Dressage Discrimination? Am I right or wrong? HELP!

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Spotsrock

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Back ground - 12 - 18 months on and off crutches in too much pain to sleep or concentrate, somehow kept my job. Cause is a problem with my ligaments in my feet/ankles (and worryingly more recently my elbow) meaning I suffer seemingly unrelated ligament damage and swelling which is quite painful.

During this period I was all but gifted Buglet my big ex racer who I fell in love with before my problem occurred.

I have worked really hard around the periods on crutches to bring him on and educate him. He is not confident jumping and my lack of lower leg control means I struggle to force him, I want him to be happy and he loves dressage - got quite decent scores from his first ever time out.

Crutch free for about a year I have to be careful with footwear and have found the Tretorn sort keep me comfortable with control over my feet as well as being suitable for a size 3 foot with an adult width calf.

Being an idiot, but a well meaning one, I emailled BD to ask if I can wear them as they may be considered 'patterened' (black with some silver piping.)and I wanted to have something in writing if challenged at competitions run under BD rules.

They said NO.

Now I understand the safety rules associated with equestrian sports, but BD is the only element of our sport to support competitors without approved riding hats (albeit at higher levels only).

I understand neatness and professionalism - but they are hardly trainers and long socks! The rest of my attire is traditional as is my tack and they are pretty much a medical requirement, the style/type having been recommended by my physio.

In regular boots not only do I risk putting myself back on crutches and in pain but my feet wander slightly rubbing my horse and making him sore which in turn would prohibit us from competing under the rules about horses with open sores or likely to incurr pain (never mind that I felt horrible when this happened (a failed experiment with mountain horse boots) and promised Buglet I wouldn't let it happen again.

Am I wrong to be slightly offended that me and my wonderful horse are not deemed welcome for BD because of my physical limitations? I choose not to be assessed or seek disability status and am very much from a 'no - victim' type of culture. I want to compete with others on an even footing (pardon the pun) and I feel as though I am not being allowed to just because I have a budget that does not allow for specially made boots.

Obviously this is personal to me and I feel quite strongly about it. I actually cried when I got the email response. :(

What do you lot think? Am I right to fight this (ie get assessed and consider disability discrimination law) or should I just quit competing and turn my fab horse into a happy hack?
 
Can you show us a picture of the boots?

As much as I understand you are upset.
BD have rules on attire etc.
So no one should be an exception.

There must be an alternative boot.
That gives the same support but is within the rules.

How do the para riders manage?
 
Fight it all the way..!!!!! Nobody has the right to make you feel like that, its not like you are asking if you can wear a tracksuit and smoke a fag while doing your test!!!!!
BD are loopy if you ask me...they live in the dark ages. You cant even use a bitless bridle ffs. It should be about how the rider and horse perform...not what they are wearing.
Im with you 100% xxx
 
Just out of curiosity, did you explain that you wear them for medical reasons? If not, might be worth emailing to explain. Is there any way in which you could cover up the piping?

If they still won't allow it despite the boots being a medical necessity, then imo you would be right to fight this. Hope it all works out! x
 
Did you explain why you need to wear the boots or just ask if they were ok?

Rather than being assessed for disability status could you get a doctor's note and explain that whilst you are able to compete against fully able bodied competitors and want to be assessed on the same footing (your pun not mine!) you are just asking for this one dispensation?

ETA - cross posted. In which case see point 2!
 
I think you are too quick to be throwing the dicrimination card about.

If you want to compete BD then I suggest you telephone the office and talk through your options. I doubt the Tretorn boots are the only boots that fit your needs and the BD office should be able to put you in touch with the local Para rep who would have a better idea of your needs and can advise accordingly. You may be able to get dispensation on certain boots, although I'm sure you must be able to get suitable boots more in line with the rule book.

If however you just want to do low key unaff stuff, I'd suggest you call the venue and ask for permission to wear the boots currently have
 
that's the badger! Thanks 'Sheep' I have the black ones and I can actually keep my feet still in them!!!!!

'Ihatework' yes I am a little quick with that word, that's how it made me feel, I don't consider myself 'different' or disabled, just slightly wonky through the feet, and the boots aren't that extreme which is probably why I reacted so strongly. I wanted to tell you guys how I feel and see what you think. Right or wrong, that's how it made me feel.

'annagain' doctor's note is a great idea, or maybe the physio (or both) - got to be easier than teaching the big lad to be brave jumping, he shakes like a puppy when you introduce fillers!!
 
