Horse tunout at Olympia - no one likes an armchair critic.....

I couldn't give a stuff how a horse is turned out to he honest as long as it does the job it's supposed to do then that's fine with me. I like shorter manes but not pulled tails and I can't be bothered quite frankly spending half an hour or more plaiting my horse up for a 4 minute dressage test! Each to their own though.
What I did find funny was the commentator's remarks last night saying how Luca didn't even wear a martingale on his horse. Shock horror!! :-o As far as I'm concerned if you don't need it, why wear it? I also like the fact he had a flash noseband on without the flash bit (ie still had the cavesson bit with the 'loop') :-)
 
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ladyt25 said:
I couldn't give a stuff how a horse is turned out to he honest as long as it does the job it's supposed to do then that's fine with me. I like shorter names but not pulled tails and I can't be bothered quite frankly spending half an hour or more plaiting my horse up for a 4 minute dressage test! Each to their own though.
What I did find funny was the commentator's remarks last night saying how Luca didn't even wear a martingale on his horse. Shock horror!! :-o As far as I'm concerned if you don't need it, why wear it? I also like the fact he had a flash noseband on without the flash bit (ie still had the cavesson bit with the 'loop') :-)
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very true. I hate seeing horses looking like something out of a bondage film if its not required
 
cptrayes said:
I am so pleased to hear about fat plaits :)

I don't like pulled manes because I find once you've pulled them they stand up like a mohican unless you are constantly managing them or covering them.


My dressage boy with the kissing spines should be competing again soon (with an overtrack in trot, new in the last two days after eight weeks ridden rehab :) :) :) )
He has a very thick mane which he hates being pulled anyway, so I'm off to learn how to do seven huge plaits. Tips anyone????
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Here you go http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?482044-Big-fat-dressage-plaits!!
 
I really don't give much thought about how the horses are turned out, as long as they are clean and had a brush I don't really care.

I used to show jump as a teen in trail blazers etc and I never plaited up.. No one else did either.
 
hairycob said:
Personally I hate pulled tails. To me they look like the horse has been rubbing & I instantly think sweet itch/pin worm.
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Ditto also it is, I think, very much a fashion to have slightly longer pulled/cut mains and long unpulled tails. There's no rule about plaiting in showjumping and although I love plaiting I have never been asked to do it when I have groomed for show jumpers it didn't mean they weren't fastidious about grooming, clipping, bathing and tack. It's probably just a matter of taste.
 
Enfys said:
I think you will find that Ravenwood DOES actually know what she is talking about, she was merely making a comment on her personal opinion.
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Sorry, but no. The op made specific comments that the standard of turnout at Olympia was poor, in part due to the lack of pulled tails.

My point was only that natural tails ARE considered good turnout in the event described, regardless of your personal preference.

Unless you'd like to pull Edward and Hans Peter up on their presentation at international dressage events? Perhaps the op knows better?

If you want to judge the turnout for an event, at least know what the standard is before you make comment.
 
Hackie said:
Sorry, but no. The op made specific comments that the standard of turnout at Olympia was poor, in part due to the lack of pulled tails.

My point was only that natural tails ARE considered good turnout in the event described, regardless of your personal preference.

Unless you'd like to pull Edward and Hans Peter up on their presentation at international dressage events? Perhaps the op knows better?

If you want to judge the turnout for an event, at least know what the standard is before you make comment.
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Such a simple observation from Ravenwood has turned into frenzy of vitriole against the OP. I for one was not aware that the IN thing in dressage was to have long and unkempt tails, but then again I am not a dressage follower. I love the *look* of a pulled tail and with the tools we are lucky to have now, no hair need ever be pulled out of a follicle. To me a shaped tail shows off a horses back end to the positive and looks elegant. If that is a fashion faux pas in the dressage world then stupid me. Fashions change, show jumpers always used to plait, now they chop manes with scissors, race horses never had plaited tails, now some do. So for those of you with hairy cobs that are so proud to never touch a hair on their horses bodies, shame because it might improve the look of 'em.
 
justabob said:
Such a simple observation from Ravenwood has turned into frenzy of vitriole against the OP. I for one was not aware that the IN thing in dressage was to have long and unkempt tails, but then again I am not a dressage follower. I love the *look* of a pulled tail and with the tools we are lucky to have now, no hair need ever be pulled out of a follicle. To me a shaped tail shows off a horses back end to the positive and looks elegant. If that is a fashion faux pas in the dressage world then stupid me. Fashions change, show jumpers always used to plait, now they chop manes with scissors, race horses never had plaited tails, now some do. So for those of you with hairy cobs that are so proud to never touch a hair on their horses bodies, shame because it might improve the look of 'em.
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"frenzy of vitriole" a bit of an over reaction, just people with opposing views to the OP, no right or wrongs, just preferencies
 
This is why I would be soooo reluctant to post........ as siennamum has said 'Massive Overreaction' and I am sure OP was not slagging anyone off, just commented on how she would do it, and how it has been done.....
 
Like you couldn't see this one coming a mile away after reading the OP. Definitely the type of thing to get the masses riled.

As for me, well, I couldn't care less if they came in riding the Grand Prix on horses who look like they'd just been pulled off the Nevada range yesterday. But then, that's how my horse looks all the time.
 
