Friendly Face at Competitions?

catembi

catembi

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Before my horse went sick, I was competing BD or BSJA most weekends at The College, Lordsbridge, Manor Farm, Patchetts, Norton Heath etc etc & I've noticed that lots of people at shows seem to know each other whereas hubby & I are Billy No Mates...

I keep my horse at home & do private lessons with my sj & dr coach, so don't really get to know other riders. How does everyone else get to know each other? I'm quite timid & would never dream of marching up to someone at a show & butting in on their conversation. But it would be nice to have a few people to say hello to at competitions.
 
Hello!

I go to NH sometimes - let me know if you're going.
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Just chat to the person you're parked next to!

I go everywhere on my own and don't keep my horse at livery, so it's a bit of a lonely old world, until I get to a show. I usually know at least ONE person, but if I don't will just make conversation. I'm sure a lot of peeps think I'm a complete idiot, but on the other hand I've made loads of friends along the way. Yes, the Riding Club is the best place especially if you join in some team stuff.
 
We always seem to make friends with whoever is next to us, an then meet again at other competitions.
A friendly smile and "How did you do?" when they get back to their box always breaks the ice, and often it helps you too as they warn you about various fences.
We must have the sort of faces that make people borrow stuff, too, we have been asked by strangers including Mary King!!
 
Hello catembi - I'm nearer your neck of the woods than some! We have been as far south as Lordsbridge (and I noticed that they weren't very friendly there) and to Manor Farm (once - but with the school's showjumping) and by "the College" - do you mean at Milton?

We only got into competing last year and didn't know anyone, still don't know many because I am extremely shy but we have usually offered to help people out if they are in trouble - or as there are usually three of us and only one or two riders we usually have a spare pair of hands to help out those by themselves. One lady who was by herself we helped out at about the second competition we went to turns out to be rather a serious contender but she's always happy to smile and chat and we look forward to seeing her at various different places.

I start off with a disadvantage as well - my lorry is usually the oldest there (annywhere) and is tatty and get looked down on. But we just smile lots and get on with it.

The other way we have found to meet people is to help out. We did a day on the arena entrance at Milton and by being friendly and helpful to the competitors will know several people to smile at and commiserate or celebrate with next time. We also know who are arrogant so and so's who think only of themselves and won't bother trying to be friendly with them!

Sadly it's not likely we'll meet up as we are going the BE route - but do PM me if you're ever over at Ely Eventing Centre and we can arrange to meet up!

Sorry - this was a QR!
 
well i was definetly billy no mates when I first came to England to university about 5 years ago, I was new to the area and acted as my own groom. Because I was doing BSJA i soon got to know people by asking them to hold my very well behaved horse (well who could say no to the donkey! LOL ) and it just went from there. I now know the majority of the south West BSJA senior lot even if only by name and even though i only compete a handful of times a season I would like to think that a large amount f those would be able to pick me up of a line up if given my name LOL!!!!

I also get chatting to a fair few people walking courses, at the canteen or generally just watching a class (be it on horse at side of ring or on foot).

when doing BSJA if you see what you believe to be a friendlyish person who is in your class maybe ask 'did you think that distance walked a little long/short' or similar. Or when parked next to someone ask how they got on or comment on the weather/competition! Once you have got over the first hurdle of starting convo you will wander why you hadn't spoken to people before
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where is lordsbridge then ? my daughter has been making noises about it being another place we can compete at.. NH we plan on going to at some point, our local is towerlands...daughter has just affiliated her horse and we have yet to go to a competition! so im sure our paths would cross at one of these places at some point! lol..we are pretty much in the same position as we dont know anyone either..i recognise a few faces at BSJA events but not many to speak to... i would say to jemima though that if i was at the same event then my lorry if i remember rightly is older than hers!!! lol but i have just bought a newer one ,besides it isnt the lorry ,its what you take off the lorry that counts! anyway as the others have said,try helping out on the gate at a show or just strike up a convo with the people next to you..let us know on here when your off somewhere and anyone going will organise a mini meet!
 
Lordsbridge is off the M11 same turn for Haggis Farm home of Cambs Uni Poloclub-its on the A603 go through barton and as you come out you need to travel less than a mile and it is on the right hand side!

you cannot miss it as on the left hand side are the massive cambs uni observatories and dishs to look for ET!
 
HEee Heee megotto - I was going to say that your lorry was older than mine but I thought you'd bought a newer one! LOL.


We will all have to meet up at somewhere!
 
I know the feeling! Whilst i am at a small livery yard noone else really competes, and i have no groom so am often at shows alone.
Whilst i am quite a shy person i soon came to realise you just need to make an effort and most people appreciate a natter!!
I second the 'asking people how they got' line of conversation.
I can quite happily go off to a new venue now knowing the i will have more than just my horse to talk too!!
 
im a member of a certain pony breed association an had been a member since i was 14 and for the best part of 4/5years found that everyone had their own wee cliques. i was norma nae pals (as they say in scotland!) but i had my mum. then when i retired my horse and bought one from down south, i got friendly with the person who brought him up for me, who happend to be quite a popular person in the same society. i showed a pony of theirs and it seems ive been 'initiated'. and that is absolutely awful to say but its true. i am by no means well known and thats not my intention but its terrible that u hav to be friends with someone liked to not feel like an outsider. and the society wonders why its losing new members!
i love local shows, theres a different atmoshphere, thats calm, fun and happy. the people chat away and its a much more enjoyable experience. at aff shows it can be just too serious and it kind of puts me off showing. people say i go into the ring for a 'picnic', but id rather enjoy myself that hate me and my horse for not doing well enough.
 
Hi

I take my daughter to compete at all the same venues as you. I know some other mums through PC, but I tend to chat to anyone! Most chat back, it's surprising what you all have in common!

Like you I keep my horses at home but do have the PC advantage of knowing the other mums.

I'm not that far from you, N Herts nr Royston, fancy a coffee sometime?
 
Mum and i tend to chat to who ever is parked next to us, or offer to help out when your parked next to a mum with 2 little kids. OR when watching a class talk to who ever is sitting near you.
Alternative is to ask for help, Ask them to hold your horse whilst you grab you crop or gloves etc. often when you comeback to the box aftedr the class they are very chatty.
 
I dont really know anyone at the comps I go to. There are people who I have come across before whos names I know but I dont really know them to talk to. I usually get chatting to someone watching classes or in the lorry park, most people are friendly enough.

So if anyone competes BD in Yorkshire then let me know!
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Hi

Don't worry, very soon you will get to know other people! It is generally because they go to the same competitions, then they get talking and see each other again and again!

Try to be friendly, even if you think others are not so fourthcoming, always say hello and always thank the organiser after the show, even they then will get to know your name and then you will soon start to feel like you know people!

Compete and have fun! Other people may also be as shy as you too.
 
Im local to you
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I go to Ely eventing, Manor farm, Keysoe, and Milton
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I go alone most of the time in a scruffy trailer with RSPCA on it
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so you can spot me a mile away
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I chat to anybody and everybody
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So if you ever spot my trailer come and say hi, I do'nt bite
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JAne & William
 
i know people purely from the fact that i compete alot BD (most weekends) and i just recognise people, end up smiling at them whilst warming up, smiling turns into a 'hello' and that then turns into a conversation!! Ive had nearly a month off competing affliated and i cant wait to get back on the 'circuit' again and start socialising!!
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im not a naturally forward person either btw.
 
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