Only nervous amateurs wear ribbons

[lizziebell]

At a recent dressage competition I overheard a local professional person comment on a rider in the warm up whose horse wore a red ribbon, saying you can spot the nervous amateur riders a mile off as they are always the ones with red/ green ribbons and a professional would never wear one. It was said in a very derogatory and mocking manner.

Ive used a red ribbon many times. Yes, I am an amateur rider so maybe he’s right in one respect, but I’m not nervous and have ridden to a decent level. I just think it’s courtesy/ polite to warn people if your horse has potential to cause issues. It has got me thinking though, if this is a common attitude and whether even judges spot the red ribbon and think, oh my god here comes the numpty (I know judges are trained not to, but we are all human and have a subconscious that doesn't always agree with our consciousness)

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I'm sure s/he would have something to say if I didn't use a red ribbon and their horse had half their jaw hanging off...
ignore them, people will always have something to say about something, usually to make themselves feel superior.
My thoughts when I see a ribbon are, that one kicks or bites, give it space - just as per the intended message. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Sounds like a twunt. Insecure and stupid.

In the ignore box. And if that is the "general attitude" out there then the general attitude is stupid too.

It's just a warning ribbon, nothing more nothing less.

 

[Gamebird]

At a recent dressage competition I overheard a local professional person comment on a rider in the warm up whose horse wore a red ribbon, saying you can spot the nervous amateur riders a mile off as they are always the ones with red/ green ribbons and a professional would never wear one. It was said in a very derogatory and mocking manner.

Earning ones living from horses does not necessarily make one worthy of the title 'professional'...

 

[Ample Prosecco]

It's nonsense anyway. There were horses at Aachen Grand Prix with a red ribbon. There was a horse in the warm up when I was competing at Eland, and the owner was shouting 'don't come too close - he kicks!' It would have been jolly helpful for her to wear a ribbon! It's basic courtesy. Something the 'pro' obviously lacks.

 

[JGC]

Well, that lady is welcome to come try ramming her horse up my horse's a** to test if it's just a question of me being "nervous" ...

 

[dottylottie]

it’s bizarre, this is something i only ever heard of very recently - in a fb group, i saw people suggesting not to put tail ribbons in as it’s something only beginners do. when Lily is able to get to some shows, she’ll most definitely be wearing a red ribbon in her tail, id rather be considered a numpty than be sued

 

[AmyMay]

.

 

[SEL]

When Babycob spent his first few outings on 2 legs I couldn't have cared less if so-called professionals thought the green ribbon was the sign of a nervous amateur - so long as they gave me space!

They may well have given the horse shaped kangaroo space anyway but I did hear one trainer say to her rider I wish we'd remembered a ribbon. It was an ex racer on its first outing and was behaving beautifully but no one wants people charging past them in a warm up first time out

On a fun ride a couple of months back a lady kept squealing that her horse kicked. A red ribbon would have been a nice warning ...

 

[Barton Bounty]

If my horse was a kicker or unpredictable, I would put the ribbon on. Because if I ended up passing the rear of the horse and it kicked out and there were no warning signs . Id probably drag the rider off by the hair

 

[lizziebell]

it’s bizarre, this is something i only ever heard of very recently - in a fb group, i saw people suggesting not to put tail ribbons in as it’s something only beginners do. when Lily is able to get to some shows, she’ll most definitely be wearing a red ribbon in her tail, id rather be considered a numpty than be sued

Interesting - this is the first time I’ve heard it mentioned, although the “pro” who said it came across as a bit of an arrogant t^t. He was warming up, but periodically stopping to chat to an entourage of ladies (assuming groom, friend, maybe owner and friends). I was stood by them as I was there supporting a friend (my friend wasn’t the one he was referring to)

 

[Roxylola]

I think we have a duty to look after our horses and keep them safe. If putting a ribbon in a tail facilitates that why would you not? It's like going hacking without any hi viz on, it's there to keep everyone safer why would you not?

 

[Roxylola]

Sorry to double post, but tbh if it makes someone go ugh look at that wimpy amateur ill stay well away from them it has the desired effect still...

 

[superpony]

I am pretty sure that Gemma Stevens had red ribbons all over the horse she jumped in the Hickstead Derby this year... I wonder if he would like to call her a nervous amateur...

I do tend to put a red ribbon in my mare's tail at local SJ (not so much at BE/BD) to prevent people squeezing/squashing her. She can get rather worried and upset and it does tend to keep people away!

 

[minesadouble]

Am I the only person who treats every horse as potential kicker when put competing?

Edited to add I have also drummed this perception into my children

 

[daffy44]

What a load of nonsense! If I see a horse with either a red or green ribbon on its tail, the only thing I think is that I will give that horse even more room than I would normally give any other horse in the warm up. The only thing that would enter my head about the rider is gratitude that they have warned me about their horse, so I can keep my own horse safe.

