Clare85
Well-Known Member
People who ride their horse around the showground all day and never give them any chill time at the lorry. Drives me mad, I want to drag them off!
Pet hates at shows?
- Thread starter Toby_Zaphod
- Start date
be positive
Well-Known Member
Most people are fine, when you arrive and park just hang about until the next box comes in and ensure they leave you room, you dont need to make a fuss just stand and point at the ramp and they will give you the space you require, although at the last hunter trial I went to last year I was sent into a tiny yard to park, I told the steward I had a side ramp and that there was no space to get it down, he suggested I got the horse off, parked and tied him up to the back, our exracehorse has never been tied up to the box and if I had done so he would have been there for 3 hours as they were running so late, we found a space elsewhere so he could stay safely on board eating hay.
McFluff
Well-Known Member
Thank you - that sounds achievable. I did think it was the disadvantage of a side ramp, but like the room it gives her, the fact I can leave her on board and the room to tack up inside if the weather isn't great all outweigh that. It'll all be new for both of us, so baby steps.
Toby_Zaphod
Well-Known Member
We do this as well. I can't understand why others are saying it's impossible?
I'll probably be hated for this but I hate side opening lorries, they take up 3 times as much width as a normal rear opener & it's a real pain at a busy show.
Bav
Well-Known Member
My local pony club show ground, where the kiddiwinks pay upwards of £8 to enter a 'fun class' such as 'handsomest gelding' and all the ones that get placed are the pony club members on their posh show horses having just come out of three classes winning and getting the overall championship trophy. I see an awful lot of biased judging at my local show where a pony club member will win a class over a better performing, non pony club member owned horse.
teapot
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't worry at all, just make it clear.
Just something I've experienced a number of times with a side ramp lorry and the stupidity of those who arn't aware of their surroundings. :smile3:
jumbyjack
Well-Known Member
Don't know if this is just local to me or happens elsewhere but a small child (7ish) frequently gets placed in unafilliated dressage competitions. Cute kid, saint of a pony but kid just rides the pattern, pony with head stuck out, kid with no contact at all. Not very fair on the other riders in my opinion and I'm not anti child competitors if they can ride. I've seen kids as young as 10 do a very good test and have received a deserved placing.
be positive
Well-Known Member
The cute kid and saintly pony will get probably a 6 for every movement as the judge cannot give lower if the movement is satisfactory, a 7 for a couple of the movements and a collective mark and they are getting over 60% which is enough to be placed at many comps, it is fair as they will rarely win but are consistently beating the riders who are trying to get their horses in an outline and failing to ride a smooth consistent test, a few moments of resistance in a couple of movements will drop the marks from a 6 to 5 or 4 and this will pull down the overall % and they will miss out on a place until they are more established, child will not be able to progress beyond prelim level riding this way but can have fun for now, dressage is more about your own progression, improving your marks than where you get placed.
Knockadoon
Well-Known Member
I am a ring steward at shows. People not coming into the ring when called us so maddening. Just one more jump is what they always want. Well, if he can't jump it by now, one more jump is not going to transfer him into a superstar. School at home not in the collecting ring. The night before the fair is not the time to start fattening the pig. The first time I was steward for a lead rein class was an education. Some mothers are so ambitious, pure witches!
Jazzy B
Well-Known Member
Shows! Everything about them! The waiting for competitors who are in another class as well as yours, who always end up being placed even if having only joined the class half way through, fat over weight horses, arm chair riders, lack of collecting ring manners and the ability to ride left hand to left hand, shouty pushy parents, and nasty competitors who should have their horses taken away from them and thrown in prison with the key thrown away after they have shown their complete inability to ride the horse they have over horsed themselves with and then go and teach it a lesson behind the lorry!
minesadouble
Well-Known Member
I run a few local shows a year and the best we can do is a 'not before' time. If you take entries on the day (as we do) you have quite literally NO idea how many competitors you will get. For example our June show had 30+ competitors in classes 1 and 2 whereas our July show had 3/4 in each - same class same show just different date! It depends on so many things - the weather, how many local shows are on on that day, how popular the judge is etc etc. Unfortunately there are just too many variables to predict how long each class will take to judge.
luckyoldme
Well-Known Member
im not into shows, ive only been to one and the experience of watching a beautiful grey having its mouth pulled to bits by a horrible man and this thread convince me there is no need to go back!
Bexx
Well-Known Member
My biggest pet hate is people changing the height of the warm up fence as you are on approach to the fence meaning you have to circle away! Happened constantly at a BE event later in the season meaning we barely got a warm up before heading into the ring for sj.
