Is there any point to showing?

TeamTotilas said:
Faye1, did you not feel ashamed by the uproar following how overweight the horse you rode looked? That photograph encompassed how bad showing can be for the horse industry, and for the welfare of horses.
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1. Erm, which horse did I ride then?
2. How, precisely, did "that photo encompass how bad showing is for the horse industry"?

Fine to start a post if you genuinely want a "discussion" about a subject, but really?! Why don't you just post that you want to rant about showing and just get it off your chest!! It would make you come across an awful lot better than you currently are....

That's all from me - I've got far better things to be getting on with personally! Have fun and please do let us all know what your conclusion is - I'm sure the showing industry (and yes, there is one!) would love to know your validations for its "dissolution" :-)
 
Opposition Buzz us a classic example of a horse which would be at the bottom of every show line up, yet is fantastic at his job. I used to work with him when he was at his owners over the winter, and TBH he is a bit of an ugly duckling, and looks like a yak in his winter coat!!!!!! Yet as soon as you get on him he is phenominal (sp?). In H&H a few weeks ago Ian Stark did a confo critique on him, and TBH couldn't find many postives, But I would love to see a perfect show horse with amazing comformation to jump round the biggest 4* tracks with the power and speed that little horse does!!!!!
 
I'm perfectly calm and I have done nothing but respect peoples views. It doesn't mean that I can't disagree or have a good discussion about it on a forum that is specifically for talking about horse related things.
 
Faye1, because you said you were riding one of the three horses and they were all chronically overweight, which is a huge problem in the showing industry and it's acknowledged by many people, there have even been articles written in horse and hound about it, so there's no denying that.
 
Not read everyones posts but for me showing is a true test of a horses manners, quality of ride and correct conformation.

Not all horses can calmly trot, canter and gallop around a ring in the company of sometimes 20+ other horses, stand while a complete stranger gets on them, leave the rest of the horses and give the judge a calm and obedient ride. How many other disciplines are there where the judge gets on the horse?

Showing is a fantastic start for a horse to go on in any other discipline. The workers often start off in the flat classes, progress to workers and then maybe eventing.

To produce a working hunter is not easy. Not only do we have to look immaculate and the horse in super condition (not fat, just good condition and fit), they then have to jump scary looking fillers, water etc and then prove a mannerly ride for the judge - no easy feat!

If people enjoy showing then that's all that matters. Not everyone, including me, finds dressage interesting or exciting in the slightest!
 
Teddybully your view sounds similar to many on this forum, and I appreciate that. Btw, dressage was not the only sport that I was comparing it to and isn't even my main activity, it just sort of got dragged into it all more because it's on the flat and considered by some similar!
I understand what you said about working hunter but what I'm still not clear about is why wouldn't you do BS instead, guarenteed to be placd soley on merit and not on what someone thinks?
 
There is no point even trying to defend showing here. It is preaching to those far too high and mighty to listen.

According TT and friends, the majority of show horses are morbidly obese blobs that trundle around an arena in a display that requires no riding skill whatsoever, no preparation and is all about looking shiny.

They look at dobbin in their fields, see that his cow hocks and long back make him look completely incorrect and underconditioned for the showring, compare him to the successful, well produced horses in H+H and label them obese and unloved because they are presented correctly and actually good examples of breeding. "That horse may be an excellent hunter, but I bet it can't give the same loving look as Dobbin out there!" Mention the often poor riding that goes on in showjumping, the often very rough treatment when horses do not jump, the rollkur in dressage or the immense strain on dressage horses joints and they get defensive - "Yeah but at least they are not overweight" :rolleyes:

The ignorance is this thread is incredible. You can keep calling showing bad names until the cows come home, it isn't going to bother those of us who make a living from it, enjoy it and love seeing the horses go well at the top of their game. I have no desire to see horses throw themselves in an untidy manner around a course of 1.20m in the fastest time, nor do I want to see them cross their legs over and swish their tails when asked to move up or down transition in a dressage ring - but I don't slag it off because some people DO enjoy that.

