Are you a competitive rider or not?

TicTac

TicTac

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I am an average rider and I have owned a variety of horses over the years and done a bit of everything with all of them, but I have never competed on a regular or serious basis, ie affilliated them to any discipline. I keep horses because I enjoy them and the way of life it gives me. Whilst I don't ' compete ' as such I do like my horses to be well schooled and well behaved, they hack out, are good to catch, shoe and box and are in general good, level headed animals that have moments of erratic behaviour rather than 'erratic' being the norm. I put as much time and effort into them as any competitor would do, I just don't go to the party as such!

I do sometimes think that I would like to be out there doing something with them every weekend and both of my current horses would, with regular outings, be up there with the best of them in dressage and showing classes. But I don't necessarily measure the success of my horses by their competition results.

I am just interested to know if you consider competing, an important part of your horse owning and if so why? I do understand that it is an important part of a professional riders regime but what about us ' ordinary' folk.
 
My "competing" in the 6 years I have had my horse (and that sounds like the wrong word to use somehow as it's been so low key/lightweight!) has been:

a cob showing class (came 6th...out of 6!)
a coloured pony showing class (came last, got a rosette just for being there :))
2 x 1'9" jumping classes (came 6th - my proudest moment!)
a fun dressage day
1 dressage test proper (prelim something or another..)

Last thing I did, the dressage test, was probably 2 years ago, I don't think I'm competitive at all though and I'm not bothered about coming home with prizes. I did get a lot of confidence from doing the above though but now with limited funds and limited time I tend to hack more, have lessons, riding club rallies, etc. Still don't think it would be too late to have a go at some more things again but would probably need to move yards and feel a bit more excited and upbeat about such things again.
 
Hello, I go out with George most weekends, mostly competing (generally RC stuff but aiming to affiliate BD later in the summer). But I do it because its fun, its great when we do well, but I had a whale of a time the other weekend even though we got eliminated. :rolleyes:

There's a sense of achievement (18 months ago jumping a SJ course of 1ft was a challenge and last weekend we went clear at 95cm) :D:D but its pure fun and not about results for me either.

I also like getting dressed up for parties and making George look handsome!
 
Not competative as such, but do enjoy the occasional party :) The mare does too, in fact I think she is more competative than I am. We are even considering having a go at jumping this year, rather than euitation. We also go on lots of fancy dress rides, the mare loves it, flowers and scarves in her mane etc and she always gets little bit excited when the fancy dress stuff comes out :D
 
yes, yes and yes :D
I bought current horse to compete and since buying him we have done a lot of competing! :D we compete most weekends.
I do it because a) we both love it and b)every ounce of effort i put into training my horse is so that we can improve, enjoy it as well, but improve...
yes not everything is about winning, but i love competing because it is a huge part of what me and my horse are about.
I do it because we love it, but i also do it because i want to do well! I would be lying if i said i didn't.
I always go into JOs thinking, just go for the clear, but my competitive side kicks in and my horse just goes... he loves to win as well... well he loves to show off in his lap of honour :p and although not a regular occurrence, we do well and enjoy it at the same time :D
 
I used to think that competing justified all the time, money and effort I put into my horses, and was out trophy hunting every weekend for several years.
However when I started hunting 4 seasons ago, I soon became hooked and predominately hunt over the winter months, so summer has now turned into a 'down' time where we just enjoy fun rides, beach hacks and the occasional RC level sj or HT - although admittedly my competitive edge still kicks in on these occasions!
Like the op I now get as much pleasure out of seeing my horses well behaved in company, happy in their work and enjoying life, as a red rosette can give.
 
You can compete for fun. In fact it is more fun if you do!

There is the seriously competative rider. Both by inclination and by talent. Affilliated, long string of horses etc. brilliant if you have the time / money and desire.

There there is the amateur competative rider who goes out most weekends to do something, takes it quite seriously and usually does reasonably well. (Don't get me started on the pushy parent version of this one!!)

There there is the weekend competative rider who goes out when something is close enough and suits. Does a bit of everything, has a great time. Enjoys the social side without the stress of being "competative". Not to say they don't win - just a different attitude.

"Competing" doesn't have to be high level, affilliated, regular or even necessarily too expensive. It can be fun. A good day out for both of you. Personally I think the horses enjoy it. I know the people do if the crowd is good. Its not about justifying the costs or anything like that. Just about something different and fun.

Speaking of which.... need to pack the picnic for today's episode of fun. Clear round and a bit of mini Le Trec....
 