I have not I addmit read every page but OP expressed herself fairly forthrightly I seem to remember her cringing and making the asumption grooms could not be bothered to plait or pull tails ( which Is a huge joke to anyone who has met the calibre of grooms who care for these top horses ).
I can only assume people replied in the same vein surely that's fair.
 
As a lurker mainly, I've noticed recently this forum is getting seriously bitchy…
OP expressed an opinion which I personally agree with - not necessarily plaiting manes, but I've noticed the lack of turnout especially in show jumping. When I was show jumping (unaff) I used to spend hours ensuring his (solo combed) mane and (raked) tail looked smart, for my own gratification I know but its just how I liked it and took pride in our appearances. I also think pulled tails always look smart no matter what you do with them. Some grooms may well have a tough time, OP never said they didn't.

How hard is it to express ones opinion without threads turning into an argument - nothing wrong with a bit of debate on controversial subjects but a simple opinion, really? Theres a difference between expressing an opinion and lashing out.
 
If you write: "OMG I would shoot the grooms for turnout!" You might as well write, "Please, please, please write strongly worded post slagging me off."
 
Okay I admit, that might not have been the best way to word it

On a side note, I dont know whether its classed as turnout or not but its nice to see more people wearing hard hats in dressage
 
Caol Ila said:
If you write: "OMG I would shoot the grooms for turnout!" You might as well write, "Please, please, please write strongly worded post slagging me off."
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Perhaps the OP like myself was unaware of the correct turn out of International Dressage Horses, she, like me, more than likely did not realise that they had to look the way they did. She, like me, have been educated.
 
justabob said:
Perhaps the OP like myself was unaware of the correct turn out of International Dressage Horses, she, like me, more than likely did not realise that they had to look the way they did. She, like me, have been educated.
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They don't have to have long full tails you can do your tail how you like, which is how it should be .
 
FinkleyGladiator said:
How hard is it to express ones opinion without threads turning into an argument - nothing wrong with a bit of debate on controversial subjects but a simple opinion, really? Theres a difference between expressing an opinion and lashing out.
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If you think this is an argument you should hang around our house on Boxing day when the unaccustomed togetherness the rich food the drink and lack of sleep collide with a game of Monopoly .
It's not pretty.
 
FinkleyGladiator said:
As a lurker mainly, I've noticed recently this forum is getting seriously bitchy…
OP expressed an opinion which I personally agree with - not necessarily plaiting manes, but I've noticed the lack of turnout especially in show jumping. When I was show jumping (unaff) I used to spend hours ensuring his (solo combed) mane and (raked) tail looked smart, for my own gratification I know but its just how I liked it and took pride in our appearances. I also think pulled tails always look smart no matter what you do with them. Some grooms may well have a tough time, OP never said they didn't.

How hard is it to express ones opinion without threads turning into an argument - nothing wrong with a bit of debate on controversial subjects but a simple opinion, really? Theres a difference between expressing an opinion and lashing out.
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:D

Sorry these are my favourite type of posts, hho never changes, the hurricanes in a teacup are exactly the same as the ones around when I first joined.

I'd love a count of how many times 'hho has become so bitchy' is written on here every year :D

:)
 
Tinselface said:
:D

Sorry these are my favourite type of posts, hho never changes, the hurricanes in a teacup are exactly the same as the ones around when I first joined.

I'd love a count of how many times 'hho has become so bitchy' is written on here every year :D

:)
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So you'd prefer people not to be able to express an opinion? No need to be patronising...
 
Tinselface said:
:D

Sorry these are my favourite type of posts, hho never changes, the hurricanes in a teacup are exactly the same as the ones around when I first joined.

I'd love a count of how many times 'hho has become so bitchy' is written on here every year :D

:)
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Tbh I don't even think this thread is bitchy... Have I missed something, far worse has been said on this forum! I'd say this was pretty sedate :/
 
I pull manes and tails for convenience but pulling a mane and tail doesn't necessey mean the same as it did years ago, I pull with a combination of pulling comb, rakes, knife and scissors and use each accordingly ;) so in effect I say pulling but many time I'm not actually pulling the mane if you get me ;)

Having neary come a cropper over a solid fence after trying to gather reins after a drop and getting my hands and reins tangled in a long mane as long as I will be jumping i will be pulling my horses manes :)
 
I love seeing the horses looking good and well turned out in competitions, but I am not particular with the way they are turned out, watching them perform well and look happy doing so is the most important thing to me.

Although, what I really hate to see is a rider with their own hair in a mess, more for the safety aspect than anything else. I have noticed the trend with show jumpers having a big long pony tail hanging down their backs, surely there is a chance that all that hair could get tangled up and ripped out should you fall off?
 
Personally I hate the pulled tail look, I prefer them natural (but trimmed at the bottom obviously) - one of mine arrived to me with a pulled tail, I just use a tail rake on it to keep it neatish purely because I think it'd be super itchy to grow back in. But then I don't like pulling manes or tails full stop, think its pretty mean yanking hair out from the roots. I'm yet to meet a horse who doesn't object to it. Hate plaited manes too, I think a horse should be able to stretch his neck right out when jumping and yes, I'm someone who only EVER plaits for BE dressage and then takes them straight out on the way back to the trailer before the show jumping! Do have to plait mane for working hunter too but never tight, doesn't look very good but I prefer my horse to be comfortable.
 
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