It's when people harp on about welfare issues when there are HUGE welfare issues going on in their OWN sports that I think "Its not worth arguing with them"
 
teagreen, this was never an argument and I have never stopped listening to peoples opinions. That's yours, so great, but I don't see peoples problems with discussion. Discussion is healthy, and just because I don't agree with you, doesn't mean that I don't know where you're coming from.
I don't understand what your on about the horse in the field though? I've never looked at a dobbin in a field and thought about showing. I've been to HOYS and seen fat horses win. That is where my info is coming from, so please don't generalise me to someone who looks at a dobbin in a field and presumes a discipline upon that animal.
 
Ps, rolkur is terrible and I think that there are welfare issues in every sport, it doesn't mean I can't criticise these welfare issues. I'm allowed to just as much as you can have your opinion on BE, BS, or BD, or hunting, or polo, or just about any sport that involves animals!
 
Teagreen: OP has stated that this is a discussion not a full blown argument that you are turning it onto.

Where were you when there was huge uproar about Rollkur??????
There is an issue with obesity in the show ring whether you can accept that or not. Thankfully I think it is being sorted slowly. Obviously there are plenty of people that show their horses in good condition, but there are the others that don't, as with any sport.

I think you are the one who is being incredibly ignorant here, sorry :(
Anyway I am leaving this post now as it is becoming a bit too argumentative for me.
 
I'm not denying that obesity is an issue. I'm stating that I take great offence in people saying "All show horses are obese" - that's like me saying "All showjumpers are rapped" - people would throw their hands up at that, because it's not true, just like the show horses!

You can't have a discussion on here about showing without someone coming on and loudmouthing about obesity and that every show horse is obese, only the obese win - very few people look in H+H and say "Look how happy she is at winning, beautiful horse, well done them!" Just because the horse in the picture looks more conditioned than the horses out in your field, doesn't mean you can say "Look at that rippling ball of fat, how disgraceful." It always turns into a debate about how fat the horses are - and yes, some are too fat but I like to think it is slowly but surely being cracked down on and it isn't fair to tar all showing people with the same brush.

Those 3 shwo horses out hunting were not 'chronically obese' and although the rider of one of them has posted on here, she's choosing not to rise to the 'anti-showing' bait. If they were that obese and unfit they wouldn't have survived a whole day out hunting, and a whole season travelling up and down the country competing in big rings.
 
Having seen the photo of the 3 show horses out hunting, if the caption under neath had not said what the horses' other occupation was I wouldnt have automatically said they were 'show hunters'
 
TeamTotilas said:
Teddybully your view sounds similar to many on this forum, and I appreciate that. Btw, dressage was not the only sport that I was comparing it to and isn't even my main activity, it just sort of got dragged into it all more because it's on the flat and considered by some similar!
I understand what you said about working hunter but what I'm still not clear about is why wouldn't you do BS instead, guarenteed to be placd soley on merit and not on what someone thinks?
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We do other things. He scores very well in dressage, jumps discovery for fun, loves hunting and has completed 3 PN events double clear so he can do other things! But I prefer workers as this combines everything.

I actually enjoy seeing a top ride judge on my horse and him behaving well - you can't hide anything! I'm interested to know what they think of my horse and their comments good or bad are usually very encouraging. I thoroughly enjoy the class.

To think that showjumpers and dressage horses are treated any better at all than show horses is very misguided. I've been on a very well known professional dressage yard and never seen so many thoroughly miserable horses!

The weight issue is being dealt with and judges are aware to not place overweight horses - it really is changing.
 
I think that this is a bit like horse racing...what is the point. Some people have the view that they don't do anything else. I am constantly telling people that I work in a race yard. When the point to point season is over our horses do a lot of dressage up to Novice level, BE, showjumping, and also hunt through the winter. Not bad for point to pointers :)
 
About showing, I like the fact that if I buy a horse/pony of a certain breed (I like M&M's) that if I research my pony's parentage, that they have won at the highest (Showing) level for, hopefully being true to type and well mannered.

