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Well-Known Member
i am not in awe of top riders, why should i be?, i know just as many ordinary folk who ride really well and who treat their horses, not as vehicules to fame and fortune but as friends and companions, and who really can say that they are not as good as mark todd if the inclination had been in them to try?
some of the best riders in history have not competed a lot, their motivation was different, it was a voyage of discovery to reach a place where horse and man met and understood each other in a way most competition riders will never know
eventing and horse racing are noted for hard attitudes towards horses, this has been expressed to me by both people involved in racing and by a british eventing accredited trainer.
I pretty much agree with this, except I think Mark Todd is well deserving of our awe and he is one of those horsemen who is in another league than most people could ever aspire to, as are, tbf, a few lesser knowns who are busy training young horses, etc. I believe there are many riders out there who could have got to 4* level if opportunities and inclination had sent them that way, but there are few who could ever be among that handful of specially talented riders that includes Mr Todd . I think I'm agreeing with you that horsemanship isn't really measured by what level of eventing you get to.
As a side point, that horse that did the naughty stop at the water deserved them few smacks.