Olympia? Draw reins?

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JoshuaR97

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How come when some of the prize givings were going on some of the riders have their horses with draw reins on?😁 Do they just put them on for control? Hmm
 
I would imagine yes! TBH I hate gadgets, mine competes in a plain snaffle and loose cavasson, no flash or martingale... BUT... if we were in a prize giving at Olympia I may well consider doing the same!
 
Good sentiment Auslander!

Standing martingales are more common than draws but yes - its for control. The noise, the lights and the exceptionally close crowd in that arena are all massive distractions and no-one wants an injured horse or rider.

Spotted the winner of the Santa Stakes on Thursday even came in to prize giving on a different horse! He won on a grey - but accepted his rosette ect on a bay with a wall eye.
 
I was at Olympia on Saturday night and to say some of the horses got, erm, enthusiastic in the prize giving was an understatement! One of the top 6 (May have been Robert Whitaker if my memory serves me correctly) came in on a different horse! I would also echo the sentiment that draw reins are for control here - I would probably want some assurance of further control if I was in a prize giving with an atmosphere and crowd like that. My old pony went bananas in prize givings and laps of honour (The excitement was too much for him) and I must say I can recall numerous occasions where I was dumped on the floor after winning a class! It is rather embarrassing to say the least and that was on a much, much, much smaller scale so I can't say I blame them really.
 
acorn92x said:
I was at Olympia on Saturday night and to say some of the horses got, erm, enthusiastic in the prize giving was an understatement! One of the top 6 (May have been Robert Whitaker if my memory serves me correctly) came in on a different horse! I would also echo the sentiment that draw reins are for control here - I would probably want some assurance of further control if I was in a prize giving with an atmosphere and crowd like that. My old pony went bananas in prize givings and laps of honour (The excitement was too much for him) and I must say I can recall numerous occasions where I was dumped on the floor after winning a class! It is rather embarrassing to say the least and that was on a much, much, much smaller scale so I can't say I blame them really.
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Robert Whitakers horse was quite wound up as it came in and was leaving so I wouldn't blame him

There were a lot of gadgets in the ring, me and my friend both commented on that and how refreshing it was when one came in with no martingale and a loose ring saffle
 
As much as I'm not a big fan of gadgets as such, I can totally see why they do it in this circumstance. Better to be safe than sorry or you end up getting dumped like that poor rider did which then terrifies the horse even more.
 
After watching the World Cup qualifier yesterday, at least 3 riders came back in on different horses, including Guy Williams and the winner (Emanuele... can't remember the rest!) who came in on the bay with the wall eye! Who had a bungee on, not draw reins.

I think it's a good idea if your horse can't cope in that environment, be safe and borrow a calm horse to claim your prize!

As an aside, what an exciting jump off! It was great!
 
I ride my PL in a snaffle, no flash and no other gadets at home. Went for a ride on sat with 200+ horses and he was fine until the end when everyone started bombing off and going a bit mad, and he thought he was hunting and went mad too. My martingale saved my life tbh!
 
webble said:
Robert Whitakers horse was quite wound up as it came in and was leaving so I wouldn't blame him

There were a lot of gadgets in the ring, me and my friend both commented on that and how refreshing it was when one came in with no martingale and a loose ring saffle
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No me either! It's better to be safe than sorry, especially in a situation like that.
 
When i went to Olympia quite a few years ago -Laura B didn't' bring Alf in for the prize giving -she borrowed one of the horses that had done the forces jumping i think who had a great time cantering round in the dressage prize giving! :)
 
I have absolutely no issue with bitting/gadgeting up for situations where I know there will be drama! Alf wears a snaffle and cavesson for schooling, but I have no hesitation in sticking a Waterford in his mouth or adding a set of draw reins for occasions that warrant it - he's too big, too athletic, and too sharp for me to be that keen to do exciting stuff in a snaffle, just because gadgets and strong bits are the devils work...
 
Personally I think that they should have to claim their prize on the horse that won it! None of this changing horses malarky!

Bungees, draw reins, earplugs etc. I have no issue with in a prize giving but at least give the horse that won the credit as well! It's done most of the hard work! Even if you walk in with a Bloomin groom next to you for the horses reassurance!
 
Embo said:
After watching the World Cup qualifier yesterday, at least 3 riders came back in on different horses, including Guy Williams and the winner (Emanuele... can't remember the rest!) who came in on the bay with the wall eye! Who had a bungee on, not draw reins.

I think it's a good idea if your horse can't cope in that environment, be safe and borrow a calm horse to claim your prize!

As an aside, what an exciting jump off! It was great!
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Ah that explains a lot! I was there yesterday and hadn't noticed the wall eye until the H&M lady interviewing Emanuele asked him about it. There was a bit of muttering out of earshot of the microphone and she changed the question to "what can you tell me about your horse?". I thought it was a bit odd that he didn't want to confirm that the horse had a blue eye!
 
Having seen Jurs Vreiling get dumped in the rpize giving I can;t say I blame them riders for erring on the side of caution. I think the horse stumbled though and he lost his hat. Was okay though.
 
I would have loved to have had a spare horse for prize givings when I was jumping my boy. We were ok in a prize giving as long as he had won and was therefore in front! It didn't happen very often so I used to have to leg it out of the arena before the lap of honour got going! If he was chasing another horse down (in his mind!) he wouldn't care what got in his way, he'd jump it!

