Ageism in Showing

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Ageism in the showing world? Surely Not?

As an owner of a fit, healthy, athletic 13 year old lightweight show cob I am extremely confused as to why my horse is too old to show at County level.

On a number of occasions judges have been somewhat shocked that I have entered a 13 year old in the class. Just last weekend, at Leicestershire Show, I was even told by one rather ‘elderly’ judge that, after picking her jaw off the floor “oh, well at least you are honest”.

Unfortunately, unlike most, I am very proud of the work that I have taken to get my cob fit. Unlike many of the cobs in the class who are somewhat overweight and ‘stuffy’, and as many of H&H’s readers are aware, it takes years to get the correct amount of muscle on any horse, let alone a cob. So I find it completely redicoulous that it is such as shock to have a 13 year old in the class.

Or perhaps it is a shock as so many cobs are overweight, they do not get to reach that age with having serious health problems.

Has anybody else had the same problem? Why is 13 too old?
 
There is a user on here, FMM, who shows cobs, amongst others, to a very high level and has one who is doing dressage now that I believe went to the RIHS last year as a 16yo... be interesting to hear her take on it!
 
It would definately be great to hear from her.

We also do dressage, up to elementary level. I also find it really difficult to get my head round the fact that many of the show cobs are just ridden off the curb. Have they ever schooled their horses??

Thanks
 
As TE has said, Bob was shown last year at the age of 17, was second at RIHS last year and qualified for HOYS where he pi55ed off with the judge. However, his joints are good, his limbs are excellent, and he shows no signs at all of his advanced years. If your cob is the same, then judges should not put him down just because of his age. Bob has had a very successful showing careering, winning many championships and coming 3rd at HOYS when he was younger, so even though he was not as good as before, he still had the conformation and way of going that is required from a show cob.

There are several other cobs who are showing into their teens. One of them should have stopped as he now looks very poor and looks older than his years. The others still look great.

The ride judge at Leicester this year, placed me in both the RIHS and HOYS qualifier I did last year (hope that makes sense) so I know that he is certainly not ageist. I don't know who did the conformation, so can't comment on their reasoning for what they said. The open classes at Leicester (having seen the results) were full of top quality horses, the classes were very large, so it would have been difficult to get a placing. Were you in the open class?
 
Yesterday in affiliated cob and RH classes we had a range of ages from 4 to 14 (that I can remember), and age wasn't a factor at all, even in the novice class. Ofcourse you take in to consideration that a horse may be a baby (especially if you're riding them!), the only time I'm suprised by a horse's age is if they look particularly good for their age!
 
Hi - thanks for your reply.
Yes, we were in the open lightweight class. The ridden judge (and probationary judge) was very good and commented on the nice ride. However it was the very elderly confirmation judge that was 'shocked' that a 13 year old was in the class.
As you say, the turnout was brilliant and the cobs were of an excellent standard. But I was just confused about the age stagements!
I had the same comments last year , "at least you are honest". Do people lie about their ages? If so, what is the point, afterall they are registered??
 
I couldn't lie about Bob's age as everyone recognised him even though he had been retired 4 years!

Just avoid that judge next time - and as Virtual is a BSHA judge, her comments should be taken very seriously!
 
I dont show anywhere near your level but still take my 26 year old in Riding Horse and WH classes, he reguarly does very well and often beats his younger counterparts. Age should not be an issue IMO. However I cannot understand why some judges write horses off after a certain age.
 
Thanks Guys
I was certainly thinking of throwing in the towel after yesterday and sticking to dressage and jumping.
But, thank you for all your comments, I just feel even more determined now (especially after a glass of wine too!!)
Roll on Midland Counties!!

(ps Why are working cob classes getting so few and far between in the midlands/south yorkshire area?)
 
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I had the same comments last year , "at least you are honest". Do people lie about their ages? If so, what is the point, afterall they are registered??

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All the time - I competed against an eternal 10yo in 15hh classes who competed in veterans the following year. A horse I owned is being competed as the same age as when I was competing him 3 years ago.

Judges don't see the horse's registration details or look at the catalogue (at least they shouldn't do!), so a lesser known horse can easily have it's age lied about in the ring.
 
Thanks Virtual.
I believe you judge for BSHA? How do you become a judge? I presume you have to go through training (as there was a probationary judge at Leics).
 
Just my theory but could it be that the tradition was that a nice horse "came out" in showing classes to get experience of travelling and a busy atmosphere and then "went to do a job" like jumping or eventing or dressage. Hence, new horses each year into the show ring and a progression. These days a horse may stick to a discipline a bit more - or change hands as someone else would like the chance to qualify for a major show and so they are seen older in the ring. Maybe the older judge had not got his head round this....only my guess??
 
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Thanks Virtual.
I believe you judge for BSHA? How do you become a judge? I presume you have to go through training (as there was a probationary judge at Leics).

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I'm only on the ride panel - so I just judge ride at the moment (with a co-judge doing conformation). Most panels are the same, I did BSHA and BSPS ride assessments, and in both we had an interview and had to ride at least 2 horses and assess them. For full or conformation panels you also have to do a conformation section - I'm hoping to do this later in the year. There's no compulsary training before applying to the panels, although you do have to provide a CV.

Before being accepted on to the full panel, you have to do a certain amount of probationary judging after your assessment, and the person you probation with writes a report on your performance.
 
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