People that don't follow the basic school rules wind me up too
People that don't follow the basic school rules wind me up too
wench
Well-Known Member
Idiots parking too close to my (rear) ramp so they are in danger of getting their car damaged when my bad loader pulls back at 100mph. And there is an entire car park to choose from.
People being rude in the warmup . Very selfish, but friends that say they will help you with x/y/z, then can't or won't, thus making plans for the whole day wrong.
Show organisers that don't write down directions to the venue properly, so they can be misinterpreted and you end up going miles out of your way...
People being rude in the warmup . Very selfish, but friends that say they will help you with x/y/z, then can't or won't, thus making plans for the whole day wrong.
Show organisers that don't write down directions to the venue properly, so they can be misinterpreted and you end up going miles out of your way...
cremedemonthe
Well-Known Member
Incorrectly fitted and bad fitting tack, which is glaringly obvious to all and sundry but some judges are either too ignorant about tack or too spineless to "advise" the rider about it.
Sukistokes2
Well-Known Member
Ooooo where to start.....
People using the warm up to school, even when their classes have finished. GO HOME!
Shows changing the running order of classes and not announcing it, so that other competitors don't miss it but you don't know because you are on your own and have been told you have ages.
As a writer I see loads of very bad fitting tack, stiff and lame horses unable to preform because of it, ridden by stoney faced riders who only see a bad performance not that somethings wrong. I want to hang out the box and scream at them!
As long as they are not left alone I see no problem with horses being tied to lorries. I always tacked up outside, we don't all have moveable horse palaces and my Lorry has no more room then a trailer. Both my horses are trained to stand there hay net or not.
People using the warm up to school, even when their classes have finished. GO HOME!
Shows changing the running order of classes and not announcing it, so that other competitors don't miss it but you don't know because you are on your own and have been told you have ages.
As a writer I see loads of very bad fitting tack, stiff and lame horses unable to preform because of it, ridden by stoney faced riders who only see a bad performance not that somethings wrong. I want to hang out the box and scream at them!
As long as they are not left alone I see no problem with horses being tied to lorries. I always tacked up outside, we don't all have moveable horse palaces and my Lorry has no more room then a trailer. Both my horses are trained to stand there hay net or not.
equestriansports
Well-Known Member
There are so many children at my local show doing SJ with huge spurs on! It seems to be fashionable to wear a Dutch gag, grackle and spurs lately. It wouldn't bother me if these children had a stable lower leg and used the spurs appropriately. Theyre in and out of the warm up ring constantly, raising the fences far above the class height, then spend ages after their class (where they've ragged their pony by the mouth to make turns) sitting on their ponies. DrIves me mad!
ManBearPig
Well-Known Member
Though I have never been to a show as a competitor, these are some of my observations as a spectator which make me itch:
Overweight/obese horses, lead rein ponies with half an ironmonger's shop in their mouths, over-bent horses (seems rather fashionable at the moment for some reason), mouth jabbing, horses that are clearly hopping lame then getting a smack when they won't jump, pushy parents, poor sportsmanship, beginners with spurs on, breed judges not knowing what they're looking at, etc, etc, etc.
Overweight/obese horses, lead rein ponies with half an ironmonger's shop in their mouths, over-bent horses (seems rather fashionable at the moment for some reason), mouth jabbing, horses that are clearly hopping lame then getting a smack when they won't jump, pushy parents, poor sportsmanship, beginners with spurs on, breed judges not knowing what they're looking at, etc, etc, etc.
Mike007
Well-Known Member
Totally agree, glad I am not the only one. Mostly I dont even notice what other people are up to. There is one exception however that drives me wild and can lead to me hurling abuse at strangers. In hot weather at some events ,they thoughtfully provide a water tank and clean buckets so that folk can top up their drinking and wash down water.Then some complete Minger comes along and lets their horse drink straight out of the water tank!
The Fuzzy Furry
Old Timer
And from the other side (judging of show classes) re: competitors
Those who come into the ring late, despite being seen in the car park/box area chatting, even worse with no apology.
Always happy to let another in if rings clash, but just being late isn't good manners.
Competitors being rude/agressive when presented with a rosette, when they think they should have been higher.
Showing IS the judges opinion, judges see some things differently to owners, its a snapshot in time. A competitor may 'think' they are the best, but may have overlooked their shortcomings, or their turnout, horses way of going or conformation.
Competitors who ignore the judge or steward when asked to carry something simple out, even a change of rein, or to space out before a gallop.
Competitors using an inside track all the time and carving up the class. No, as a judge we want to see everyone, not just you, thank you
Competitors (at local level in particular) not reading the schedule properly & entering a heinz57 in a purebred class, then sometimes getting shirty when asked to leave the ring or left at the bottom of the line, or taking a lead rein into a first ridden, or open ridden class. No parent, I don't need a torrent of abuse thanks, try reading up first.
