What Happened to Paying Your Dues?
Lately, I’ve had this feeling I can’t shake. Like maybe—just maybe—I’m not shouting into the void after all. Because there are more of us now. More voices speaking up. Writers, riders, critics, and fans.
People, just like me that are tired of watching our sport become a showreel for money and politics instead of merit and horsemanship.
We are sick of seeing the Olympic disciplines turning into a playground for those who know the right people.
People who buy the right horses, but never had to ride a crooked pony in a muddy paddock at 6 AM on a Sunday morning.
People that trick the system to get their qualifications done on time.
But now, I sense there’s a new undercurrent in equestrian sport.
A quiet rebellion!
It's growing—in blogs, in discussions, in the founding of alternative federations like the United States Equestrian Society.
Empowering equestrians through education, certification, and International ethical standards.
The quote is from their website and looking at myself I don't know how many times I have referred to education, education, education in my chronicles.
People are done being polite about it.
Lack of education [and backbone] seems to be a huge problem in the sport of today.
But now...
People want stewards who actually steward.
People want judges who judge with their eyes open.
People want federations that don’t play dictators.
We want accountability, and even more so, we want a sport that remembers its roots, and maybe that’s actually the whole point.
Cause maybe it’s not about changing equestrian sport into something new. Maybe it's not about reinventing the wheel, but more about reclaiming what it used to be.
A sport where people paid their dues.
A sport where knowledge—not the connections—was the ticket to the big league.
I’ve written a lot of serious things lately. Because the problems in the sport are serious. But this—this new feeling of not being alone?
That’s something new, and I like it!
So here’s a question, are we in the middle of a movement? Or is it just wishful thinking?
Have you noticed the shift?
Are you part of it?
Are you ready to be?
Drop your thoughts in the comment section below, or hook up on my socials. This one’s for all of us.
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