Collecting ring etiquette

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eriskaypony

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Our local show has a lot of riders for whom it is the only show in which they compete. Ever year there are problems in the collecting ring, and whilst a lot of them are caused by some people who should know better, we're putting together some guidelines to go out to competitors.

I'd appreciate any comments anyone has on the following. BTW a big issue is lack of space which is being looked at.

Thanks

<ul type="square"> Only enter the collecting ring if your class follows the class currently in the either of the main rings.

Do not enter the collecting ring until the previous class has entered the main ring.

Do not block the entry to the collecting ring. Always allow those exiting the ring to do so before attempting to enter.

When your class is over, exit the collecting ring immediately to allow it to be used by those who need it.

When warming up for working hunter classes only jump in the correct direction.

Do not jump repetitively; allow others to have their turn.

Do not use the collecting ring for instruction.

Do not enter the main ring until invited to do so by the ring steward. [/list]
 
It may not hurt to reiterate basic school etiquetter - passing left hand to left hand; faster pace has outside track etc.? It's surprising how often these seem to be "forgotten" in a competition environment!
 
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It may not hurt to reiterate basic school etiquetter - passing left hand to left hand; faster pace has outside track etc.? It's surprising how often these seem to be "forgotten" in a competition environment!

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exactly this
the amount of people who forget the left hand to left hand is amazing, happens at all levels both unaff and aff
 
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exactly this
the amount of people who forget the left hand to left hand is amazing, happens at all levels both unaff and aff

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It's a constant gripe of mine - happens in every discipline and never ceases to amaze me! Even allowing for compeition nerves, this sort of thing should be automatic.
 
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and lets not get started on jumping - do people not know red on right, white on left???

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Ha ha - yes, this could turn into a long thread!
 
I would be tempted to put:
'Competitive parents: please do not attempt to humiliate your children into doing better in front of everyone else in the collecting ring. If you think you can do better than your child, find a pony and have a go yourself. Bellowing at a crying 6-year old on a recalcitrant 12.2 is not big, nor is it clever.'
 
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I would be tempted to put:
'Competitive parents: please do not attempt to humiliate your children into doing better in front of everyone else in the collecting ring. If you think you can do better than your child, find a pony and have a go yourself. Bellowing at a crying 6-year old on a recalcitrant 12.2 is not big, nor is it clever.'

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Love it! I'd go further and bring in a rule banning parents from being within ten feet of the collecting ring perimeter!
 
What about "the height of fence in the WH warm up ring must not exceed the maximum height of the class following"? Thats a big one of my hates - when people throw the fence up to something like 1.20 when the class is only 1m!
 
OMG that is my biggest issue... size of fence in collecting ring. BSJA rules state that you cant jump bigger then in the ring but that dosent stop some people. Ive always been under the illusion that you save your best jumping for the ring ?? Its only a warm up.. no one cares if your horse can jump one 1.30m fence when you've entered a 1m class !!!! LOL
 
How about no walking round and round espcially two a breast chatting to mates, it so annoys me when there is no room that people can't walk round the car park!! Also no small children, toddlers, pushchairs or dogs! Sooo dangerous.
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This horrifed me at out local show! A mother helping two of her children warm and and rather than get them to change the rein she asked them to jump the fence the other way. It was a full warm up arena with lots of children on ponies (warm was for Riding Club Pony or something similar). The children won't be able to learn correct etiquette, or even basic H&amp;S, with the example their mother set.

An another example of this example this woman's behaviour, the ponies were only expected to jump about 50 cm and she put the fence up to a metre! When her children had finished she just left the fence at a metre.
 
I think fences too high are my pet hate too. Particularly annoying when on a young horse that is only there to do the 85cm and someone has it at 1m or higher., I have queried this with some and get told Oh I have to jump him higher first so he goes better otherwise he knocks them down
 
Had to go and do something after I posted this so thanks all.

There are a couple on here I'd forgotten about (height of warm up fences being one) but it seems like the same sort of behaviour takes place all over.
 
collecting rings - especially at the v. local unaffiliated ones are like hell for me! I'd deffinitley reccoming putting on 'respect other peoples horses' because i know mine hates people cantering towards him..so much so it ends up in spinning round and me ending on the floor :S
 
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