General Discussion

Walk away

(9,494 posts)

48. If you have been in the sport for years then you know...

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 10:17 AM

Jul 2012

that without the very rich we would never see the level of horsemanship it would take to be in the Olympics. That's not to say I like it but I have worked with plenty of riders who weren't rich but only one who ever achieved national level competition with her own horses without sponsorship of an Ann Romney type.

Back in the day my horse and I trained with Heidi Erickson who was on the medal winning US team. Her horse at the time was Chardonnay, a million dollar dressage competitor. Even at that level with a horse that she trained to perfection, she had to work at jobs that had nothing to do with preparing her horse for the Olympics. There was always talk of her having to sell him after the games but without your horse in dressage, you have nothing. Now it is even more difficult and costly. It's a rich persons game but they are making it possible for these beautiful horses to exist and to enable the people who breed them, love them, train them and ride them.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

89 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

A note from Ann Rmoney to everyone at DU and all Americans... [View all] madinmaryland Jul 2012 OP

We can read all about it in your downloadable taxes Betty Jo Jul 2012 #1

This would be funny it wasn't so frustrating Heather MC Jul 2012 #2

to ann romney pmdsyr32 Jul 2012 #3

Go away, I wish they'd go off to some banana republic where they'd fit right in... DaveJ Jul 2012 #79

If the horse wins, they sell it at profit. jerseyjack Jul 2012 #4

Recent photo of a failed Ann Romney dressage horse: Ken Burch Jul 2012 #22

And if the buyer were Romney... longship Jul 2012 #28

and if it loses... Vestigial_Sister Jul 2012 #39

Learned something new trixicopper Jul 2012 #5

It's called a fly bonnet or an ear net. Cerridwen Jul 2012 #11

Growing up around farms and horses my whole upbringing in Missouri snooper2 Jul 2012 #53

Often two horses will stand head to tail Arugula Latte Jul 2012 #59

I've seen this many times. amandabeech Jul 2012 #72

Definitely. Whatever gives them any comfort. Arugula Latte Jul 2012 #77

Their tail doesn't reach their ears. A humane fly bonnet is the right thing to do for your horse riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #67

It's amazing horses have evolved over the past 50 million years without them! snooper2 Jul 2012 #71

We do put them in fly sheets. Horses suffered mercilessly for 50 million years riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #85

It's mormon.... Vestigial_Sister Jul 2012 #40

What? No cake, Ann? Zyzafyx Jul 2012 #6

My god, that hat on the horse is truly offensive. This is what she actually thinks of the horse. enough Jul 2012 #7

It's called a fly bonnet or an ear net. Cerridwen Jul 2012 #10

I thought it was a blue Satan costume. nt woo me with science Jul 2012 #36

I'm pretty sure that was hyperbolic outrage for effect. TalkingDog Jul 2012 #46

TalkingDog, you are a chivalrous poster, what a valliant attempt to salvage a lapse in decorum. (nt) enough Jul 2012 #89

How much did the horse hat cost the U.S. taxpayers? Not to mention Coyotl Jul 2012 #58

$6 for the fly bonnet (which is not deductible and is a very humane thing to put on a horse) riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #66

My response 47of74 Jul 2012 #8

Nicely said. Simple, but oh so eloquent! Marie Marie Jul 2012 #24

Ann Romney: to the people of DU and America,... Ferretherder Jul 2012 #9

Respect is earned by doing what is your responsibility. How is using the taxpayers related to DhhD Jul 2012 #13

You know this picture was not meant for us here at DU japple Jul 2012 #82

Can someone explain to me how watching a horse dance helps her illness? Merlot Jul 2012 #12

She doesn't have CP--cerebral palsy. She has MS--multiple sclerosis. She's in remission. MADem Jul 2012 #14

"Why the long face?" Atman Jul 2012 #16

Ha ha! MADem Jul 2012 #30

Does she have a HORSE ELEVATOR, though? That's my concern Harry Back Jul 2012 #20

Not yet. From what I understand, she just rings a little bell and Marie Marie Jul 2012 #25

