Amateurs v professionals

[Rachel_M]

Do you enjoy the excitement of working in and competiting with some of the biggest names or do you think that competitors should be split at all times for one section for the pro's and another for the wee mortals out there.

 

[KatB]

I dont have a prob with competing alongside pro's, horses are a great leveller, and at the end of the day, the you will be competing alongside them at that level because you are also at that levelif that makes sense!? So although they have more time with horses etc, I dont think it is unfair to be competing against them!!

 

[Rachel_M]

Yes, I agree. I personally feel the satisfaction you can get from attaining qualifications along side the bigger riders is all the more important for us- we work hard and it shows we can ride just as well ( and sometime a little better to

)

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

Agree, i feel thrilled when i compete against top riders especially if i perform well.

 

[Thistle]

Would be nice to be split for prize giving though, eg in BE top 5 of each or something.

 

[not_with_it]

Although I agree with what you are saying and this is purely from a dressage point of view, but some riders are thrilled to go home with a rossette and competing against the pro's this very rarely happens. Most riders aim to qualify for regionals etc, they ride average horses and work hard to be able to compete whereas pro's have money thrown at them. They have sponsors and owners who buy them fantastic horses. It is their living so is it really fair for them to compete against people who do it as a hobby?!
At least with the open and restriction sections you can see where you come against the pro's but you still have the satisfaction of qualifying or winning a rossette which to some people is everything.

 

[LEC]

I think dressage is a lot harder to be on level playing field as money really talks. In eventing you can drag the family horse out of the field and as long as you ride a nice test and it jumps you have a really good chance as the pros are usually on babies.

 

[Hattikins]

I love competing against the pros - i think its fantastic, i enjoy watching them and then going in myself and seeing if i can match them (often i cant but its a great when you can). i dont think affiliated events would be quite the same without being able to compete along side the pros on a level playing field

i was on such a high at S of E Pre Novice last year when Pippa Funnell on Welton Double Cracker was only 0.5 penalty better than me after the dressage

 

[Taz975]

Working in with people who actually know what they're doing scares me, I find it realy intimidating, though Im getting much better at dealing with it. Really satisfying when do as well as them though, albeit very rare!

 

[Rambo]

I wouldn't have it any other way....we're all equal when we're in the ring

Some of my finest memories involve beating 'the greats' with my 'average' horses

 

[madgirl]

[ QUOTE ]
I love competing against the pros - i think its fantastic, i enjoy watching them and then going in myself and seeing if i can match them (often i cant but its a great when you can). i dont think affiliated events would be quite the same without being able to compete along side the pros on a level playing field

i was on such a high at S of E Pre Novice last year when Pippa Funnell on Welton Double Cracker was only 0.5 penalty better than me after the dressage

[/ QUOTE ]
and you went on to beat her!

 

[Nic]

Love it. I beat Iain Stark last season(Don't care if it was intro & he was on a 5 year old, I used to have posters of him on my wall!

)

I always enjoy watching Louisa Miln-holme(sp) Though not so keen on going into the stressage arena after her. And same for Ruth Edge(on SCS's gorgeous Paper Tiger)

I think it would be a real shame if classes were split pro/am.