Those also not reading rules and appearing with schooling whips, unsuitable tack, children in spurs etc.
Whilst I appreciate that people make an effort to enter classes, there are some who quite plainly are spoiling for a row if little fluffykins with Amelia isn't first, or if their hairy native-type pony with a long mane doesn't win the registered natives this time.
Some judging is the pits, others not so.
However, its a ruddy unexploded minefield once you step into an unaffiliated ring, many panel judges quake at even the thought of it!
Give me an affiliated County show class any day
Those who come into the ring late, despite being seen in the car park/box area chatting, even worse with no apology.
Always happy to let another in if rings clash, but just being late isn't good manners.
Competitors being rude/agressive when presented with a rosette, when they think they should have been higher.
Showing IS the judges opinion, judges see some things differently to owners, its a snapshot in time. A competitor may 'think' they are the best, but may have overlooked their shortcomings, or their turnout, horses way of going or conformation.
Competitors who ignore the judge or steward when asked to carry something simple out, even a change of rein, or to space out before a gallop.
Competitors using an inside track all the time and carving up the class. No, as a judge we want to see everyone, not just you, thank you
Competitors (at local level in particular) not reading the schedule properly & entering a heinz57 in a purebred class, then sometimes getting shirty when asked to leave the ring or left at the bottom of the line, or taking a lead rein into a first ridden, or open ridden class. No parent, I don't need a torrent of abuse thanks, try reading up first.
Those also not reading rules and appearing with schooling whips, unsuitable tack, children in spurs etc.
Whilst I appreciate that people make an effort to enter classes, there are some who quite plainly are spoiling for a row if little fluffykins with Amelia isn't first, or if their hairy native-type pony with a long mane doesn't win the registered natives this time.
Some judging is the pits, others not so.
However, its a ruddy unexploded minefield once you step into an unaffiliated ring, many panel judges quake at even the thought of it!
Give me an affiliated County show class any day
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spottybotty
Well-Known Member
And from the other side (judging of show classes) re: competitors
Those who come into the ring late, despite being seen in the car park/box area chatting, even worse with no apology.
Always happy to let another in if rings clash, but just being late isn't good manners.
Competitors being rude/agressive when presented with a rosette, when they think they should have been higher.
Showing IS the judges opinion, judges see some things differently to owners, its a snapshot in time. A competitor may 'think' they are the best, but may have overlooked their shortcomings, or their turnout, horses way of going or conformation.
Competitors who ignore the judge or steward when asked to carry something simple out, even a change of rein, or to space out before a gallop.
Competitors using an inside track all the time and carving up the class. No, as a judge we want to see everyone, not just you, thank you
Competitors (at local level in particular) not reading the schedule properly & entering a heinz57 in a purebred class, then sometimes getting shirty when asked to leave the ring or left at the bottom of the line, or taking a lead rein into a first ridden, or open ridden class. No parent, I don't need a torrent of abuse thanks, try reading up first.
Those also not reading rules and appearing with schooling whips, unsuitable tack, children in spurs etc.
Whilst I appreciate that people make an effort to enter classes, there are some who quite plainly are spoiling for a row if little fluffykins with Amelia isn't first, or if their hairy native-type pony with a long mane doesn't win the registered natives this time.
Some judging is the pits, others not so.
However, its a ruddy unexploded minefield once you step into an unaffiliated ring, many panel judges quake at even the thought of it!
Give me an affiliated County show class any day
Amen to that! Just adding to this re M&M`s and judges not knowing what breed they are. I have had all sorts forwards in M&M classes and no I dont always know what they are as they are so badley turned out, presented and really not to type
Giving feed back to every to every one would take ages when you have limited time for each class and is also a double edged sword, I have had excuses and verbal abuse for pointing out the competitors/horses short comings and ways to improve, some people just can not take any form of constructive criticism so I only give it if its asked for.
muckypony
Well-Known Member
Oooh I love a good moan about shows - some people these days are just so inconsiderate!
My biggest pet hate out show jumping is when the class is rammed, there is a list of 50+ numbers already down to jump in the collecting ring, and someone comes along and squeezes their number in between two because they don't want to wait. First of all, who do you think you are!? Secondly... Why do the stewards allow this!? I've had people ask me before and they always go to the bottom, like everyone else!
However I do have a few more....
In the warm up arena - people walking two a breast having a nice chit chat, people not passing left to left and getting snooty when you tell them, people standing on the track, people walking off after their round when the arena is already crammed despite there being plenty of room to walk off elsewhere, people whacking the fences up 30cm higher than the class, people knocking fences down and just leaving the ring.
