Our Guest columnist of the week is long-time Eurodressage contributor Silke Rottermann, who is renowned for her detailed history articles on the Greatest Oldies in dressage as well as in depth articles on classical dressage training.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Recently I came across one of France's most popular equestrian magazines and had to rub my eyes. In a portray of one of their upcoming dressage riders the horse was shown in training at home in a position far from ideal. It made me wonder who chose such a photo for a friendly text which was intended to introduce the pair's story to a large readership.
A picture is worth a thousand words, this old proverb is overall true for any equestrian sport. Lke in any other journalistic area photos hold to danger of manipulation. An obviously perfect piaffe on a photo turns out to be one in which the horse sways significantly to keep the balance. A horse moving briefly behind the vertical might be one of the most classical trained ones at a show. Examples like these are not exaggerated, but can be witnessed by any attentive spectator, the more so by any photographer at any dressage show.
In view of the speed the internet and its various social platforms and video-channels are able to spread photos, the responsibility of the journalist who chooses these pictures for a certain purpose appears to be big. It shouldn't be forgotten that on the same platforms an apparently growing group of dressage enthusiasts seems to only know black and white anymore, being quick with nasty comments which often lack sensitivy and differentiation.
Compentence is the magic word on which riders have to rely when a photographer or a journalist decides to use a photo of them for a certain purpose.
It is out of question that a skilfill equestrian journalist has to own a certain compentence and knowledge of the sport, when choosing appropriate photos for a text.
Of course, if s/he wants to reflect honestly what happened at a show and rude riding was presented at a warm up, there is no need to protect the rider. In a training article it might be necessary to show the "dos and dont's" clearly, the same is valid if the physical and mental consequences of certain training methods on the horse are the subject of a text.
The question remains why nowadays we see so many bad photos with texts which don't follow any of the intentions or purpose of the article; in this case a text which intended to highlight the horse and rider. This not only concerns journalistic texts, but also advertisements for equestrian products.
Overbent horses on the forehand, horses with gaping mouth or riders boring the spurs into the flanks can be seen on advertisements around the globe. International show organizers don't seem timid either to promote their shows in advertisements and posters with similar ill-chosen photos, showing horses and riders in less than pleasant positions.
Though here skilled journalists might not have chosen these photos, but media agencies which not necessarily have knowledge about the sport.
On top of that we can admire a photographically atmospheric shot in the souvenir shop of one of Europe's remaining classical equestrian schools in which the horse is overbend by the force of the curb.
I can't help but wonder! Are experienced equestrian journalists lacking knowledge and skills to choose the right photos to illustrate their texts or are big equestrian (publishing) companies indifferent to what is shown on their well paid advertisements? Does a world-famous institute of equestrian art think they only get non-horsy visitors in their souvenir-shop? If we assume that generally it is not like that, the conclusion can only be that the equestrian community we are all part of becomes increasingly ignorant.
-- by Silke Rottermann
Related Links
Silke Rottermann's History Channel on Eurodressage
Silke Rottermann: Switzerland Legally Bans Rollkur, Hip Hip Hooray?