The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publisher: In-Sight Publishing

Publisher Founding: March 1, 2014

Web Domain: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com

Location: Fort Langley, Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Journal: In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal

Journal Founding: August 2, 2012

Frequency: Three (3) Times Per Year

Review Status: Non-Peer-Reviewed

Access: Electronic/Digital & Open Access

Fees: None (Free)

Volume Numbering: 12

Issue Numbering: 2

Section: A

Theme Type: Idea

Theme Premise: “Outliers and Outsiders”

Theme Part: 30

Formal Sub-Theme: “The Greenhorn Chronicles”

Individual Publication Date: February 1, 2024

Issue Publication Date: May 1, 2024

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Word Count: 1,677

Image Credits: Cealy Tetley

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN): 2369-6885

*Please see the footnotes, bibliography, and citations, after the interview.*

*Interview conducted December 13, 2022.*

Abstract

Hyde Moffatt, according to Starting Gate Communications, can be described as follows: “Andrew Hyde Moffatt had an unusual introduction to horses. When he was five years old, a girl at school brought in her horse for show-and-tell and Hyde was hooked! His top horse is Ting Tin, a son of the well-known sire Chin Chin, purchased in Belgium as a six-year-old. Hyde describes Ting Tin as a brave, intelligent and energetic horse who loves to play with people, but gets bored easily. Starting their Grand Prix career together in 2004, Hyde and Ting Tin have steadily improved with each outing, enjoying top ten finishes at several of the biggest horse shows in Canada including the Capital Classic Show Jumping Tournament, the Collingwood Horse Show, Tournament of Champions, and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. When he is not showing in the Grand Prix ring, Hyde competes with several horses in the Young Horse Development Series including Baron, who was crowned the 2006 Ontario Six-Year-Old Champion. In addition to his equestrian pursuits, Hyde also enjoys running. Although he is currently a middle distance runner at 10 to 15 km, he would like to work towards doing his first marathon.” Moffatt discusses: The challenge of training young riders within acceptable boundaries today; managing talent that lacks desire; the essence of Canadian show jumping and its struggles; international show jumping success, focusing on Sweden; the complexities of human psychology in show jumping; insight on the Canadian show jumping industry’s status and the financial barriers within; a reflection on riding philosophies and career mottos.

Keywords: balance, barriers, Canada, Eric Lamaze, financial, Hyde Moffatt, Ian Millar, Mac Cone, Margie Goldstein-Engle, resilience, resourcefulness, skills, Sweden, talent, toughness, training, understanding.

The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (3)

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Some trainers I know need help pushing trainees, younger riders, without going over the boundary of what is considered acceptable now. In the prior generations, it was more extreme. They may have stepped over boundaries but pushed people hard. How do you find that balance between having a talented young rider who needs more resilience so you push them? However, do you want to avoid running afoul of any institutional lines drawn legally? In terms of what you can say, how you say it, how you can act, I am told that is a struggle for some people. 

Hyde Moffatt: Some people have a real struggle with it. I do not think anybody tries to fail. I do not think anybody tries to do anything wrong. I am speaking as a student in riding. People do things wrong when they do not know what they are doing, do not have the skills available, or do not know what they are trying to accomplish. Nobody screws things up on purpose. I train with that mentality. My job is to provide that information. If I have to make you want it, you do not. It is not skin off my back. However, you have to want it. 

Jacobsen: What do you do with someone who has a talent for reading and horses but doesn’t want it? Do you just let them move on?

Moffatt: Yes, absolutely, there is a role for everybody. They have talent but enjoy it as a fun sport. You do not have to do this at the top level, perfect. You can do it any way you feel comfortable participating. That extends right down. You have people who do not even ride horses, who have them at horses, etc. There are a million ways to enjoy the sport. Everyone needs to find their role. I do not think it is important that everyone is a competitor.

Jacobsen: What words come to mind when thinking of Canadian show jumping?

Moffatt: Resiliency, toughness, resourcefulness. All those words describe those who have been quite successful in leading the way for my generation, and my generation is starting to lead for the next generation. All those adjectives still apply to my peers. 

Jacobsen: What areas do you think Canadian show jumping struggles?

Moffatt: We have some fantastic venues available to us domestically. World-class; we struggle a little bit nationally. There is a bit of a disconnect between the international level riders and that group, and then the national stuff. I think that we could try harder to bridge the gap between that. We have a wide base of participation at horse shows anyway. But maybe the barrier to entry is only financial, and we are offering levels at horse shows where, previously, you wouldn’t have been able to compete at national-level shows. Unless a certain skill set was already available or well-practiced, virtually anyone can go there now. I think removing those barriers. By removing those barriers, I think we have removed some of the desire to improve. It sounds a bit odd. But you started at a schooling show when you went to the first shows, unrated little shows at local stables. Then, maybe, you got good enough where you could go to the provincial circuit and aspired to go to the provincial circuit. Then, you aspired to go to the national circuit. You had to generally have a level of proficiency before you moved from one circuit to the next. That was the idea. Now, you can do things at the top circuits that do not require much skill and practice. I am just not sure that removing those barriers and allowing everyone to do everything removed some of the desire. The toughness stuff that has made us Canadian or made us successful as Canadians. 

Jacobsen: What country do you think is doing the best right now?