This gives me confidence to buy one of their offspring in the (hopeful) knowledge that when mine grows up, she will also be a good stamp, and have a good trainable temperament.

Showing is a showcase.

Yes, it's all about someones opinion.....but hopefully, maybe, as the horse goes up the scale, not all those judges can be wrong!

On the flip side, I don't like partaking in showing myself!
 
I've scanned through the last few pages of this so may have missed something.

To the OP

Why showing, first of all?

Well, I am terrified of jumping after a bad accident. So that puts out BS and BE.

Having been over-horsed, I desperatly wanted something safe. So I bought a connemara who is sensible, not sharp and giving me my confidence back. Yes, I'm doing a little unaffiliated dressage with him because I believe it's good to keep things varied, but lets be harshly honest. He's never going to get high up in BD, not against all warmbloods. BS, BE and BD, at anything above the lowest levels, really begin to insist on a certain type of horse that is usually sharper and more difficult. Right now, my confidence couldn't take that. So that's one, very personal reason, to show. Not everyones nerves can cope with the horse types commonly suited to the other three sports. Showing offers a chance for riders seeking a little bit less of a terrifying experience to compete - though with the way some go rounds can be, and the busyness of higher county shows, thats a bit of a falsity in itself.

Secondly, without it, my little connie probably wouldn't have been bred. Showing has very much kept our native breeds alive and their temprement and versatility is a credit to the UK. We have created ponies that are the envy of many other countries - having spent some time in the states natives from here go for scary prices over there! But these are not going to get to the top of BS, BE or BD. Does that mean they are any less worthy than a top class warmblood or thoroughbred? Showing provides a chance for these ponies to shine. And outside of natives, not all horses suit jumping, my old tb hated it. But she didn't cope with dressage either as she froze up as soon as you took her away from a busy warm up into a competition arena on her own. Yet in the showring, she could behave perfectly and was much more relaxed. It seemed to be her sport. Showing is providing a sport for horses that maybe wouldn't cope mentally with the strains of BS, BE and BD. And of course, as others have already said, many show horses do go on to have sucessful careers in other spheres.

I do genuinely believe showing is much harder than some give it credit for. I have the upmost respect for anyone who can compete BD, BS or BE, but how many of these horses are controlled enough to canter around an arena in company without over-reacting. You only need to see laps of honours at county shows for showjumpers, or prize ceremonies on foot at big dressage competitions to see the answer for yourself. I firmly believe that the top show horses are just as highly trained as the top horses of any discipline - it's just that the training is of a different type to grand prix dressage, just as dressage training is different to showjumping.

I completely agree there are an unfortunatly high number of bad loosers in showing, though I know this isn't restricted to that. I've heard people grumble at BD, and even at BS. Where anyone competes, there will always be bad sportsmanship. It's an unfortunate part of human nature.

As for why it should feature in H&H, I don't care about racing, point to point, endurance or driving. I often pause to look at the pictures of the showjumping and eventing because I am in awe of the people who have the courage to do that. I look at pictures of dressage, read my local region and read the columns. The only reports I read through, regardless of area, are showing ones. That's where my interest is. I don't complain when a big showjumping competition report is pages long, because I know someone, somewhere, is interested in it. Thats the beauty of our society - we all enjoy different things. So why shouldn't showing be in it? You clearly appreciate others enjoy it, so can that not simply be enough of a reason?

