Questionable role models?

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Gemmaaaxx

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I am slightly annoyed at some of the supposed "role models" of our sport. Ellen Whitaker is a popular "role model" yet recently when watching Northern Ireland International Horse Show, in the run up to a competition they were showing Ellen Whitaker doing her hair in the mirror of her lorry with the wind blowing in it and close ups of her from different angles and slow motion shots of her, and then they showed her riding around a ring with no hat!! Some role model, and anyway, i don't want to see her doing her hair i want to see SHOW JUMPING. i think if girls are looking for a role model they'd be better to learn from someone like Laura Renwick who has worked and shown dedication without being able to make money from modelling and having a pre-made name in the sport. Who do you think good role models are and what makes them?? xx (sorry for my rant : ))
 
i like ur rant!! its very similar to my rant about jordan at horse of the year!! i understand that she is publicising the sport but i dont think she will give it the best name!! how hard do the likes of us work to get to somewhere like hoys? yet she can buy her way in!! she hasnt worked on her horse to get it to the standard it is 2day, she waved cash at it to make herself lok good! so i agree we do need better role models in the sport today, 1s who work to get where they are not buy there way there!
 
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i like ur rant!! its very similar to my rant about jordan at horse of the year!! i understand that she is publicising the sport but i dont think she will give it the best name!! how hard do the likes of us work to get to somewhere like hoys? yet she can buy her way in!! she hasnt worked on her horse to get it to the standard it is 2day, she waved cash at it to make herself lok good! so i agree we do need better role models in the sport today, 1s who work to get where they are not buy there way there!

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agreed, i like katie price but not as a rider, its all money && publicity!
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I don't particularly like Ellen Whitaker, however I do respect Katie Price for what she has done, she doesn't claim to be a major riding talent, however she is ambitious and works very hard. I think there is a gap in the market for young role models in equestrian sport that needs to be filled if it is going to become more popular and less elitist.
 
Totally agree with you all.

Plus, I was pretty annoyed at Ellen and that Irish guy selfishly pushing their horses to do another round in the Puissance on the NI show,made me very angry....the guy's poor horse had already gone head over heals in the previous round.
 
Actually, less than £10k would have bought you a ride at HOYS this year - there were loads of qualified horse and ponies for sale at the end of September with HOYS tickets.
 
Yes that's true because i have people i look up to who aren't at top level but it worries me when young children want to look at someone famous and glamorous and then see them without a riding hat. And when people like Ellen who get media coverage for being glamorous and not for hard work and sporting achievements.
 
Yes it might not be expensive but those are the poeple that are bad for the sport as they take the easy option and people who put work and training and passion into their horses don't gte the credit.
 
Even if Jordan bought her way into HOYS this year, so do many of the parents of the show-pony children! Jordan has been riding for quite a while now, I think the article about when she rode at HOYS said she was about 7 years old when she started. She is self made, she was not born into fame nor riches. I'm not usually one bothered by these type of posts but... It just annoys me when people think it is as simple as it first seems!

Rant=over.
 
Renwick a role model? No thank you!
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Jordan is actuallya very good rider, he horse was kept at the yard my horse is at while her stables at home were beeing built. I watched YO ride it and she said and it looked tricky. This isn't the horse she rode at HOYS but if you watch "jordan and peter the next chapter" its the one she does dressage on!!! I agree about ellen i once read an interview with her and when asked what she would do if she wasn't a showjumper she replied at tennis player!!! GRRRR
 
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Renwick a role model? No thank you!
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Totally agree - move to Essex and you'll stuff that will make you change your mind
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I think one of the best role models in showjumping has to be Dermott Lennon, extremely talented, modest and helpful to everyone from beginners to international riders.
 
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I think one of the best role models in showjumping has to be Dermott Lennon, extremely talented, modest and helpful to everyone from beginners to international riders.

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I would agree with this. I've always admired him - as well as his one-time team mate, Cameron Hanley. They both seemed very down to earth and happy to help, as you say, at all levels. And also I know someone who has worked for Di Lampard for a long time - she says that Di is one of the kindest, most hardworking people she knows - another great role model fo riders of all ages and abilities.
 
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..worked and shown dedication without being able to make money from modelling and having a pre-made name in the sport. Who do you think good role models are and what makes them?? xx (sorry for my rant : ))

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What's wrong with making money from modelling? And just because EW wwas born into the sport doesn't mean she isn't a damn good rider and I'm sure she works hard
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As for KP, she has worked hard to get where she is too
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As for not wearing a hat, like it or not, a hell of a lot of the top riders work their horses without hats. Not saying it's right, but I don't think it means they aren't good role models for the sport.
 
I didn't say anything about katy Price.

I didn't say she wasn't a good rider, she is just that i think she isn't a good role model and i know that many people midlessly don't wear hats while riding, but i would hav liked to think that in a busy collecting ring at somewhere like HOYS when you're being filmed or in public that you would have considered wearing a hat. Young people are impressionable and not wearing a hat is dangerous and irresponsible which is why i think that in magazines and on tv at least hats should be worn. The last thing we want for the sport is to have frequent preventable injuries.

The modelling thing was annoying me because they were picking up on that "glamour" and i'm sure that there were others who wanted to watch some show jumping and were stuck with Ellen doing her hair.
 
i've never heard anything bad about Laura Renwick but i may just be being naive. I think she does a good job on riding Limelight de Breve but you're probably right.
 
When EW does the modelling for companies like Caldene isn't she just earning her sponsership? And Caldene are a glamorous make so why wouldn't they won't a glamorous leading lady rider to be in their adverts? She has to get money from somewhere as i'm sure you'll all know it's not exactly a cheap sport!

Have to agree about the stupidity of riding without a hat, whats worth more looking 'cool' or potentially your life!
 
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