An idea about PAVO - what do you think?

T

tigers_eye

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 February 2006
Messages
6,150
Location
Hoeilaart, Belgium
Visit site
I was thinking about the mess that was the entries for Le Lion thi year, and wondering if there couldn't be a more transparent system, and one that could be used to favour British-bred horses more. After all, Le Lion is a real show-case for countries' studbooks.

How about running the PAVO championships a bit earlier, as has been suggested in various publications, say mid-week after one of the Autumn "biggies", in the hope that more international buyers would come and see what our youngstock has to offer. Being run a bit earlier they could be used as a direct selection trial for Le Lion. If the 6 yo championships was run as a CIC* then BE would be safe in the knowledge that they would have a pool of qualified 6 yos to send. A more radical suggestion would be to send the top 5 British-bred horses from the PAVO champioships (see, not an entirely self-promoting post - William wouldn't fit in that bracket
wink.gif
).

And further to this idea what about extending the series to inclde 7 yos. It could be run along exactly the same lines, with qualifiers at Intermediate level and the championships as a CIC**.

What do people think? A silly idea, or something there?
 
Nice idea. Especially sending British Bred/Sports Horse registered horses.
Most 'normal' people don't get a look in at Le Lion even though they are doing just as well as the 'names.'
To be honest even professionals that aren't as highly regarded as Pippa/William don't get in, let alone anyone else! I wouldn't send the top 5 from the PAVO as (IMHO) its really only a glorified dressage competition for professionals to sell/promote youngsters regardless of whether they will be proper four star event material. (hence alot of flashy pure warmbloods that sell for silly money after and yet will never be heard again at a high event level)
There should be a CIC* and a CIC** class running along side the PAVO champs, for Le Lion bound and qualified horses with the top ones (pref British Bred) being selected to go REGARDLESS of the name of the rider. TBH Tweseldown could easily run a CIC* and a CIC** that wouldn't be punishing to youngsters, and still have the normal breeding champs for the 4/5/6year olds at their respective level.
 
The final Irish entries for Le Lion were selected after Necarne in mid September, so I agree that the breeding champs used as a "selection trial" for the 6yo's could be the way forward. It would have to be run as a CIC* though, otherwise I agree that it could be potentially turn into a glorified dressage competition.
Sorry to appear stupid, but would the definition of British bred be open to debate. Some riders seem to have a lot of french bred young horses, if they won would they still not be picked or would they be picked but they would count when at the event under the french stud book.
I only ask beause a couple of the Irish horses were selected as from the AES studbook, though the vast majority were ISH studbook.
Fiona
 
I'm all for holding it earlier....trying to keep a nice coat and smart horse for the in-hand classes in the wilds of Wales in October is near impossible - it also clashes with the hunting season!

As for the ridden class, I think it would be a great idea, can you put it forwards to anyone who could start the ball rolling?
 
Fiona, I was thinking along the lines of horses that were registered with one of the following: SHB(GB), AES, British Warmblood Society, Wetherbys (only the TB regster, not the non-TB one), Scottish Warmblood... Hopefully this woud also highlight the stupidity of having all these different studbooks! Lets not kid ourselves, we're not Germany, we simply don't have the numbers to warrant all these studbooks. It still may not produce a "team", although I seem to remember the rules were there need to be a minimum of 3 representatives and this can be across the 6 and 7 yo class. So, going back to my point, 5 british-bred of each age group could be picked, then if Le Lion saw fit to give GB more spaces (a different can of worms) other horses could be picked, but at least then our breeders would have been given a chance. My impression is that Ireland looks after its breeders very well, I think we could learn a few things from you...

SM - I could write a letter to H&H, and also to the chairman of the breeding committee? Would have to check whether BE has its own, or whether it would be at the BEF...
 
Dont forget one thingnabout Le Lion, it is French! And last year they took the six and seven year olds with the most points regardless of rider and then decided that they rather missed william (who didnt get in last year) so this season they went back to the 'most favourite' selection process!
i think PAVO could be used as a trial and to really mean anything it needs to be the equivalent of a CIC* at least so good idea ther tiger eye.
however as i have said in an earlier post on this subject Brynley tried to run a CIC* alongside the CCI** at tweaseldown this year and BE would not let him. Funnily enough i think the unaffiliated version he ran instead was won by mary King who did take that horse to le lion this year! Also the one * qualification requirement was there last season at least for the foreign rider i was working for because we went to Necarne to do the one star there to qualify our six year old. Personally think asking such young horses to do so much in a season not good for them long term though.
 
I still think if it was run at Tweseldown, which is reasonabley flat, has good ground, and was run at minimum length it is not a big ask for a good 6 yo. Yes, some won't be ready, but then they wouldn't have gone to Le Lion anyway. I also think it would mean they wouldn't have to be pushed to perform "competition standard" travers and shoulder in which is what they have to do under the current arrangement with the championships run as an IN.
 
The Northern Ireland Horse Board does a tremendous job and gives mare premiums and organises a prestigeous 4yo champs at Balmoral, but always room for improvement I suppose. I would love to see all the horses in Ireland reg by IHB or Wetherbys, and not all these other studbooks such as AES either. As you say, they just sort of dilute the effect. The NI Half Bred Horse Society organised a trip to Le Lion this year which was a v good idea.
Fiona
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top