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12 Oct 2008 12:55
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I felt sick looking at the full page picture of Katie Price in the Sunday Times today, her face inches thick with makeup, hair in a pony tail and sparkling jacket. Yes, you can argue that glamourising the sport attracts attention and helps to get it out there, possibily bringing in new members and sponsors. But at what price? In my view, this hugely devalues dressage. Katie is doing well for the little experience she has in competitive dressage (just a few months) but she certainly does not merit centre stage at HOYS (billed as a 'materclass') nor centre stage in probably the pre-eminent Sunday paper. Let's be honest, her celebrity is based on the size of her chest, not her dressage prowess! I don't believe she is doing this for the greater good of the sport, whatever she says. It's unashamed self-promotion of her new pink and bling clothing range which is launching now. Clever marketing Katie but, please, don't insult our intelligence!
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Nikki C
13 Oct 2008 00:05
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Are you not being elitist with these comments? Equestrian sports suffer from an image problem because far too many people view riding (and especially dressage) as being a sport for toffs. If we are to increase the number of people participating in our sports then surely we have to welcome everyone, regardless of their career or background. At a time when all sports are attempting to widen their appeal and attract followers we must be prepared to accept that growth can only come from new supporters. I believe that all interest should be welcomed and encouraged, whether it comes from people who believe that ‘if Katie Price can do it so can I’ or those who think that they can look like her. They are expressing an interest in sharing the pleasure of riding - are we really going to turn them away? It doesn’t matter whether you think the publicity is for Katie Price or dressage - it is still publicity for dressage that the sport would not otherwise receive. Just think -how much coverage was there for HOYS other than this?
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Andrea Sexton
13 Oct 2008 07:16
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They say all publicity is good publicity...and dressage certainly needs to be put out there into the public arena...I've got quite mixed feelings about it all. I'm glad that a high profile person like Katie wants to learn about dressage and enjoys it and there is no doubt she is working at it - it's not that easy to ride at HOYS on your own...but I think it's worth remembering that Katie has just launched a clothing range and is very clever at marketing herself and making money. I wasn't at HOYS but I hear that the crowd really went for Katie's demo and there were 3 grand prix to music tests afterwards that the crowd really got into. I personally hope she keeps working hard at the dressage and proves me wrong about the money making thing....
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paula
13 Oct 2008 11:53
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Whether or not Katie is doing this for money or publicity for her own clothing range doesn't matter to me at all. It is definately having the desired effect, she did well at HOYS and the public loved it it was an extravaganza at the best horse show in the world! a bit of GLAM and a bit of BLING, good grief the sport of dressage needs it. This is only once a year, and I think she did really well under the atmosphere and the lights; she wanted to perform and she did. Andrew Gould is a great person and a great rider and he is obviously enjoying himself as well, maybe some people need reminding that horses are meant to be FUN FUN FUN.
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wez
13 Oct 2008 13:59
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HOYS is for everyone, Katie brings a bit of glamour and demonstrates to everyone what you can do with focus and determination. Fortunately I didn't have to pay for my frontage, but I wouldn't say no to a reduction, it would help my sitting trot no end! Joking apart, equestrian sport is a very serious business for breeders, producers and riders, but sport is for everyone, whether you are a spectator or potential Olympic star, so please join in with the FUN!
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Kels
16 Oct 2008 15:35
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I think that it’s a shame that Katie Price is fast becoming more famous in the World of Dressage than our top Dressage riders, but then if Brad Pitt took up Skiing or something it would be the same, they’re so famous that they can start a trend on anything! So surely it must be good for dressage?!? I know that a lot of people take Dressage and riding in general very seriously and it’s a shame that they maybe feel that Katie is cheapening the noble sport? However once in the ring she is no better or worse than anyone else, so we have to rely on judges to judge fairly and welcome anyone who wishes to take part in our sport.
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Nigel Taylor
22 Oct 2008 17:33
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The problem with Katie Price in the arena, is not that she can or can not ride, but why we have to put up with a horse called Glamour Girl and a rider in Bling and (Jordan) without a shirt on,not the best role model. I have worked in the media for over twenty years, Katie Price works in the media, she knows how it works and how to make it work for her. I say if Katie wants to be taken as a serious contender, then ride dressed as everyone else does and let her horse skills talk for her. Katie's use of Bling and Glamour add up to one thing, sponsorship and promotion as well as the PR and exploitation of her new clothing brand.
