Appalled - local show season here again !

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2009
Messages
6,102
Location
My own planet
Visit site
Just back from a local show...

Underweight youngster - can't even trot properly .. being hurled round warm up arena by complete and utter numpty - horse completely lame behind. A girl shouted out "your pony is lame" after it had nearly fell over - the reply made me wince "its not lame its just has no muscle" ....WTF - complaint made to the organisers... anything happen - NOPE its was just abused round the clear round and then forced to jump a practice fence for the hundredth time.

Come on organisers - can't you police your grounds, especially when a complaint has been made? and the ones running the clear round should have stepped in and stopped it.
 
Poor mite, I did what I could and complained to the booking in tent, but they said they could not do anything unless the judge objected...... :(

Surley the organisers could have asked quietly for them to leave the show ground until the horse was sound?
 
This is why I hate local shows, sadly the minority ruin it.

I actually had a girl removed from a show I was helping at because she was thrashing her pony around as he wouldn't go over a jump. Was a pony club run show so could be the difference in her getting removed.

I also can't stand the people who use their horses/ ponies as a sofa all day.
 
Yes indeed they could and should have told her to take the horse home. That is what would happen at our local RC, however I am not sure that it would have happened at the venues who run shows as part of their business.
 
Saw the same thing last week, a girl got told to leave a class with a lame horse and the girl refused. She was then put last in the class and after went straight into to warm up and proceeded to canter around on the lame horse for 20 mins before the show organiser asked her to stop and insisted she dis-mount. The horse was then left tied up to the lorry fully tacked up for a further 2 hours! It was clearly very lame behind.
 
And on the other side of the fence, lack of organisation, judges who can't recognise good examples of standard native breeds yet judge M&M classes, don't abide by the rules of the shows they're qualifiers for and general lack of standards.

And the riders tugging away at their horses pelhams with no regard for their mouths :cool:

I won't say anything about whips as I had to bash mine in the ring today for being a total pleb :cool:
 
Lots of people cant see lameness behind so that might go some way to explaining it :confused:.

I also find local shows where the judge tells the competitor placed above you that her horse was lame at times but placed you below because you won the last class a little hard to jutify. Yes it was a local show but a lame animal is a lame animal and shouldnt be placed above sound ones no matter who has already won that day, fwiw I dont have a problem with the very local shows where they try to place all the kids in at least one class so they get a rosette.
 
These things happen every season, and every season there are forum threads about such appalling behaviour. Don't get me wrong, you are perfectly right to bring matters to everyone's attention. If you don't like what you see, even as a spectator, complain loudly. First of all to the show officials, and if you get no joy, complain loudly to the judge involved as she/he leaves the ring, or having a teabreak etc. They are judges, they are human and they don't walk on water!! You have a right to complain. I don't want to appear harsh, and I'm not advising anyone to get bolshy, agressive etc. just make your voice heard. I have done similar myself. I also speak as someone with show experience having been co-secretary of a local horse society back in the 70's and also co-secretary at one of the largest equestrian centres, also having been a BSJA judge for several years way back. You may think it does'nt do any good, but you won't know if you don't try.
 
it wasnt this show by any chance was it??

photo taken today
Beaconshow.jpg
 
Poor pony. :(

We recently complained at our local showing show as a girl was riding her horse in a pelham... upside down?!?!!

Organisers went over and asked her to sort it - she said it didn't fit the other way... (erm...?) and they said she'd have to find another bit or not compete - needless to say she found another.
 
There's some really disgraceful behaviour at some local shows. Someone was asked to leave an RC show in my area last year for belting the hell out of their pony because it wouldn't jump, good on the organisers, who had to deal with being screamed and sworn at by the chavviest beings on earth.

The other side of local showing is that when I turn up clean, correctly turned out and arrive for the class on time, why am I constantly put below dirty, badly turned out and often lame animals who are late arrivals????? Ahhhh I'm not a friend of the judge, that's why!!! Trouble is I'm stuck at local as my animals aren't good enough for county, yet perfectly presentable for local level, are not overweight and covered in scars with most mane missing due to sweet itch - yet we are still last!!! Boycotting THAT show this year!!
 
