Best/worst comment about your riding you have heard at a comp

Festive_Felicitations

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Following the current theme in NL and here...

My worst, and it really annoyed and offended me was:

'You ride very long, its not safe, and your riding really scares me'

This was at the end of a HT on a very windy day in which 6 people (not me) had fallen off, and about 1/3 had been elim or retiered half way round. I had had an interesting round as Beau had was in stop-start-leap-shy mode BUT I sat it all and got over all the fences in a fairly rational manner. Yes I was riding slightly longer than everyone else but I needed to, to have enough leg round Beau to stay with his abrupt changes in direction and momentum. But what really got me was where did the lady who was organising it, who I know doesn't jump and isn't an instructor or in anyway related to me, get off telling me I looked dangerous??? GAH!

The comment was made as I returned my clipboard after I had just spent 1 hr sitting in a drizzel jump judging after I'd ridden my rounds. Well it was the last blxxdy time I helped out!
Sorry that one has been bugging me for a while!

The best:
'Wow your sitting trot work is really good! You barely move'. - I failed to mention that I was riding a mare who was so smooth you got a bad back rising as you had to do all the work yourself as she didn't 'bounce you up' at all!!
 

Broodle

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My favorite was a year or so ago when I overheard some middle aged ladies commenting that 'that teenager is far too big for that small pony'. Kind of a best and worst in one as I was 31 at the time!

ETS: Just realised that this comment wasn't actually about my riding, as requested. I think I zone out if I hear anyone talking about my (abysmal) riding as a form of self-protection, so none to pass on I'm afraid!!
 
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millitiger

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not necessarily a bad comment but i used to overhear a lot of people bitching about me riding Pilfer- about how easy and push button he is and i am not riding, just sitting there.

at the JAS as i cantered around before the bell someone next to my mum said 'i wish i had a horse that easy that i could just sit there looking pretty with no effort.'

or last weekend eventing my mum said that perhaps i should stick to dressage? :( she didn't actually mean it badly (i hope!!) but it still didn't feel great.

positives are much more difficult....

Stephen Hadley telling me i ride beautifully and have a great eye for jumping was really nice :) :)
 

EarlRonan

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Here goes:-

You are not a natural horseman

You are not safe to ride

You shouldn't be riding

After a days hunting, when I fell off twice from a v. green horse a friend told me someone said 'they were appalled by my riding'

'you just throw the reins at the horse and don't kick'

I find that I remember bad comments but, if I have received any, forget them or they tend to go in one ear and out the other any compliments I might receive.
 

jenbleep

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I don't tend to listen to all the bad things because without meaning to sound big headed, they all come from me mostly!! I've never heard anyone mention anything bad, but if I did I expect they would come from someone who I couldn't care less about and didn't value their opinion :) I only really listen to friends and instructors.

The only thing I've heard (which was from an instructor!) was that I act 'blonde and dizzy' sometimes, usually when I'm jumping and end up jumping the wrong thing! Apparently I need my head screwing on sometimes. I ride a round 'where next? Can't hear you!' and it normally is thrown back with a look of disbelief from whoever is teaching me.

Saying that, I remember i was about 17/18 and I was working for a showjumper in Cornwall after only having ridden at a trekking centre for 2 years. I used to ride her horses in the school for her, and once she was giving me a jump lesson. The jumps were only small, but after a while she said to me 'remind me never to let you ride my horses again' and it really knocked my confidence, and did do for the next 4 years!! :( Now, I know I am not a bad rider at all and I would love to get her number to book another lesson with her on Charisma...

The best thing I've heard (and I always go back to if I'm having a bad day!) is when I rode at a school near Poole, and one of the instructors who was a BSJA trainer said to put me on some of the difficult horses (only difficult because they required sensitive riding, sharp horses) because I 'was a good jockey'.

My instructor on Friday also said I had good legs and could actually be a good jockey if only believed in myself a little more!

Sorry just realised you said at a comp!
 
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Halfstep

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When I was around 6 or 7 I was told by a pony club instructor that I had a "natural seat on a horse". :D lovely!


But - why have I then spent the last 25 years trying to learn to ride properly??? :confused::confused::confused::eek:
 

rhino

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My favorite was a year or so ago when I overheard some middle aged ladies commenting that 'that teenager is far too big for that small pony'. Kind of a best and worst in one as I was 31 at the time!

