Brat Kids at Shows Grrrrrrr (Long)

[Fletchersmum]

Today we went to a local show, braved the showers

I just have to share this with you and get your thoughts because it makes me so mad!!

This mega huge posh brand new lorry pulls up, and Im thinking wow! someone has some money and some nice horses in there, so we stopped to have a nosey. Out jumped a woman with 2 screaming brats of about 9 years old. The ramp of this mega lorry comes down and out pop 2 little 12.2hh TBx ponys. WHY?? I ask myself

The morning progresses, and these two brats were in the ribbons taking nearly every class they entered. After their last class they untacked their ponys and one brat proceeded to yank their ponys head and batter it with a whip, even kicked it, just because it was trying to eat some grass. The mother was preoccupied on her mobile phone.

We carried on watching in amazement as one brat then threw a tantrum and let go of the pony only for it to gallop off and cause chaos in the show ring

Here we have an example of 2 completely spoilt little shites, who obviously have everything they could possibly wish for, and they behave like this?? It makes me so mad, I wish I had brought it to the attention of the secretary now, because it really was disgraceful behaviour, and these people should be banned as far as I am concerned.

 

[BSJAlove]

one day they will learn one heck of a lesson that throwing a paddy wont get you far in life when it matters. its a shame, i bet they could have been pretty good riders if they had learnt to respect the bloomin pony. its a waste and its what gives us all a bad name. mum should have behaved herself too and stopped embarasing herselef with two horrible children.

 

[MooMoo]

Good Grief!!!

I cant honestly say I'd be able to restrain myself from going over and having more than a few choice words with the lot of them. That is absolutely disgusting.

 

[Irishcobs]

Tell me about it. I have just had a very horrible week/weekend because of spoilt brats with stuck up, rude, nasty mothers. So much so that I am even thinking about quitting my job.

 

[Fletchersmum]

Yes, I had to be ushered along quickly by OH as he could see me getting redder and redder in the face!!

I only wish I had said something now cause as BSJAlove points out it does give us all a bad name.

If I had behaved like that as a child around my pony, I think my Dad would have given me a clip round the ear!! and quite rightly so!

 

[JessPickle]

Working in a RS I am used to Brats

not just horse owners are brats ! We have one who can barely canter who's dad just bought her a TB she is 9 years old and leans forward constantly and struggles even on our best schoolmasters!

 

[tasel]

I guess the parents did not bring up the kids correctly! Don't think I would have done that as a 9-year-old. I can understand 4-year-olds having a tantrum once in a while (which already puts me off EVER having kids if I see one!!!), but a 9-year-old should be much better behaved than that.

Not to cause any controversy here, but in my experience, it is often kids that need a good telling off more than the horses that are told off (whipped) by the kids.

 

[rotters13]

But.. generally, for ever one of the brat kids there tend to be about 5 children who appreciate their ponies.... (I agree though) I would have said something.

 

[TinselRider]

If they were my kids they would have a simple little trailer and 4x4 and taught to have some respect for their ponies. If they EVER threw a tantrum like that they would be banned from the yard

Its often the children that turn up in tatty lorries and trailers that have more respect for their ponie that deserve the rosettes and finer things

 

[tasel]

[ QUOTE ]
Its often the children that turn up in tatty lorries and trailers that have more respect for their ponie that deserve the rosettes and finer things

[/ QUOTE ]

No, I think it exists equally in both groups. There are some children of wealthy parents around who appreciate what they are being given (not just the ponies). I have also seen kids of people where I think "How could they even afford that pony?" just speaking and acting rudely... and unfortunately, their parents weren't any different, so that must be where they got it from!

 

[Nudibranch]

Showgrounds the country over are littered with brats and it gives our sport such a bad name! And it seems a lot of them manage to grow up without ever learning any "life lessons". But they will never have the joy of appreciating what they and their parents have worked for and they'll never feel reward for anything.
Just to balance out the brats, I was at a rc show today and was watching a fab little rider on such a cracking little pony doing whp. The pony really sparkled and the girl had brilliant seat and hands. I have to admit the pony looked expensive and no doubt they've spent plenty on her riding lessons... but she was so kind to the pony too and really seemed genuine. It made a lovely change from seeing the ubiquitous brats.

