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

I've never really over heard anything bad but I have been accused of 'beating' my pony when he stopped on top of a fence :( :(
Worst: 'You can't ride that horse and he's as easy as p*ss. Anyone could get on him, he's a novice ride' To which a novice was put on him a week later and got straight off after 5 mins. 'He's not going to be able to jump moe than 2ft9 in a course... at a push' I was still getting my confidence back and that made me feel like sh**e :( 'You've ruined that horse, I'm never buying you a ******ing horse again once we've sold this one.' I've still got him and only just started competing again

Best:'How do you keep on getting back on after being bronced (sp) off so many times! I'd never have the balls to bring him back into work' Made me smile and have hope in my self :) I was coming out of a SJ ring of which i was riding my 14.2 cobX who liked to run off with you when ever he could... before we had even started he had backed up inthe the fencing kicked out bucked and reared upright...I came out to the have the boy on the gate duty say to me 'blimey your strong, well ridden, doesnt look easy' We came 3rd and beat a very snobby girl who came 6th and cried... I would have cried with joy just to have come 6th:)
 
The worst I ever had was when I was 16. I had had my horse a week (had been on a 13.2 until then), and decided to take her to a small local show to do the SJ. When we arrived the jumping was running late, but the showing classes were very quiet, so they asked some of us SJ lot to make up some numbers in the showing. Seeing as I was on a mare, and there was only 1 person entered in the ridden mare class I said I would do it so it could actually run. Was going OK until it got to our individual shows. The judge asked to see walk, trot, canter, gallop and rein back. I had no idea what a rein back was or how to ask for one, so I told the judge I wasn't sure what to do, and I told them I had only had my horse a week, so was not going to start experimenting in the ring! My mare was well behaved, but needless to say we came second (out of 2!). The judge gave me my rosette and told me I didn't deserve it. I shouldn't have entered if I couldn't even do a rein back, and that my horse and I were never going to get anywhere as we were both useless. Then as an afterthought, she said "you've qualified for the championship coming second, but I wouldn't bother doing it as you will only embarass yourself!". I hastily pointed out to the judge I was mainly there to do the jumping so not to worry, I wasn't planning on doing the championship, to which the judge laughed and said "you've not got a chance in the jumping, you'll fall off and make a fool of yourself". I left the ring, had a howl back at the trailer. Luckily at that moment when I was about to pack up, go home, sell the horse, my Instructor arrived gave me a pep talk, and I was bundled back on my horse to do the jumping. Well I went on to win both classes I entered (2'6" and 2'9")! Over the next few years me and that horse went on to win several championship WH classes, qualify PUK WH championships, compete at RC Championships in SJ, and evented successfully to PN level, but I have never forgotten what that judge said to me, I can remember it like it was yesterday. I think she took the biscuit as the most nasty piece of work I have ever come across in the horse industry.

I've had a few nice comments about my riding. I noticed Nicola Wilson watching me jumping one day (I used to be based with Christopher Bartle), she came over afterwards and said she though I was a blooming good jockey, with a very good eye for a stride. I was grinning like the cheshire cat for weeks after! But I supposed the biggest compliment I ever got was not what somebody said, but the oppourtunity I was given. When I left school I worked for the lady who owns/bread Opposition Buzz (and Bee Diplomatic and several others including a semi retired GP horse). Over the winter the Opposition Buzz came back to her yard for a bit of a holiday, and then fittening ready to go back to Nicola's the middle of Feburary. I had just stared riding the semi retired GP horse for her (under her instruction I spent weeks on the lunge, before eventually being able to go out and compete Advanced Medium on him). She never really said much to me to compliment my riding, it could always be better, but one day after riding the GP horse she asked me to get Dodi in (Opposition Buzz) and lunge him. It went from there until I was riding him everyday, having flat and jumping lessons on him, and even took him out to a couple of competitions coming out of winter just to keep him amused. I couldn't believe it, when I asked her why I got to ride him (I was the working pupil, there were other grooms who I thought were much better riders than myself) she turned to me and said "I would not trust any of the other grooms to get on the old GP horse and be able to handle him. You can not only handle him, but ride him better than I have ever been able to (she had ridden him at GP). I wouldn't trust Dodi to any of the grooms, but with you I know he will be fine". A stunned silence followed, and she added "I can see you riding round Bramham one day, you just need a bit of luck". That was the best winter ever, but I was a bit gutted when Dodi went back to Nicola's (he went onto to be placed at Bramham that June). I love seeing him on TV now, he is the most awesome horse in the world! Unfortunately I'm still waiting for that bit of luck!!!!!!!
 