 

[EternalVetBills]

I am pretty sure that Gemma Stevens had red ribbons all over the horse she jumped in the Hickstead Derby this year... I wonder if he would like to call her a nervous amateur...

I do tend to put a red ribbon in my mare's tail at local SJ (not so much at BE/BD) to prevent people squeezing/squashing her. She can get rather worried and upset and it does tend to keep people away!

Yes she did, as did William Funnel I believe. Geoff Billington also often has red and green ribbons on his horses.

I ride professionally and often have ribbons in horses tails for various reasons too. People can be so weird, what on earth does a bit of fabric have to do with whether or not you're an experienced/confident rider?!

 

[SOS]

Clearly this professional wasn’t brought up in the hunting field.

I wonder what they do with their horses that kick then.. I do hope keep well out of the way and behind everyone else but must be hard when the “numpties” don’t know to stay out of the way.

 

[SEL]

Am I the only person who treats every horse as potential kicker when put competing?

Edited to add I have also drummed this perception into my children

I do too - not even competing

I always check if I'm passing people out riding too. A friend took a nasty kick to her leg from a horse she passed on a bridlepath

 

[Ample Prosecco]

HOYS

 

[humblepie]

We did on my ex racehorse his first year BD. Not because he kicks as such but doesn’t like horses up his backside and of course they can all kick if annoyed. Rider was the most confidence giving rider you could imagine. Still didn’t stop someone medium trotting flat out right across his back end . Fortunately no problem but not helpful.

 

[scats]

People take themselves far too seriously.
He makes his living from trotting horses around a sandpit. I’m not sure why that makes him more qualified to comment on what other people do when trotting around the sandpit.
Madness.

 

[Goldenstar]

Why bother about what unkind people say .
Life is just too short .

 

[Glitter's fun]

Obviously someone who felt they needed to be derogatory and mocking because they were very insecure about their position in the social pecking order at the event. Confident professionals (and the rest of us!) will always thank you for the courtesy of a warning.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Obviously someone who felt they needed to be derogatory and mocking because they were very insecure about their position in the social pecking order at the event. Confident professionals (and the rest of us!) will always thank you for the courtesy of a warning.

100%
People can be so worried about 'what other people will think' and I always say that as long as you are not in anyone's way or doing anything dangerous or intrusive, no one cares what other people are doing. Focus on your own plan, your own test or round and forget about everyone else. Then some tw*t comes along to prove that some people truly are so judgemental that they pass critical commentary on people for literally no reason at all.

But that kind of nonsense says far more about them than about the riders they are judging.

 

[Birker2020]

It reminds me of the 'no riding hat or hi viz' argument. Some people refuse to wear either because it makes them look like numpties (in their eyes).

Quite how they think they would look with a significant brain injury drooling and incontinent or flying through a car windscreen accompanied by their horse is something I've often wondered.

Foolish, selfish and irresponsible springs to mind.

 

[humblepie]

Yes we have a no hi vis and rather patronising about those who do at our yard. Fortunately most are on the responsible side.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Interesting - this is the first time I’ve heard it mentioned, although the “pro” who said it came across as a bit of an arrogant t^t. He was warming up, but periodically stopping to chat to an entourage of ladies (assuming groom, friend, maybe owner and friends). I was stood by them as I was there supporting a friend (my friend wasn’t the one he was referring to)

Sounds like a classical case of a male wanting to impress his female entourage, by using the tactic Speak as if you really know what you're talking about, and they might be fooled into thinking you actually do know what you're talking about.

I think the red rosettes are a brilliant, simplistic idea. Judging by the World Cup, and Grand Prix show jumping competitions I've watched through the years on TV, I would say that the last 20 years or so, it is more common that you will see at least one, sometimes more, horses with a red ribbon, than not.
Didn't Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, the first woman to win the Show jumping World Cup Finals three times (2005, 2008, 2009), have a red rosette in the tails of both Shutterfly, Checkmate, and at least one other of her horses, at least in the beginning of their careers?

 

[Lexi 123]

I sure he probably won’t be saying that if his horse got kicked. Technically speaking nobody uses them were i live and people just ignore if you have one on and still run up your horse bum . So I not surprised by that comment because it’s a common opinion in my area by professionals and people who are experienced riders. A lot of people do associate them with people who are nervous in the warm up area. A lot of these people also have opinion if you can’t handle your horse then don’t compete . This isn’t my opinion but I have herd mentality like this unfortunately. Just ignore them op.

 

[MissTyc]

My mare wore a red ribbon tail and forelock when I competed her as she would go out of her way to defend her personal space with very little provocation ... In the end, we decided competing wasn't for her, but for the period where we gave it a go, I felt it my duty to signal her insanity. Heck, I'd have hung a flashing neon light off her ...