09/06/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Eb54yBfhY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I think it is very interesting to witness how so many people who often bring about excuses like “It’s just a moment in time” when the welfare of upper level competition is questioned are now criticizing bridleless riders in a similar manner, for reasons completely unrelated to welfare, and the moment in time excuse is nowhere to be seen.
A lot of the patterns that I have been, noticing have exposed to something that I already suspected:
A lot of of the excuses that people are willing to use to defend what they participate in are not something that they apply to any other school of thought.
They are happy to make sweeping judgements about the training of horses that they know nothing about, saying things like “all of these horses were started in bits” and making judgements about the lack of quality in certain movements, all while discussing a show that is the first of its kind in its country.
Meaning, that many of the people at that show are likely competing bridleless for the first time.
And they are not afforded any consideration for the fact that there is obviously as a room for improvement from the very first time that they’re doing something.
Meanwhile, we see the same types of people who are being so critical of this instance, heavily defending repeated patterns and using things such as the environment, the first time traveling, etc. to suggest that there is nothing to remark on.
It is an incredible double standard that has become abundantly transparent.
This competition is going to be influential for more than just a few things.
Obviously, showing people what is possible with less equipment.
But, it has also shone a spotlight on the massive hypocrisy that’s so much of our industry exemplifies.
So many of the excuses used to defend the sport from any criticism at all, even when the criticism is founded by empirical evidence, have now been forgotten when the people being criticized are those doing things differently than most of the industry.
So, it was never about not being able to criticize people if not competing at their level.
Because, most of the biggest critics are people who have never even attempted to ride their horses bridleless and don’t want to.
It was never about not being able to judge off the short video clips.
It was never about things just being a moment in time.
All of these things were just clear deflection and excuses to try to steer people away from criticizing what many wish to defend and look away from.
Because, what they have shown us all as if they’re happy to criticize in a very similar way, without welfare as the central concern, and all of the excuses that they would make previously no longer apply to them.
Rules for thee but not for me.

