Thursday, May 17, 2012

Romney and Dressage in the Press

It's just so... Infantile. Superficial. Divisive. And November seems so far away...


14 comments:

  1. JeanMay 17, 2012 at 12:50 PM

    Usually, I have great respect for Jennifer Granholm, but this is out of line. Yes, the Romney dressage connection is "over the top" with expensive horses and one good enough to go the the World Cup, but the insulting laughter about dressage in general is offensive.

    It's regretful that all of us "dressage people" are being lumped together as some sort of social elite totally out of touch with reality.

    Gasp if you will that the Romney's have tons of money invested in their horses, but what about all the owners out there struggling to hold down jobs, pay their mortgages and while still somehow managing to fill their lives with the love of horses and the fascinating training and hard work of dressage?

    A little bit of research in investigation into the truth of our sport would have taken much of the sting out of that report.

    Too bad, so sad for us all.

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  2. nhaynes83May 17, 2012 at 1:01 PM

    I didn't realize I was so wealthy! I do fancy horse dancing on a 25 y/o horse I bought for a whopping 4 figures! Where's my orchestra?

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  3. AnonymousMay 17, 2012 at 1:12 PM

    I'm sorry.. I find myself REALLY wanting to reach into the video to slap both of the anchors in the video on the bottom. I couldn't even finish watching it, it disgusted me so much.

    Obviously neither of them bothered to even do a smidgen of research on dressage, or look at any video's of people riding dressage.

    I still want to smack em. :P


    Jamie

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  4. CarlyMay 17, 2012 at 3:33 PM

    I don't really ever pay attention to this sort of stuff, but this just made my blood boil. They had no idea what they were even talking about.
    well, Im off to go ride my six figure dressage horse now. ya know, because they ALL cost that much and every rider in the world is rich and 'normal people' race because theres NO money in that sport whatsoever. headdesk

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  5. RiderWriterMay 17, 2012 at 5:26 PM

    What. The. H@ll. I gave up after 30 seconds of the first video. What is so damn funny, lady? You don't have a CLUE of what you are talking, or laughing, about. Zilch. NO, not all dressage horses cost six figures or "thousands of dollars a month" to maintain. In fact, I'd wager 90% of them don't. The media is falling all over itself portraying the sport as something it is largely not to play up the elitism of the Romneys, and I for one am sick of it. Fine, criticize them all you want for being rich (I'm sure the current President's bankbook looks just like mine, y'know), but can we PLEASE leave the horse world out of it? We get a bad enough rap as it is already, thank you very much! "Oh, you ride Ennnnglisssh in one of those little saddles," said with a smirk. Subtext: you must be rich and snooty. I am neither. Most horse people are neither. Give me a BREAK!

    You're right, November seems so far away...

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  6. Theresa SMay 17, 2012 at 7:19 PM

    Arg, that was so irritating I could hardly finish the clip. I'm a dem and would never vote for Romney because of his stance on multiple issues, but this is people just being willfully ignorant, obnoxious and mean. Is owning a dressage horse really any different than owning a huge Texas ranch which probably houses far greater than 8 horses on it? Tons of presidents and their wives have had horses. Jackie O loved horses and I don't think people scoffed at her and acted like she was a clueless, rich, idiot unfit to be first lady because of that. Anne's expression in that still image alone speaks to how deeply they care about their horse,s which in my opinion humanizes the Romneys and makes them much more likable and kind seeming.

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  7. AnonymousMay 17, 2012 at 7:28 PM

    blechh...Granholm, she used to be our Governor. Can you believe how ignorant and clueless she is? I like it that the Romneys can and do support an entire Olympic team.

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  8. G.LangsamMay 17, 2012 at 9:26 PM

    The Romney's were probably aware of the "image" issue with their horse competing in the World Cup and its is interesting to note that at the World Cup, the horse was listed as being owned by Amy Ebling and not Anne Romney (who I know has been the owner for years of Rafaelca).

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  9. AnonymousMay 17, 2012 at 9:36 PM

    You're so right, so divisive, superficial, and infantile! I wasn't born yet, but do not think this discussion was going on during the 'Camelot' era with the Kennedy's . . . Jackie was quite wealthy with a lot of horse riding under her belt. I personally feel the media is quite on the liberal side and the Romney's with their horses are an easy target. If I had the money that the Romeny's had I'm sure I'd be spending it quite the same way, btw, I'm not crazy about Romney, but he has given very generously and his % of donations is quite high. Let the media say what they want, I believe they are quite a 'class act' couple. Becky B

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  10. JenMay 18, 2012 at 5:58 AM

    How ridiculous; WHO CARES?? It's their money to spend - so what if they're into dressage as long as they pay their taxes (or did I miss something?) *bangs head on desk*

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  11. AnonymousMay 18, 2012 at 10:26 AM

    Disgusting. And oh, so ignorant.

    ~ Amanda

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  12. AnonymousMay 18, 2012 at 10:49 PM

    Funny how they bring up what they spend with their own money but don't make a hit piece on what Michelle obama cost the tax payers with her vacation to Spain. No playing favorites in the press now are we?

    as the mom of two boys, anyone that raises five of them deserves any expensive horse she wants.

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  13. AnonymousMay 19, 2012 at 2:31 PM

    I agree. I had to stop watching the top video before I burst something in anger! Seriously, reporters? Idiots.

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  14. AnonymousJune 5, 2012 at 2:09 PM

    Most dressage riders are 'average Joes' who ride inexpensive horses. Dressage is about perfecting one's own coordination and balance and signals to the horse, as well as developing the horse's muscles and balance. Most dressage trainers are very 'working class' and put in a long hard day - many dressage trainers ride between 12-16 horses a day for customers, teach multiple students, ride their own horses, manage a business, and then go home and work at home. The Ebelings are a part of an elite top 1 or 2% of dressage trainers, they have been at that level for many, many years. I would not automatically assume that every move their vet makes is dishonest. It's normal to sedate horses for xrays, and it's also quite normal for vets to hold different opinions about what a spot on an xray might or might not mean. Further, it is extremely rare for a buyer to accept the veterinary exam of the vet o the SELLER'S choice. It is also not at all unusual for buyers to sue over dissatisfaction with the purchase of a horse. Sometimes these suits are legitimate, and sometimes they are not. Without FAR more detail than is presented I would make no assumptions one way or the other about the Romney case. The reports are obviously being made by people who know nothing about dressage, riding, horses, vets or dressage trainers. Get someone with some knowledge to comment at SOME point, please.

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