Can a good equitation rider be made?

[EqDreams]

No questions asked, becoming a good equitation rider takes a lot of work. But do you guys think that anyone, with enough hard work, can become a good equitation rider? Or do you think that it is just some people are born with the "natural" look on a horse. Does a certain body type make a good equitation (ex- long legs, tall)?

Just wondering what you guys think.

[D_BaldStockings]

There is an old quote that "Success is 1 percent INspiration and 99 percent PERspiration."

Determination, hard and prolonged work, and the best teachers you can find will make a very good equitation rider of anyone who is not severely disabled.

Now winning big classes, that may require all that determination, an awfully good horse rider combination that clicks, an expert tailor, coaching and the money for a campaign plus great show ring luck.

Very often, whether you THINK you can, or think you can't: you are right!

[chelseab2005]

There is an old quote that "Success is 1 percent INspiration and 99 percent PERspiration."

Determination, hard and prolonged work, and the best teachers you can find will make a very good equitation rider of anyone who is not severely disabled.

Now winning big classes, that may require all that determination, an awfully good horse rider combination that clicks, an expert tailor, coaching and the money for a campaign plus great show ring luck.

Very often, whether you THINK you can, or think you can't: you are right!

What she said.

Yes it does help to have a certain body type and build, but anyone can do it with enough work and practice. Long legs can be a great asset if you can keep them still and set, but if you don't have the ability to do that they end up swinging. It takes a lot of discipline and practice plus working on form every second of every day. You don't just work on equitation at the barn. You practice it at home, at school, when your out with friends, everywhere. You'll notice that I keep saying practice. That's because it takes a lot of it and great determination to not only want to do it right, but know you are doing it right. Confidence is a big part of show ring presence.

[ASB_EQ_Gal]

What everyone has said is great. However, like you saw at the Arizona Futurity equiation is about how someone rides and shows their horse. It's not all about form and perfection. Whenever you ride don't always just practice your equitation. I am lucky that I have pleasure and performance horses because they make me ride, but I have also been riding for my whole life. Riding experience comes in handy. You can really tell the difference between riders who really ride and riders who just sit there. So in the end all those things you mentioned can help boost a rider but if they truly dedicate themselves into the learning of horsemanship they could become a GREAT equitation rider! I wasn't an eq rider until just 2 years ago and really only a serious eq rider until this year...my mom and I along with the help of others like Claire, Kris Bayes, Robb Wallen, and watching those equitation rider out there have helped me achieve my goal. So I am living and walking proof that an equitation rider can be made.