And finally, not to the OP but in reference to a comment someone else has made on this topic. Yes, there is an obesity problem in the showring. But things are being done - just look at the professional producer who admitted openly in H&H (I forget who, sorry) just a few weeks ago that she'd stripped a ton of weight from her horses this year. But change takes time - it's not just going to happen overnight. It actually can't happen overnight. That itself would be abuse and unhealthy for the obese horse concerned. My fell was morbidly obese when we got her. She arrived to us just under 500kg, and now weighs just over 400kg. It's taken a good year to be able to bring that weight down in a healthy controlled manner advocated by a vet. Binge dieting is as dangerous as binge eating, for humans and horses.

And to whoever advocated horses over a condition score of 3 should not be in the showring, a good principle. But I personally invite you to suggest to me what else I could do to bring my fell - hovering about 3.5 according to the vet a few weeks ago - down that last .5. I am doing my best by both my natives, but having had both sides of the coin, it is just as difficult to keep weight off a brilliant doer native as it is to keep weight on a terrible doer thoroughbred, whilst keeping it happy and healthy as opposed to hungry and sulky.

Just my opinions. Personally I try to respect anyone competing in any equine discipline because inherently, a horse sport is exhausting, expensive and often demoralizing. Whether BS, endurance, showing, to reach the top level is an incredibly achievement of time, skill and guts. Unfortunatly many in the competitive horse world (and to clarify this is a general comment not aimed at the OP) take it upon themselves to judge other sports. If people could just respect others choices and opinions, the horse world would be a more pleasant place.

Though that's true of the world in general...
 
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Each to thier own but IMO showing is ****!

Oh, and as well as being overweight, I think it's really bad that show animals always seem to be over-rugged to the point of cruelty.
 
Wow, I must go tell my 27 yearold ex HOYS level show pony that he is a useless fat blimp.
He still does amazingly well in the showring is still in full work, has perfectly clean legs, has never had a day sick or sorry in 15 years I've had him, is the ultimate confidence booster as he never even looks at anything (helicopter landing in the field next to him is not even worthy of an ear flick, fireworks are to be watched with a contented look on his face), he never stresses, never worries, has taken me from riding school ponies to elem dressage, given loads of kids the confidence to continue riding after a nasty fall, Taken me to ODE's and used to be able to jump like a stag (I distinctly remember doing a 3ft WHP class on a 13.2hh pony and then doing a chase me charlie where the eventaul height was over 4ft and we won) in a beautiful effortless bascule. He was never unplaced showjumping even at affiliated because he never wasted any effort or time by over jumping and never ever touched a pole, you could put a complete novice on him and he would do the round for them, all they had to do was point he sorted out the striding etc oh yes and he was always jumped in a snaffle with a cavesson noseband and NO martingale (mum would have killed me if i put anything else in his mouth for jumping). He has taken para riders from fat little cobs to Para dressage, given them balanced, obedient, fun and safe rides with no fuss. He has galloped (raced an arab) along a beach in company bareback in a snaffle and pulled up the minute I asked him too. I credit this amazing ponies behavior entirely to his showing education and no other dicipline.

but hey ho genuinely beautiful, Well put together ponies, that never ever break down due to tendon problems, and are beautifully mannered, incredibly well educated and actualy work in a snaffle in a group (shock horror) are obviously completely pointless and have no place in the equine industry.

BTW I think you will find if you compaired cold hard numbers showing is by far the biggest discipline of the lot, lose showing and you lose the largest sector of the equestrian market.

TBH I cant be arse with high strung dumbloods who have to be wrapped in cotton wool and booted up to the eyealls in order to keep them in one piece. That is not why I ride, I ride to enjoy myself.

Dressage is just as facey and has some far more serious issues. I personaly know of one pony ridden by a non face in dressage, not get on very well and then a well known face get on pony go awfully but get incredible marks, if that isnt faceyness I dont know what is. My mum used to work on TOP dressage yards, she has ridden olympic dressage horses, dressage horses that are houshold names etc, she got out of dressage because of some of the horriffic practices she saw, including beating a horse with a schooling whip untill it bled whilst hanging onto its double bits and essentialy torturing its tounge because the horse wasnt preforming to a set standard, she saw bloodying of a horses sides with spurs regularly, feeding of horses untill they were about to explode with fizz and then punishing the horse by the above methods if it dared not preform because it was on so many fizzy feeds it couldnt think straight.