I'm dreading starting this season again! Last years classics included my daughter being placed below a pony which had 2 fences down in a whp class cause the judge "didn't realise she had them down" when our pony did a lovely clear round. Also in a First Ridden class daughter and pony were placed below a pony which constantly pulled itts head down for grass to the extent the kids mother has to come in and put grass reins on, and another which bucked everytime it cantered.... Ours didn't put a foot wrong-bizarre! I totally understand judges have preferences and criteria but this baffled me!
 
Competitor behavior and poor judging are different things. Sometimes you just have to make your complaint and leave it.
As for judging, well you are paying for their opinion , however bias! My pony is a riding club pony through and through. And had won countless rc pony classes. Yet one judge placed us below ponies that wouldn't jump or cNtet on the correct lead, or stop when
Asked, as my pony wasn't the right type. I said thankyou, could she educate me as per the right type, she just said I ought to read the tues and vaguely waved at a connie. Erm, ok thanks. never come across a rule that a riding club type had to be a native not a cob, and haven't come across it since. Just smile and nod!
 
I hate showing - friend of mine trained for ages to be a judge...then backed out as she couldn't stand the politics and terrible handling!

The lameness issue is what puts me off going anywhere....I cannot bear it, I agree with the OP...even in the smallest show there should be policing of this. The person should be asked to leave.

I think some of the judges have just become used to seeing it. I'm sure they hate it but I imagine they see it all the time.
 
I used to think that this is why jumping was the best solution to enjoying taking your horse to local shows.

It doesn't matter if you turn up and aren't kitted out head to toe in the most blingiest of fashion and expensive labels. It's getting over the jumps that counts...

...Or so I thought until the last time I went where the judges were DELIBERATELY fiddling the times by stopping and starting the stop watch too soon or too late.

T'was the Pony Club.
 
A few years ago I went to a larger local show with country fair attached and entered the ridden con class. There were 4 of us in the class and it was only mine who wad traditionally turned out. I'd checked the rules and rang the organisers and they said non hogged could go in the class and compete equally. Well a huge and beautiful coloured won the class (beat me by miles!) However I was placed last despite the judge riding mine and he behaved and the other 2 tried to buck her off and napped! I questioned why, just to see if anything I had done and the judge said its because he's a hairy thelwell family pony!! He's 15hh and a traditional cob! Drove me bonkers! I just thought what's the point when judges can't even recognise a traditional con instead of a showone!
 
Lexie81- don't know if it explains it at all but at our local shows first ridden isn't judged on pony, its down as an equitation class in the schedule & judged on rider not pony.
 
I was at a show last season, in one class there was a quite obviously lame pony. Judge spotted it, steward also spotted it. They told the competitor but then let the pony continue in the class and placed it above some others :confused: My pony was placed above the lame one but I would have been a little peed off if I had been beaten by it. Fair enough if you get a judge who didn't notice but to point out to everybody it was lame and then place it :confused: :o

My personal favourite showing fail was a few years ago. I have a reg N.Forest pony, forest bred and branded with the letter B in a circle on her saddle area. She's a reasonable example of a Forester, she's been successful at county level. I took her to a local show and went in in hand M+M large breeds. The judge (who claimed to be a Welsh sec B breeder) came over and told me I was in the wrong class. I asked him how so, my pony at 13.2hh was the smallest in the class, but we were in with the Sec Ds, Highlands etc. Judge is admant I'm in the wrong class. I asked was he aware that a New Forest was a large breed. No, he says to me, that's not a New Forest, that's a Welsh sec B, that's what the letter B on her back means :eek: :rolleyes: :D
 
Been victim of the stopwatch saga lol local show and we did a cracking jump off - to come 4th to a very steady one :s course builder came up to me in the line up and said I had the fastest time but they didn't stop the clock as I crossed the line!
 
I don't support local shows really after being a spectator a couple of years ago and watching one of the pony club instructors who is a BHSAI, battering her horse round a jumping ring after it refused. And I mean battering it - arm up in the air and bringing it down time and time again on the horse. When the horse still refused, another person - a man - went in to "help" her. His help involved also whipping the horse from behind with a schooling whip whilst shouting "Hit it harder" to the rider (the pony club instructor).
It was clearly witnessed by those running the SJ ring yet nothing was done. I bet something would have been said if it had been an "unknown" rider. Sorry, but I have no time for these antics and if I see anything like it again, I will make sure I catch it on video and shame the rider. There is no excuse for behaviour like this anywhere. One smack, yes, repeated battering, no.
 
