A Royal International champion has lost her title .. rip social media influences

[Lexi 123]

A Royal International champion loses title and other things the horse world is talking about - Horse & Hound

Change of champions The definitions of “amateur” and “home-produced” have come into the spotlight after a Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) champion was disqualified. Martina Lawrence’s Cherokee IX and Amelia Lockhart were the highest placed amateur combination at last month’s RIHS, but the...

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It's high time societies come together and agree on set rules and wording for amateur and home produced. Every society is different.

 

[fetlock]

Or just scrap them altogether.

 

[dorsetladette]

The rules need to be agreed across the board. Being a brand ambassador is very different to being sponsored. I'm supposed to be a brand ambassador - I got a T-shirt and a baseball cap and I'm supposed to post photos on social media once a month wearing said items and tag the brand. I don't do it anymore but I'm still listed.

Does that mean I can't compete in home produced classes? I produce from home and show from the field, but because I got a free T shirt I might not be eligible - seems a little unfair to me.

 

[LEC]

As with everything there has to be a cut off point and the definition of amateur is the most contentious. BE, BD and BS purposely avoid it because it makes it easier.

I find showing a ridiculous hobby and part of it is the inaccessibility of it due to countless societies for often the same classes with different rules. I think they shoot themselves in the foot for encouraging new people into the hobby and it’s not a surprise county shows are struggling with numbers.

 

[dorsetladette]

As with everything there has to be a cut off point and the definition of amateur is the most contentious. BE, BD and BS purposely avoid it because it makes it easier.

I find showing a ridiculous hobby and part of it is the inaccessibility of it due to countless societies for often the same classes with different rules. I think they shoot themselves in the foot for encouraging new people into the hobby and it’s not a surprise county shows are struggling with numbers.

Numbers and quality seem to be a real issue these days at county shows local to me.

I grew up with parents helping to establish certain societies. My dad travelled the length and breadth of the country (others did to) giving advise and running seminars (now known as clinics) to help newbies learn how to turn out their ponies and teach ring craft. It's such a shame that it isn't still done. some of the people on the committee's of these societies wouldn't be where they are now if it wasn't for people like my dad sharing their knowledge. Because they now look down their noses at anyone not at the top of the line the whole thing is dying out which is sad.

 

[equinerebel]

I wouldn't say it's necessarily "rip social media influencers", more a bigger issue of what different societies refer to as "amateur" or not, which should have been clear prior to this point. Both Harlow White and Megan Elphick are very successful influencers and have just qualified for HOYs and Badminton Grassroots respectively. Social media influencers aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so sporting bodies need to update their rules to reflect that.

 

[humblepie]

Not with this case but often it is down to people respecting the rules and not trying to find a way around them or justifying their approach.