Matthias Alexander Rath: Life After Totilas

Matthias Alexander Rath was given the gift riders can only dream of when he got the ride on Totilas after Edward Gal. Unfortunately for him, the fans of Toto were not happy at all.

The Perfect Storm

There are several toxic traits that equestrians have that make this sport and the commentary on it hard to watch from the bench.

1) Equestrians are slow adapters and do not like change.

2) They are loyal fans and when they fall in love, that rider can do no wrong.

3) They think that someone has to pay their dues in accordance to their own personal values in order to be considered successful.

4) They are stubborn and unforgiving and can hold a grudge until they die.

This created the perfect storm for Matthias Alexander Rath as he took over the ride on Totilas. It turned a dream into a nightmare. In the tech world we call it an Audible when someone thinks we need to stop going in one direction and look at a problem from a different perspective or bring in a different expert to discuss the problem.

Calling An Audible

I am officially calling and Audible for Matthias Alexander Rath. Let’s remove Totilas and his history from the equation and discuss him as a developing rider instead of expecting him to fill the shoes of Edward Gal. This week I watched his ride on the dressage stallion Foundation and while the grand prix dressage test was not mistake-free it was interesting to watch.

Many DH fans cheer on the horrible and abusive riding techniques of some of the riders in Wellington but will not give Matthias Alexander Rath a second chance. Now that we have called an audible. Breathe. Take a step back and watch Matthias Alexander Rath and tell me what you think.

Does he deserve a second chance at a fresh start?