The Dressage Percheron?

I have talked about this before, and I try to keep this blog upbeat and focused on the horse instead of the greater sport. But I am honestly a little out of sorts about the recent tragedies at Rolex. Two more amazing animals destroyed and one brave rider fighting for her life. And we call this a sport?

Badminton next weekend. I am going to sit that one out. Too many deaths last year.

I have read the public comment from upper level riders. I have read the comments from Captain Mark Philips. I call bullshit. Too many deaths to say they are all freak accidents. And for those saying we need tighter qualification requirements, some of our best are falling, not just the overfaced ammies.

I makes me ill to think about how little accountability or responsibility is being taken in this sport. Notice I did not say blame, just own up to the fact that there is a problem. And whether we want to own up to this or not, the deaths really picked up with the demise of the short format. The long format really weeded out the "almost ready" from the "damn sure we're ready and in peak fitness". A horse even at 90% fitness might not be able to squeak that extra 2 inches you need to clear the table when you blow it. Or have the mental focus to contend with corner after technical corner. And when you are moving that fast, over jumps that large, those 2 inches just might save your life.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. The sport Brego and I are playing in has little resemblance to the uber elite upper level riders and competitions. It's so different that people at that level don't fear mortality, I suppose. I just want a sport that encourages me to be a better all around rider with a little adrenaline kick now and then. Hunters in the US is a caricature of foxhunting, and eventing is turning into a caricature of its own.

There's no point to this post, just anger and frustration. The whole world wants to not accept responsibility for the very real crisis we, as a people, are in. It seems eventing literally imploding is just a symptom.

In other news, the rice rationing is really going to impact the fancy rice bran I feed Brego. Bad day.