Bad behaviour becoming more acceptable in the show ring?

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somethingorother

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Does anyone else think that people seem to view bad behaviour in the show ring (particularly in-hand) to be a sign of 'character' or a 'cheeky moment'?

I am in a debate currently, as numerous people seem to think that a powerful stallion repeatedly rearing and lashing out at head height or above with both fores, is acceptable behaviour and that no one would be worried to be in the ring with it. I can't believe what people are saying. In a very crowded show ring, where this horse repeatedly crashed into others and no attempt was made to stop the rearing (in fact, more 'rein' was given at these times) there could have been an accident. This horse won a massive class against many very nice and well behaved horses.

Or is it just me over reacting? It is so common to see horses in shows throwing themselves about and rearing. Yet winning! I can't understand it.
 
IM not sure what manners apply in the inhand are they supose to be the same as the ridden ! but iv seen this go on and judges not to place them at all so i supose it depends on the judge
 
somethingorother said:
Does anyone else think that people seem to view bad behaviour in the show ring (particularly in-hand) to be a sign of 'character' or a 'cheeky moment'?

I am in a debate currently, as numerous people seem to think that a powerful stallion repeatedly rearing and lashing out at head height or above with both fores, is acceptable behaviour and that no one would be worried to be in the ring with it. I can't believe what people are saying. In a very crowded show ring, where this horse repeatedly crashed into others and no attempt was made to stop the rearing (in fact, more 'rein' was given at these times) there could have been an accident. This horse won a massive class against many very nice and well behaved horses.

Or is it just me over reacting? It is so common to see horses in shows throwing themselves about and rearing. Yet winning! I can't understand it.
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and yes id be worried if i was stood next to something rearing lashing out and crashing into others id not want my lad next to it and would complain to the judge
 
Not I don't think it is acceptable, and feel the horses should be marked down according or even asked to leave the ring.

I myself was shocked to win a Riding Horse class after the horse I was riding bucked round the ring!
 
Ah it's got "presence" :rolleyes: I've seen it happen - but it's like everything else - I've seen lame, obese and badly behaved animals placed above equally nice, sound variants (and I'm excluding any classes I have a vested interest in the results here!). There's always judges who seem to be from another planet. At better, bigger shows with better educated judges it seems to happen less, in my (not extensive) experience.
 
Happens here in NZ too - really frustrating.

To my mind if a horse is misbehaving to the extent it becomes a nuisence it should be asked to leave the ring. It should certainly not be placed as it will be impossible for the judge to view the horse properly.

My yearling had 'ants in his pants' for a while and just would not stand still - didn't help that his mother was doing a Clydesdale impersonation of a TB at its first race! neighing, squeeling and bucking on the spot!

The judge told me that he was unable to judge the horse properly as Milo would not stand still long enough. I quite understood and certainly didn't feel angry that he wasn't placed. We went home and had many intensive training sessions and finally got him to understand exactly what stand meant - he then went on through the season to win many classes and a couple of Champions.

My biggest disgust is the bad behaviour of some of the ridden ponies and horses that get placed. Why do the judges do it? Bad behaviour should knock the horse right down. Recently one horse in a Championship class got out of hand and left the arena - it came back in and left with the Supreme - I'd have said goodbye to it and called in the Reserve Champion of that class to be judged.
 
Apparently as long as 'he doesn't mean harm' it's ok. So manslaughter is therefore not a problem.

I mean, yes it happens, especially with young horses or those new to showing, but it is not something that an owner should be proud of 'putting on a good show'. It is not a sign of a happy horse to me.
 
Would this be an arab stallion?

Not good at all... and some breeds seem to attract more of this kind of (handler/judge) behaviour.

Was pretty shocked by the amount of rearing in hackney classes too - in harness!
 
Doesn't happen here in SA. The only reason me and my fat pony EVER take home blue ribbons in in hand is because he is the best behaved. He trots PROPERLY when he needs to, he stands up when he needs to without a fuss and he doesn't ram into me, the judges or the other horses. He really is lovely on the ground. However, I HAVE seen people being sent out of the class because of their horse acting up (the judge will simply ask them to "please leave the arena"). So I guess it's less tolerated here? Though it probably DOES come down to the judge - most of SA's judges are older than 60 and very traditional, so that might be a factor.

