Local Shows, a weeny rant!

[Dovorian]

I was bored yestreday and as the weather was super I decided to wander around a local show. First impression was that there were soome very nice horses and ponies and well turned out riders, which is a hige improvement IMHO. Second impression..... nice horse, but rider had her spurs actually on the heel of her boots and was constantly jab, jab, jab in walk!! Whilst stifling the temptation to suggest that her spurs had 'slipped' I was almost run over by a rapidly reversing pony whose dear rider was standing up in the stirrups and yanking the poor animal which screeching various four letter words ( not the pleasant sort I must add). Add to that incorrect tack and some ponies which looked like tack shop displays and other clearly in bondage - we just kept on walking and left.

People are certainly spending a lot of money on animals and associated gear, but look beyond some of that and it isn;t a pretty sight.

Rant over!

 

[Sir_Gwain]

LOL,

I know what you mean.

I must admit though that only go to local shows currently. Its my first year with my horse and im taking it as a training year and will affiliate BE next season.

So there I am at a eventer trial yesterday. Turned out in my cross country gear, body protector, medical card etc.

As you say lots off lovely horses and ponies. Quite a few with braking problems both in forward and reverse gear.

Worse sight off tge day had to be the pont turned out all in pink with the rider wearing red jodphurs, red bodywarmer , and a pink pinkur helmet. Now im not a fasion consious kind off guy, but it just made me laugh.

Mind you the home made cakes were nice. 50p a slic or the whole cake for £3, i had the cake

 

[_April_]

There's nothing wrong with my x country colours

LOL I'm really, really joking!! Look below

 

[Lvrees]

Yes I agree... I went to a local show yesterday as well... had affiliated classes there too, but some "fun" classes. And while I was waiting for the 3' SJ to begin my dad nearly got knocked over by some 14.2hh chestnut mare who decided she could walk on 2 legs and was going to do so across the collecting ring, whilst jockey sat their screaming "stupid b*tch!". I then whilst warming up got rammed into a hedge and then cut up 2 strides before the fence by a woman with a pony tail down to her waist, reins as long as a washing line (a long one) screaming "get on you cow!".

I'm not even going to start on the "Potential sport/competition class, and 4 out of the 6 competitors for the Horse to Hunt class refused the fence.

But we did well!!

 

[susan_w]

Hello - don't disagree with you Cathy. You seem to see more of them in the outdoor season, than at other times - or maybe it's just more obvious because you are outdoors at multi ring shows. Bet I can guess where you were though.

Are you going over to Denne Hill next Monday - its the FRC annual show, normally a busy one.

 

[Dovorian]

Good point + I was on foot and 'unattached' to any horses so I actually had time to look! We will go over on Monday - I think Zara is planning to do the WH on somebody's posh warmblood! We will be in Surrey on Sat judging - I'm going to more shows than ever since stopping competing!

 

[khan]

Hey there, i understand your weeny rant - but on the other side of the coin we have some very hardworking individuals who run, steward and judge at local shows, i know some of the standards of horsemanship aren't great, but people go to these shows to learn at grassroots level.

I was a very active member of the BSJA for several years whilst living at home (no mortgage) until I met my partner and we decided to buy our home, and I simply couldn't afford to compete at that level anymore whilst keeping all my animals.

However, at affiliated shows, i have been kicked hard in the shins by other riders not looking where they were going and banging into me and my horse whilst on the track in the warm up arena at a county show (i thought my leg had been broken and i now have a massive dent and splints in my shin)

, stewards, my horse and myself have been on the very near end of horses kicking out whilst getting the sh*t whipped out of them galloping out of the arena by disgruntled and obnoxious riders and rudeness a-plenty, people completly hogging the warm up jumps and completly mental riders taking their in-season mares jumping much to the peril of everybody else.

I'm just saying that we don't all have to be equine snobs and sh*tty horsemanship happens at the highest levels too.

