Dire conditions at RWAS

[pastie2]

Just watched the stallion class at the Royal Welsh and could not believe the ground conditions that those horses had to plough through. It was the same last year, did they learn nothing from that. Surely the most prestigious show in the U.k. can do better than that. Having said that Julie Evans mare that won the POW cup was to die for!

 

[muffinino]

Totally agree. I'm just watching the in-hand on S4C, have yet to watch the ridden classes, and it's just appalling what they expect people and horses to plow through. All the handlers look really peeved, tbh, and most can hardly run to show the horses off.

Time for something to be done, methinks.

 

[xloopylozzax]

It was lovely on monday morning for the ridden (we were competing) think all the main ring attactions are the problem, dancing diggers and the kings troop are very tough on the ground.

 

[Enfys]

Just watched the stallion class at the Royal Welsh and could not believe the ground conditions that those horses had to plough through. It was the same last year, did they learn nothing from that. Surely the most prestigious show in the U.k. can do better than that. !

Like what? Charge everyone another 10 pounds entrance to pay for an all weather? I suppose they could 'save' a strip around the outside for cob day, moving to a smaller ring would not be optional - imagine the cob boys' outrage!

It's all part and parcel of showing at Builth, it rains in Wales, fact. If handlers don't like it then they don't have to show.

 

[Enfys]

Apparently, and I've just had this from a Steward, rumour has it, they are planning for some sort of all weather surfacing in time for 2011

 

[rosie fronfelen]

Apparently, and I've just had this from a Steward, rumour has it, they are planning for some sort of all weather surfacing in time for 2011

supposed to have been done this year but the food hall came first-(plain daft) so as you say, next year is the year for the main ring,the show is well off so i dont imagine the entrance fees will rise-20 quid is enough!!

 

[pastie2]

Like what? Charge everyone another 10 pounds entrance to pay for an all weather? I suppose they could 'save' a strip around the outside for cob day, moving to a smaller ring would not be optional - imagine the cob boys' outrage!

It's all part and parcel of showing at Builth, it rains in Wales, fact. If handlers don't like it then they don't have to show.

Please enfys, I was just making a comment. I did not want to stir up a row. There are many many reasons why the main ring is churned up. I have been to the RWAS for years, shown in hand and ridden in the main ring on the thursday. The main ring cannot cope with the traffic it is getting at the moment. It can be improved and shall be apparently before next years show. They chose to spend the money on the food hall this year, well thats their choice. I do know that it rains in Wales as I have spent a considerable part of my life there. I did not expect such a reply. I notice that you are now in Canada so far removed from the condidtions on the UKs showgrounds.

 

[Enfys]

. I do know that it rains in Wales as I have spent a considerable part of my life there. I did not expect such a reply. I notice that you are now in Canada so far removed from the condidtions on the UKs showgrounds.

No argument intended, the answer was actually tongue in cheek, but I forget to put the smiley up. Apologies if you were offended, but it still rains in Wales, a lot

I too spent a reasonable chunk of time in Wales and was at the showground every year, I do know what the conditions like are there. I also have a number of friends, spectating, competing and Stewarding who all tell me what it is like there right now. I may be in Canada but I'm not out of touch

 

[xRobyn]

It's all part and parcel of showing at Builth, it rains in Wales, fact. If handlers don't like it then they don't have to show.

Ditto. I do agree that watching the diggers carry on their show was quite upsetting, especially as the I/H vs Kings Troop had to be cancelled. I can't stand the vintage machinery bit They should have kept the diggers and Troop out of the ring imo, but I still loved it, and the competitors went into the ring knowing what the conditions were like. Yes something should be done but practicality isn't always as simple as it needs to be

 

[lialls]

Did they actually say that the Troops were cancled due to the ground conditions then?

I went on wednesday and they were having some trouble with a horse who was ridden and pulling a gun, it kept rearing, after the guns had gone off when they were hitching it back up the horse reared and went over backwards on to its ridder, i didnt see how they sorted the tangle out as it was harnessed in to the gun but someone else got off their horse to see to the girl who was now ont he floor, let go of their horses and that then galloped around the arean, they caught it ok and i think they then cut the perfomence short after that.

