March 25, 2024 
This is very hard because you must understand that, truthfully, the equitation division is like figure skating: the look does matter.
As a trainer, I personally don’t think the best riders are always tall and long-legged and skinny. In equitation, though, the smoothness and the picture are so important, and many people consider riders with that body type to be “pretty” on most horses. That’s why the equitation ring has gotten the rap that you must be long-legged and skinny in order to do well.
That is not the case 100% of the time anymore, but for sure, having that body type does help. There have been plenty of top riders that have not been tall and skinny in the equitation, though in total, their numbers are far less.
As a trainer, you must match the horse so specifically well to riders that don’t have that idealized build, so that the picture is flowing and soft and beautiful. Likewise, there are some riders that are “too tall” and/or “too skinny”; other body types that need to be matched very well to their horses in order to be successful in creating the right look for equitation.
All and all, what is most important as a trainer is that I make sure the softness and lines of my equitation riders fall correctly so that judges like them. But, for sure, it’s an easier task with riders who are tall and have that ‘equitation body.’
When I train, I make sure my riders understand why they are doing this division, and that their expectations are set correctly. Truthfully, the equitation can make riders of any body type hate the sport if they are not doing it for the right reasons!
When I judge the equitation, I try hard to look at the whole picture. It’s not just the rider’s appearance, it’s how the horse and rider flow and answer the questions of the course together. So, I’d say, for me, riders of all shapes have a chance in my ring, so long as they do their homework and appear to be that dedicated athlete that I would want on my own horses—then you will be at the top.
As a judge, I penalize riders that appear stiff and/or weak the most harshly, as the equitation rewards those that can answer all the questions asked without me seeing what they are doing. The trick is to make it look SO easy, even if it isn’t. For me, the best picture is one where I feel that horse appreciates his/her rider—not hates its job because of them. So, all and all, if I’m in the box, any shape has a fighting chance.
As a mom, I can’t say enough how important it is that your rider-kid feels good about him or herself! As a parent, I think it’s most important that I ensure my kids do their homework, be truthful about how much time they’ve had in the show ring, and how the class they showed in truly felt. I mostly try not to make it about their “look.” I want my kids to give it their all, and if they did, and the ribbons didn’t fall their way, then there’s always another show. As usual, as a mom, I want my kids to be truthful about themselves—they know if their trip was flawless and should have pinned higher, or if, truly, they just weren’t good enough.
It should also be said, as a parent, that this division isn’t for the weak, or for complainers. Some judges will like you and some won’t. I tell my kids to do the equitation for the ring time, the practice, and the patterns (and types of questions) you most often see. It is these things that make you the best rider you can be, and ribbons are just the toppings!
Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t. But you are always you and you can’t change your shape—so be the best “you” you can be!
Dana Hart Callanan is a successful hunter, jumper and equitation coach, an ‘R’ judge, and a sales broker. In this column, she answers common questions about A level sport. Send your questions to news@horsenetwork.com for consideration in a future column.