My mother runs a very well attended riding club which runs throughout the summer with show classes, workers, utility, fun, and soon dressage and the jumping heights continue until 4ft. We pay an accredited BSJA coursebuilder so all jumps are upto height and the course is changed after most classes, we work hard to obtain and keep a high standard of horsemanship - no swearing, no excessive whip or spur use is allowed, equipment and tack is checked and rules are adhered to full stop. No allowances.

It is actually more fun than when i was affiliated (stress levels etc).

 

[Dovorian]

In my defence - I do also judge and help out at events plus I have ridden and competed for 40 odd years myself so I know what it is like! My post was intended to bring a little smile, not to annoy, as we all see these things but it isn't always easy to correct them!

 

[wizzi901]

I am sure you didnt mean it but your original post sounded very snobby!! - I dont like kids swearing or abusing their ponies etc but you see adults doing it at affiliated events too.

I am not affiliated in any way shape or form, I dont take my competing that seriously although we do have success. Whilst I may see some sights at shows, I have also made a lot of good friends from the unaffiliated circuit in my area, people that I see year after year and those who have become personal friends not just at shows.

I think it is quite harsh to put judgement on the unaffiliated circuit as you have.

I note you wished to correct the things you saw at the show? but felt unable to.

Who on earth gave you the right to decide what colour someone "should" wear, its personal choice! - so what if their horse looked like it was up for some bondage? - do you think the horse gave a damn?

Your own personal judgement of what is right is down to you, but it should stay that way and not be used as a way to ridicule others who maybe dont have the knowledge and experience that you do? - maybe they are younger than you?

From the proud owner of a 16.1 bay gelding who has the most bling browband with my gelding's name on it lol!!!

 

[Lvrees]

Chill out!! Christ this was such a lighthearted rant, and I didnt take it as abusive, derogative, snobby or patronising to anybody!! I compete affiliated and unnafilliated and I've seen it all on both circuits, I've also helped run shows before!! And in both some of these people really dont have a clue about manners, etiquet or turn out... but really no need to get excited about it!!

 

[Dovorian]

I think you may have taken my post in slightly the wrong context - regarding tack, my thought is simply that many horses and ponies are saddled 'according to fashion/trend. by that I mean incorrect bitting, nosebands, breastplates which are restricting movement etc. I promise you that I'm certainly not a snob and don't think I have criticised what 'colours' people should have? The rude rider was not a child by the way and neither was the person jabbing her poor animal with incorrectly fitted spurs!

I sincerely apologise to you Marsden if you feel my post was offensive, perhaps I an envious of people who spend £150 odd on a breastplate just to look like a top rider. So, terribly sorry, and yes I do know that affiliated shows have problems too!

 

[wizzi901]

no offence taken and I assure you I am a very chilled person! Hence my piss take remark at the end of my post lol!

I just thought you sounded extremely snobby, you know the type to look down on a 12 year old because they are kitted out in pink and purple and fancy having a bit of sparkle for their favourite pony lol!

You have critised the placement of someone's spurs?! - I wear mine low too, so what? That suits me and my horse and also my damn thick boots lol! Blimey, he even gets a jab with the spurs occasinally!!

I get what you are saying in all the gear and no idea, but proof is in the pudding when you come out of the ring with your old saddle in tatters but a nice red rosette, unlike the person with the new saddle whose horse cant jump a stick so dont let it rile you lol!

 

[Dovorian]

Thank you - we are on the same wavelength. Good phrase 'all the gear and no idea', some competitors in bottom hole jumping had more gear on their horses that the average Badminton XC entrant! I do see the funny side, but at the same time feel for the horses and ponies. I can remeber being told off for not having garter straps on my boots in a WH comp - didn't dare admit that they were 2nd hand!
Thank you for taking the comments in the spirit intended - I am a 'sad' individual whose idea of 'bling' is a pair of earrings (on me not nag!).