I'll never be a showjumper either, if beating a pony round a course whilst jabing it in the mouth with what ever bit, noseband and martingale combination is the flavour of the month whilst bruising the ponies ribs with your heels is what constitutes good riding (as is the tactics of of most pony showjumpers) then I want NOTHING to do with it.
 
Thank you Fihunt and congratulations. I just couldn't bring myself to pay money to enter I class that I was sure I couldn't win or at least get prize money, unless I was just starting out! But having fun is what equestrianism comes down to.
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This is quoteed from the first page, original poster.

If it comes down to defining 'fun' - then to me showing is 'fun' in the way showjumping and eventing will never be - for me!

And it's not just about winning. If I get a ribbon - brilliant, but if I know that my horse has gone better this time than last because I've worked on it - that is what I'm after. An obedient horse, which is safe to ride in stressful situations.

If OP thinks it's all about winning, then they just don't 'get it' and probably never will.
 
TeamTotilas said:
Thank you Fihunt and congratulations. I just couldn't bring myself to pay money to enter I class that I was sure I couldn't win or at least get prize money, unless I was just starting out! But having fun is what equestrianism comes down to.
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yup, it's all about having fun.
I don't think anybody is sure of winning ANY class they enter, that's part of the fun and competition.


I will assume from this comment, that OP doesn't compete then???????
 
TeamTotilas said:
I just don't understand why, if you have a horse that moves nicely or jumps well, you wouldn't do BE, BD, or BS? Participating in one of the above sports would put paid to that as you are judging soley on merit.
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It's just not a competition to me when it's based on someone's opinion.
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These are by far the funniest quotes on this thread. If you think that Dressage is judged "solely on merit" and is not based "on someone's opinion" then you are very deluded! Dressage judging is HUGELY subjective (I have written for dressage judges a lot!), and is also very facey. We've all seen Anky score highly for her halt at the end of a test, when the horse has continued to prance. And it happens all the time at the local BD centres I compete at.

Showing is a great education for a horse. Many dressage horses could not cope with the atmosphere of a county show, afterall, lots of them can't even cope with a mounted prize giving!! And yet show horses have to perform in a mannerly way with marching bands, parachute displays, carriage horses in the next ring, roaring motorbike displays etc etc etc.

It's fairly ignorant to dismiss showing as an equestrian sport and say that it has no place in Horse and Hound. And sadly people always troll out the same old cliches that it's a "pretty pony contest" and that all show horses are obese in order to back their argument. I'm not denying that there are a few porkers in the show ring, but there are also porkers on every livery yard, and also in the dressage arena. It's not right in any sphere, but it's certainly not confined to showing, and at least showing is attempting to do something about it.

I compete in both disciplines (BD and showing) so I can speak with experience of both.
 
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Using your example of showjumping, an incredible amount of producing goes into these horses, albeit in a different (and I would argue more technical and skillfull) way. Their turnout and preparation and similarly as important.
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Are you seriously comparing showjumping turnout and prep, to show horses turnout and prep? Maybe go to KJ's yard, or JW's yard and I think you'll be very very shocked at all the 'extra' turnout skills needed to turn the horse out to it's best.

Comparing the standard of work to a dressage horse, or event horse or whatever sport is irrelevant too. You can't compare a top SJ, to a top DR horse and slate it, as it is completely chalk and cheese. Produced and trained for different careers and styles so saying one is far better trained than the other is ridiculous tbh. Though if we are on that subject....I'd know if it came down to one of our lovely little hunters or a PSG drssage horse and I had to take one hunting for the day....I'd know for certain which one I'd be taking! [Nb. Not the DR horse!]
Dressage and showing is just completely different, in the way the horse carries itself, moves and travels. Hence why dressage horses look completely incorrect and out of place in the ring.