 

[frazzled]

I don't think having a good lorry/ponies etc is the issue here but more about attitude. Plenty of people with "good" ponies, lorries etc thoroughly appreciate them and do not behave in brattish ways likewise I have seen people turn up in grotty tailers etc and treat there ponies in the manner described by the OP.
Unfortunately some people seem to view horses as machines and winning is all that matters. The children behave that way because they have not been taught that it is totally unacceptable. My guess is that the mother probably cannot see that their behaviour is obnoxious.

 

[frazzled]

Also I do not think the brat is ubiquitous. The majority of the children we compete against and see at shows are pleasant children who may be competetive but treat their ponies with respect. I think the brats stick out because of their behaviour and they are often very loud with it.

 

[welsh_mare]

Hi, i just had to respond to your post. I was also at that show today and know the family you are talking of, they are friends of friends.

You mention WHY??, when talking about the ponies coming off their nice lorry, maybe they don't just have 2 small ponies maybe they have horses that they show all over the country?. Who can blame them for wanting to travel and sleep in comfort when away from home, and they can obviously afford it so good on them.
Yes the ponies did very well in their classes, but those girls rode beautifully (SP!), and their ponies were very well turned out. And i have to say those "screaming brats" were very polite and well mannered when i spoke to them. Now i left before them so obviously was not there when the incident you talk of happened, but up to the point that i left not once would i have called them brats or questioned their behaviour.
I just felt that i had to respond as the few times i have met them i never been given the impression of them that you seem to have, and i know their father would not stand for the behaviour you described.
I needed to defend them in the sense that they are not spoilt brats, they may have a nice lorry and fantastic ponies, but those girls appreciate what they have and it is not handed on a plate to them.

 

[CarlottaH]

I think these kids shoudl be happy that they have ponies they can go out and compete on.

I have been in a warm up ring with my very spooky, hates fillers, hate his own shadow, hates being away from his yard pony when 3 kids on little ponys decided to gallop towards my pony for a laugh. That has put me off competitions for good.

 

[Quadro]

at my pony club when i was younger the DC's daughter had 8 ponies- a novice and an open sj pony, a novice and open dressage pony, an "plaited show pony and a m&m show pony , an event pony and a games pony, she also got younger every year just so every1 though she was amazing for her age thats a brat!!!!

 

[rara007]

I know you are not talking about us, but I do think some of your comments are alittle unfair, although I wasn't there to see it.

Yes, we have a nice lorry, but then last year we spent over a month staying in it around the country and europe, so it gets well used, and yes, we only ever have ponies in it, so what? Why should that bother you, should everyone who can afford a nice lorry be able to afford and want a proper horse. Just because you only see them at a local show doesn't mean the parents arn't profesional riders, or the whole family doesn't spend most of the year away competing.

Ponies eating while you are trying to untack is very annoying and just the pony taking the P, I wouldn't kick them, but I certainly would make the fact it was unacceptable to the pony clear, when does a pull to keep the ponies head up become a yank, small children are weak and ponies are strong. Again, my parents are always pre-occupied and not available to help, what was the child meant to do?
The tantrum does sound unacceptable, and I'm sure the child didn't mean to let go of the pony, or just wasn't thinking.
I know I wasn't their, but assuming you really don't know the family, assuming the children have everything they wish for is strange, you know nothing about them except what you saw on that day. They clearly don't have a mother who is always on hand to help out as highlighted above.

Sorry

I'm in abit of a wierd mood.

 

[Arabelle]

[ QUOTE ]


This mega huge posh brand new lorry pulls up, and Im thinking wow! someone has some money and some nice horses in there, so we stopped to have a nosey. Out jumped a woman with 2 screaming brats of about 9 years old. The ramp of this mega lorry comes down and out pop 2 little 12.2hh TBx ponys. WHY?? I ask myself

[/ QUOTE ]

Why not???? I honestly fail to see your problem with travelling 2 ponies in a lovely new lorry. Lucky them, I say. A nice place to shelter between showers. I didn't realise you had to own a certain sort of horse to 'qualify' to own a nice lorry.

