Why do so many American riders look to Europe when it’s time to buy their next young sport horse? According to trainer and rider David Reichert, the issue isn’t necessarily breeding. The U.S. produces quality horses, but we lack the affordable, accessible development system that helps turn promising four- and five-year-olds into experienced competitors. In Germany, young horses can gain dozens of confidence-building starts on courses designed specifically for their age and experience. In the U.S., the cost of creating that same mileage can quickly climb into the tens of thousands of dollars and young horse classes don’t always provide the same deliberate progression. If we want to produce more competitive horses at home, Reichert argues that we need to invest in the pipeline that gets them there. #theplaidhorse #younghorses #younghorse #sporthorse #sporthorses #americanbred #horsebreeding #horsetraining #horsedevelopment #showjumping #jumper #hunterjumper #equestrian #horsemanship ...