Are there any rules regarding a racehorse wearing bling!?

ihatework said:
Just because I'm feeling argumentative (and not because I care for gold hooves), but are you really telling me that in your professional capacity in turning out horses and time management you couldn't factor in 5 minutes for an additional task?
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No, I'm not saying that, what I am saying is that in a busy yard, it is not the person who leads up the horse who gets the instruction from the owner, and the person who packs the kit for the horse may or may not pack a pot of glitter hoof oil. The instruction has to come from the owner, to the trainer, to the travelling head lad to the person who preps the horses, so that it is quite likely that in the chain of command, the essentials will be done, but that owners wishes may not always filter through, it happens sometimes.
There are no extra five minutes to be honest, the horses must arrive at the pre parade ring on time, so must leave the racecourse stables on time, its all quite critical. Normally one keeps hoof oil separate from the owners colours, or anything that could be discoloured, and I can just imagine the reaction of a traditionalist owner if, by some ghastly error, his horse turned up with sparkly hoof oil.
 
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ihatework said:
The owner pays for the whole package ultimately they are the customer. Treat them like cash cows with no opinions at your own peril. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be doing with glitter either, but just be aware of how the written word can come across on a public forum. Whilst I don't care much for racing myself, I do have reasonable exposure behind the scenes in top flight horse sport and from a variety of view points too.
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I don't think that anything has been said to OP which would cause offence, but it has been pointed out that most people who own/train/groom racehorses would find glitter hooves to be tacky, we want to admire the horse for his condition and the finishing touches are designed to enhance, rather than distract.
If OP still wants to buy a pot of glitter hoof oil, let her do so, but be aware that there may be some comment, and not necessarily complimentary :)
We don't treat owners like cash cows, if you read the RP you will see that many trainers struggle, often unsucessfully, to run their business at a profit. The reason being that the training fees barely cover costs, yes they may seem expensive to the man in the street, but it is an expensive hobby, and even the richest of owners often have to take decisions based on financial considerations.
 
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It is precisely because it is an expensive hobby! If I were an owner on your yard, and wanted pink hoof oil but received instead a lecture/disapproval from the staff, I'd quickly move my hobby to a yard where I was made to feel welcome.
Owners are paying for their fun pastime - not to be taste and style leaders in classic horse turnout. You are "raining on their parade".

Personally, I am an old fashioned traditionalist, but I wouldn't dream of telling other people what they should be doing re. hoof oil use.
 
ozpoz said:
It is precisely because it is an expensive hobby! If I were an owner on your yard, and wanted pink hoof oil but received instead a lecture/disapproval from the staff, I'd quickly move my hobby to a yard where I was made to feel welcome.
Owners are paying for their fun pastime - not to be taste and style leaders in classic horse turnout. You are "raining on their parade".

Personally, I am an old fashioned traditionalist, but I wouldn't dream of telling other people what they should be doing re. hoof oil use.
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So true
 
SpringArising said:
What a load of snobbery on this thread there is.

Dress the horse however you like OP. He's yours!
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Abso-bloody-lutely!!

It's absolute bullshit that lads and lasses have too much to think about...one horse, first race...? I'd say the team behind that horse is absolutely buzzing.

It's fuddy-duddy old bores like some of these contributors that hold equestrianism back and make it less accessible than most other professional sport...

You get sparkly OP!! And revel in it x
 
There seems to be a lack of understanding, too, that racing is essentially an entertainment industry (though a big one money wise) whose main products are a day out, TV output and a source for gambling. At the low end, it needs all the owners it can get, bling or not.

OP if you do bling your horse, can we please see a picture? I think it could be real fun and anything that brings a smile to people's faces is of value.



PS Exploding Chestnuts, what's with the 'we'? I know you used to work in racing but you're a gardener now and haven't been in the industry for some time, have you? Confused.
 
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Exploding Chestnuts said:
I don't think that anything has been said to OP which would cause offence
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Probably because you weren't on the receiving end of it.

The horse world needs more people like the OP and less of those who take pleasure in mocking the choices of others.