Apologies if this is a really stupid suggestion, but could you put black polish or paint on the silver bits, therefore disguising the patterned bits and making them allowable? I understand they can't make allowances for everyone, but it's always the wrong people that get punished by these rules! I hope you do find a solution and good luck with your competing.
 
texas said:
Apologies if this is a really stupid suggestion, but could you put black polish or paint on the silver bits, therefore disguising the patterned bits and making them allowable? I understand they can't make allowances for everyone, but it's always the wrong people that get punished by these rules! I hope you do find a solution and good luck with your competing.
Click to expand...


Will be purchasing a permanent marker and trying this over the weekend!
 
I think the issue would be where you stated that you could get made to measure boots but they are out of your budget. I would suspect that para riders or others with medical reasons for different clothing would have to pay for clothing/boots that do fit. That they are out of your budget is somewhat irrelevant to the rules.
I had a long IV line in my arm running to my chest for 22 months. I had enough tubing and attachments wrapped on my arm to enable me to inject myself. Once it was safely bandaged I then couldn't get my show jacket on. I had asked if I could compete without my jacket as I didn't realise before I got there that I couldn't fit a jacket over it but was told no. I also applied for a medical exemption for drugs that I have to take but was turned down because 'there were other drugs more suitable for my condition', that I am allergic to all the other drugs was deemed irrelevant.

I find it very frustrating that ill health and life threatening illnesses are treated differently to a disability. If I was disabled I would get dispensation for my limitations but no allowance is made for my medical conditions or for the medical equipment I need to take essential medication.

I hope you get it sorted.
 
The rules on colours etc are there for a reason. (And whoever said about bitless is silly, that's a whole different ball game than attire...) If you can dye the silver piping, they should be fine - check a dyed photo with BD.

Otherwise, most people who need certain items for medical reason either have to spend the money to find what they need in accepted colours or go down the Para route for specialist exemptions. Ultimately you spend a lot of money to compete affiliated anyway, so why would specialist boots not be affordable if you wait and save?

Just being devil's advocate here. BD have little reason to let anyone exempt from the rules, and if you have medical reasons for things they will often put you in the direction of Para instead...
 
Tbh i'd just colour over the silver bits and not say a word. I doubt if anyone would notice from the judges box its a fair distance and they are not really looking at you as much as your horses movements.
 
I would just colour over them, at least for now.
I cant compete BD for now as i cant find boots short enough to fit my leg without paying a lot more or having some made. Is this discrimination no, im short i will deal with it.

I would say if you have enough money to compete with BD then save up and get some better boots. It sounds harsh but we all have to go there, horses are not cheap to compete and there are rules for a reason and we all have to follow them.
 
Just had a look at the tretorn website..... I like the fact they do an all black boot for men but not for women!!!

Can you say what exactly BD have said on the matter..... Why exactly do they not approve?
If it is just colour I agree with the above posts - just get some good dye and colour in the silver bits!

BD are weird..... They have just allowed diamanté plaiting bands.... But won't allow silver piping on boots???
 
Templebar said:
I would just colour over them, at least for now.
I cant compete BD for now as i cant find boots short enough to fit my leg without paying a lot more or having some made. Is this discrimination no, im short i will deal with it.

I would say if you have enough money to compete with BD then sav up and get some better boots. It sounds harsh but we all have to go there, horses are not cheap to compete and there are rules for a reason and we all have to follow them.
Click to expand...

Have u tried heel lifters ?
 
I am sorry you have been struggling and it's great to hear you are feeling well enough to get back to riding.

I think you are being unfair to BD and discrimination is too serious an accusation to throw around.

Either you compete as a standard member in which case you need to abide by the rules like everyone else, including the bonkers rules about rider's dress, or you apply for disability compensation just like everyone else who may qualify is entitled to do. If the boots are a sartorial choice, you simply cannot make it within the confines of BD - their sport, their (silly) choice, what can you do? If the boots are a disability aid then you need to go through the proper route for dispensation. The alternative is to let anyone wear and carry anything they want on their sayso that they need it because of a disability/illness and this is bound to be abused and cause huge problems.

BD would be discriminatory if they did not offer any reasonable adjustments to allow people with disabilities such as yours to compete on a level playing field with everyone else. In this case the procedure is in place, it is your choice not to apply for it.
 
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