As for the children's behaviour, I didn't see it, so can't comment. However, I can't help but suspect you were biased against this family already, as they were guilty in your eyes of having nice transport and winning rosettes.

I would worry less about other people and start focussing on your own riding and career. Then you could buy a posh lorry and win rosettes too

A

 

[piaffe]

We witnessed something similar at a riding club dressage at my yard the other month. Pony was tied to trailer and this horrid little girl kept hitting the pony around the head, yanking the headcollar everytime it tried to eat the grass etc and we just watched in utter amazement.

I wish I'd said something but it happened to be the daughter of a teaching assistant at my childrens' school.

The girl was in the same year as my 8 year old and, as we watched I told my daughter that if I ever saw her doing anything like that I'd do the same to her!

 

[Tinypony]

Shame you included all the stuff about their lorry and obviously being well off, it's a great diversion.
The thing that would bother me would be her hitting her pony round the head, and I would not have been able to ignore that and would have acted at the time. Maybe the person above who knows them could have a word with their mum, not about all the stuff about their lorry, but that one was seen hitting her pony?
As for a child letting go of her pony, I think unless you were on the end of the leadrope it's hard to tell exactly what happened there.
For all who feel the need to pull their horses heads up by the reins if they try to eat, or give them a slap or whatever... How can anyone expect a horse to be soft and responsive in the mouth if that mouth is also regularly pulled about? The easiest way to stop a horse eating doesn't involve any physical contact at all, stamp your foot, smack your crop or leadrope on your boot, make a disturbance that causes their head to come up, and repeat every time the head goes down. But if you expect them to respond to this, then never, ever let them graze in hand, because how can they understand when the rules change?

 

[Fletchersmum]

It seems that I have opened a huge can of worms here!!

For a start Lesley1055 how on earth can you assume I was at the same show as you??. How many shows over Wales this weekend? HHmmm, and also that I am talking about the family you know?

Secondly, yes perhaps it was unfair of me to judge the family on the size of the lorry.

My point was only to outline my disgust at the child yanking on the ponys bit and hitting it round the head with a whip. Im sorry it has caused so much upset, and some of you seem to be justifying this behaviour???

I stand by my belief that this behaviour of children is simply unacceptable, and should not be allowed in the show ring.

 

[Vicki1986]

charming children!

I was at an unaff HT and once again, was confirmed to me why i think that children under certain age shouldnt carry whips unsupervised (obv out on xc course is not same as in lesson or PC rally). pony stopped at jump, kid didnt boot it like she should have 4 strides away when it started backing off scary jump, circled and pony helped her out (she still wasnt kicking) and jumped it, she proceeded to whack it [hard] with her whip on landing for the next 3-4 strides. Nice, thanks pony for jumping jump totally for me now im going to tell you off!

where are the parents when these kids are being little shits, there very busy screeching DONT RIDE LIKE THAT in the warm up getting in everyones bloody way !!

 

[welsh_mare]

Wasn't having a go at you personally, sorry if i offended you

.

The reason i said we were at the same show as you is because you are west wales?, and i am in pembrokeshire, same place

. There were only 2 shows on this weekend and if i remember rightly one was saturday South Pembs hunt show, and one sunday as you posted sunday i assume it was the same one i was at the one in Sardis?. As you did say it was a local show!.
And there is only one family i know of that pull up in a very nice lorry with small ponies on board, and yes they usually do win their classes. But that is because they are 2 very good riders on nice ponies.
You seem to have taken people's opinion's personally, when they have responded to your post.. I just feel that instead of coming on here and having a rant you should have spoken to the mother and maybe you will understand my decision to defend these so called brats.