It's the same in ridden classes here, if your horse misbehaves you're sent out and DQ (happened to me before).

The only inhand classes here in SA where jumping around and rearing is tolerated that I've seen of are the arab classes :L - because apparently "it's in their nature" and "beautiful"
 
The only inhand classes here in SA where jumping around and rearing is tolerated that I've seen of are the arab classes :L - because apparently "it's in their nature" and "beautiful"
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Quite....don't get me started.....

I got in touch with the breeders who raised my 25yo arab, and they said that when he was shown as a youngster, there was one show (Royal Windsor I think) where he was well placed until he got very norty and reared up and knocked the judge's bowler hat off. He was immediately sent to the bottom of the line in disgrace, and quite rightly so. Can you imagine that happening in a 'modern' arab in hand class?

We would like to take our baby ayrab to a show or two because as much as showing isn't my bag, it is good for their education. But I need to find an in hand arab class that isn't full of hysterical horses.... Apparently our local arab group frowns heavily on that kind of behaviour so that may be a good place to start.
 
I agree. I think that bad behaviour is definately overlooked by some judges and a horse that has (either in hand or ridden) behaved poorly can still go on to win the class, especially stallions.

I do M&M in hand showing and if there is a stallion in the class it always wins.

Think there should be stronger rules re behaviour and judges should adhere to them across the board, be it local or county level.

If you take the time and effort to turn you and your horse out and put on an impeccable show you should be rewarded for that. Not be placed lower than an animal which has reared / bucked / generally misbehaved.

Same goes for coming in late to the ring :mad:
 
I have to disagree entirely with queen of cadence. It DOES happen in SA, and often at that. Especially in in hand stallion classes. Also, I have regularly seen horses cantering on the wrong leg and misbehaving that have been placed, and I don't mean at small shows, I'm talking hoys, easter festival etc.
Showing unfortunately is one of those disciplines.with something so subjective and difficult to query there will always be discrepancies.

Personally..I have been the one with the horse misbehaving, and have been asked to leave once (but only once), whereas when I took my then 4yo ex racer I was advised to stay in the ring for the benefit of the horse, but did keep him away from other horses etc.
I have tolerance for it but only to a certain level, and no, I do not think they should be placed above well mannered horses.

Showing! :rolleyes:
 
Happened to me at the weekend!

Horse reared twice in full view of the judge, boxing out at the handler and almost got the steward. It won the class while my perfectly behaved 2 year old was 2nd. Needless to say I kept well clear of it in final line up!!!
 
It was not an arab. It was a large welsh. Barely in control for the whole class, not that they were trying to control it. Obviously thought it looked impressive. Judge must be daft, he nearly got double barrelled in the back by another but didn't seem to notice.

It is a bit rife in the arab world too, It's sad because there is a difference between a bit of excited jumping about and showing off, and manic rearing in panic or distress. But people don't seem to recognise it :(
 
If the judges dont ask competitors of badly behaved horses to leave then I strongly think the competitor themself should choose to do so, especially if causing any risk to others. When showing my 15.2hh Welsh D as a 3yo in-hand, he tried to kick others in the line-up so I asked to leave. No way I want my horse hurting someone else. It horrifies me so many other people dont seem to care and will risk damage to other competitiors just to try and get a rossette. I think all judges should certainly mark horses down for bad behaviour (or throw out if dangerous). In saying that though, I remember at a county show - I had my OH's little sister riding my young anglo arab. She behaved beautifully, was stood stock still in the line-up whilst the shows were going on but was neighing a bit - judge walked over to her and told her if she didnt shut the pony up she'd have to leave!! Thought that was horrific! She was placed second last too (when she clearly shouldnt have been). Horrid judge and since when can you make a horse stop neighing?!
 