I don't know why some people who work with horses feel it's their right to decide how to treat the client - certainly wouldn't last a day in the corporate world where real social skills are needed.
 
ycbm said:
There seems to be a lack of understanding, too, that racing is essentially an entertainment industry (though a big one money wise) whose main products are a day out, TV output and a source for gambling. At the low end, it needs all the owners it can get, bling or not.
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I agree with this - I don't "do" bling myself but I think all equestrian sports need to be attractive to non-equestrian people. Many race goers have no knowledge at all of horses and will pick a horse to back because of it's name, colours, number etc with no idea that it's been pulled up in three of its last four races and fell in the other ;). However, they are bankrolling the continuation of racing so, if they want to back the one with the glittery feet, then why not! It needs to be a fun day out for all concerned!
 
I will start with saying I have never used glitter spray or glitter oil, can't see me doing it either... BUT...

I think if it within the rules and OP would find it fun and it would enhance their day then they are entitled.

If a yard does not want to do this then they could politely decline, stating that OP's horse is a shop window for their business, and this is not a representation they wish to pursue.

If there is not time to apply a specific hoof dressing then the owner needs telling that, and the owner could either choose to remove their horse to a yard who would have time, or pay extra for more race day staff who could apply the dressing, and indeed lead the horse up.

What I can't stand is the way that owners are paying for the service, and then people are "forgetting" the items that the owner has carefully selected, "spilling" the item that the owner had paid for and generally lying to the owner.

As a horse owner, indeed as a human being, I would rather be told the truth, as in sorry, not on my yard, so I can make a decision. It is so disrespectful to owners.
 
Red-1 said:
I will start with saying I have never used glitter spray or glitter oil, can't see me doing it either... BUT...

I think if it within the rules and OP would find it fun and it would enhance their day then they are entitled.

If a yard does not want to do this then they could politely decline, stating that OP's horse is a shop window for their business, and this is not a representation they wish to pursue.

If there is not time to apply a specific hoof dressing then the owner needs telling that, and the owner could either choose to remove their horse to a yard who would have time, or pay extra for more race day staff who could apply the dressing, and indeed lead the horse up.

What I can't stand is the way that owners are paying for the service, and then people are "forgetting" the items that the owner has carefully selected, "spilling" the item that the owner had paid for and generally lying to the owner.

As a horse owner, indeed as a human being, I would rather be told the truth, as in sorry, not on my yard, so I can make a decision. It is so disrespectful to owners.
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Well bloody said
 
It takes 20secnds to put a second set of hoof oil in the racing kit and a further 20 seconds to take it out. The applying takes the same time as normal stuff is time is the actually an issue. In fact unless you get stuck in traffic there is always time on a race day to do almost anything within reason and good quality, conscientious stable staff will be able to do their jobs quickly a d efficiently with time to spare, maybe only a few minutes but it's still a bit of spare time.
 
Red-1 said:
I will start with saying I have never used glitter spray or glitter oil, can't see me doing it either... BUT...

I think if it within the rules and OP would find it fun and it would enhance their day then they are entitled.

If a yard does not want to do this then they could politely decline, stating that OP's horse is a shop window for their business, and this is not a representation they wish to pursue.

If there is not time to apply a specific hoof dressing then the owner needs telling that, and the owner could either choose to remove their horse to a yard who would have time, or pay extra for more race day staff who could apply the dressing, and indeed lead the horse up.

What I can't stand is the way that owners are paying for the service, and then people are "forgetting" the items that the owner has carefully selected, "spilling" the item that the owner had paid for and generally lying to the owner.

As a horse owner, indeed as a human being, I would rather be told the truth, as in sorry, not on my yard, so I can make a decision. It is so disrespectful to owners.
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Massive like for this
 
OP if you want glitter, have glitter. I personally would not care what anyone thinks as it is your own horse.

I know now where I certainly won't be sending any racehorses of mine If I ever had the money ;) If I'm spending all that money I certainly don't want to spend it at a place with rude staff who speak to you like poo because they are too backwards to consider It may actually be what the owner likes.... Doesn't matter about what the staff think as it isn't their horse at all. I also wouldn't be spending money at a place where staff lie to the owners faces.

I've done a little bit of grooming and whilst I may not agree with everything I have been told to do I have still done it as it's not affecting the welfare of the horse and It isn't my horse so I cannot make the decisions about what can and can't be done with the horse. And I certainly wouldn't talk to the owners in a disgusting attitude and lie to their face!
 