I have had that too! Just moved my very laid back warmblood a few hundred miles to a new yard, thought I would enter their Christmas fun show and he was a bit spooky - the school was well decorated with tinsel, decorations, the horses were dressed up and worst of all - the yard owner was dressed as Santa, so I thought it was fair enough behaviour from the horse.

I was giving him time to get used to the atmosphere and go in the school, there was lots of snorting and stepping backwards but nothing remotely dangerous. There were people standing RIGHT at the entrance to the school and getting in everyone's way, and I could quite clearly hear them talking about me. The best comment was 'What are her parents thinking of getting her a horse like that. He's far too big for her and completely insane, it's so dangerous!'

I had owned the horse for several years. He is the safest horse I know. I also happened to be 25 years old at the time and had bought the horse myself!
 

Seahorse

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I was at a bsja competition a few with my last horse Rocky who was a big bay. My friend was with me putting the practice jump up in the warm up when we overheard someone say that it was alright for professionals and their grooms, everyone else has to struggle on their own, I was looking around to see who they were talking about and they meant me lol!!
 

muddy_grey

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Funniest was definately "That test was quite good even if the horse was looking for a fence round every corner"

Best "I hate it when people buy grade A's and downgrade them just because daddy an afford it. She just has to sit and point"
I was riding my little 5yo who I had bought in a right state and broken in myself
 

Santa_Claus

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hmmm bad when Fleur was going through her particulary evil b**** stage as 5yo had tried to do a few BSJA classes at Bicton. In this particular class couldn't get her to go straight never mind jump a fence. Ended up spinning her to prevent her rearing. I said out loud to Fleur when by side of ring as I was so confused by her actions "what's going on why won't you just go forward?" to which someone replied "if you stopped pulling the bit through her mouth maybe she would".

That really upset me. I know they didn't know her story but I wasn't beating her up, I wasn't getting angry I was just having to turn her in a circle to stop her going up and over, but because the bridle had a split headpiece the bit did slip more (but was nowhere near pulled through mouth). And I hadn't started spinning her until after we were eliminated for 2 stops (read major resistances) and had reared several times which I had sat quietly to.

At that point said enough was enough and took her home day and half early (stay away show!). There never was a reason for her behaviour other than hormones and being scared. Thankfully 5 patient years later have happy competitive horse who loves her jumping ;)



And for good points. BD pony spotters Final, Molly silvwright (aka Pammy Hutton's mum) complimenting my riding when I was borrowing her grandson's (aka Charlie's) pony for the comp.

Back when I was on ponies a proper old school instructor at home who everyone respected and was a true horseman through and though once told me I could ride well, and from him it was one of the best compliments I could ever be given.

And Lucy Wiergsma saying I can spot a good stride to a fence during my HORSE masterclass earlier this year.
 

shark1

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i had just had a stop and pole down with one of mine in a 130 somewhere, we both went like rubbish to be fair, and some girl's boyfriend who struggles to heave himself round 1m said really loudly as i came out 'clearly shes confused, she doesnt know what shes doing, poor horse - terrible tut tut'.

the best - someone said 'well shes clearly a professional, she produces her horses well' (they must have been blind hah). i got overexcited and smugly repeated it to my dad about 50 millions times afterwards when he started saying 'you should have done this/that/why didnt you turn inside there'....etc!!
 

jodie :)

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it wasn't me, but at a local show my friend who was chunky as in muscly not fat overheard an annorexic twig saying "all fat people riding should be put down" which resulted in her becoming bulemic for the next 2 years. seriously some people don't know how much hurt and offense they cause by some gung-ho comments :(
i once got told that it was good i had a fat ar*e because i needed it if i was to fall off so often. i fell off an ex-race horse fresh from the track, which was my first fall in more than a year.
oh yes, i've also had, "you're a bit short in the leg, are you sure you're not deformed, your legs hardly pass the saddle flaps" i was 12 and riding a 17.2hh :|
 

little_flea

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When I was a teenager I had a really strong horse who I rode in a pelham at the time - we were jumping 1.20s at the time but I took him out to do a 1m after a break - and horse was super stroppy and wouldn't go forward, got eliminated and someone came up to me and said that my horse was stopping because he was over-bitted... I was gutted. It wasn't the case, but the fact that someone thought that was awful.
 

