Just some thoughts from a life-long equestrian. I've been riding (mainly hunter-jumpers) for approx 20 years. *Haknyeon was the ONLY rider in the whole competition with decent form* His leg was relatively still and wrapped around the pony's side throughout the course which is why he was quiet in the saddle instead of flopping all over the place. Also, his decision to sit the trot most of the course was smart. His stirrups were too long for a proper posting trot and he had better control of his leg while sitting. He had quiet hands and did not use them as anchors (all of the other riders did). His reins were short enough that the pony was connected to the bit and was easy to control without excessive yanking. He also properly bent his elbows! Thank god one idol did that. If you look at his pony compared to the other one (during the last course vs Kenta) it is quite obvious that his pony is more relaxed and in control. It's head was down where it should be and it was more willing to listen to Haknyeon's hand and leg aides. That is why the ride was so smooth. The other rider, Kenta, was making his pony go faster and more strung out because he was constantly pulling. Sometimes, the best way to get a horse to slow down is to relax your reins and stop yanking. They will calm down and stop fighting if you do that. I really wish the criteria for this competition wasn't just to clear the obstacles quickly. How well the rider performs (also known as equitation) should be part of the results. A rider can quickly get around the course while riding like shit which should not be rewarded. Also they need to get announcers who know something about horseback riding. The current ones have absolutely *no clue* about what is going on. While watching this, it is very clear that Haknyeon has past experience with riding. While he was growing up in Jeju, he rode regularly. Just like riding a bike, when you get back on a horse everything comes back. Your muscle memory kicks in and you automatically remember what to do. Granted, that doesn't mean you will ride perfectly after many years off. It takes some time and consistent riding to get back to the level you were at before. That is why Haknyeon's riding was much improved compared to last ISAC. It's amazing what constant practice in the saddle will do. So, in conclusion, this event needs to be modified greatly by the next ISAC. The competitors need to practice more and, to be perfectly honest, they need to hire better trainers. Not only do these trainers teach poorly, they also can't properly fit tack on their ponies and for the riders. The stirrups are too long, the saddles too big (especially on the paint) for both rider and horse, ill fitted bridles, I could go on. *There is a lot of improvement that needs to be made and I hope the event managers care enough to make it better*

haknyeon is so kind, he always great his opponent😭

As an equestrian i need to say it: it is painful to watch. I’m not blaming the idols bcs they do not have any experience or knowledge about horses but I think it is not safe for them to make them compete when they don’t know how to control the horse.

As an equestrian I don’t think that at that level it’s a good idea to compete with who is the fastest. It can led to many dangerous situations that beginners can’t and don’t know how to control. And even easy or horses for beginners can be scared of anything or doesn’t cooperate

So happy for Juhaknyeon! I think he’s the first idol to win it with a full complete score for the final round. Of course he’d be able to control the horse well, his love for animals is so big 🥺

IM SO HAPPY FOR JUHAK I KEEP REWATCHING THIS BUT AGHHHHHHH I KNEE JUHAK WAS GONNA WINNNNN

As a twelve years long Kpop fan and an equestrian for fifteen years... This is painful to watch and I was really scared they would bring horses in a show with idol... Horses aren't toys to make idol look cool. It was hard to watch.

haknyeon

Yuqi!!!!!!!

0:19 yay finally I can see Junji’s eyes ❤️

I think that in order to do this kind of competitions they need to give them some experience not just train for a month or two, maybe a year training, a side of technical mistakes they made they could have hurt themselves and the horses and that would have end up wrong, just my opinion, they can compete but at least have a year training to reduce the probability of posible danger.

Junji lo hizo muy bien,me siento muy orgullosa de él

as a kpop stan and a equestrian I feel so conflicted...

Yuqi is very cute and talented ❤

Junji did so well

When your an equestrian and a kpop fan

LOVE JUHAKNYEON

As an equestrian, this is painful to watch.... (Please note I’ve been doing this for 13 years and have had/have my own)

Its too sad Junji wasn't able to ride the horse he trained. But its fine, you did well❤️

Wow loved watching!! 10/7/2020

As a former equestrian, this was horrifying to me

준지 ♥♥♥

What did they say to dayoung to make her go from crying because she didn't want to whip the horse to whipping it for literally no reason??

Que orgulho do Hakyneon 🥺

I love horses and kpop💖💖

idc idc im just happy for hak

This is really, omgggg this things need to be continue this is cool

Junji :((( ♥️

ARANG MY LOVE

This looks cool!!

That was rather painful to watch…

why is jiwon of fromis_9, the 2019 champion isnt here? they dont allow winners to compete anymore?

😮

How did I get here?

Are they doing this again this year??

I don’t know most of them😭💀

As always, self identifying "equestrians" commenting here are SO annoying! (I'd love to watch the elete disdainful #PonyClubSet don challenging costumes & extreme makeup & TRY to dance & sing on a kpop music show stage to let KPOP FANS judge & vote on THEIR...performances. This is a celebrity amateur show not a riding academy drill or olympic qualifying event! Like all entry level classes of course there is room for improvement, but there is ample supervision in the ring and relatively little RISK to either horses or riders in this obstacle (trail) NOT hunter jumper class, They are timed but not working at speed or god forbid navigating jumps. As for their skill level cut these kids some slack! Every rider starts at the basics & kpop idols make far better than average students, determined & fit as athletes with high body awareness & coordination. These contestants have adequate rudimentary riding skills for the modest tasks required here. I gather neither the horses nor tack belong to them & with no subtitles i dont know how much time they have had together. These idols MAY be required to groom & tack up their assigned mounts who are typically mild if slightly bored & stubborn schooling horses. They are basically calm patient & well mannered & nicely turned out in the adequately if not perfectly fitted tack that may be available. As for risk, the idols are supervised by handlers, their seats are pretty secure at the trot and their hands are fairly quiet & not excessively punishing with mild bits, in short, acceptable for this level of competition. IS this is hard on or abusive to these horses? i guess that depends on perspective. Here is mine. For 35 years I have owned a horse rescue farm in the united states. I pull doomed horses from "kill pens" where they wait to be shipped to slaughter in mexico. Without me, MY horses would likely have ended up in asia...as horsemeat. The irony is that MOST of the horses i have SAVED are expensive registered Arabian SHOWHORSES purebred & sold to people who presumably COULD "ride" very well in showrings. yet MY rescues had been abused burnt out injured & ruined by PROS (expert level competion riders & highly paid trainers.) MY KillPenPonies would gladly trade places with these cute little rocking horses being put through easy paces while taking care of their charming popular idols who are doing the budding korean horse community a BIG favor by introducing these adorable horses (still fairly rare in korea) & helping to popularize equine sport with THEIR millions of fans.

AHHH JENNIE COULD HAVE DONE THIS