Moffatt: Right now, it is hard to argue Sweden isn’t doing something right there. They have probably proven they are at the top of their game and can sustain it, which means they have an educated ownership behind those riders. It looks like they have solid horsemanship because they are developing horses well and keeping them at the top of the sport. They have been able to think outside of the box. Not that they are the only people in the world doing it, but they have come with horses without shoes on. The first time people have done that at that level for that long and won that much. They are thinking differently than everyone else. The Swedish program appears to be strong as well. So, I thought they had got things pretty organized in that country. I that we can all aspire to follow in their footsteps. 

Jacobsen: What aspects of show jumping as a sport are the least figured out?

Moffatt: Wow! That’s a great question, man. Human psychology is probably still the least figured-out part. Horses do not lie. Horses tell us stuff. It is still very difficult to ensure we listen to them constantly, that we are having conversations with them, and that we are speaking with them fluently. Probably, what makes the people tick? What do the people think? I think the limiting factor is our understanding of the horses and fears. 

Jacobsen: That’s my job [Laughing]. Who do you admire?

Moffatt: In life in general or in the horse shows?

Jacobsen: I think in the horse shows.

Moffatt: I think the accomplishments of a person like Ian Millar were to create a business and a model sport where he could be competitive for as long as he was and as consistently as he was.The ability to reproduce yourself. I think the style, ease, and natural way in which Eric Lamaze rides when he is on a horse. I would say it is something we should all aspire to; he is such a natural talent. That is something that is hard to reproduce. People like Ian and Mac created systems where they could produce horse after horse. That is something that we should strive for. The goal is to take a little bit from everybody. Somebody like Margie Goldstein-Engle, whose style is a little different than many others but who has been at the top of the sport for years and is absolutely fearless. You have to admire that as well. My goal in life is to take little bits from everybody, realizing nobody is perfect.

Jacobsen: Do you think the Canadian industry is expanding, sustaining, or declining?

Moffatt: At the moment, I think it is expanding. I do not know what the long-term trend is. That is all I can say about that.

Jacobsen: You mentioned financial barriers. Mac Cone called it the elephant in the room: The prices of the horse. He didn’t phrase it this way, but the horse’s purchase price. There are many more costs regarding vet bills, farrier bills, food, grain, etc. But that’s a big thing. You are looking at $500,000 to $5,000,000 for an Olympic horse to get entry-level to very good. How does that make show jumping, in a way, have a self-fulfilling prophecy of being for the wealthy for a lot of people, not all, and hinder those who have a talent with horses but cannot get their way in due to those barriers being too great?

Moffatt: The financial barrier is real. I hope that people will still be able to work their way into the industry through hard work. I have to hope that because I do not have the money. I have been able to participate in this. I have only purchased one horse in my entire life. That was a long time ago and for not much money. I have been able to carve a career out for myself mostly through hard work, as we said before. I think it is the elephant in the room. It is significant. Certainly, it is not possible if you are talking about competing internationally without significant financial backing.

Jacobsen: I have seen some of the more prominent riders in Canada. Obviously, they have backers to help them. Others will syndicate a horse. They each buy a piece of a horse. But that is the biggest thing I have noticed as a barrier to entry. When adolescents talk about the cost of a horse, it is staggering. It has become more normalized for me as I have been in the industry longer.

Moffatt: It is. You don’t want the experience to be limited to people who can afford it. You would love it if it could be available to all. But horses are expensive. It is expensive to feed them, to look after them, and also to buy them. I do not know the answer to that question. But definitely, the finances are a burden.

Jacobsen: What would you consider your motto for your riding career?

Moffatt: Also, a good question. I think I strive every day to get a little bit better. How far you can go if you try for a month is pretty amazing. It would be pretty good if I could have some version of that as my motto. If you get a bit better every day, you can create the best performance you can. I do triathlon stuff. It is an interesting concept. You are running a race against other people, for sure. You may be a terrible swimmer and a great runner, while somebody else is a fantastic swimmer but suffers a lot on the bike. While racing against someone, you are also running your race. All you can do is run your own race. If you run a good run, maybe you will be successful at the end of it. I think that that is what I would like to try to accomplish.

Jacobsen: Hyde, thank you again for the opportunity and your time.

Moffatt: Thank you; that was great. I wish you luck, and I look forward to reading it. 

Bibliography

None

Footnotes

None

Citations

American Medical Association (AMA 11th Edition): Jacobsen S. The Greenhorn Chronicles 54: Quentin Judge on Double H Farm (2). February 2024; 12(2). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/moffatt-3

American Psychological Association (APA 7th Edition): Jacobsen, S. (2024, February 1). The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (4). In-Sight Publishing. 12(2).

Brazilian National Standards (ABNT): JACOBSEN, S. The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (4). In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, Fort Langley, v. 12, n. 2, 2024.

Chicago/Turabian, Author-Date (17th Edition): Jacobsen, Scott. 2024. “The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (4).” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal 12, no. 2 (Spring). http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/moffatt-3.

Chicago/Turabian, Notes & Bibliography (17th Edition): Jacobsen, S “The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (4).” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal 12, no. 2 (February 2024).http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/moffatt-3.

Harvard: Jacobsen, S. (2024) ‘The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (4)’, In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, 12(2). <http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/moffatt-3>.

Harvard (Australian): Jacobsen, S 2024, ‘The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (4)’, In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, <http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/moffatt-3>.

Modern Language Association (MLA, 9th Edition): Jacobsen, Scott. “The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (4).” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, vo.12, no. 2, 2024, http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/moffatt-3.

Vancouver/ICMJE: Scott J. The Greenhorn Chronicles 55: Hyde Moffatt on Show Jumping & Costs (4) [Internet]. 2024 Jan; 12(2). Available from: http://www.in-sightpublishing.com/moffatt-3.

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