Dressage times - just needing to moan a bit

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soloequestrian

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So earlier in the year I entered a dressage competition. Duly checked times a few days before, wrote them down. Unbeknown to me, the organisers then changed the times and posted this on Facebook but because I wasn't a member of that group I didn't see the post and obviously y I didn't know to check again. Got there, given 5 mins warm up because I was last in the day and the judge wanted to leave. Did rubbish test. No apology, or even any sort of recognition that perhaps this wasn't very fair. Didn't want to make a scene, mainly because there aren't many venues around here and I want to keep going there.
Just entered another competition at a different venue. Asked for times that are close together. Just checked and am at the start of one class and the end of the next, so nearly an hour between the times. Can't see why I couldn't have been last in the first one and first in the next.
Just feel really depressed about it - spend huge amounts of time and effort getting ready for these things, pay £9-10 for my four minutes in the ring and the organisers don't seem to be remotely interested in providing a happy experience.
Just needed to rant really, not sure if there is an answer here.
 
The first example is poor from the organisers. Unless they clearly stated that Facebook was their mode of communication they should have contacted you.

The second is selfish. Why should you get to go last in one class and first in the second when there are usually quite a few people doing the same two classes as you?

I organise quite a bit of dressage for the riding club and it's a pita. One wants to go at this time as they have to pick up little Johnny, another wants to go just before their mate because if not the horses fret as have to see each other at all times, another can't go before or straight after their friend as they are reading for each other. The list is endless. The organisers also spend a huge amount of time and effort preparing and getting ready for 'these things'!!

Count yourself lucky - unaffiliated around me is £15-18 a class!
 
To be honest less than one hour between tests is relatively close together, if it was four hours I would understand your annoyance.

For me I like 45mins -1hr between if I'm doing two. Gives time for a walk after the first, water (&drink for me), toilet break then back on to warm up again
 
Personally I would not want to do two tests at any less of a time interval than one hour, I like to have a break and make sure the second test is etched on my aging brain!

At our local venue I often have at least 4 hours between tests as they run all grades in the morning then again in the afternoon.

Having done the draws in the past I can vouch how complicated it can get especially when you have one rider on several different horses.
 
I've organised dressage times and I quite liked it - like a mini logic problem. There are never many in my classes either (max is usually 6 or so), so that's not the issue.

At our local venue I often have at least 4 hours between tests as they run all grades in the morning then again in the afternoon. - this seems weird, why do they do it? To split into sections or something?
 
First one is horrible. Yuk, not well organised at all.

But an hour between tests is not that bad. Have had dressage woth3.5 hours wait. It happens and it's not easy to please everybody with their times.
 
First situation is poor communication from the venue.

Second is pretty standard I'm afraid.

I've had anywhere between 20 and 60 minutes between my tests recently (aff PSG with not many competitors) and tbh, I would rather have approx 30/45 mins if I could!

I can only compare it to organising clinics and *everyone* has a requirement. It's really really hard to please everyone! And that's just with 5-10 people involved, let alone more!
 
catroo said:
To be honest less than one hour between tests is relatively close together, if it was four hours I would understand your annoyance.

For me I like 45mins -1hr between if I'm doing two. Gives time for a walk after the first, water (&drink for me), toilet break then back on to warm up again
Click to expand...

Excatly this! I have had 4hrs in between tests (it was winter too!), that was a nightmare, so cold and boring! I like having about an hour between tests, time to warm down, give horse a rest, me a bathroom break and time to double check I know the second test.

The first scenario was not good though, I would have complained to the secretary. It is wrong to assume everyone is on FB, our RC emails out times as well as posting on FB.
 
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