XC riding - style vs effectiveness

[Starbucks]

I've noticed that people have been quite critical of riders today at badders who perhaps don't look as stylish and "correct" as others.. I've also noticed in my little world that some people can look **** and horses go really well for them, where as others look good and have a good position etc. and they always have problems.

Do you think that the more stylish riders who are much more correct are necessarily the better riders? WRT both results and what gives a horse confidence?

 

[millitiger]

effectiveness comes before style for me
- however i think people were criticising riders who looked to be out of balance, bouncing on the horses' back, or using their reins to haul themselves back into the saddle after the fences; that isn't effective or stylish!!

 

[MagicMelon]

I agree with Millitiger. Effectiveness is definately best IMO as style really doesn't matter on the XC course (this is probably why dressage where style IS necessary is our worst disipline... lol). But there was the odd rider (a bloke in particular) who seemed to be bouncing about all over the place and yanking the horse around quite a bit, that IMO isn't great. But hey, I have no right to slag off anyone who does Badminton!!

 

[only_me]

effectiveness comes before style for me
- however i think people were criticising riders who looked to be out of balance, bouncing on the horses' back, or using their reins to haul themselves back into the saddle after the fences; that isn't effective or stylish!!

Agree with this 100%!

 

[kerilli]

i think there are different types of 'messiness' or bad style, some are just not as aesthetically pleasing as others but don't disconcert the horse at all, others are untidy but also harder work for the horse to carry (unbalanced, bouncing around, pulling reins to maintain balance, etc) and perhaps distracting at crucial moments...
i can think of one rider who is not aesthetically tidy (feet shoved home in stirrups, toes down a bit, elbows a bit flappy at times, not sitting upright and classical) but who always sees a wonderful stride for a horse, always presents it in balance and rhythm with power. horses happily jump and jump and jump big fences for him.
i also know very neat, tidy riders who don't ride forward, who hook and look etc, and horses don't keep jumping for them...
overall though, it's no surprise that the riders who are most classically correct in style tend to do best at all disciplines and all levels... there's a reason why it works!