Thanks for clarifying the MS. Merlot Jul 2012 #31

Heh heh! nt MADem Jul 2012 #54

My dear friend has MS and no doctor has recommended horse therapy. n/t DesertRat Jul 2012 #19

Horse therapy would mean actually riding the horse Merlot Jul 2012 #29

Watching horses dance has been recognized for its therapeutic value since Roman times. Blanks Jul 2012 #34

But, is there a direct correlation between the amount of tax write-off and the therapuetic value? Coyotl Jul 2012 #60

I'm sure in this instance all of the therapeutic value is on the tax write off. eom Blanks Jul 2012 #78

Get your friend to a new doctor! Clearly, people with MS need to own dancing horses... Moonwalk Jul 2012 #57

And my doctor did. So there. n/t kurtzapril4 Jul 2012 #80

I assume you mean your doctor recommended horse therapy? DesertRat Jul 2012 #88

First, dressage is based on the natural gaits and movements of the horse.... Walk away Jul 2012 #33

Ann doesn't even ride the horse. fasttense Jul 2012 #44

If you have been in the sport for years then you know... Walk away Jul 2012 #48

A family member of mine now has a colt of a dressage horse that beat the Romney's horse... cascadiance Jul 2012 #61

OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Walk away Jul 2012 #87

Out of touch Rmoneys area51 Jul 2012 #41

What??? I was told the $$$ I contributed was for a horse elevator! nt Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #15

what's with the horse hat? catbyte Jul 2012 #17

You People just don't understand dressage. DesertRat Jul 2012 #18

it is a fly bonnet. it keeps biting insects from getting in her ears. magical thyme Jul 2012 #21

I wonder what her training regiment was? Atman Jul 2012 #23

Olympic Committee? Ruby the Liberal Jul 2012 #35

Did you see the Irish gymnast today? Holy crap! Atman Jul 2012 #38

I love stories like this! Ruby the Liberal Jul 2012 #52

I saw that young man perform. amandabeech Jul 2012 #73

Probably the coolest performance I've scene in this Olympics. Atman Jul 2012 #74

the cayman islands Mkap Jul 2012 #26

Actually, I think he was awarded a pallet of gold bars. Atman Jul 2012 #37

re:A note from Ann Rmoney to everyone at DU and all Americans... allan01 Jul 2012 #27

I had to email that pic to some of B Calm Jul 2012 #32

I don't understand why horses are in the Olympics. tclambert Jul 2012 #42

why not cute kittens playing with a ball of yarn to music KurtNYC Jul 2012 #43

Cute kittens definitely belong in the Olympics!! madinmaryland Jul 2012 #84

History and tradition hack89 Jul 2012 #50

1912 that is when the horse specialties came in nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #62

The rider is an athlete. kurtzapril4 Jul 2012 #81

thanks...this is great...just tweeted to Daily Show, Bill Maher, Morning Joe, Laura PourMeADrink Jul 2012 #45

Let me guess: it was addressed to "you people".... lastlib Jul 2012 #47

It really is too bad we are facing climate change. raouldukelives Jul 2012 #49

Factually, demonstrably wrong. A private foundation paid for all expenses. US taxpayers paid zero riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #51

The tax break came from the LLC they set up for the horse. Atman Jul 2012 #55

A $49 tax break for a legitimate training, lessons, sales, boarding business riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #56

So Barrons got it wrong? nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #63

Yes, Nadin, Barons got it wrong. Atman Jul 2012 #65

Okay so now we change into nadinbrzezinski Jul 2012 #69

WTF are you talking about? Atman Jul 2012 #70

However, they can carryover wilt the stilt Jul 2012 #75

the loss = a claim for $77,951.00? Which is why they knowingly made the "erroneous" $78K claim in patrice Jul 2012 #76

Yup, Barron's misrepresented it. They did CLAIM the $77k deduction, the IRS only allowed $49 nt riderinthestorm Jul 2012 #68

Tally-Ho Hubert Flottz Jul 2012 #64

Hay, Annie. That Horsey Hat makes it look like Reflaka has Satanic Horns (R) Berlum Jul 2012 #83

I don't even pay income taxes... progress2k12nbynd Jul 2012 #86