BETWEEN ROUNDS WITH: JEREMY first time it started to feel STEINBERG possible. By 1992, it was definitely a possibility, and I was doing every- thing in my life to make The Idea Of it happen someday. It drove me and pushed Fair Sport me and was something Our columnist sees I wanted more than the exclusive nature of anything. I still do. equestrian sports as a Olympic threat to their future Evolution with the Olympic The modern . Games were based on the idea of an amateur athlete who competed and showcased his skills ith the 2016 Rio against other amateur Olympic Games (Brazil) athletes from around the just a year away, the world. Over the years, hype is starting. The ad many adaptations have Wcampaigns are running; the qualifying been made based on competitions are beginning, and the political, economic and feeling in the air is sweeping us up as it technological advance- does. It’s magical. ments, bringing the When I was young, I used to dream Games into a more KARL LECK PHOTO of competing in the Olympics, as many professional-based kids do. The older I get, the more this athletic endeavor fit for the modern world. Olympic gold medalist performances like and Ahlerich in 1984 (left) dream, in realistic terms, drifts further We now have full-time sponsored and Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro in 2012 and further from my thoughts. As life athletes, more and more global competi- (right) give young riders something to dream progresses, priorities and responsibilities tions, and far more international media about—but our columnist worries about how much longer equestrian sports will change, and things seem to run their own coverage, bringing the Olympics to a realistically remain in the Olympic Games. organic course. Nevertheless, the dream wider audience and making the dream is still there, as it is for many of us. possible for more people—as well as the horse does play a very large role in I remember being glued to the TV for making it a huge business in and of itself. the equation and is probably the larger the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles when Simply put, it’s adapt or perish when contender of the pair. the U.S. men’s dream team won the gold it comes to Olympic inclusion. The in . It was also the same year equestrian competition was long held An Un-Level Playing Field won the women’s all- by the military and only included men. When I stepped down as the USEF around and scored those perfect 10s on This was one of those changes that was Youth Coach I was frustrated with a the floor exercises and . At that time inevitably going to happen, and by 1952, lot of things. I saw more and more kids I dreamed of being a gymnast. I could see civilian men and women were allowed being “produced” into top riders and myself right there with or to compete. If the equestrian sports talk of becoming a top rider based on Mitch Gaylord; they were awesome, and hadn’t opened their doors beyond the purchasing or leasing a trained horse they were tangible. military, they would have ceased to or one that is destined for an Olympic In 1988 I was still mesmerized by the remain in the Games. start. So many of the kids I worked with Olympic gymnastics, but this time it was Equestrian is one of the few Olympic wanted to become future Olympians, the Soviet Union that was winning the sports where men and women compete which is a fantastic thing, but they were men’s gold. I started riding in between equally as it’s not a test of strength, size, also told that the only way for that to the 1984 and 1988 Games, and by 1988, power or speed, but one more of finesse happen was to find a sponsor and buy I was following the medals as and of the horse. Not that the human isn’t an expensive and special horse. They well. I started to realize a gymnastics start an athlete, but it’s the horse’s ability, talent always looked to their role models, many at the Olympics was not in the cards for and strength that is more on trial. It’s of which, but not all, were doing the same me, but the possibility of riding a horse probably one of the most special things thing and securing spots on Olympic and competing on that front became my about our sport and one that deserves teams time and time again on horses new focus. I heard talk of the U.S. riders, a huge amount of emphasis. In playing purchased for them by sponsors just so knew people who knew them, and for the that up, however, we have to agree that they could compete at the Games.

62 The Chronicle of the Horse KAT NETZLER PHOTO NETZLER KAT

Over the last few years since the 2012 London Games, there have been a few international level horses already competing at or near that level GREAT GENETICS purchased for Americans to ride in hopes of making “The Team.” Now PRODUCE believe me, I understand the drive and would not turn the opportunity down by GREAT HORSES! any means; I don’t think anyone should. But I also have to ask myself, when we SPS FLORENCE ROYAL do this, are these the best riders in the country, or do they just have the best Florencio/De Niro/Calypso II. horses or best access to horses? Does the 2007 Bay 16.2h, Very strong rider make the horse an Olympian, or mare line. In foal to DON INDEX does the horse make the rider one? Is it really the best of the best human athletes competing against each other for a slot Verbands Premium FLORIDA on an Olympic team, or is it a few fortu- Floriscount/Dressage Royal, 2011 Chestnut 17 h. Overall “8” on Studbook SEZUAN nate ones who find themselves on the inspection. Class winner as 2 yr old. Very impressive mare. In foal to . best equine athletes at the right time? Main Studbook SUWANEE I look to the other events in the Sir Donnerhall/Weltmeyer, 2011 Black 16.2h. Overall “7” on Studbook Olympics and wonder if runners inspection. Handsome powerful mare. In foal to SEZUAN. could buy shoes that gave them a SPS LUNA distinct advantage over the rest of the Londonderry/Pandur, 2002 Dark Bay 16.2h. Overall “8” on Studbook field, would that still make for fair inspection. Very beautiful mare. In foal to SEZUAN. sport? Think of it this way: There are a few sets of shoes in the world that cost $5 million dollars or a lot more for that RIVER HOUSE HANOVERIANS matter; they only come in a few sizes, and Verne E. Batchelder by wearing them, you can shave a few 603.728.5505 [email protected] www.rhhanoverians.com Next trip to Germany, Oct. 19 Prices of mares start at $25K

