Dani Waldman’s YouTube show, Horse Bytes, addresses pressing issues in the show jumping world, such as oversaturation, horse welfare, financial inequalities, and meritocracy. She questions whether show jumping is truly a sport or just a hobby, pointing out how money can sometimes trump talent and hard work at a systematic level.
Waldman suggests implementing price caps on 5* horses to level the playing field and reduce the merit gap in the sport. However, she also acknowledges that simply having the financial means to purchase a top horse does not guarantee success, as evidenced by past examples of wealthy patrons investing in high-priced horses that did not perform as expected.
The debate over meritocracy in show jumping extends beyond the 5* level, with questions about who determines merit and what qualifies as deserving in the sport. While financial inequalities exist in show jumping, as in many other sports, the issue of meritocracy remains complex and multifaceted, with no easy solutions to address the inherent challenges faced by riders of varying financial means.