I don't think anyone has ever said anything bad about my riding (that I know of, obviously). When I was a young, my RI told me I was never riding out with them again because my young horse bolted from a group of racing cyclists and I failed to pull him up quickly enough to save the novice that was behind me from being caught up in the panic, it was only about 200yds, but we were nearing a train crossing, so I can see why she was in a flap! That was literally the only bad thing my 3yo ever did, he was such a saint.

The most common compliments are that my position is great, my hands are soft and that I am a very calm rider.... Also that I am brave/stupid haha.

Oh, and I used to get shouted out for a sticky out foot when I was a kid....
 
I always used to get the 'oh, she only does well because that pony is pushbutton' comments a lot - not my fault if I just know what makes him tick ;) Strangely enough, the (very select few!) who ever rode him never said anything about him being pushbutton, and neither did anyone who'd ever seen him go up vertically!

The best comment/mark I ever got on a test sheet was 'lovely pony, beautifully ridden' accompanied by 8,8,8,9 on the collectives. I was like :D:D:D for about a week, despite someone's best efforts to put me down with a 'well, the judge is marking very generously' - try telling that to the several riders who got sub-50% scores for tests that were not at all bad :confused:
 
When I first got my old man he who 16.3hh (I was 14, first horse over 14hh) I took him showjumping as practice for our first ever BE event that was a week later. I was told the horse was unsafe and i shouldnt be eventing him at all. A week later I went on to get a double clear at my first ever intro. I'd say that was my worst, even after being scored a 1 on a dressage test with a rather stubborn pony ;)

My best was with the same horse, jumping again. Steven Hadley told me that even though our style was unconventional and not "pretty" I rode him exactly how he needed to be ridden to get over the fences, and that he doubted many other people could. This made me smile a lot as people always thought he was an easy horse, and that they could stop his rather "special way of jumping" oh they were wrong ;)

He was a strange but very special horse who gave me big smiles, RIP boy
 
If onlu people realised that we would remember their throw away comments years, even decades, later maybe they would think twice (or at least take care to think before speaking)

I gave up riding for 4 years after being told I was a cr*p rider and with anyone else the ponies would be winning everything (I was showing ponies for a producer at the time). Looking back I can see I was a bit rough and ready, but the ponies were just backed and completely unschooled and often went orbital or buck/rear instead of 'performing'). The producer bred fabulous ponies but didn't like them ridden between shows for some unfathomable reason. Consequently the only schooling they got was in the warm up when we were mostly performing airs above the ground :D . I did have good stickability though ;)

Best comments were when I was on a Ride with your Mind course and we were watching videos back and MW said 'That looks lovely, who's riding? Oh yes should have realised its x'. Another was a trainer who said I was the most naturally talented rider he had met'. I was :D :D for ages.

But the bad comment STILL to this day means I lack confidence in my riding and hate riding in front of other people
 
I've had so many nasty comments and I tend to just let them float over my head! I did a lot of BSJA (as it was then!) when I was younger, including up to international JA on my 138. My first pony was a bit unique! He was 14 when he arrived at my RS from the sales. The corners of his mouth were ripped, he had tether scars and and a spur wound on his side. He was also hugely hairy, fairly ugly and didn't have two feet that pointed in the same direction! But my lord could he jump! He was ridden in a snaffle and flash as any stronger bit made him freak out and bolt. He really taught me to sit quietly and ride from seat and legs. In the ring he really did forget himself sometimes and would tuck his head into his chest and just fly. I was used to him and it didn't bother me. I came out the ring once after a clear round and some stupid woman followed me and proceeded to tell me that my pony was dangerous, if I couldn't control him I should just have him shot. I was 12 and completely devastated. My RI gave me a good shake when I was crying by the lorry. I worked damn hard for my boy (3 nights a week and every weekend at the RS to pay for his keep) and that stupid woman didnt know me or him. Then she said get into the JO and fly! So I did! Won the class (beat horrid womans son) and was approached by the selectors that day! I'm now 29'and that comment stayed with me for years. I eventually gave up showjumping because I couldn't cope with the fashions and catty people. Though going to my first clear round in 10 years on wed!
Best comment? A friend allowed me to have a lesson on her gorgeous performance power dales pony (believe me I have never sat on anything as talented, sensitive or powerful as this gorgeous boy RIP Drummer) Instructor was a dressage trainer who had been trained in Germany to the scales of training and she kept me in walk for an hour!! When we finished I could hardly walk ( despite only being in walk!) and she said I had the best natural feel of anyone she had taught. I was on cloud 9 for months! I just keep that comment in my mind when I'm having a bad day with Darcey!
 
