Do you think this fair - riding club & showground rules!

Yubbie

Yubbie

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There is a local show coming up next month and I thought I could take my youngster for a look around and let her experience the sights and sounds of a competition environment without actually competeing. However, looks like I've been stopped in my tracks as my friend who is entering a couple of classes showed me what is printed at the bottom of the schedule:

"No horses whatsoever permitted on the Showground unless the correct entry fee has been paid and the horse is actually competing in a class"

Well my girl is not ready compete yet so looks like my idea of just gaining some more 'life experience' for her has gone out the window. Just out of interest is this a common rule with riding clubs these days??
 
Thats odd most local shows make their money from people entering classes on the day don't they?? If you really want to go then enter one class at the end of the day, spend your time there and then withdraw from the class.
 
I would go along, i dont think anyone is really going to ask you what class you are entering, if they do just say you came for the clear round jumping and just dont enter.
Sure i have seen that on a few programmes before i have just never taken any notice when i wanted to give a horse experience
 
miss_bird said:
I would go along, i dont think anyone is really going to ask you what class you are entering, if they do just say you came for the clear round jumping and just dont enter.
Sure i have seen that on a few programmes before i have just never taken any notice when i wanted to give a horse experience
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I would not just do the above. Riding clubs these days to seem to be stopping people just turning up on the show ground to give youngsters experience.

Personally I would telephone the show secretary and explain the situation. Ask if you can enter a class and not go in the ring.

IMO its a bit of a cheek to turn up somewhere and not pay any entry or membership fee, especially if its a young/unpredictable animal. If its just a local show the entry fee for one class will hardly break the bank.

Most clubs if you are a member will allow you to attend without entering with a youngster. It sounds like this club are getting a lot people doing exactly what you want to do and have just become fed up.

Also make sure you have third party insurance.
 
I would just enter a class and not go in.....

They may have had problems in the past with people bringing youngsters for experience and having incidents.
 
I am more than willing to pay the entry fee for a class, I just don't want anyone coming looking for me and insisting that I compete in the class :D!!!
 
Actually, I presume it means that any horse that is on site will have the required flu jabs, for protection of all horses competing on the day.

Letting any horse come brings the risk of lots of infections, so only allowing those who are actually competeing reduces this.
 
There was an awful accident at a BS show where a horse not entered for any classes so technically not allowed on the show ground went berserk in the warm up, several riders were injured, broken bones etc. A well known gentleman was terribly injured as the loose horse tried to jump over him & he was kicked in the face, fractured skull, absolutely dreadful injuries. The horse was not insured as not entered at the show, so repercussions for the organisers.

So sorry, I agree with this ruling entirely, either enter for a class, or hire somewhere to school.
 
Does the show run any practice evenings? Our local one runs on a Wednesday evening after each show, you pay £5 and can use all the facilities, instructors are welcome to go along and help their clients. We have used these evening for several young or green horses, it has been a God send. It is usually much quieter and there is no pressure, seems to work for everybody and makes the club some extra money.
 
Is there a fun inhand class you could enter her like "Prettiest Mare", "Best Mane & tail", etc that you could enter her in that is stress free yet would still allow her on the show ground? The Riding Club that does the local show near me has those types of fun inhand classes.
 
I hold shows and to be honest, though I don't have this rule I'm guessing it's more aimed at your young teenagers who bring a pony simply to show off to their mates by galloping up and down the showfield all day rather than a person bringing a youngster out for experience.

Our event insurance says nothing about horses being there and not actually competing, so doubtful (though not impossible) that it's for that reason.

Why not ring the Secretary and ask her if it's OK to bring your youngster along or would she rather you did enter a class even if you don't go in the ring? She can only say no but would more likely be helpful. :)
 
Yubbie said:
I am more than willing to pay the entry fee for a class, I just don't want anyone coming looking for me and insisting that I compete in the class :D!!!
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I would just enter the last class of the day and then leave before the class starts, or just go to the secretary and say that you have decided to withdraw.....they have made money out of you, so I don't think they will be that bothered....
 
Is it a real fun Novice show, with classes for kids? If it is maybe they dont want people with youngsters with the possibility of it been naughty when theres Novice children about.
My daughter got kicked by a 'youngster getting experience' in the practice ring, at a novice kids show.

So although a bummer for you i think that it is a sensible rule and should be adhered too.
 
I think its a normal rule....otherwise all sorts of people could turn up to dressage shows to use the school, sj shows to use the jumps etc etc.....

I agree with it tbh.....
 
kizzywiz said:
There was an awful accident at a BS show where a horse not entered for any classes so technically not allowed on the show ground went berserk in the warm up, several riders were injured, broken bones etc. A well known gentleman was terribly injured as the loose horse tried to jump over him & he was kicked in the face, fractured skull, absolutely dreadful injuries. The horse was not insured as not entered at the show, so repercussions for the organisers.

So sorry, I agree with this ruling entirely, either enter for a class, or hire somewhere to school.
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This makes no sense (though I am sure it is true) - BS you enter the class on the day when you arrive (normally) rather than pre-enter, and I have had to hang about for aeons before the class I wanted to jump was on....so my horse could well have not been entered in anything, though I was planning to enter later. So was he technically not allowed there? I just don't really understand how this works?
 
Its probably, as someone else mentioned, to prevent the kids that often turn up at shows and canter round and round the collecting rings going endlessly over the jumps. I'm sure that if you entered a class, and then withdrew later on the day, there wouldn't be any problems.
 
Maisy said:
I think its a normal rule....otherwise all sorts of people could turn up to dressage shows to use the school, sj shows to use the jumps etc etc.....

I agree with it tbh.....
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I agree with this! We have had this happen on more than one occasion - people just turning up at a show and monopolising the warm up jumps etc - and causing an accident and injury. I had to turn someone away who had asked if they could bring an unpredictable youngster to a dressage show I ran last weekend. I had a very busy day and just did not think that this would be looked upon kindly by other people trying to warm up and settle their horses!
 
We quite often get asked if people can bring their youngsters just for experience and we allow it but make the rider fill in an entry form (and give them a number to wear so if their was a problem we know who they are) and also ask that they pay the first aid too.

So far we have never had a problem but if the horse did turn out to be very unpredictable or was causing any problems to other competitors/spectators we would be within our rights to ask them to leave the showground.
 
Can i just say that I had no intention of even going in the warm-up arena, let alone going anywhere near any jumps!! I simply wanted to accompany a friend who is competing and just let my mare stand and watch everything going on without any pressure - she's very sensible but if it was all too much for her I would simply take her home again and not jepordise anybody's safety!!! I might give the secretary a ring for some advice.... even though she has a reputation of being a bit of a rotweiler!!:eek:
 
As a committee member of a local RC I can fully understand why this rule has been introduced. The amount of effort put into a show, the fact that the organisers can't enter because they haven't got time etc. The money raised is for the benefit of the club members and so anyone who uses all that effort, without contributing is taking the micky to my mind. Perhaps if you offer to help at another event they will look more kindly on your request (but make sure that you honour the comitment!)
 
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