Horseyhel
Member
I must pass my (and others close to me) thoughts on about the NONSENSE that is the Futurity Shows held by BEF if anything to stop you wasting your hard earned money. I entered for the first time at Hartpury last week with my youngster. Astounded by the lack of help/stewarding at the event, we had literally hunt people down to ask them where we should go etc.. the judges are plain RUDE (excpt if you're in the click...) No welcome smile, introduction, explanation. You're expected to be psychic in knowing what you should do and despite me reading the factsheets thoroughly, the order of 'events' was completely different which was quite offputting. The most distressing moment was when the judgely group asked to see my boy 'loosed', they all strolled from one end of the arena to the other completely in his path and then had the gaul to 'tut' looking in my direction. I'm not a 'professional' but would not consider myself an amateur either but I do know the difference between a well balanced, well behaved, trainable horse and an overfed, highly strung, stressed one. You need to have the latter to score well at the BEF, OR know the judge, Or have shares in Baileys Horse Feeds. No sour grapes here by the way, I am GLAD I do not aspire to their judging criteria.