So I was reading one of my
Dressage Today magazines earlier today and there was an article about the men in dressage. The article is
Wanted: More Men in Dressage if you're curious.
I was then thinking about all the dressage shows, or any english shows I've been to for that matter, and I think I only remember competing with one guy and he was in the junior division. I live in the midwest, a world of rodeo, roping and western riding. Every guy I know who rides either ropes, rodeos, or just trail rides for fun. I don't know any who actually ride english. Here they even make fun of the men they do see competing in english events saying it's for "sissys" or it's a "wimpy" sport... little do they know! I'm just making an assumption but I would venture to say in other countries there are many man who compete in english events.
Anyway, it's as though you go for years in lower level dressage competitions rarely seeing men at all and then one day you get to an upper level, national or international events and suddenly they are dominating the competition (Steffen Peters, Guenter Seidel, John Williams, etc.)! Now granted I understand some of these men do compete in eventing but still, a lot of them are still clearing out those "blue ribbons" in dressage.
What I wanna know, does the same apply to other parts of the country? Are your dressage or english riding competitions dominated by women or do you compete equally against both genders?
I've noticed the same thing on the east coast. You don't see any men competing (well, maybe a handful at each event, but a lot of them seem to be older amateurs. The male junior riders are harder to track down), and then suddenly they're winning everything at the upper levels. I've always wonder how they sneak through the levels without being seen!
ReplyDeleteHmmm weird. I actually expected the east coast to have more men in the competition... Now I'm curious about the west coast or the southern states. You would think Florida would have a lot since they have HITS!
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