My share horse would be the sort others would borrow - he's a sweetie.
 
How refreshing to read these replies. The atmosphere at Olympia is electric, I'm not surprised some horses struggle to cope at prize givings and frankly I don't care which horse a rider rides as long as both stay safe. I understand some riders will warm up very hot horses in a very low outline so that they have control (not talking roll kur here) and if they need extra help to keep a horse rideable, then they are sensible to add what is required. The majority of showjumpers and dressage horses competing at the top level are as hot as hell and quite unlike the horses that most of us on here ride.
 
Really nice to hear people understanding why riders use draw reins and change horses. Would much rather see the rider able to enjoy there prize and not worry the horses that has done a lot of hard work for the rider
 
Show jumping and dressage horses may be 'hot' horses but they should have to cope with some resemblance of a prize giving! I am guessing it is because they only ever work around other horses at competitions.

I have worked with race horses for 11 years and have led in hugely popular winners at tracks up and down the country. I have led in placed horses where the winner has been a massive crowd pleaser. That is a small enclosed area with people all around and up above. They cope with it. 2yo's and 3yo's flat racing at the highest level cope with quite literally everything that is thrown at them. Why not other disciplines?
 
EKW said:
Show jumping and dressage horses may be 'hot' horses but they should have to cope with some resemblance of a prize giving! I am guessing it is because they only ever work around other horses at competitions.

Well it's taken years for Carl Hester to get Nip Tuck to the point that he can cope with a prize giving and I have huge respect for Carl's training methods, are you really suggesting that horses shouldn't be competed until they can go into a prize giving? If so, how do you propose to get them to that point?

I have worked with race horses for 11 years and have led in hugely popular winners at tracks up and down the country. I have led in placed horses where the winner has been a massive crowd pleaser. That is a small enclosed area with people all around and up above. They cope with it. 2yo's and 3yo's flat racing at the highest level cope with quite literally everything that is thrown at them. Why not other disciplines?
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This is a completely different situation, firstly in the collecting ring they are not being ridden or asked to stand quietly, they don't even stop for the jockey to be legged up in most cases. Coming into the winner's enclosure the horse has just given his all, not been standing on a lorry or in a stable waiting for the prize giving and he is not ridden. I doubt you could take many race horses into Olympia for a prize giving and not have an explosion or, as I recall in Kauto Star's case a complete shut down.
 
I am just surprised people think draw reins make things safer. They constrict the animals frame and are a schooling aid, not something used for control. If the animal boils over, goes up or does any thing where all four feet are not on the floor its centre of balance can not quickly be adjusted and the potential for the animal to go over is greater. If they are not allowed in the competition they should not be allowed in the prize giving.
The children that do WHP at the bigger shows ie the Caldene arena at HOYS, compete with the crowd within feet of them and the ponies are expected to behave at all times.
 
honetpot said:
I am just surprised people think draw reins make things safer. They constrict the animals frame and are a schooling aid, not something used for control. If the animal boils over, goes up or does any thing where all four feet are not on the floor its centre of balance can not quickly be adjusted and the potential for the animal to go over is greater. If they are not allowed in the competition they should not be allowed in the prize giving.
The children that do WHP at the bigger shows ie the Caldene arena at HOYS, compete with the crowd within feet of them and the ponies are expected to behave at all times.
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I really think the people riding know best what to do!!
 
honetpot said:
I am just surprised people think draw reins make things safer. They constrict the animals frame and are a schooling aid, not something used for control. If the animal boils over, goes up or does any thing where all four feet are not on the floor its centre of balance can not quickly be adjusted and the potential for the animal to go over is greater. If they are not allowed in the competition they should not be allowed in the prize giving.
The children that do WHP at the bigger shows ie the Caldene arena at HOYS, compete with the crowd within feet of them and the ponies are expected to behave at all times.
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And the ponies have probably been lunged for 5 hours before hand...
 
I'm always amazed at how judgemental some posters are on this board. These are big, hyped up horses which have just had a huge adrenaline surge in the jump off, just a risk assessment by the riders (who do usually know best how their horses are going to react) would tell some of them that it is safer to have finger tip control with draw reins if needed than risk an accident.
They are not using them to crank their horses heads in, quite often they're loose unless needed. I could say I never drive above thirty so I don't need a seat belt, or never get above trot so don't need a riding hat. Most of the time I wouldn't but I'll be glad of it on the odd occasion.
I'd love to have a big strong horse and be a good enough rider to compete at these competitions, but not likely to happen. But if it did, I think I would be the one to decide what safety measures I would need.
On second thoughts, let's ban mounted prize givings all together, and have the riders run round the arena with the rosette in their teeth. That would sort out the fit ones from the couch potatoes.
Would love to see one or two of the more circumferentially challenged riders charging up the centre of the arena in the spot lights!
 
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honetpot said:
Unfortunately not always. That's why we have rules on the types of equipment that can be used in competition. I steward at large shows and it never ceases to amaze me at the dangerous things that people do.
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Are you seriously suggesting that calibre of rider will get away with it at olympia lol and you know better what their horses need? . get real!!!!
 
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