Yes, I'm competitive, but against myself. I love going to shows, to see how we've improved.
Yes, I know showing is subjective, but you know yourself, when your horse has gone well in a stressful situation. (Galling though when the judge doesn't see things the way I do though :D)

For me, it's about the journey. the rosettes are lovely, but knowing that I've just done the best test ever, or Star has been chilled and relaxed throughout is great. There's more to competing than just the prizes.

I'm a weekend competitive rider, who looks for shows closer to home. Not bothered with county level, because lots of them are midweek, and being a teacher, I can't just give the Head a note from my mum. :D

I'd love for us to be good enough for HOYS, but it isn't going to happen both with this horse (She's too quirky and bolshy to have perfect ring manners) AND my job.
 
I am not a competitive rider - but a rider who goes to competitions if that makes sense.

I'm not doing much at the mo as I have a youngster, but last year I was going to local events once a month on average and doing ok.

I do wonder why I do it at times - afterwards the sense of achievement is great, especially if I have challenged myself more than normal, tried something new or even better come home with a nice ribbon or trophy .... but most times I feel like throwing up before going in the arena / round the XC and wonder what on earth am I doing!!

We have a big spring show at my yard - last year I took my pony and did 3 classes, in addition to helping my loaner with her classes. We did really well but were up at the stables at 7am getting ready and didn't leave until 7pm.

This year I popped my youngster in an in-hand class, then put him back out and just watched the rest of the show which was much more relaxing! Sitting in a deck chair eating chips was much more fun!!!
 
Being competitive doesn't necessarily mean being out and about every weekend.

I am definitely very competitive; I wouldn't be happy just hacking out. I need to know I am working towards a goal and, although I love the journey to get there more than anything else (I really like the training part of it) it wouldn't make sense unless there *was* a goal to reach at the end.

Having said this, I compete only rarely as I don't think my horses would benefit from excessively frequent outings.
 
I am not out competing every weekend due to a lack of transport but as other people have said I like getting an outside opnion of how my horse is going and what things I can improve on . I like to be in the placings but riding a neurotic ex racer you have to go in with no expectation :) But since the start of the year we have come back with 3 1st,2 2nd,2 3rd and a 4th with qualification for trailblazers,uk chasers and ponies uk - for me I try to make every outing count so even if its just I get around the warm up ring with out getting decked its an achievement :) We are off to Kent County in July we won't be competitive as it is the biggest show we have done and we will both probably be like rabbit in headlights but it will set us up for hopefully edenbridge and oxted and hopefully Kent again next year .
 
I consider myself competitive on Ban as I know his abilities and know what buttons to push to get the best out of him and I have been known to push these buttons in a JO :p
Lord however is just starting out so I am not out to compete him and come home with a ribbon I am out to show him the ropes so that later on in life I can push him a bit more and start to "compete" him.
I am pretty much like FB in that I also like to have a goal to work towards.

I am out usualy every weekend when £££ allows.
 
I would class myself as a competative amature. With my old horse i was out most weekend jumping and when i couldnt continue i realised that a big part of why i ride and have a horse was to compete. (i kept her until she pts last year and just didnt compete at that sort of level as i would never have parted with her)
Im not worried about being placed (but i would be lying if i said i dont enjoy winning :p) but i like the whole reason behind competing.
Its the whole having something to work to, its the reason i put the hours in schooling, knowing what you need to work on after the last show, the feeling you get when it all comes together and we jump that near perfect round. Silly things like getting the box ready, loading up etc, its the going to shows the day out and enjoying what im doing.
I brought my new one with the aim of competing at a good level, i dont want to just hack out and not have a focus. That said as he's young im in not rush the the long term plan is there and when i get to it i will be competative as i cant always help it!:D
 
I used to be really competitive, always going somewhere on the weekends with my mare, I loved it, then I realised it was what my world really centred around that I simply didn't enjoy my horses for what they were and what joy the whole horse ownership thingy brings I was so focused on the job in hand that I lost sight in the simple things jsut spending time with them etc.

I was really ill last year and got diagnosed with Bipolar so I had to start taking things a bit slower, at the same time my mare was lame so I was focusing on my arab who works extremely well but gets very tense and nervous in the dressage ring so I tried endurance....

it is the best thing ever! you can be competitive and have all the buz of the competition without all the stress, you don't have to have a perfect looking horse, millions of pounds worth of tack or worry about what class is when.

The bond you build up with your horse is brilliant, you see some wonderful countryside and everyone is really nice - the only timing you have to worry about is your vetting time and that your horse is fit enough. You learn loads about your horse and they have so much fun.

I certainly wouldn't be without it!
 
i normally compete once a week or fortnight.
i like seeing how the horse is progressing and its great fun too!
i like the pressure sometimes and its great getting dressed up, looking really smart, getting pics, eating hotdogs and having something back for all the hard work put in!
 
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