I love dressage and everything it involves—but I worry about how we treat one another within our sport.
Almost every time a riding video appears online, someone is ready to pick it apart. Those criticisms spread across social media, often from people who are part of the dressage community themselves. Sometimes it feels like we’re tearing down the very sport we claim to love.
When I look at eventing, rodeo, combined driving, Working Equitation, or barrel racing, I often see people rallying behind their sport. I’m sure they have disagreements, too, but I wish we saw more of that shared pride and encouragement in dressage.
That doesn’t mean ignoring poor horsemanship or staying silent about horse welfare. We should ask questions and hold ourselves accountable. But there’s a difference between constructive discussion and publicly tearing someone apart.
Before hitting “post,” pause. Do you know the circumstances behind that moment? Is your comment helpful? Would you say it directly to the rider? And if someone posted a short clip of your ride, how would you want people to respond?
We’re all human. We all have difficult rides, imperfect moments, and things we’re working to improve. A short video rarely tells the whole story.
We can care deeply about our horses, expect better from our sport, and still treat each other with respect. More thoughtful conversations, more encouragement, and less backbiting would go a long way. I want dressage to be a community people feel welcome joining—and proud to belong to.