And as for why it's got so much coverage in H&H...maybe have a little read up on who one of the main columnist is... ;)

End of the day, between all the politics,disappointments and hard work most people complain about....it's a way of life and a rather fun one at that which I'd never dream of giving up. I have the hard work of turning out the horse to their best, being at some of the major shows, riding in them, hunting through winter and riding super quality horses.
So what if they're not out round Badminton or at the WEG? I have no intention at all in doing that personally! I'm sure ours could if they wanted, heck, our youngsters by Arko III and has the most scopiest jump ever. But they'll be at the top of their game and get a varied life - doing workers, riddens, hunting, hacking, etc. Not a bad life really. :)

So as to why? I love it. Never used to do it but am a complete convert now.

[Plus. Hell, need to kickstart the solid traditional showing! Where would that be if we didn't have showing :p]
 
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I know absolutely diddly-squat about showing but I think that anything that celebrates horses can't be bad.

Obviously, as in any sport, equestrian or not, there are some dubious characters and methods but you really can't condemn showing because of this. I think it's fantastic for kids to learn how to turn-out and ride their pony to a high standard and to look to the best for inspiration.

I also like the fact that showing encourages certain breeds of horses. Without the incentive of competition, perhaps some of these breeds would start to decline as they're probably not cut-out for the other horsey disiplines?

At the end of the day, it's the pleasure and satisfaction of doing your best and taking pride in your horse. What's wrong with that?
 
I have not read all the replied, but thought I would add my two cents worth;

Is there any point to showing??

Well, yes. Originally showing was conceived to prepare young horses for their future careers, be it as a hunter, eventer, showjumper or whatever. Yes, there are now professional show horses who spend the majority of their career in the ring, and never progress to another discpline, but they are normally those produced by amateurs anyway (the professionals seem to retire their seasoned campaigners to the hunting field).

I show my youngsters - most are taken out from foals - in in-hand classes, and they are exceptionally well behaved in later years. I recently had a fellow HHO'er come to visit my babies, and she remarked how friendly, laid back and easy to handle they were - a lot of this education has come from the showring, and show environment. All of my babies trot into the trailer/lorry, lead perfectly, and respond to my voice. I recently backed my first homebred, and it was the easiest horse I have ever backed - he never put a foot wrong, and even out hacking he was so chilled he had to lead my old schoolmaster/calming influence past some scary cows!

But yes, showing can be very much 'if your face fits'. I used to get wound up about it, but now I am more at ease with 'the system'. I know I will not beat certain people, but live in hope that one day a judge with some balls will place me above the scarred/conformationally challenged horses that a professional turns out (I don't mean a certain professional there, I just meant in general). I recenly watched a friend get placed 2nd in a strong class - her horse was amazing, and definately deserved to win, but the winning horse was owned by a pro, and despite having capped hocks, and giving a fairly poor peformance, he still came out on top, and even went on to take the championship. But that is showing, and it wont change. If you don't enjoy it, that is your right, but I keep doing it for that feeling that my horse has done their best, I don't care if I come last if I feel my horse has behaved and gone as well as they could have. I live in hope that one day I might be placed above a pro, and that feeling for me would be better than any clear round showjumping, or red dressage rosette!

And as for other equestrian sports being 'fair' - I really don't think that they are. Dressage is amazingly subjective, as is eventing (well the dressage part of it). Mark Todd even wrote about it in his autobiography - he said he had a lucky big win when his horse was about the only one clear on a cross country course, and suddenly because he became known as the winner of that event, his dressage scores improve by about 20 marks, despite his riding not changing at all. And showjumping - well, it might be poles in the ring that counts, but the shows I have been to often sees the pro's hogging the practise fences in the warm up, plus the fact they have access to the best training and kit, not to mention horses, in the world.

