Olympia turnout questions

R

roanrebel

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 February 2006
Messages
73
Visit site
Hi all, just been watching Olympia on TV and have some questions and wondered if you could help me? Although I've been watching showjumping for years I don't compete and don't know all the ins and outs.

Please can you tell me:

Why did John Whitaker's horse Maximilian have a half-plaited mane?
Why do men wear white ties?
And why do women seem to wear shirts with no stock/tie?

I am in no way criticising the above, I just genuinely wondered why.

Thanks :)
 
Re Maximillian.
I heard the commentary team say something about it just helping to keep his mane all on the correct side, rather than fully plaiting.
 
It looks like it was to keep his mane on the correct side as I watched him in a subsequent class where his mane wasn't banded and he was sporting an awesome 'double' mane as we call them in this family :)
 
When I saw title, I thought you were asking where they turn horses out. That would be an interesting one in West London...
 
I think the answer to the ties / shirts thing is a combination of tradition and fashion. So far as I can recall (and I am quite old... or at least I feel it!) men have always worn white ties show jumping. Women used to wear stocks - which were also traditionally white or cream (silly colour for a muddy sport but there you are..) But self tie stock shirts with the high colour seem to have become fashionable in the last few years. Odd really as they started out as children's shirts for those not able to tie a stock and seem to have caught on!
 
i loved maxamillians mane thought it looked really smart with the banding-i do all my manes with scissors and in a sharp line i love it! :D
 
I find it quite ridiculous that only half the mane was plaited. You would think for a professional showjumping there turnout would be professional and it's either plaited or natural. No half and half that's just lazy. And if it was to keep the mane over he should have plaited it all... it dosnt take long to plait when your a groom.
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
If you look alot of show jumpers have manes trimmed by scissors, you get this blunt square line, I don't like it at all, but then I am traditional :D and stuck in my ways lol
Click to expand...

I HATE scissor cut manes! If I see anyone walking round the yard with a pair of scissors rather than a mane comb I go absolutely mental at them. If you can't pull then get someone to do it for you!
 
Worse still than a cut mane (which makes me cringe) is the mane being plaitted on the wrong side

Quite a few examples of that yesterday on TV - ugh:mad:

And don't even get me started on the bum freezers!
 
bum freezers? what are bum freezers!

I noticed quite a few saddle cloths that looked a bit small for the saddle when I went yesterday.

I did think all the riders and the horses looked quite smart though, you could see how much effort their grooms had put in.
 
It is traditional in Europe to plait and lay manes on the left side rather than the right side. I don't know why before anyone asks. I doubt it matters to the horse lol.

As far as pulling is concerned again it is a very British thing and the foreigners think it is barbaric (and I agree with them). Artificially pulling hair out to make a mane look 'natural' is ridiculous! Either leave it totally natural or trim with scissors (and thin using an appropriate tool) to make it tidy. Most Europeans also leave the tails unpulled too and you are just as unlikely to see the cheat's version of a pulled tail - the abomination that is a clipped tail.

Show jumpers are frequently plaited but some riders think that it can make them feel uncomfortable in the neck especially if the plaits are tight. This is why especially in the Puissance most horses are left unplaited as when they bascule and arch their neck the plaits can pull at them. At the top level when milliseconds separate the winner from the also runs it is attention to detail that often makes the difference, and having a comfortable horse is clearly important.
 
Polos said:
bum freezers? what are bum freezers!
Click to expand...

Bum freezers are show jackets that are too short in the body for you thus showing off your bum - therefore freezing your backside :D Now it's one thing to out grow a jacket and get away without buying a new one for a few shows but it's a completely different thing when these jackets are being made and sold specifially too small in both body and arm. I hate them!!!
 
My mare campaigned in her jumper classes with the exact same mane. Except they were smaller and you really couldn't tell until you got close up. Thing is I don't like fully plaited. I like neat and tidy all on one side. There is no plaiting involved. Just put bands in at the very top. I was delighted to see the horses this way as I think in the time Abba was jumping I only ever saw her with her mane this way. I'm a trendsetter. LOL! And yes I know I'm not.

Terri
 
EKW said:
Bum freezers are show jackets that are too short in the body for you thus showing off your bum - therefore freezing your backside :D Now it's one thing to out grow a jacket and get away without buying a new one for a few shows but it's a completely different thing when these jackets are being made and sold specifially too small in both body and arm. I hate them!!!
Click to expand...

oh I get it now! and I agree its not the best look either!
 
Wow, I always thought scissor-cutting was a big novicey no-no, I just assumed the showjumpers used something like a Solocomb.

Bum Freezers is new terminology to me too!

Some very interesting comments here, learning lots, keep it coming :)
 
Scissor cutting to get a 'natural' look is easy, and far kinder than pulling. I pull a little, but cut mostly - my hair dresser was gobsmacked when I told him, he didn't understand why I couldn't thin it like he thins down hair when he styles it, makes sense really.

I love the short necked women's shirts, so easy to do, and no faff and ponce, and you can wear nice modern stretch sports fabrics too :)
 
It is traditional in Europe to plait and lay manes on the left side rather than the right side. I don't know why before anyone asks. I doubt it matters to the horse lol.

This is interesting and I'd never heard this before. Here in New Zealand and Australia we plait on the off side and also lay the manes to the right.

As far as pulling is concerned again it is a very British thing and the foreigners think it is barbaric (and I agree with them). Artificially pulling hair out to make a mane look 'natural' is ridiculous!

Being the person usually left to plait the mane I prefer manes to be pulled. Interestingly if a mane is pulled regularly over a few years fewer hairs grow back. It's far easier and smarter to pull the mane to an even length and thickness.

Most Europeans also leave the tails unpulled too and you are just as unlikely to see the cheat's version of a pulled tail - the abomination that is a clipped tail.

I think it is very much a tradition thing a pulled tail is tidy and easier to keep clean and in the show ring the llength of the pulling can enhance a horses bottom. I far rather see pulled than scissored and clipped. What I really loathe is the tail that has been clipped to the skin all the way around the dock. Carefully done it can look like a pulled tail.

Show jumpers are frequently plaited but some riders think that it can make them feel uncomfortable in the neck especially if the plaits are tight. This is why especially in the Puissance most horses are left unplaited as when they bascule and arch their neck the plaits can pull at them. At the top level when milliseconds separate the winner from the also runs it is attention to detail that often makes the difference, and having a comfortable horse is clearly important.

I can remember when all the top horses came into the ring beautifully presented and show jumpers would have 30+ tiny plaits so that they would not be uncomfortable. Over the past 20 years I've slowly seen the standerd of dress and presentation slide - that's sad!

And the white tie - is an FEI rule
Article 256 1.5. Civilians are required to wear the uniform or dress approved by their NF, a red coat or a black coat, white or light fawn breeches, black or brown boots. Other dark coloured boots may be approved at the discretion of the FEI. A white tie, or choker, or a hunting stock and a white or lightly coloured shirt must be worn. Shirts may have long or short sleeves and must have a white collar; long-sleeved shirts must have white cuffs. If a jacket is not worn shirts must have sleeves, either short or long sleeves are permitted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top