August 24, 2015 • chronofhorse.com 63 DRESSAGE seconds off your time. Those shoes only as well, but those athletes compete more with a greater skill set than their come around every so often for purchase, or less purely based on their own abili- Olympic counterparts. and you have to find just the right fit, ties. There is no x-factor horse or shoe I see an evolution of competition that but they are out there, and more and that skews the equation in favor of the is swinging equestrian events far outside more people keep trying to make more wealthy or the sponsored. the premise of a fair and amateur-based of them. Sometimes, if you offer enough I wonder how much longer eques- sport. For people needing to earn a money to the owner of a set of shoes or trian events will be included in Olympic living in the industry, this is good, but one of the runners who use them, it’s competition. We all seem to agree that the for longevity as an Olympic event it’s not possible to get them for yourself. more visible and the more recognizable healthy or sustainable. If a few runners had them, would the sport becomes the more success we’ll Do I hope equestrian events stay in the that still make for a fair competition for have for our own U.S. team, as well as Olympic line-up forever? Yes, without a the other runners? Would it turn the the sport as a whole. Yet I wonder if that doubt. But I also see equestrian events as running world into a business of buying really is the case. The more media atten- not long for this Olympic life. and selling shoes versus producing good tion and money involved, the less fair Equestrian events are currently slated athletes? Wouldn’t every runner spend the competition becomes. It’s a hard and for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, most of their waking hours trying to find somewhat unfortunately needed evolu- which I am thrilled for. Maybe you or I a faster or better shoe or a sponsor to tion, but one that might prove to be the will be on that “Dream Team” or maybe procure those shoes for them? catalyst for extinction. we won’t, but will it be the last Olympics You’d be silly not to if you were a Most of my business is my clinic work, that include the sport? runner, and if you were a shoe company and I see many riders with talent that is What will our future look like if you’d also be silly not to try to create or crazy impressive, riders with an innate equestrian sports get bumped from own all of the shoes. If you had lots of feel that would land them at the top of the Olympics to make room for a new money or could get access to it, liked their sport if they only had the right sport? Would there be an even greater running and were an average athlete, horse. I sometimes wonder if they were divide between what people refer to as you could then compete with the likes of runners, showing the same amount classical and modern dressage? Would Usain Bolt based on the sponsorship you of talent, would their day of Olympic there be less stress about keeping a secured or the money you had yourself to stardom have already come to pass? pure and traditional base of the sport, buy those shoes. You’d still need to train, I see a lot of these riders working, as we wouldn’t be involved with the learn how to use the start blocks, be fit, studying and bettering themselves with International Olympic Committee and run relatively fast, etc., but would you the knowledge that an Olympic start their governance? How would it change have to be the best in your country? How for them is most likely never going to the education of our young riders and long do you think running of any kind happen. I see them train great horses their dreams and goals if becoming an would stay in the Olympics under this of average quality to become excep- Olympian wasn’t a possibility for them? scenario, if the premise of the Olympics tional—but none that will land them I don’t have any amazing ideas on how is fair competition regardless of polit- on a team. Not that they don’t dream it to secure equestrian sports in Olympic ical, socioeconomic, ethnic, global or or want it, but they know the chances competition, but it deserves a great deal of financial background? are not in their favor regardless of their thought. Not just in how to make it more The fact that running fast is not based talent, when they have to compete on widely known, spectator friendly, lucra- on the shoes you own or can buy is such an un-level playing field. tive or the like, but also in what keeps what allows men and women from Italy, I see riders throughout the world who the sport in the tradition of the Games Ethiopia, Japan, America, Korea, Ireland, have made it to the big time charge rates themselves, so when the IOC reviews its Portugal and more to compete on a according to their “team” status. They inclusion, there is no doubt that the roots completely level and fair playing field and become experts based on the purchase are so strong and deep, its evolution so one of the big reasons it will be included of a horse or horses for them, but I often harmonious with Olympic growth, that in the Olympic Games for as long as there find that other, lesser-known riders are it must remain—and kids who ride can is Olympic competition. This does not by far the better horsemen and women, keep dreaming of being an Olympian. hold true for horse sports, unfortunately. The ideal of the Olympic Games is supposed to be fair sport that crosses JEREMY STEINBERG borders. Regardless of where you come Jeremy Steinberg was the U.S. Equestrian Federation Youth Coach from from, what god you believe in, how 2010-2014. He’s a well-known rider, trainer and competitor based out of Del rich or poor you are, if you’re the fastest Mar, Calif. He’s also a selector for the Developing Horse Program and one of runner or skier, paddler or gymnast, five clinicians who works with the U.S. Dressage Federation in its Platinum your chance of making a team is based Performance/USDF junior and young rider clinic series. He worked with on talent. Not that those athletes don’t long-time friend and mentor Dietrich von Hopffgarten extensively until his passing in 2004. Jeremy has trained and shown many horses up through need money, sponsors, time, good the Grand Prix level. He now runs a small “boutique”-type training business training, luck, etc., and not that there and travels the country giving clinics. More information can be found at aren’t politics in their respective sports FRASER PHOTO COURTENAY steinbergdressage.com.

64 The Chronicle of the Horse