I think the OP should understand the structure of the industry, and thus wil be better able to enjoy the sport.
The rules are laid down by the racing authorities, and the trainer is held responsible for the rules being upheld. It's nothing to do with glitter oil except that the oil must not contain prohibited substances, of which there are many.
However, most trainers wil advise novice owners on various aspects of horse ownership, and try to avoid embarrassment or "les faux pas", Eg, the owners dress code at Ludlow in winter would be practical and informal, but the owners enclosure at Royal Ascot would most definately not.
There is a danger that dressing up a racehorse with glitter may elicit adverse comment, if OP does not mind, then fair enough, but there are limits, so I think that if she wanted him to wear reindeer antlers on Boxing Day, there would be quite a lot of resistance.
 
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Polos said:
OP if you want glitter, have glitter. I personally would not care what anyone thinks as it is your own horse.

I know now where I certainly won't be sending any racehorses of mine If I ever had the money ;) If I'm spending all that money I certainly don't want to spend it at a place with rude staff who speak to you like poo because they are too backwards to consider It may actually be what the owner likes.... Doesn't matter about what the staff think as it isn't their horse at all. I also wouldn't be spending money at a place where staff lie to the owners faces.

I've done a little bit of grooming and whilst I may not agree with everything I have been told to do I have still done it as it's not affecting the welfare of the horse and It isn't my horse so I cannot make the decisions about what can and can't be done with the horse. And I certainly wouldn't talk to the owners in a disgusting attitude and lie to their face!
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I don't know any staff who speak down to owners, if that is what you are gettin at, most grooms hardly see the owners anyway, and don't spend any time gossiping about them. But I have met a few owners who have no respect for the horses or the staff, and who can be downright rude, but they are rare, and don't tend to stay in the sport for long. Most owners are very nice, and enjoy coming to see their horses in the yard as well as at the races.
 
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Why would the staff ever speak down to the owners? They bring us chocolate!!! Or donuts!

We have owners coming in on Sunday who own one i look after. I may just decorate him like an Xmas tree lol! They would actually quite like that ... It's a syndicate of 100members. They like it when i doodle on him and invent new 1/4 markers. Given that they tried to put mahoosive green sunglasses on him i doubt they would object to glitter. But i would never do it at the races.

To be fair is an owner wanted it on we would do it. We may just have to draw straws as to who leads the horse up though ... Lol

That's a point. I need a new 1/4 markers design for this year. I am a trend setter and everyone copies me after a month or so! Then we all look the same! They even make 1/4 markers with my design on now, i should have copy righted it when i thought of it!
 
EKW: get the Weekender for a fab photo of One for Arthur in action, , it must be on the 2017 Christmas Card for the yard.
Not tempting fate, but a lot of folks are wondering about .... The 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

PS I wonder if a spray of scottish thistles might work as quarter markers, though personally I am a fan of sharks teeth especially on flat horses.
 
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Arthurs not good enough for the Gold Cup. He is a slow stayer. He is a National horse through and through. He will do the same route next year, Kelso, Becher, Warwick, Aintree.

My original 1/4 marker on my big french horse was a fluer du lys with 5 or 6 wee stars round it. The. When everyone copied i put a big thistle in the middle. Then everyone did that so i now usually go between a big star or the thistle amongst wee stars.

I did one that worked out better than i thought. I only had bog standard wee squares so i made steps down the horses backsides and on each side of the step was a wee square. It didnt work as well with stars a d the stars were too big but if i can get smaller stars I'll be grand.
 
ozpoz said:
It is precisely because it is an expensive hobby! If I were an owner on your yard, and wanted pink hoof oil but received instead a lecture/disapproval from the staff, I'd quickly move my hobby to a yard where I was made to feel welcome.
Owners are paying for their fun pastime - not to be taste and style leaders in classic horse turnout. You are "raining on their parade".

Personally, I am an old fashioned traditionalist, but I wouldn't dream of telling other people what they should be doing re. hoof oil use.
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I think that its extremely unlikely that any staff would be rude to owners, but the owner pays the trainer to look after the horse, and there have been instances, where the conflicting requirements of the owner and the trainer have been such that a parting of the ways has been inevitable. Though never over hoof oil as far as I am aware.
 
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SpringArising said:
You mean face to face or behind their back? Because this thread says otherwise for the latter.
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I don't agree.

People are entitled to their opinion, but it would hardly be a matter for momentous ongoing discussion.
The stable staff are hardly going to confront the owner about hoof oil fgs.