In my view, and I show stallions and colts in-hand and under saddle, they have to be impeccibly well behaved! Under saddle they should behave like geldings - ignore anyone and anything around them even if a mare is infront that is in season they listen to me and me only. In-hand I don't mind a little bit of jig-jogging but so long as they walk for the most part so they can be judged in that pace I can tolerate it. Rearing, bucking, tanking sideways etc. are a complete NO GO for any of mine, entires or not, young or old!

My Welsh Colt nips and holds onto my wrist in the line up out of nerves - I wear sweat bands now :D I'm creating a new trend :D He will grow out of it and he only does it in the ring, he is also only 2yo so he had better grow out of it! If he hasn't by mid-season next year we will be having words.

Being entire should not be an excuse for letting your horse get away with whatever it wants. As I said I don't mind a little jig-jogging and prancing to an extent as that is more than enough to show that the animal has precence about it but when they are just plain dangerous then I would send them off of the showground to go home and teach the horse some manners before it is allowed back out.
 
Years ago I took my boy into a "driving type" class at the Northern Coloured and he was pulled in third but then fidgeted (he was a youngster at his second show) and was sent to the bottom of the line as the judge said, quite rightly, that he didn't have the temperament to be driven. We went on to have some showing success over the years and he did calm down a bit - he was never dangerous just a bit over enthusiastic! But I voluntarily took him out of the ring at his last show (shortly before I lost him) as he was completely over-excited and took off when we were supposed to trot. The steward who opened the ring for me said "he's lovely - how old is he?" I had to mutter out the side of my mouth that he was 19...
It is great when you are allowed to stay in a class with a slightly exuberant youngster as it is the only way they get any experience but I don't believe any horse that is acting dangerously should be kept in, let alone placed.
 
Glad to say... no rearer has won yet 'round these parts. One rear is sort of ignored but 2nd rear is instant elimination as in "get that thing outta my ring!"...

Haven't ever seen a rearer or bad behaviour win in a long time glad to say... just FAT ones!!!!
 
Its understandable with youngsters but stallions and colts should not be shown if they have no manners.
I have shown welsh cobs and hunters for years and I am a stickler for manners, I have however noticed over the last few years the total lack of manners of some horses and the judges turn a blind eye.
I owned a 12 yr old welsh cob (working)stallion a few years ago and i showed him both in-hand and ridden and if he always behaved like a perfect gentleman.
It annoys me even more in hunter classed where they are supposed to be judged on Manners!!!!! GRRRR
 
teresagarsden said:
Its understandable with youngsters but stallions and colts should not be shown if they have no manners.
I have shown welsh cobs and hunters for years and I am a stickler for manners, I have however noticed over the last few years the total lack of manners of some horses and the judges turn a blind eye.
I owned a 12 yr old welsh cob (working)stallion a few years ago and i showed him both in-hand and ridden and if he always behaved like a perfect gentleman.
It annoys me even more in hunter classed where they are supposed to be judged on Manners!!!!! GRRRR
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Quite... :)
 
My lad fly bucked with the ride judge in a WH class at a local agricultural show. I was mortified and hung my head in shame, expecting to be dropped out of the line up. However he held his 4th place and the judge just smiled and said he was a 'tinker'!

I took my rosette but felt really bad for the people placed below me.
 
This happened to me at a fairly big agricultural show, it was the inhand hunter 3yo class and the winner reared repeatedly-i'd say a dozen or so times. It won and the judge couldn't even give them it's ribbon, she actually dropped it and ran away!!! The third horse tried to kick the second horse's head when the judge started to hand out ribbons and came very close as well. Generally behaviour (or lack of) was disregarded in this show:mad:. Don't get me wrong they were nice looking horse's but i know i wouldn't of touched the ones above my dad and oreo with a barge pole! Funny thing was me and my dad agreed before the class that we both liked the one that ended up below us the most and we thought 'that should win', how wrong were we! Oh and i couldn't of been prouder of my girl cause it was only her second show and she behaved perfectly despite the crowds etc. even if we did only get second to last (5th) :D.
 
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