I get my worst and best comments from my Instructor, when I am at competitions I think I'm "in the zone" so don't really hear what others have to say.

Bad commments have included "so are you going for a s**t up there?", "keep your hands even, you're not knitting me a jumper?" "it would be really nice if you weren't asleep"

Good comments "your riding has improved out of all recognition" "parts of that were perfect, one part looked like you were floating"

I get the usual "you're so lucky, your horse just goes so well for you and naturally carries himself so you can just sit there" etc... but these people are so quick to forget when I got my horse he would tank off head up in the air, wouldn't stick to the outside track and any contact he would rear...
 
millitiger said:
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.
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That's the sort of thing my mum would say. Not meant badly, but still not exactly encouraging :rolleyes:

Bad things - I've heard a few but have tried to forget them if they aren't constructive. The most hurtful thing was when I was a teenager and my YO said very loudly to some people she was showing round that I was totally overhorsed. It was also blatantly untrue, and it was her employee, my instructor, who recommended the horse to me to buy, and at no point did I ever have any problems with that horse in terms of control, and I kept her for 7 years. And she couldn't have meant size-wise as I was 5'5" and my horse was 16hh. Cow-bag.

Good thing - One of my current instructors said to someone else he teaches that I ride really nicely on the flat (he hasn't seen me jump). :D Silly how the little things make your day/week/year ;) On Ronnie I also got lovely rider comments next to the collectives on nearly every dressage sheet. He would lose his head a little at parties so dressage was damage limitation. I always got "very sensitively ridden" and I like that, as the alternative to that doesn't sound pleasant.
 
My nicest was when a dressage (!!!!) judge rang me up after a competition (didn't know her) to tell me how well she thought I had ridden despite my horse being difficult! :p Made me so proud!
At the end of every test it says "lovely pair, nice quiet rider, horse needs to relax if your going to get any further" bit of both there!!

Worst... god there have been many! mainly with my last pony... telling me hes dangerous, should be shot, retired, not ridden etc... 6 years after I got him and 3 after i sold him hes now being ridden by children from babies to 13 year olds and doing everything from team chasing to polo to pony club show jumping... and who said i couldn't solve the puzzle that he was?!
 
From the woman doing my EC interview while I was attempting to do something on a huge 16.3hh mare that admittedly i couldn't ride one side of
"Well. hmmm" :D

and the nicest, from you guys when I showed you a video, despite getting some CC, which I wanted - a few of you said i rode quietly and had good hands. That meant more than anything :D
 
RuthnMeg said:
During my early teens I was often 'a bit low', due to this sentance being quite common about me ' Ruth is such a lovely rider, shame she doesn't have the horse to do her justice'.
Yes, thats a big complement and I later learnt to be proud of it, but at the time it was depressing as I never got 'the horse', and even more depressing is that dispite me being 'such a lovely rider' no -one offered me a nice horse to ride either. I always considered it to be just my luck, so near yet so far. BUT without it, I wouldn't be who Iam today, so Iam lucky really!
Now, my biggest problem is the fact that I get looked down on, as I ride a small horse. I don't think some take me seriously, and as time is going on, Iam getting more consious about it. Silly really, as Meg is a wonderful horse.
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Enjoy it when people don't take you seriously! Several years back I used to regularly go out doing BD affiliated. I'd turn up driving my clapped out old truck, dragging an ancient hunter trailer, and bring out my little 15.2 (on a good day!) mare. The first few times, no one took us seriously during the warm-up, especially since Nell is pretty but not flashy. Within a few weeks of us absolutely walking the floor with everyone, people looked at us rather differently! Definitely performance not size that counts.

