NPS - reminder - what are your thoughts???

[dorsetladette]

The NPS put out a post of Facebook yesterday asking/reminding people not to travel ponies long distances repeatedly to shows.
I was interested in the responses and then also interested in opinions of HHO members as we are a broader audience not just showing.

My feeling is nps shows should be attended in the spirit intended. That we should support our local area and possibly areas adjoining ours but I dont think travelling up and down the country is in the spirit of the shows/qualifiers were intended.

 

[humblepie]

One of the veteran associations has a limit on number of second rounds you can do and I think used to have a limit on number of qualifiers generally. I think that’s quite sensible. People will travel long distances for a particular show or judge which is probably fair enough but not week in week out.

 

[honetpot]

I have only ever done local, my limit was 25miles. My friend who had one produced, and because her daughter was riding used to take one her lorry, so were, just about out every weekend. I sometimes was, go for, at the bigger local ones, and it so blooming boring, and I would say I am knowledgable. It's a bit like the school play, the only child you're interested is your own. There used to twenty five/thirty in the HOYS or the RI, the majority were never going to be in the top six. Her pony qualified for RI, so I went, and its just as boring on a more expensive scale
I have stewarded at some of the big shows and what worries me is some are so over weight and unfit, that after five circuits on a grass field, in warm weather is good for very few. The pros horses tend to be fitter, but for a lot being dragged out on a weekend, stood on a lorry for two hours plus, and then hammered on hard ground.
I have a Welsh A that was trailed around the northern circuit, and won a lot, but he has had health problems since he was about four, has dreadful confirmation, but is very striking cut and shut. He would stand on a lorry all day, as before he was three he was more used to being in four walls than out in a paddock, and was on three Stubbs scoops competition mix day
I think they ought to stop all lunging on show grounds, it's not just that some people abuse it, but some people have no control or respect when for others.

 

[minesadouble]

I certainly agree with the sentiment.
I was very dubious about the HOYS La Liga for this very reason.

 

[Ratface]

I only did shows within a six - ten mile radius because that was what I thought was reasonable for a day's work for my grass-fed, quite fit pony.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

There is one week in June where there is a HOYS Native Pony qualifiers almost every day of the week starting in the south and finishing on the Sunday at the Highland Show in Scotland. And many ponies went to pretty much all of these shows. Their feet will have only touched grass in the ring.