The truth of showing is that anyone can go out and buy a top show horse for £1000 if they know what to look for, and look hard enough in enough places. With hard work, dedication and elbow greese they can compete in the same ring as those at the top of their game - it does not need to be prohibitively expensive like the upper echelons of dressage, showjumping and eventing.
 
I am new to this showing thingy TBH. I have a 17hh ISH mare who has evented to PN and done BD to elem and has double clears NC. (Not a great level at any of these sports i will concede, but she is a true all rounder) Due to lack of finances i can longer compete affiliated, so i spent last season doing RC shows, i found the SJ courses a poor standard and the dressage competition also poor. We did try trailblazers but this was hardly a cheaper alternative to BE/BD/BS if you get to the final? Local showing we really seemed to do well at and excells at WH. This year i am having a bash at county workers, she is still very well toned and fit (and yes she does look a tad thin compared to some of them!) And i must say i am thoroughly enjoying it. I do refuse to "put more top line on her" thou. I cant speak for anyone else as to why they show, but i have fallen into it by default, but i like it here, so might reside her for a while. (or until i marry a very rich man who will pay my affiliation or find a sponsor!)
 
Late to this post but I got into showing by default when my show jumping horse had to stop jumping (he was jumping Foxhunter level) and if I had any sense I would go back to show jumping because showing is so much hard work both behind the scenes and on the day. However I have no sense so will keep showing.
 
OMG this is hilarious! :D

Sadly haven't time to read all the posts, or to compose any sort of response, but will just answer yes, there is a point to showing. Its huge.

Not all showing is judged as 'if your face fits' some judges are like that, some are not. Same as dressage.

As for not entering something I know I can't win? Nobodys KNOWS they are going to win a class. Oh god, like I said really haven't the time just at the moment.........
 
At least showing is affordable to just about everyone, meaning it is open to all.....the cost of BE is just ridiculous and i wouldn't do it purely for that reason.....I could only ever afford to do 1 or 2 events a year and what's the point in that!!!

Dressage is just as subjective as showing but in a different way and it can be just as 'corrupt' as showing can be!...as has been said before, showing is not just looking pretty, but judged on ride, manners, conformation and type. If you horse is most of the above but hasn't been produced correctly in its ridden work, it won't come anywhere...
As for all this rubbish about fat show horses and ponies..this is becoming much rarer than it was say 10-20 years ago...yes there are still some out there, but tbh I've seen some far worse treatment of horses at BE events and know of one well known famous eventer who is also famous for treating his horses like a bag of s**t....

interesting post though and nice to hear others opinions....
 
Not all show horses are over fed and over rugged. My traditional lives out from May to October 24 x 7. He is fed a basic fibre diet, is fit and not carrying excess weight. Rugs - well he has them in winter, but most full clipped horses do! He does a mixture of everything, but I do very much enjoying showing as a chance to show what a nice little horse I have and the hours of work I have put into him.

My horse has to perform perfectly in walk, trot, canter and gallop, often with 20 other horses close by, staying in a good outline, moving actively and not even looking at the hot air ballon, motorcycle display team, bellowing bull, or braying donkey in the next ring. Stand to be mounted without moving an inch, taking any stranger onboard and again behaving with perfect manners and way of going. Able to jump a working hunter course which fillers, water trays and still with perfect manners, no head up, just forward going, confident and total obedience. Not to nap or spook but also have plenty of energy to show sparkle. There are few horses that can do all this at top level.

My £1800 horse has been reserve champion at a county show - against many professionals so it can be done. Yes some judges can be facey, yes some producers do things that leave a nasty taste in the mouth, but that can be said of any equestrian activity.

My OH does not like showing or dressage, only SJ as at the end of the day that truely is down to the ability of getting over poles in the fastest time. Dressage can be as facey and subjective as showing and I hear more people moan about dressage when at these shows then I do at any showing class.

What is the point - very simple, it gives me a great sense of achievement and hours of fun and pleasure.
 
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