Alot of the Troops horses did look as though they were wound up by the mud though.

 

[xRobyn]

The Troops moved to the cattle ring for the final day as it wasn't muddy (as did the chariots of fire, private drive championship and the concours d'elegance). On the final day some of the Kings troop members were meant to be doing the inter-hunt relay against the winning team but they cancelled it for safety reasons.

 

[royal]

I thought the same. Just couldn't believe the ring was just a quagmire of thick mud...

My OH's family are from wales and boy does it rain there...but then we can have our fair share here too and I've never seen a showground look that bad!

 

[Maesfen]

Apparently, and I've just had this from a Steward, rumour has it, they are planning for some sort of all weather surfacing in time for 2011

That would be a great idea but I fail to see how they will be able to have main ring attractions like the RHA, the Dancing Diggers, Chariots of Fire, those big trucks they had last year as by their very nature, they do a lot of churning up of the ground which wouldn't suit an all weather surface at all. Perhaps it's time to move the horses completely down to the Horse Ring which would be sacrilege for the Welsh breeds, they HAVE to be in the Main Ring, no question about that. A big conundrum for them as even if they re turf, it will still be too tender for next year and the Main Ring attractions are just that, huge attractions for the show and it wouldn't be the same without them.
Of course, they could always stick a roof over the main ring which could be rolled back if the weather was fine, even something like a giant marquee would do the trick but I expect the costs would be astronimical.

Enfys, yes indeed, it still rains a lot in Wales and the Borders!

 

[pastie2]

Perhaps they might just have to temper down the main attractions, Dancing Diggers and the Kings Troop etc. I have been to the RWAS for many years and never have there been conditions such as last year and this. As you say Wales has rain and we have had very wet shows. I dont think that we used to have such heavy traffic with the entertainment as we are having nowadays. The horses mostly provided the entertainment. I am looking at a photo of my husbund showing a stallion on the wednesday and its green, that was also a wet week. Just a thought.

 

[ester]

just catching up on the vids online for the inhand champs etc, it does seem a shame to see them having to clamber through it, though winning mare still does a darn good job! I went several years ago (and it was fab day!) iirc the ground was quite wet and it was drizzly, kings troop were there then too but it never ended up looking like that.

 

[pastie2]

just catching up on the vids online for the inhand champs etc, it does seem a shame to see them having to clamber through it, though winning mare still does a darn good job! I went several years ago (and it was fab day!) iirc the ground was quite wet and it was drizzly, kings troop were there then too but it never ended up looking like that.

The winning mare was fantastic, she could move in any condidtions. Just gorgeous!

 

[Puzzled]

Apparently a new surface/drainage is being put down at a cost of £400,000. Will be done in time for next years show. Hooray!!

 

[pastie2]

Apparently a new surface/drainage is being put down at a cost of £400,000. Will be done in time for next years show. Hooray!!

Good, about time. If they want maximum use they will have to pay for it, lets hope we never have to see horses shown in a ploughed area again.

 

[bryngelenponies]

I was there on the wednesday to watch the stallions and was stunned by the conditions and was even more shocked that the dancing diggers and the royal artillery were still allowed to use the main ring. Not only that but the ground wasn't even evened out after theirs events so the ground was terrible by the time the stallions came on. I hope the ground will be improved at least in some way for next year because it's not safe for anyone. One guy leading a senior stallion was basically skiing across the mud as his stallion ran ahead of him. After my rant I'll finish by saying that as soon as Mrs Evans's mare came out in her first class I fell in love and was thrilled that she practically cleared the board with her winnings!

 

[muffinino]

It's all part and parcel of showing at Builth, it rains in Wales, fact. If handlers don't like it then they don't have to show.

Yeah, I'm very aware how much it rains here
However, getting that ring sorted just needs to be done. I don't think it is part & parcel of it, really; the wet, yes, a bit of mud here and there but the ground conditions have been gettiong worse for a couple of years and are just appalling now. Everyone who came back from the show mentioned it and I honestly think it detracts from the horses when the mud is talked about more than them. Ah well, from what's been said it seems that something is hopefully being done, so watch this space!