MandyMoo

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i don't think i've heard anyone say anything bad about my riding to be honest... or i just subconciously tune the bad comments out ;)

a couple of nice comments stand out;

1) a woman at arena uk said i had a great seat and rode lovely and quiet... that was nice to hear :)

2) a man at laughton manor said me and my horse looked like a perfect pair :D

3) and oo oo oo... not particularly amazing, but once i was in a warm up and michael whittaker was in there with me (he had a young horse in my class), and bugsy was being a pain... but i got him over this fence and michael mutters to me ''very well ridden there!'' - got to admit i was beaming for about a month :D haha!
 

TinselRider

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Not heard any bad comments but I know for a fact a LOT of people bitch (from my old yard) when I am at shows (they used to when I was still there tbh)

Had some lovely comments such as

"You rode that really well, you're much better and braver than I am" Lord had frightened himself jumping over a filler and was really wobbly so I had to really wrap my legs around him and RIDE for my fenes.

"You handled that really well" soon preceeded by "shame you came off" :p as above L had frightened himself and whipped round resulting in me landing on my feet :p:D
 

Befney3

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I get a few negative comments about Chilli when we're out & about but they're usually about his weight, which I've been trying so hard with & he looks much better now than when I first got him. I know he's a very fine TB & he's never gonna carry any excess weight but it's still gutting to hear comments when I take so much care to feed him correctly.

I've been doing much more Dressage recently & commented that I would love to qualify him for the Prelim Regionals & someone on my yard said to me recently 'he'll never be a regionals horse'. She also told me 'he's never going to score very good marks, he is only a TB'. I know I should just ignore comments like this but it still hurts, he's my baby & I put a hell of a lot of work into him & he tries so hard for me. It also annoys me that the lady who made these comments has an average looking WB who she claims is training Advanced & ready to compete at Medium & Advanced Medium but who she has just tried & failed to qualify for the Novice Regionals.

I have had a couple of lovely comments in the last couple of months & these are what keeps me riding. Neither were at competitions tho.

Firstly, my dressage trainer said to me in the middle of a lesson 'you actually can ride!' which is rare praise as he is usually the sort to encourage but not really give praise. When he does give praise it's normally for the horse rather than me. After seeing me on some really ****ty horses which required staying on rather than riding I think he's shocked that now I have something fairly decent to ride I actually can.

The second comment was from my friends Mum on Tuesday evening. I had a jumping lesson with Joe Whitaker & Chilli was fantastic. Joe said it was like teaching a different horse & rider from the last lesson I had (3months ago) which was nice to hear but the best thing was my friends Mum, who watches us ride a lot & is always at any competitions we go to said she couldn't believe how much better we looked, how much calmer Chilli was & how his canter had improved. She also said she thought I was riding better & looked to be sat better & much more secure & confident.
 

Alibear

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Mother too her very cute two little girls riding really well on nice ponies in a dressage warm up " make sure you stay away from the little black one".
:( I thought Atty and I were warming up the best he ever had and hadn't put a hoof out of line.
Ah well must keep trying hey :eek:
 

TinselRider

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Ooh I just thought of one, was BSJA with B and someone was commenting " she just sits there thats why her horse had a pole, she ISN'T riding it "

Swift comments from my groom soon followed " Just beause she doesn't sit and flap around like a rat arsed chicken doesn't mean she isn't riding, maybe you should go and tell the whitakers they are not riding either ....imbosile"
:p :D
 

ChloeC418

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Well, the best would have to be when I was told that "Chloe, you've turned this horse around" by my instructor.

(A few years ago, when I had a pony) Worst would have to be when a woman in the warm up before an elementary muttered to her groom/friend or whatever "What's that child doing in here?"......Mum was slightly rude back to her if I remember correctly :p And we won the class... LOL

Okay, the worst one wasn't really about my riding, and the first wasn't at a competition, but they're my best and worst of all time.
 

MissSBird

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I think the worst one for me happened to my sister on her fell. I'll be admit the little fell doesn't look like a natural showjumper. This was their first show in 2 years and the pony seemed to get stage fright. Got into the big arena, approached the first jump and stopped, having warmed up ok. And the person next to me turns and says 'You should sell that thing and buy her something that jumps'.

I think I responded 'she does jump' and got a 'no she doesn't, clearly' in response. I just wish I'd memorised that cow's face so I could go up to her and drag her to come see what that thing can do now.

Best one I've ever got was just a couple of weeks ago. Having got permission to school my youngster at the jumpcross where sister was competiting, I then got approached by the owner for a scolding as I was wearing a peaked hat and no body protector. She'd seen me and assumed I was there for the competition, as he was going so nicely she didn't recognise it was me and my baby.