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paula
27 Oct 2008 10:12
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Does it matter? Everyone knows it's self-promotion, does anyone really care? This was a show, not a competition. I presume that when she competes she will have to wear a shirt and stock the same as everyone else, and as for the horses name, she can call her horse what she likes.
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TinkerBell
16 May 2009 23:06
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I am not living in the UK, so were quite unfamiliar with who Katie Price is until recently, when I got a friend to bring me several "Horse" magazines from UK and there were some intervews with Katie in them. I might be very wrong in my impressions, but I found it sad that the person who treats her horse more like Barbie doll or a pet is considered as a dressage star. I did not find any real interest in horses in this lady, only a deep intrest in her own person. In my opinion dressage needs more people like Laura and Maria, not Katie Price.
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x-DressageDiva--x
26 May 2009 00:34
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I am shocked at all the apparent hatred/dislike for Katie Price - I'm probably her biggest fan and have been way before all the Dressage happened!! I'm into modelling myself yet I love dressage more than the other disciplines, and I praise Katie for bringing this sport into the limelight as being famous, it encourages more newcomers into the world of horses - isn't this what we want?
Just because she's known for something most likely classed as 'inappropriate' to most people doesn't mean she should be treated or thought of any differently than other competitors in the sport, we're all here for our love of horses and what stops her doing the same? As for the bling - I was in sheer heaven when I opened the page of Derby House and saw the bright pink of her new line, I just about own half the range!! We all need something to brighten up our day!
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TinkerBell
26 May 2009 12:24
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Pink is a beatifull color, but Nature did not make many animals pink and I think on purpose. Why would one want to put its horse out in a field during spring or summer in a pink outfit which attracts bees and flies from miles around? There should be a difference between respecting/loving horses and playing with them like with dolls.
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Leonises
03 Sep 2009 21:08
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BOO FOR KATIE PRICE. Shes says i do dressage, if u can say what she does riding, all she does is have her horses trained for her then she sits there and bumbles around! Promotion for dressage.. I think not. It doesnt matter if u can ride like mark todd or carl hester and i quote from a song "" If you anit got bo money take your broke ass home ". Katie says horses are my life i love them blah blah blah. In the series Katie and Peter " go state side " you saw 5mins of her near a yard where she goes and rides her horse after importing it from Europe. 5mins in one series!?
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benitez
06 Sep 2009 13:08
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I type below a letter that appeared in SUR in English, newspaper for Southern Spain, August 28th - Sept. 3rd - regarding a gentlemans experience of Katie Price´s visit to the Polo at Sotogrande to promote her book & clothing ---
KATIE PRICE
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I took my two pre-teenagers to the polo in Sotogrande on Sunday, as they have been caught on a wave of Katie Price mania.
She was there to promote her new range of clothing.
This ´celebrity´ has said that she wants to be a role model to young girls everywhere.
Having queued for an hour in temperatures over 30 degrees, we were told that unless we bought some of her clothing, the children would not be allowed to have an autograph, or their pictures taken.
As there were fewer then twenty kids, I don´t think that this is the type of role model that my children need.
I now understand the expression that you can´t make a silk purse of of a sow´s ear.
Andrew Cavaciuti.
I agree with this gentlemans opinion, also would add that this lady is not a good ambassador for the sport of dressage. Maybe in the future she can remember to conform to the Dressage dress code !!!
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DressageSpain
06 Sep 2009 18:33
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Katie Price is an utter disgrace to the equine community. I have a friend who is photographer and he was recently snapped at Sotogrande next to her, this was put on facebook and the comment below was "She looks like she could haunt houses!" Which I thought was appropriate. Ok, come and promote your new range of tacky naff clothing Katie, but for goodness sake, have some pride and tact in the Spanish community and don't turn up looking like a rough tarty barbie doll.
Why on earth could anyone think that she is a good ambassador for our sport is beyond me? She does not train her own horses, and goes by the attitude that throwing money at it will make her good - think again. She has a long way to go and quite a few pegs to be brought down.
Just think if Jodie Marsh took up athletics, how ridiculous it would look and how insulted the other proper athletes would be. Proper athletes in any sport have dignity and pride.
Thats how I feel, insulted that she swans into our sport and takes the limelight away from PROPER riders - Maria, Laura and many others who are much more deserving of media attention, and in my opinion much more beautiful as well.
That sham at HOYS was appalling. Not only could she not do the movements, but she didn't even have the decency to abide by the dress code of our sport. Fair enough, HOYS wanted to put on a show - yes let her ride, but movements she can do, and insist that she dresses appropriately. No stock, make up put on with a trowel and hair in pigtails is not going to give a good and fair impression of our sport.
