Is it Morally Correct...

Ferdinase514

Ferdinase514

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For me to go back to competing at Prelim?

Keeping in mind Finn has points at Elementary and he is working Elem/Med and Winnie Elem. Both are very capable of doing a decent novice test.

I am technically allowed to, as am back to being a group 7 rider and watching competitors at the regionals go from doing an Advanced medium to an elementary, it got me thinking.

Also read in H&H about a horse and rider combo who were in the same novice AF class as me last summer and who did the Novice FSM at Addington, who are winning at Medium and working PSG.

Is this my best chance of competing at the regionals? I think it is.

Am happy to do Novice and Elem for AF Qualification.

Opinions?? Comments??

I wont be offended, i promise
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Why not if your membership allows it. Thats why there are restrictions to stop you when you move up the levels as you say its a good chance of going to the regionals and also means donig 2 Qualifiers at an event potentially.
 
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I know it is technically allowed, but it doesn't feel sporting, somehow.

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You need to sit up and smell the coffee my dear - look around you at the shows, you know, I know, EVERYONE knows that the odds are balanced against the amateur riders, there are dressage horses being downgraded left, right and centre, so why not play the game and enter classes that you have a chance of qualifying through? I know it is fun to move up the grades, but as an Am rider sometimes we do not allow ourselves to become the best we can become at each early level because we are ambitious - GO FOR IT, I would be HIGHLY suprised if you were the most experienced rider and your horses were the most experienced horses in the classes, if you follow!
 
Riding is about having fun. Upgrading and trying harder classes is part of that but sometimes you need a boost and getting placed in any class is a boost. To do nothing wrong and never get placed can be soul destroying. I found that when my horses jumped out of discovery I am then competing against open Grade A horses and although I was jumping DC I woud never get placed as I wasn't quick enough, it gets depressing after a while and its nice to go and do a lower level which you are totally eligible for and actually enjoy it

I would go do them.
 
Go for it, just don't go to any shows where we shall be!

Both Bee's rides compete at Novice BE, however neither had any BSJA winnings so we reg then and started out at BN. Bit embarrasing, we've only been out twice but Willough won both with Floss 2nd in 1 and 3rd in the other.

Maybe be a little unsporting but totally within the rules and pays the diesel.
 
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I know it is technically allowed, but it doesn't feel sporting, somehow.

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You need to sit up and smell the coffee my dear - look around you at the shows, you know, I know, EVERYONE knows that the odds are balanced against the amateur riders, there are dressage horses being downgraded left, right and centre, so why not play the game and enter classes that you have a chance of qualifying through? I know it is fun to move up the grades, but as an Am rider sometimes we do not allow ourselves to become the best we can become at each early level because we are ambitious - GO FOR IT, I would be HIGHLY suprised if you were the most experienced rider and your horses were the most experienced horses in the classes, if you follow!

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Totally with Weezy on this one. Why shouldnt you? Dont feel bad about doing the same as nearly everyone else.

Gen has gone back to Novice level. After his problems it seemed the most sensible thing to do.
 
Can you even understand the rules ,I can't .I think it is harder to qualify for champs at prelim than any other level , as we can't seem to do it and I think if we do the music rest. at champs and come in the top ten , we will suddenly not be able to do prelim or novice rest. but the horse will. Very strange.
 
Why would you want to though? I thought the whole idea of competition is to see how well you are coming on with your training. If I had a horse that was capable of an Elementary test I certainly would'nt go out and do a Prelim on him unless he was coming back from a long break and even then I would go HC. But then qualifying is not the be all and end all for me.
 
I see what you are saying, but I have started to realise that everyone else is playing a game, that i hadn't even realised exsisted, until recenlty!!

I've done testing my training and now want to Q for things!
 
But then why not try and qualify at the level you are riding at? Surely that is going to be a lot more satisfying. You haven't finished testing your training until you are established at Grand Prix.
 
LOL!! Yeah, if only. What do think i have been doing for the past 2 years?

Having spent last weekend at the regionals, I am kidding myself if i think i can compete against the horses that were there. And all the judges will be saying to themselves "how did this qualify - that's what the AF are for".
 
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LOL!! Yeah, if only.

Having spent last weekend at the regionals, I am kidding myself if i think i can compete against the horses that were there. And all the judges will be saying to themselves "how did this qualify - that's what the AF are for".

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Hey dont put youself down. Gen is an irish cob cross and when his head in on his shoulders right he can do it so I am sure you can too.
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Oh - and to add my horses aint never getting to GP, so I am going to enjoy myself, right where i am, thank you very much!!

Am sick of taking all of this so seriously! It's supposed to be fun.

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NOW you have hit the nail on the head. FUN!!! Do what you want to do so long as its in the Rules and you are ENJOYING it.
 
Hmmm am slightly with you on that one. Once heard the judge say that she wasnt sure how to judge 'that one' but 'it' certainly wouldnt get more than a 7 for 'its' paces. Far too cobby!

Oh well - cant win 'em all!
 
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Oh - and to add my horses aint never getting to GP, so I am going to enjoy myself, right where i am, thank you very much!!

Am sick of taking all of this so seriously! It's supposed to be fun.

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Dressage is not meant to be fun you know
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Tis all about doubting one's ability.
 
Oh god do it! Blimey dressage is all about game playing, and the only reason I do novice is coz I want to practice for eventing. If i actually wanted to qualify then I'd be in prelim for the rest of time trying!!
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As it is I go to some super unaff venues and don't even bother with BD
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If you are allowed to then do it. It's what rules are for.

I'd be quite hapy to be in the same class as you, Finn has had some troubles and interuptions to his training and so has Winnie plus you two are a new partnership.

You have plenty of justification for dropping down a level or two and if it's in the rules then do it.
 
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LOL!! Yeah, if only. What do think i have been doing for the past 2 years?

Having spent last weekend at the regionals, I am kidding myself if i think i can compete against the horses that were there. And all the judges will be saying to themselves "how did this qualify - that's what the AF are for".

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Oh I so know where you are coming from - I can't see me ever qualifying for the regionals again and frankly having seen what I was up against this time I'm not even sure I want to try.
 
I cant see a problem going for it, your eligable so if thats what you wanna do.

After watching the Regionals last week I dont have a hope in hell qualifying either and tbh I think id rather just go up the levels and be middle of the road than stick at lower levels and win.

I think youre doing yourself down tbh. You actually have two very good horses there who could and would take you up the levels and qualify you.
 
OK, perhaps I am not disputing that I might Q for the regionals, but once put in front of the higher list judges I think I would not fair so well!

I do want to keep riding at Novice and Elem, but my point is that whilst I still have the point allowance at Elem, I think I should try and Q at Prelim.

I'd be bored senseless if I rode Prelim for the rest of my days!!
 
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OK, perhaps I am not disputing that I might Q for the regionals, but once put in front of the higher list judges I think I would not fair so well!

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Had this discussion with my OH recently. She has qualified her little welshie for regionals at every level from Prelim to Medium fairly easily but never gets anywhere at the regionals.
The problem she has is that whilst a technically correct welshie will beat a flashy moving horse that is NOT working correctly at the qaulifiers, once at the regionals they should all be working relatively correctly so quality of paces really starts to play a part. Here she will never beat the flashy WB.

So I say go play at what ever level puts a smile on your face. If that happens to be prelim at the regionals then so be it. BD seems to be all about manageing points and rider levels to allow really good combinations to compete at levels they should be out of. So no, not morally wrong, just playing the game like veryone else.
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