 

[rosie2]

get a life you sad woman

 

[rosie2]

I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE SAME SHOW AND NO THESE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILY.FOR EVERY PENNY THEY MIGHT HAVE IT HAS BEEN WELL EARNED SO SHUT UP ABOUT WHAT EVER LORRY THEY MIGHT DRIVE UP IN THEY TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SO THEY DESERVE SOME COMFORT OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVENT TRAVELLED.THEY ARE WELL RESPECTED IN THE HORSE WORLD AND BEEN ASKED TO RIDE FOR TOP PRODUCERS.IM SURE A 9YR OLD WOUDNT NO HOW TO HIT A PONY ACROSS ITS HEAD AND THESE KIDS LOVE THEIR PONYS TO DEATH.IT IS ANNOYING WHEN A PONY PUTS ITS HEAD DOWN WHEN YOUR TRYING TO TACK IT UP SO IM SURE IT WAS JUST A SLAP WHICH HE NEEDED ANYWAY.SO GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BEFORE YOU GO PUTTING SUCH CRAP AND GOSSIP ABOUT.THESE KIDS DESERVE EVERY CLASS THEY WIN AS THEY HAVE QUALIFIED 6 CLASSES FOR THE ROYAL INTER HORSE SHOW OH PERHAPS YOU DONT NO WHAT SHOW THIS IS SADO

 

[dopeesophee]

to be honest i dont have a problem with people turning up in a lorry, nice kit etc; they will spend their money on what they want and like

however what i dislike is when children act like they rule the show, yell at parents and treat everyone like s*it

one girl was next to be in her trailer, came out of the show ring in a tantrum because the people who organise the show came out to help her when the pony refused

her mum did tell her off then, and i was glad she did
she needed telling of in my eyes alot early in the day than that

mum said to me the other day when i answered her back "this will be your last show if you EVER speak to me like that again, and im serious ill give the pony away"

i apologised and ive never done it again

i appreciate my pony, yes ok i do have all the kit and some people probably think oo look at her, no i dont have a posh box, yes i go to a girls school. but i work hard for it, i worked hard to buy my jacket, and jods. i got my hat and back protector and boots as birthday presents.

just think that some people do work hard for what they get
my best friends a showjumper, and yes she has money, but is incredibly down to earth; never acts above anyone, even though she knows how good she is...

sometimes you have to look past whats on the outside, and appreciate the good riders, and then speak to someone about possible behaviour thats not acceptable ?

 

[sarahwhit]

I was also at the show at Sardis on Sunday.

I take it your have small children and are not competing as an adult!!??

THANK GOD otherwise would you be having a go at me? I pulled up in a nice lorry, twice the size of the one in question!

I had a very successful day too!

We can all be successful with hard work and dedication.
Perhaps if yoiu invested in some elbow grease and ditched the sour grapes, you too could enjoy success.

PS The little girls in question are absolute darlings and if my two year oild grows up to be like them, bloody brilliant.

 

[cappu1]

Oh this is so unfair, I too was at the show at Sardis on Sunday. I have watched these 2 little girls with their super ponies for several seasons they do so much themselves, how many 9 year olds untack their ponies at the end of the show? not many most go back to sit in the lorry or play with their friends, these children do it all themselves. At this very show a couple of years ago one of them was on lead rein and won the championship, everyone clapped and the pony spooked a bit the child fell off, her dad bend down brushed her off, hugged her and helped her back on, she patted her pony smiled and carried on, no tantrums, although she shed a tear as it obviously hurt to hit the deck. Yes they have a lovely lorry but my god I know that the parents work long hours to finance their hobby, it isnt handed on a plate to them, good for them achieving what they do. I can honestly say that I am the most non maternal person around but I have admired these little girls and their attitude to showing.

I agree with a lot of posts on here about spoilt brats but honestly these 2 children are not amongst them.

 

[Tinypony]

Popcorn time now.

 

[Scribbles]

[ QUOTE ]
THEY TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SO THEY DESERVE SOME COMFORT OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVENT TRAVELLED.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pikeys!

[ QUOTE ]
THESE KIDS DESERVE EVERY CLASS THEY WIN AS THEY HAVE QUALIFIED 6 CLASSES FOR THE ROYAL INTER HORSE SHOW

[/ QUOTE ]

So why at a small amateur show?

Couldn't help myself