I feel very strongly about this subject as other people have mentioned, its all a clever media hype to make her money. She may like horses but needs to have some dignity.
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Diana
07 Sep 2009 09:39
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"Katie Price is an utter disgrace to the equine community. I have a friend who is photographer and he was recently snapped at Sotogrande next to her, this was put on facebook and the comment below was "She looks like she could haunt houses!" Which I thought was appropriate. Ok, come and promote your new range of tacky naff clothing Katie, but for goodness sake, have some pride and tact in the Spanish community and don't turn up looking like a rough tarty barbie doll.
Why on earth could anyone think that she is a good ambassador for our sport is beyond me? She does not train her own horses, and goes by the attitude that throwing money at it will make her good - think again. She has a long way to go and quite a few pegs to be brought down.
Just think if Jodie Marsh took up athletics, how ridiculous it would look and how insulted the other proper athletes would be. Proper athletes in any sport have dignity and pride.
Thats how I feel, insulted that she swans into our sport and takes the limelight away from PROPER riders - Maria, Laura and many others who are much more deserving of media attention, and in my opinion much more beautiful as well.
That sham at HOYS was appalling. Not only could she not do the movements, but she didn't even have the decency to abide by the dress code of our sport. Fair enough, HOYS wanted to put on a show - yes let her ride, but movements she can do, and insist that she dresses appropriately. No stock, make up put on with a trowel and hair in pigtails is not going to give a good and fair impression of our sport.
I feel very strongly about this subject as other people have mentioned, its all a clever media hype to make her money. She may like horses but needs to have some dignity. "
I agree, she is horrible! I always thought her turnout at HOYS was a disgrace and when people don't turn themselves out properly it is very disrespectful to their horse in my opinion. She does nothing for dressage, and I agree, she is not nearly as pretty as Laura, Emma and Maria! They have class that is nothing to do with money, it is to do with self respect, discipline, respect for one's horses and sport.
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addybecks
07 Sep 2009 11:14
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I can't say I share the same taste as Katie but I don't understand why so many people should be so nasty just because they don't either. What harm is she actually doing just because she wants to wear some sparkly tails and make up for a show piece! When she competed BD I believe she wore the 'traditional uniform' like everyone else.
I am more disturbed about the picture the 'Katie bashers' paint of the dressage contingency - many of your comments are coming across as snobby, cliquey and elitest and surely that is not a reputation dressage deserves.
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DressageSpain
07 Sep 2009 11:20
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And what good publicity would that be then ???? For goodness sake, she is lowering the tone of our sport. No one on this forum can deny that she may like horses and want to ride and compete. Fair play, get stuck in. All I would say is - when in Rome.........
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DressageSpain
07 Sep 2009 11:35
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Addybecks, this is not snobby or elitist.
Even non horse people were commenting on what she looked like at the polo in Sotogrande. A complete mess, and bleating on about wanting to be a good role model and then not giving 2 young kids an autograph is not on. There is a good reason why the English have such a bad name down here, and she has not helped us at all.
And a bit of bling is fine, I myself have bling browbands and my riding logo is bling as well on the saddlecloth, as yes i think it adds a little glamour and fun, but I know where to stop at least.
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Diana
08 Sep 2009 10:51
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"Addybecks, we are not being snobby or elitist.
Even non horse people were commenting on what she looked like at the polo in Sotogrande. A complete mess, and bleating on about wanting to be a good role model and then not giving 2 young kids an autograph is not on. There is a good reason why the English have such a bad name down here, and she has not helped us at all.
And a bit of bling is fine, I myself have bling browbands and my riding logo is bling as well on the saddlecloth, as yes i think it adds a little glamour and fun, but I know where to stop at least. "
I just hope she never competes at the same event as me. It would be awful to have loads of paps taking photos of her while you are warming up like other members have had to deal with. She makes a living which is great but selling stories about her sex life/other partners etc? Sorry, it's just not cricket!
I'm not elitest, I have an office job and have to hire a horsebox for shows!
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shans mum
04 Jun 2010 16:10
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I am not a Katie Price hater (or admirer) but I don't understand why people are saying that she is giving dressage much needed publicity.
She buys expensive horses, has somebody else look after them, and somebody else rides and trains them. When she has done with a horse she sells it on. When she rides she is just a puppet doing what her trainer is telling her to do. How can this possibly be good press for dressage. Surely this is just inflaming the view that dressage is ilitist.
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