There is no conspiracy theory, no "them" v "us", and as for industry politics and customer / consumer interaction, believe me the very nature of the sport means every employee has the same goal viz., to do as well as they can with the resources available.
 
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EKW said:
Why would the staff ever speak down to the owners? They bring us chocolate!!! Or donuts!

We have owners coming in on Sunday who own one i look after. I may just decorate him like an Xmas tree lol! They would actually quite like that ... It's a syndicate of 100members. They like it when i doodle on him and invent new 1/4 markers. Given that they tried to put mahoosive green sunglasses on him i doubt they would object to glitter. But i would never do it at the races.

To be fair is an owner wanted it on we would do it. We may just have to draw straws as to who leads the horse up though ... Lol

That's a point. I need a new 1/4 markers design for this year. I am a trend setter and everyone copies me after a month or so! Then we all look the same! They even make 1/4 markers with my design on now, i should have copy righted it when i thought of it!
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You are contradicting yourself a little here. You've just been ripping this poor woman to pieces because she wants glitter on her horse and now you are saying you will 'dress your owners horse up like a Christmas tree' provided they bring you doughnuts.

No matter what the owner wants and whether you disagree with it or not does not mean you and all your colleagues should b***h about them behind their back, particularly on the internet where people can see who you work for. (and to be honest If I ever changed from showjumpers to racehorses I wouldn't want to send my horses to her if all her staff are going to do is talk down about their owners to each other and gossip)
 
Polos said:
You are contradicting yourself a little here. You've just been ripping this poor woman to pieces because she wants glitter on her horse and now you are saying you will 'dress your owners horse up like a Christmas tree' provided they bring you doughnuts.

No matter what the owner wants and whether you disagree with it or not does not mean you and all your colleagues should b***h about them behind their back, particularly on the internet where people can see who you work for. (and to be honest If I ever changed from showjumpers to racehorses I wouldn't want to send my horses to her if all her staff are going to do is talk down about their owners to each other and gossip)
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Best read EKW s post more carefully.
No one ripped anyone to pieces.
No one spends any time gossiping about owners.
 
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The idea of glitter is growing on me for at home only. I'm a big kid at heart but no, i still wouldnt put it anywhere near a horse at the track. But i am a National Hunt girl through and through. Flat racing is for posh frocks, high heels and dainty ponies. Jumping is for woolen tweeds, big solid horses and mud.

I brought this subject up at work today and a few of the lads and lasses thought it would give your horse an unfair advantage. Now bear in mind this is tongue in cheek! They reasons - glitter may get in another horses eye whilst galloping and blind it. It may blind others with the sun glinting off of it. Both mildly plausible. Then you got - other horses may look at a d refuse to go near the other horse for fear or being covered in glitter too. Lol! Two of the lasses would put glitter on if you asked or if they felt like it (but in the latter case we would disown them!) A few others would do it for the owners wishes but not be happy about it. And then those of use who are a decade or more older than the rest wouldn't touch it with a ten foot barge pole regardless.

So mixed opinions in a jumping yard.
 
What I think is unfair is people saying "poor horse" or "have respect for the horse" my horses get the absolute best care. They have a massage every two weeks and laser therapy. Nothing's wrong with said horse but I just want him to have the best. He gets the best possible feed, care and endless love. I see him at least two times a week and my lad wants for nothing. So if he has a little bit of glitter or bling then I think the "poor horse" is doing rather well! He has lots of girlfriends and has a lot of presence so who's to say he wouldn't like it!

I understand it's not for everyone and I'm not talking about covering my lad in it more like something subtle. It's just a bit of fun and something different. Maybe if one of the big boy owners did it it would get a much different reaction compared to little old me!
 
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Lucy1992 said:
I understand it's not for everyone and I'm not talking about covering my lad in it more like something subtle. It's just a bit of fun and something different. Maybe if one of the big boy owners did it it would get a much different reaction compared to little old me!
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I don't think so, but you might be right, or not, anyway, by now you should know that asking questions like this on this forum will get a number of viewpoints, if you just wanted a yes/no, next time ask your trainer, he is well equiped to answer any queries.
 
ycbm said:
This thread reminds me of discussions where people say that you shouldn't go hunting without garter straps on your boots, and spurs, because that's 'correct' turn out.

If the customer who pays the bills wants bling, and bling is allowed in the rules, she should get bling!
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I doubt the owner would ever be crowing about getting another 'best turned out' if she used bling though
 
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