Last week, the president of the title sponsor of the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) uttered these words: “We need help and people to step up and tell the story.” Being someone enamored of equestrian sports, I’d like to oblige with a few posts to the reason for all the commotion: the all-important spectator.

Of course there are plenty of media in attendance to ‘tell the story’ of the Games, but what can be missed is a focus on those not fully intimate with the goings-on of horse sports. Context is needed! There is a great gulf in equestrian sport between the experienced campaigner and layman recruit, and misunderstandings abound, so maybe some ‘color’ commentary would be in line.

First: To Be Fair

There are complaints about the runup to the WEG: ticket prices are too high, there’s too much focus on the organizing and not the sports, the horses seem to have been lost in the scramble … so maybe there’s a better light to put on proceedings.

The WEG is a new, world-encompassing, first-time event for the USA. Right now the organizers are busier than the proverbial ‘long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs’ dealing with the organizational chaos a major horse event presents. It is a real feat to pull off a big equestrian competition; there are many moving parts including not just the horses and their needs (trailer access, stalls, shavings, feed, equipment storage, manure disposal, turnout, grooming and wash areas, schooling rings, competition fields and arenas) but also those of the equine “staff” including riders, grooms, trainers, grounds crew, veterinarians, farriers … not forgetting the facility maintenance (and personnel) and of course sponsors, volunteers, announcers, owners and media. It boggles.

Multiply these logistics times eight separate sports, and the uncomplaining spectator can easily be pushed to the back of the line. Yet the WEG is meant as a spectator event, and if we mere onlookers seem to be crowded in back, let’s be patient and find some fun in the circus. It is there!

The WEG is Something Old, Something New

Horses have been with mankind since before we began the journey of civilization, and watching horses is one of mankind’s most ancient pastimes … yet modern equestrian sports are surprisingly young. In fact, most of the sports seen at the WEG only appeared on the scene with the rise of a broad middle-class in the present era.

Jumping in particular is very new — younger than any of America’s major spectator sports — both Show Jumping and Eventing are still evolving and learning to serve an audience. Dressage is indeed very old, but its expansion into musical Freestyle has caught the imagination of a new generation. The baby of the group, Reining, was first included in the 2002 Games in Spain.

The Importance of Spectators and the WEG

One difficulty with attracting the public is that horse sports have an image of seeming elitist, having been the exclusive domain of aristocracy for thousands of years. Today this is not a true image — horse riding is accessible to the wider public, and the horse itself is without pretension — but it is a remnant of the past even new equestrian sports must face.

Something also quite new in equestrian sports is the unfamiliarity of the general public with horses. People simply don’t know horses like they used to, and have to be introduced to the challenges and excitement of horse sports. In fact, educating the public about horses is a supreme opportunity for the WEG, and makes its success even more important. Equestrian sports have the potential to keep the horse with us into the future, and deserve public support.

Next up: The Sports of the WEG

The on-fire Swiss rider Daniel Etter and his mount Peu a Peu won the event in a 10-horse jumpoff to match their World Cup Qualifier victory last weekend in Oslo. USA rider Lauren Hough on Quick Study took second only 1.08 seconds behind the leader, the best result for a US rider in this early season.

European World Cup Jumping is an exciting indoor series because of the large public crowds and media attention. Show jumping was originally developed in Europe and still leads the world in spectators and dynamic, innovative presentation of the sport.

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy (second volume to be published in the summer of 2010) incorporates the idea of such “great” horses in history, for the horse is an athlete and–like human athletes–special equine champions actually exist.

One such horse is Snowman, a horse that was saved from slaughter by beloved horseman Harry de Leyer–and went on to become one of America’s top international jumpers. The horse’s story reads like a fairy tale, so it is welcome news that a new book is coming out about Snowman appropriately titled, “The Cinderella Horse.”

The World Cup is an extensive series of indoor qualifiers across the globe, leading to the Finals in April.

It is an interesting odd fact that horse jumping is a  young sport: the ability of horses to jump with a rider was not discovered until the 1700’s. This intriguing competition continues to grow in popularity worldwide. The Show Jumping World Cup series was only begun in 1978, and today the series is contested in 14 leagues on every continent.

In essence, Show Jumping’s World Cup is the sport’s annual international indoor championship. Since the 1950’s, Show Jumping has evolved into a year-round sport, and the tight, colorful, electric atmosphere of indoor jumping is very different than the galloping expanses of outdoor courses. Some horses go better indoors, some prefer outside–this difference in challenge makes for interesting jumping competition year-round.

A century ago we seemed to be at the end of our ancient partnership with the horse, since the animal’s use in transportation was made obsolete by the invention of the internal combustion engine. Today there are more horses than ever, largely due to equestrian sport and recreation … and one of the big drivers of that growth is the international sport of Show Jumping.

So it is great news to hear of the sport’s continuing success as a spectator attraction, as was seen last week at the Canadian jumping hot-spot of Spruce Meadows in Calgary. A record crowd of over 70,000 spectators attended the closing Masters competition, sitting in lawnchairs at 6:00am to secure the best seats. Congrats to Spruce Meadows for showing again that well-presented and promoted Show Jumping is a sport for the future.

Additional links:

Chronicle of the Horse (by Tricia Booker)

Ward & Sapphire win $1,000,000 CN International Grand Prix (Meghan Chevrette-McIvor via Hunter Jumper News)

The only lack was in the Announcing. Show jumping is like a storybook with pictures: it must be narrated. The story needs to be told.

Those who already love the sport will forgive transgressions against their spectator interests, but that is no reason for complacency. The key to creating new fans is engaging them.

Entertaining spectators at a horse show is as easy as talking to them about horses. This is not “easy” at all, in reality, as it requires talent combined with professionalism and love for horses and the sport. However, it would be pay great dividends for the sport to develop just such talent.