The best compliment I ever had at a dressage competition was with her. "Did you train her yourself? She goes beautifully." I did. (And did not mention that I'd never managed to convince her to do anything worthwhile jumping!).

Worst remark...hmm. Most painful was a few months ago, turning up at a competition on my new mare to have the proprietor say: "At last, you've finally bought a horse big enough for you." Having just had to retire Nell through long-standing injury and having my hands full with an over-excited 17hh LOAN mare, that hurt.
 
A couple of years ago at a local show doing best ridden on a pony that wanted to nap badly and disagree everything I asked of said pony ended up with a 5th?! Judge commented on how well I had dealt with said pony and with more schooling we could make a lovely team which thrilled me, same show, parent of a child I'd beaten "What does she think she's doing entering this class she clearly CANNOT ride"

A year or two later at a sponsered ride approaching a jump overhead the person at the jump muttering "poor approach will refuse" Yes wasn't the tidiest I've ever jumped but we were over first time :D
 
'Oh you are so lucky, your horses just do it'

This is something I used to hear all the time, all three horses I had backed and trained myself, gone through the tears and the tantrums and some people said it was pure luck - really used to p*ss me off!!!! Now I think they are just showing their ignorance :)
 
I was at Keysoe a couple of weeks ago and while my boy was throwing a huge temper tantrum about going in the start box I did hear a few well sat/hung on comments which was quite encouraging as I was thinking we we're going over backwards! What gets me though most people with negative comments aren't usually competing themselves which really p's me off. Maybe they should try it before they pass judgement. I have a habit of going to pot as soon as I've got spectators, can ride well alone but as soon as there's people watching my body just wont do as its told and my brain forgets to tell it! Doesn't bode well for dressage tests!! :D
 
I don't think people generally say nice things about my riding! One of the worst was when a rider I really respect said to me after watching me demolish a 1m round that my horse had "lost his jump" basically because of my riding and training. I was absolutely devastated. I was not confident to start with, now it's pretty much non-existent.

Father occasionally drops in such comments as "You/horse will never be a showjumper" followed by how I should sell horse for something smaller and stick to dressage/hacking. He refuses to take me jumping now. He never was tactful.
 
Ive had a few funny ones....

Whilst riding with a knee brace my owner heard the 2 stewards discussing if I was in a wheel chair when I got off the horse..

Youngsters can behave like that...my reply shes a 10year old!!!

Whilst competing a horse when i was a JR my Mum over heard a person saying how it was ok for these young riders who have rich parent buying them produced horses. My mum polity pointed out that I had brought the said horse myself as a 3yr old by working very hard and produced it from scratch!

The nicest one was at the end of a dressage test a judge got out the car to congratulate me as she had judged the horse I was riding at the beginning of the season and said how nice it was to see a horse improve and a rider stick to a tricky horse
 
God I have had some slatings from my yo mainly and she has even threatened to throw things at me if I didnt buck my ideas up!! She says I have issues with sitting straight, knees coming up, 1 hand to high and just general rubbishness!

Because I do alot of dressage you tend to get some really nice comments at times but on my last horse he did a particularly fantastic test and the judge stood up and started clapping which I thought was flippin amazing! (Has never happened since so maybe Ive got worse since then!) :rolleyes:
 
Got a new worst one
"Why's she on the team?" Response: "Don't you know who her mother is?"
Yes, I am very grateful to my mother for supporting me, but she has zero influence on how judged score me, how selectors view me :mad:
 
This has reminded me. A few years ago when Rosie was still point to pointing - can't remember whether she'd won or not - an old fella came up to her as she was walking back to the lorry and insisted that he wanted her to have a lovely old cut glass bowl. He said it was his late wife's most prized possession and he just knew she'd have wanted to Rosie to have it because she was such a lovely rider. She still has it.
I haven't heard anyone saying anything horrible about her but I am fiercely protective lol :D
 
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