P
ublisher’s Welcome
of what? Te consensus appears to be two-fold: one pipeline is of quality young horses that are started correctly, to land eventually in the barns of top pros; and the second pipeline is ideally filled with lots of talented young riders who want to experience the training of young horses from the get go. Sounds simple enough on paper but logistically, in our vast country, it’s not so easy. Europe has been feeding these two types of
I Pipelines or Pipe Dreams?
pipelines for at least half a century. Tey are proficient at it and well organized. Tey have a higher concentration of breeding in a smaller area. Even aſter the supposed “breeding recession” since 2008, as the RPSI breed section reports on page 54, in just their southern German region alone they boast 13,500 mares and 500 stallions. And as for young horse training—it’s a very respectable career in Europe and breeders have ways to get these horses into that well-established pipeline. And showing young horses is cheaper and easier to do (distances again), which is invaluable in identifying the best horses early on. Hence, certainly America has its challenges. Since everyone agrees these two pipelines are vital in North America if we are to
produce our own internationally competitive sport horses, both now and in the future, what are we actually doing about it? Are these pipelines in reality just pipe dreams? In this issue’s Point of View article on page 89, Kc Branscomb has gone on a mission, and has, in fact, identified a handful of programs that some jumper trainers and breeders have put together to build the pipelines. So the good news is that quality U.S.-bred horses are being trained, and young riders/trainers are blossoming, at least in some areas. In dressage, another great example of a program that helps identify talented youth is Lendon Gray’s Dressage 4 Kids. In this issue,
the inspirational feature of young Matt Baillargeon and his journey with his PMU mare speaks highly of Lendon’s programs, and also highlights other equestrians who generously step forward to help this young rider. It’s a story you won’t want to miss. Since most in our industry also agree that U.S. breeders are producing top quality horses, much of the burden to fill our pipelines
with the best young horses falls to the breeders. However, it can’t be an easy choice when they are faced with the decision to sell a top young horse to an amateur for a great price (knowing that the horse will not likely have an international future) or—for the greater good of our industry—put that same horse instead in the hands of a talented younger rider who doesn’t have the financial means to pay the same price. It’s a serious dilemma that I’m glad I don’t have to face. Te definition of pipe dream is “unrealistic hope or fantasy.” In fact one of the earliest references to the phrase is found in the
Chicago Daily Tribune in December of 1890, which states, “It [aerial navigation] has been regarded as a pipe-dream for a good many years.” We all know what happened with that pipe dream! I’ve noticed that ideas that start as pipe dreams can inspire more—and maybe more realistic—ideas which can ultimately introduce
real change, hopefully for the better. In short, the unrealistic can become realistic. Tis country is full of intelligent, caring equestrians who are up to the challenge of getting our beautifully bred horses into the right hands. I close with a thought from trainer and coach Andre Dignelli, also interviewed in this issue. He points out that winning horse and rider combinations have to come together organically, building a relationship that allows the sum to be more than the parts. When a pair blossoms in this way, truly great—and sometimes downright magical—things can happen. Pipelines introduce these relationships. No one, though, can predict when the magic will happen. Have wonderful new year.
Liz Cornell
editor@warmbloodstoday.com
Our Mission: Warmbloods Today is the leading magazine in North America focused on the entire spectrum of Warmblood breeds. It’s a place where people from all aspects of the sport horse community can come together: amateurs, owners, trainers and breeders. Each issue contains interesting, informative and often heart-warming stories of peoples’ experiences with their horses, along with thought- provoking opinions from various professionals and amateurs. We cover all horses from European descent bred for the sports of jumping, dressage, eventing and driving including the Iberian breeds and American Warmbloods.
12 January/February 2015
t seems that everyone is obsessed right now with pipelines. While pundits in Washington continue to debate the Keystone Pipeline project, the world of sport horses in North America is having their own debate about building much-needed pipelines. Pipelines
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