It was the best compliment, because I knew it was totally genuine.
 

angelish

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worst one was in a showing class when my horse was younger
"oh you've learnt to ride then" this from a judge that had seen me on my naughty pony the year before
got my own back though , i beat her just as snooty daughter on my then 5yr old in a open hunter trial a few months later :D
daughter was on a 1* eventer she had on loan :D the look on there faces was priceless
and funny they didn't comment on my ridding :)
 

JDChaser

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Worst is always something about how I ride quite short when jumping. I remember show jumping at Summerhouse and some cow who'd parked herself by the entrance and was commenting on everyone who was jumping (she was just spectating and had never affiliated :rolleyes: ) loudly said i was a 'wannabe jockey who in reality was just a groom'. My colleague who was with me gave a fantastic speech on behalf of all those who are 'just grooms' :D

Funny that the best comments i remember have come from my Boss after he's complimented my riding on the gallops or when schooling the racers. Always leaves me in a good mood for the rest of the day! :) Oh and when our main owner came up one morning to watch some of his racers school before the Cheltenham Festival and he said I was a 'right tidy little jockey, so you are' and gave me some extra cash - always appreciated! :cool: :D
 
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little_flea

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I've been doing much more Dressage recently & commented that I would love to qualify him for the Prelim Regionals & someone on my yard said to me recently 'he'll never be a regionals horse'. She also told me 'he's never going to score very good marks, he is only a TB'. I know I should just ignore comments like this but it still hurts, he's my baby & I put a hell of a lot of work into him & he tries so hard for me. It also annoys me that the lady who made these comments has an average looking WB who she claims is training Advanced & ready to compete at Medium & Advanced Medium but who she has just tried & failed to qualify for the Novice Regionals.

Tssk what a silly woman! Loads of horses at Regionals lower levels are ponies, cobs, TBs etc - they just need to do their job well and have a good attitude. Our Maggie (in my siggie) is a big lump of an IDxTB who has absolutely nothing flashy about her, and she qualified for Prelim regionals after only doing dressage for a few months (she is a show jumper) and less than a year after her first unaffiliated dressage she is doing Prelim and Novice at summer regionals. Obviously she is not going to win, but still... Honestly, if she can do it, anyone can! So go for it! Dressage snobbery makes me furious. xx
 

eatonbraynat

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Ooh I just thought of one, was BSJA with B and someone was commenting " she just sits there thats why her horse had a pole, she ISN'T riding it "

Swift comments from my groom soon followed " Just beause she doesn't sit and flap around like a rat arsed chicken doesn't mean she isn't riding, maybe you should go and tell the whitakers they are not riding either ....imbosile"
:p :D

That just made me pee myself laughing!!!!!!
 

kerilli

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haha that's excellent.
Someone I knew very vaguely came up to me at a BE event and congratulated me on getting my very big spooky warmblood clear the direct route through a really tricky combination, she said I'd ridden it really well.
a top rider told me that while they'd all been standing around scratching their heads at a corner & angle combination fence on Cornbury A track, i'd gone through it on my lovely grey mare and showed them how to do it. :) :) :) mind you, that mare even made a muppet like me look good!
Carolyn Todd told me she'd seen me jump the last fence at Hartpury Int on the mare, and she'd jumped it "like a bird", i was v v happy about that!
little comments one stores up to bolster confidence in bad times!
 

Bearskin

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The worst? " Well done. That was a good round.... for you"

and also (after I had jumped clear round my first 3*) "Well done, pity you rode so badly."

Comments from the mothers of former PC rivals (who got no further than Int) ......

I grinned and mentally hit them both with hammers.
 

aregona

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the worst - when i was eliminated on my new horse at wilts college a few years ago. I got eliminated at the ditch. he is still a tricky horse, only 16.2hh but with a massive stride!!! i ride him in a happy mouth naging cheak with a peanut in the middle.
if you put anything strong in his nouth he bolts. my instructor did his caverson noseband up tight once and i nearly left the school going through the fence. but due to his stride length i use a hanging cheak to help hold him together.
The fence judge at wilts college pulled me over after eliminating us to tell me that i had over bitted my horse which is why he wouldn't jump it. this really upset me.

On the upside, i went for a lesson with a 4* rider and asked their opinion. she replied by saying that i rode him very well, he was a very different horse to ride and definately not a horse for anyone to ride.
 
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