SEL
Well-Known Member
On the subject of napping ponies and sympathetic judges.....
This was a Uni competition so a very long time ago. We were one of the visiting teams so on horses we didn't know. Each horse had to do 4 tests with a rider from each of the teams. I had pretty b&w cob who went beautifully while I was warming up in the outdoor school but who went into riding school dobbin mode the minute we entered the indoor arena.
After a number of flicks with the dressage whip to try and get the blessed thing to shift into a trot rather than a shuffle we got round to the exit side of the arena where it decided to nap - with speed - to the gate. I was rather annoyed and shouted very loudly at it and gave it a few proper belts with my schooling whip. We carried on with a lot more impulsion.
Judge spoke to me after the salute and said 'I'm afraid I am going to have to deduct some points for that, but I've sat through 3 tests this afternoon thinking that pony needed a good smack!'
This was a Uni competition so a very long time ago. We were one of the visiting teams so on horses we didn't know. Each horse had to do 4 tests with a rider from each of the teams. I had pretty b&w cob who went beautifully while I was warming up in the outdoor school but who went into riding school dobbin mode the minute we entered the indoor arena.
After a number of flicks with the dressage whip to try and get the blessed thing to shift into a trot rather than a shuffle we got round to the exit side of the arena where it decided to nap - with speed - to the gate. I was rather annoyed and shouted very loudly at it and gave it a few proper belts with my schooling whip. We carried on with a lot more impulsion.
Judge spoke to me after the salute and said 'I'm afraid I am going to have to deduct some points for that, but I've sat through 3 tests this afternoon thinking that pony needed a good smack!'