Another point of view about showing

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toffeesmarty

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My daughter rides an 11-3 coloured cob who we compete both in CHAPS classes and at local level. At CHAPS we do OK (she qual'd for the National Champs at the SE regionals) but regardless of the level she has to compete against adults and on horses much bigger than ours. The tactics of many of the adults who ride against her are awful. Because our pony is unusual and he is very striking people don't forget him and we normally get a rossette of some colour. This means that the adults riding bigger horses recognise them and try to block her from the judges - especially at local level. This is both annoying and dangerous. My daughter is 10 and her ring class skills are good, but when horses three times the size ridden by people who should know better fly past her my blood boils. Or am I just a protective mum?!
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erm well concidering chaps split thier classes at 14.2 for the trads and 15hh for the non natives i believe then the ponies are not that much bigger!
Also unless your right up there winning major qualifiers left right and center then it is unlikely that they are doing it to you just because of who you are, mostly its a lack of ring craft or control on thier parts.
 
An 11.3hh will get constantly overtaken by the bigger horses in the ring - They go faster because they have longer legs. I'm not a showing person, and I'm aware it does involve a lot of pettiness, but I think in your case this problem is unavoidable. Can you not find classes for small ponies only?
 
oh yes unless i'm very much mistaken then CHaps doesnt have regionals, you turn up at a qualifier show and if you win you qualify for the champs.

Also as your daughter is only 10 then should she not be in the 1st ridden class (they deffinately have one of those) then you wont have to be up against the adults riding ponies or up against anything over 12hh
 
In response yes, some of the CHAPS native/cob class are split at 14-3 but most are open and do not split sizes. At CHAPS regional shows, the CHAPS Factor class is for all heights and types. She does not ride in first ridden as pony shown in double bridle and he isn't a first ridden type. My bug bear is more at local level where she is regularly 'cut up' by riders who really should know better.
 
then im sorry but if you dont like your pony in with big horses then dont enter the shows where the classes are not split (as far as i'm aware the majority split the classes so you shouldnt have too much problem finding a show that does split them), the adults on big ponies/horses have as much right to be there as you do and of course they are going to over take, you simply cannot keep a 16hh horse cantering behind a 12hh pony. thier only option is to overtake.
 
it's plain bad manners, they must see the pony as a threat to go that far, take it as a compliment, lots of judges will see what is going on though and some will absolutley not tolerate it, if you are worried complain.
 
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then im sorry but if you dont like your pony in with big horses then dont enter the shows where the classes are not split (as far as i'm aware the majority split the classes so you shouldnt have too much problem finding a show that does split them), the adults on big ponies/horses have as much right to be there as you do and of course they are going to over take, you simply cannot keep a 16hh horse cantering behind a 12hh pony. thier only option is to overtake.

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i think you have missed the point...overtaking is fine, delibrately blocking the pony, and cutting it up is sheer bad manners, the pony has a right to be there too
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Not having seen the classes in question, but having been at the CHAPS southern show the other day, the classes are often enormous. It is near impossibly to get in front of the judge with your horse moving correctly and not at some point cutting up someone to get into position. Each person only has a few chances to be seen in front of the judge, and there are only so many times you can circle.

I think the fault is more with the people who invented a class which could take such a wide variety of types and sizes and put them in the ring together. Don't assume that you are being cut up because you are a threat - it is far more likely they are either slightly out of control or are simply doing what they think they should i.e. being seen moving well in front of the judge.

It is extremely rude to block another horse when going in front of the judge. I really am surprised that a CHAPS Factor class will be sufficiently enticing for people to want to do this. At CHAPS you don't even get that behaviour at a HOYS qualifier, so I really am of the opinion it is either bad ring craft or lack of control (which I saw plenty of the other day when I was at the CHAPS show).

It may be better for your daughter not to do the mixed height classes which is a great shame for her, but if she is disappointed and/or scared at being cut up by the bigger horses, it may be better not to enter and stick to the smaller height classes?

PS - I know I will feel the same as you if Toby ever comes off the lead rein!
PPS - I do sometimes cut up the pros - not on purpose and I now always apologise to one before the class in case I do it again - her horses canter sooooo slowly and mine don't and as I said, the classes are often enormous and there is nowhere to slot back into the go round - but I have never done it in front of the judge (yet
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I watched a CHAPS class at the South of England Spring Show in Ardingly earlier this year which was the native/ cob/ traditional under 14.2. There was a young girl on a very small shetland type pony competing, double bridle, fab little rider. The steward looked for her parents as the class started to ask if she would be ok with the others and if she could gallop. They assured him she would be fine and as a precausion I guess stood her in the middle as the the others cantered and did an extention. She was eventually placed 5th above other larger horses. She really held her own and I had to admire how she coped with the bigger horses flying past in a fairly small indoor space.
 
I don't think they see your pony as a threat, but, as others have said, a slower moving animal (be it with short legs or lack of Va VA Voom.....) can be difficult in a class of mixed height animals.
I've been there myself, Star is a 14.2 trad, and when we do Cob type classes, there are horses the size of elephants in with us
 
I wasn't having a go at anyone in particular especially judges as most recognise it is important to get children interested in horses and showing and have been very understanding.
I don't want special consideration for M and her pony- far from it. If you heard me in the yard shouting at her you'd know that!
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She always expects to get beaten by horses, so when you're only 11-3 (he is much wider than he is high!) her expectations aren't high!
I agree with Janette that ponies can be at a disadvantage in mixed height class and when you enter classes you know that will be the case. My issue is still with riders who should know better by riding with more consideration for their own and others safety (regardless of the size of pony or age of rider they are going past).
Whenever possible she rides on a slightly inside track so larger ones can go outside her but even so we have experienced riders overtaking on the inside whilst another goes past on the outside. Would they effectively sandwich another adult? I doubt it.
Can I also say my comments were not directed at any of the riders at the SE CHAPS show at Patchetts where everyone was very polite and the atmosphere was friendly. In our experience it's more common at local level.
 
Ive been sandwiched before when riding a 16hher, and when ive been riding a 14hh pony who kicks (and had a red ribbon in his tail) so yes she probably would be if she were an adult, it's poor ring skills from the others and at local level thats all it probably is.
 
Just a thought, but if you say you encourage your daughter to ride on the inside track then I am not that surprised she is being sandwiched. If you have a larger horse on the outside track, and a faster one who needs to overtake, how else are they going to get past? I think it would probably be safer for her to stay on the outside track and at least can only be overtaken on one side. Your pony must be an angel to put up with everyone thundering past! The judge won't see that much of her perhaps, but at least she should survive the go round more easily.
 
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