines and but none I enjoy more than saddle seat.. My life right now is dedicated to saddle seat equitation and the saddle seat horse I lease is my world. It stings every time I see something anti-saddle seat. Everything that you think could be abuse can be explained and you will see that the horse LOVES what they do. If a horse doesn’t have the personality or talent for saddle seat they can just do another discipline, it isn’t forced.
Note: Bad apple and Tennessee walking horse barns are excluded from this statement..
Here I am, years late to replying, but that’s me. I ride saddleseat as a cross-discipline training for dressage. (Also? My BFF from high school competed on her five-gaited pony and when you grow up watching something, it feels comfortable.)
Saddleseat riding keeps my hands light-light-light and my lower leg calm-calm-calm even after I dismount the ASH and clamor on up to the back of the Thoroughbred I ride for dressage (okay, he’s a lesson horse, but he’s a lesson horse with STYLE and really cool amber-coloured eyes.)
The only time I’ve run into cross-discipline issue was when the ASH spooked and got all tangled up in her L-O-N-G front legs. As she went down, I kept thinking, “Any second now, she’s gonna recover and pop back up! ANY SECOND NOW. . . uh-oh, better see which way she’s gonna fall so I can dive the other way. . .” which I did. Ouch.
I’m not sure if what I’m doing is helpful for any one else, but it corrects my tendency to go to my lower leg too quickly, since ASH take ‘lower leg’ to mean ‘we’re OUTTA HERE!’ lol.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic
to be actually something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post,
I will try to get the hang of it!
Except dressage IS the basis of all riding. Even the god George Morris says this! I’ve even met barrel racers who’ve taken dressage lessons and shaved off a significant amount of time from their ride.
Basic dressage isn’t all the fancy movements. It is an elementary understanding of the aids and how the horse should be moving under you. Tell me one discipline that doesn’t teach this, and I’ll show you the only discipline that doesn’t train dressage in some way.
AGREED !!!
As far as the hunter/ew comments go, I have never met any people more batcrap crazy and stuck up in my life. (And this is coming from a dressage rider… And I’ll admit every trainer I have met is INSANE.)
I spent two years trying out hunter eq and the horses were treated like machines! There was a 25 yo mare who gave lessons nonstop from noon to 7 at night! And two other lesson horses in a twisted wire! I was so appalled. There was one saddle shared among two QH lesson horses, a sharkfin TB and an old warmblood because apparently their backs are all the same shape. The lack of respect for the horses’ wellbeing drove me away. (Now I sound like a hippie natural training horse girl). It isn’t like this was a backyardigan barn either! Lessons were $50 an hour and they hosted well known shows in the area!
I have only met a single hunter who gave two sh*ts about the wellbeing of her horse.
While I respect your opinion, this is not representative of the entire hunter/jumper/equitation industry at all. I am sorry you had this experience!
Haha, the only time after months of seeing each other almost daily that a hunter/jumper kid talked to me at our barn was to tell my my helmet was good and he’d wanted one like it but couldn’t afford it.
In the 1960’s at the age of about 7 I started in Saddle Seat, then at 15 worked on a cattle ranch in Montana. I went from high strung American Saddlebreds and Hackney Ponies to laid back quarter horses and a very strange saddle in one day. Talk about culture shock.
Then I wanted to jump but my Dad said to jump I had to learn Dressage. “If you don’t have complete control on the flat don’t think for a second you will have it on the jump course.” said Dad.
As I look back at 40+ years of riding I have learned the following:
Form gets you function. EVERY TIME and EQ is all about form and translates to every type of riding.
Starting at Saddle Seat EQ has done more to allow me to transition to other disciplines than anything I can think of. The cowboys in Montana told me Saddle Seat riding was for sissy easterners. They put me on the worst horse they had to “teach me something.” I had ridden hot blooded crazed Hackney Ponies and an irritated calm quarter horse was no match. He gave me a trial run for about 30 minutes and once I had the hang of him and that goofy saddle I was good to go. They never teased me again.
I have also learned the following: Go try a difference discipline and see what you learn.
If you have an open mind you will learn a lot.
I completely agree what you are saying about saddle seat equitation. It’s almost a better foundation than dressage.
There it is.
Eventing man what can I say. i love how it had no ugly remarks. I’ve done the hunters, the jumpers the everything but eventing has 3 in 1!! You tell me that you can do that.
It’s really too bad how misunderstood saddle seat is.. It’s been a great foundation for me to branch out into all disciplines. Equitation is my life and I’ve now received a fourth place in one of four Morgan saddle seat equitation world championship classes.. Everyone screams abuse when really, abuse is very rare in the discipline. (Aside from Tennessee walkers)
I wish they would show what discipline the people did next to the quotes, I think that would make it more interesting.
okay, so I get kind of mad when people say the riders from another discipline are ‘stuck up’ like sure there are allot of stuck up riders! but there are always going to be riders who think they are the best when they aren’t or have big egos. in general, I think all horse people are brave and we all deserve a round of applause for what we do, but there are some riders who think they are better than non-horsey people as well. They put down other people’s sports and hobbies because they aren’t as dangerous. I’ve ridden western and English and can say neither are ‘easy’ i would say western pleasure is not as physically demanding as barrels or eventing but I would also say that riding a trail pattern takes so much time and effort to get perfect, and so do all the disciplines. As long the person is not causing intentional harm to their horse (that is one issue that needs attention) then riders shouldn’t be so salty to one another aha :’D
I am simply appalled at what these people had to say about western riding. We are not lazy. We are not boring. We simply are. Rodeos, unlike all of these English events reserved mainly for the upper class, draw a crowd that is a hundred times more friendly, lively, and tolerant to other riders. We work so hard but y’all are calling us lazy? English saddles are what, like 5 pounds max? The general terrain for English riding is what, like smoother than a baby’s butt? The atmosphere in the western world is tougher than you could imagine. We carry our saddles that are up to 50 pounds to our horses that don’t always have an angel’s manners and ride in the grit of torn soil and hard driving rain. The horses we own are trained hard and have amazing stamina and loyalty. The day I get called lazy by some prick is the day I won’t be able to hold myself back.
I apologize for the rant but my opinion on this matter is stronger than my upper arms.
ps: Our riding, especially reining(western dressage) and drill riding, can be so beautiful. I apologize that some English peeps don’t see that
pps: it’s not as easy as you might think and the snobs are considered outliers of our friendly groups that have amazing hospitality.
I’d never call Western riders ‘lazy.’ OMG, tearing around on spit-quick horse without losing your seat is anything but lazy. Besides, didn’t all of us learn not to name-call in kindergarten? It’s just not nice. But the Western riding girls at our barn ARE nice – and they offer help to newbies, regardless of how inexperienced the newbies are; that’s flat-out kind and caring.
The last sections of comments where she had experienced many disciplines was my favorite. I, too, have has some varying in my riding career, from local pleasure shows, breed shows, and dressage shows. I’ve seen the good and bad in all disciplines – saddleseat, dressage, western/hunter pleasure, barrel racing, hunters/jumpers, and everything in between. It’s important to remember there are good people and there are bad people, and to not be offended by a stereotype in your discipline or breed.