Not sure Littlelegs perhaps that's the case but the description stated 'judged on manners and suitability' so I assumed that means the pony? Obviously rider is taken into account too but would have thought that based on the description of the class, the pony would need to be mannerly and suitable as a first ridden pony? Anyway water under the bridge now! Daughter is never bothered as long as she gets a rosette and pony behaves!
 
No, in that case your right, pony is important, ours is very much a small fun thing so classes aimed at children rather than pony if that makes sense. So judge gives out placings & bottom 2 or 3 kids always get a special for joint 7th so no-ones last.
 
Murphysmummy - I know exactly what you mean!

Once after being placed last with my traditional in a coloured youngstock class behind 4 sport/hunter types the judge came round and told me I should have put him in the m&m class, "as they like the unplaited look" jeeeeezuz! Wish I'd asked her which mountain or moor she thought he came from.

I keep telling myself it's all experience for him but it's still annoying to pay £8 to be judged by someone who thinks a traditional cob is a m&m.
 
I don't do local shows for pretty much every reason you guys have stated above! I only ever used to go for the gymkana games and did the showing as a bit of a laugh as a warm up. I never won the showing classes despite having a multi-county level winning pony but I never really minded as I was there to have fun in the games, not take the opinion of someone who clearly has never seen a preoper native before to heart. At least at county level I am well known ;)
 
Thankfully I'm past the local show scene with a small child and have seen it all over the years.

Its not just at local level though; we were out doing a BE Novice last weekend and 5 of us watched a very well known rider (Badminton etc) knock down 3 poles in the sj phase. The announcer said he had 1 down, then later changed it to 2 but it was never corrected to 3. Even the arena party said it was 3 but the judges would not a) deem to ask the competitor himself or b) change it to 3 saying they hadn't seen it. And yes it did effect the placings. Doesn't really do much to engender confidence does it?
 
Tbh I am not sure local show judges are paid anymore. A friend of mine got asked and even though she knew she was volunteering, not even a cup of coffee was offered. The morning ran late and "lunch" was on offer but her ring was the last to finish and the sandwiches were all gone. Her daughter cycled down and brought her a pastie at 4pm.

She turned it down ever since and has never gone back not even to compete.
 
I don't show. The time the marque blew away just as I cantered past it during my individual show on my 4 year old and she was the only pony not to spook leavin me one of only 3 not to fall off, the only one to canter both reins on correct lead and to have proper attire on self and pony, and we came 4th behind someone whose horse dumped them and did one, that time did it for me. Judge prefered traditional turn out to hogged and trimmed.
 
I am not having a dig at the judges.... tbh I would not stand for 8 hours in the pouring rain/ blistering sun, to be moaned at etc all for a cheap bottle of wine, so I really do take my hat off to anyone that is willing to do this.

I just would like to see it mandatory that any horse that is lame, is immediatly (sp) asked to leave the showground, that anyone mis-treating a horse is asked to leave the showground immediatly (sp) and that a steward supervises the practice arena so that the same "egit" cannot bray a horse over a 3ft 9" fence for the 11th time, prior to going into do a 2" round.

GW
 
Gingerwitch said:
I am not having a dig at the judges.... tbh I would not stand for 8 hours in the pouring rain/ blistering sun, to be moaned at etc all for a cheap bottle of wine, so I really do take my hat off to anyone that is willing to do this.

I just would like to see it mandatory that any horse that is lame, is immediatly (sp) asked to leave the showground, that anyone mis-treating a horse is asked to leave the showground immediatly (sp) and that a steward supervises the practice arena so that the same "egit" cannot bray a horse over a 3ft 9" fence for the 11th time, prior to going into do a 2" round.

GW
Click to expand...

Yes, I know what you are saying but what I am saying is that if judges are not being rewarded and the quality is down... Who do you think are judging I wonder...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top