From Grassroots to Grand Prix: How Amateur Sports Shape the Future of Equestrian Excellence

Have you ever thought about what it feels like to become an equestrian champion? These people are certainly not born riding horses, right? Some time in their life, they’ve developed the necessary skills, passion, and most importantly, connection with horses that will propel them to the top of the competitive equestrian world.

In other words, they’ve all started as rookies. Even though the spotlight is often aimed at elite riders and their medals, the real backbone of the sport’s past, present, and future lies in the amateurs.

Horse riding/racing is a difficult thing to do, and most of the professionals start at a young age. Can you imagine the first time they’ve mounted a horse? It must have been a big mental game since they are mounting a big animal where they don’t know what to expect.

This inspired us to see how amateur sports and people involved in the industry from a young age shape the future of equestrian sports.

Grassroots Bravery

When you look at the equestrian industry, equestrian sports are where it all begins. Youngers (10 years or less) trotting in dusty arena is where equestrian champions are born.

Fortunately, there are plenty of programs like the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) which are the fundamentals of equestrian sports and help people to get involved in the industry professionally.

However, these young riders aren’t chasing Olympic gold medals yet. The learning process takes time, and they are working on their riding skills, memorizing dressage tests, and learning how horses react. And all of this is done on borrowed school horses.

Some sources suggest that each year there are more than 10,000 annual applicants across 4000 colleges at IHSA, and they have one goal, to become a professional horse rider.

But these riders are not only working on their skills; they are also working out and monitoring their physical and mental health. This is because, in order to become a professional horse rider, you need to sacrifice many things, and burgers are one of them.

Developing a Horse-First Mindset

Although riding is an essential part of most equestrian sports, in the amateur days, people also install a horse-first ethos, which is very important for the sport’s future. Yes, youngsters learn how to bandage a horse’s leg or spot colic signs, which points out that the sport has changed throughout the years.

Most of these horse programs emphasize equine welfare over ribbons, which is where most riders develop an appreciation for these majestic animals. So, riders then have a mentality where they worry more about the horse than their own success, which is quite good for the sport especially since it has been labeled as unethical in the past couple of years.

Let’s take Tamie Smith, a 2023 Kentucky Winner (Dressage), who often credits early amateur days for teaching them to listen to their horses as their top priority.

These are the fundamentals of the sport, and such horse programs prove that teaching amateurs the basic principles of horse racing is the only reason the sport has survived all those years.

Are Equine Sports Only For the Elite?

Equestrian sports have always had the reputation of being an elite sport, where big money, fancy barns, and huge investments are required in order to succeed.

However, amateur sports prove a different thing. Yes, you might need big money to appear in events like the Kentucky Derby, and even if you do, amateurs won’t have any good results on the 2025 Kentucky Derby live odds.

With that said, horse racing is a global sport and even local events gives rookies an opportunity to make a living out of horses. There are thousands of different competitions from dressage to horse racing on every continent of the planet, and the only thing you need is motivation and a goal.

Testing Ground for Innovation

Amateur circuits are also where new ideas get a trial run—think training hacks or rule tweaks that later hit the big leagues. 

Take the rise of wearable tech: heart rate monitors and stride trackers started popping up at local dressage meets before they were standard at FEI events. 

Additionally, amateurs, free from the pressure of international scrutiny, experiment with tools like virtual reality simulators to nail jump angles. These grassroots labs refine what works—by the time it reaches the Paris 2024 Olympics rerun discussions, it’s polished and proven, pushing excellence forward.

Building the Fan Base

Ever wonder who’s filling the stands at Churchill Downs or streaming the USEF Network? A lot of them cut their teeth as amateur riders or their families. 

The 2025 USEF Annual Meeting data shows 1.7 million hours of equestrian viewing last year—up 10%—and grassroots events are the gateway. Kids who ride in gymkhanas grow into adults who tune into the World Cup Finals, keeping the sport alive beyond the saddle. 

Social media pages rave about how local shows—think muddy boots and homemade banners—hook new fans who later cheer for stars like Jessica Springsteen. Amateurs don’t just ride; they build the audience that sustains the pros.

So, the amateur part of equestrian sports in most cases is more important than professional high-level horse racing. We just have to show appreciation for these people and horses that go above and beyond for our entertainment.