In the ring - people who complete their sj round and just continue to canter out of the ring, people who sit there like a sack of lemons expecting pony to do all of the work, judges who can't tell a Shetland from a highland, judges who place the cute little fat pony with golf ball plaits and a child wearing the wrong gear highly in a registered M&M class, judges who have no better feedback to give than 'it was a hard class to judge', judges that quite clearly do not like a certain type/breed and place a filthy overweight horse above it.
In the car park - people who leave their horses unattended for hours on end both inside and outside lorries, people who let their dogs roam around off the lead, people who feel the need to advise what kind of a beating they would give my bad loader (seriously, do you think I would be standing here if clouting him would work?), people cantering around when the rules clearly state not to.
Ah I feel better now now I'm starting to wonder why I even go to shows!?
My biggest pet hate out show jumping is when the class is rammed, there is a list of 50+ numbers already down to jump in the collecting ring, and someone comes along and squeezes their number in between two because they don't want to wait. First of all, who do you think you are!? Secondly... Why do the stewards allow this!? I've had people ask me before and they always go to the bottom, like everyone else!
However I do have a few more....
In the warm up arena - people walking two a breast having a nice chit chat, people not passing left to left and getting snooty when you tell them, people standing on the track, people walking off after their round when the arena is already crammed despite there being plenty of room to walk off elsewhere, people whacking the fences up 30cm higher than the class, people knocking fences down and just leaving the ring.
In the ring - people who complete their sj round and just continue to canter out of the ring, people who sit there like a sack of lemons expecting pony to do all of the work, judges who can't tell a Shetland from a highland, judges who place the cute little fat pony with golf ball plaits and a child wearing the wrong gear highly in a registered M&M class, judges who have no better feedback to give than 'it was a hard class to judge', judges that quite clearly do not like a certain type/breed and place a filthy overweight horse above it.
In the car park - people who leave their horses unattended for hours on end both inside and outside lorries, people who let their dogs roam around off the lead, people who feel the need to advise what kind of a beating they would give my bad loader (seriously, do you think I would be standing here if clouting him would work?), people cantering around when the rules clearly state not to.
Ah I feel better now
now I'm starting to wonder why I even go to shows!?
huskydamage
Well-Known Member
I can't stand all the bitching. Its so over the top.
Shows have little for me these days. being a lanky adult on an unknown breed little pony there's not a lot I can go in, and because we won some jumping stuff years ago (even though I'm now crap lol)I am excluded from any tiny jump courses I might like a go at. About the only thing I like is the gymkana and hardly any local shows do them anymore or if they do people are too stiff to enter so race will only have about 3 people lol (including me of course!) Its all so serious and boring
Shows have little for me these days. being a lanky adult on an unknown breed little pony there's not a lot I can go in, and because we won some jumping stuff years ago (even though I'm now crap lol)I am excluded from any tiny jump courses I might like a go at. About the only thing I like is the gymkana and hardly any local shows do them anymore or if they do people are too stiff to enter so race will only have about 3 people lol (including me of course!) Its all so serious and boring
BBP
Well-Known Member
Reading all this reminds me why I steer clear! I fail to see how any of you come home with a smile on your face, sounds so stressful. I'm much happier doing dressage, XC and SJ schooling than having to face all the things that stress me out about other people. Collecting rings are my idea of a nightmare.
But when I groomed in NZ (Grand Prix SJ and advanced eventers so a good level) nothing was ever done on the box, everything was tied to it, half of them would lie down and have a sleep next to the box!
But when I groomed in NZ (Grand Prix SJ and advanced eventers so a good level) nothing was ever done on the box, everything was tied to it, half of them would lie down and have a sleep next to the box!
Hokuspokus
Well-Known Member
I mainly compete in dressage and showing so here's my bug bears. I've been out jumping twice in the last year I think so can't really comment on that except for the usual kid who has top Bsja pony and jumps over a metre when the class is only 70cms , then they walk away and leave it at that height.
Dressage wise, I've been to a venue twice this year for finals. On each occasion the parking has been the worst. On the first occasion it was the middle of summer so I had just done my class , came back and sponged him down outside the trailer. I turned my back for a second to get a towel or something out the car and there was some crazy woman pulling into the space next to me which was no way wide enough for her, she missed my horse by centimetres who by at this point had decided to sandwhich himself against the trailer out of the way. I couldn't even get my front ramp down. On second occasion at said place, it was winter finals so not as near busy. I came back from my class to find some halfwit had parked their car (car only) very close to the back of my trailer so I couldn't get my back ramp down. I was absolutely livid. Car park was empty further back too!
Other things are- people giving their horse a gallop in the warm up rings,folk riding two side by side in warm up rings, summer shows which have the chainsaw display, shooting games and bouncy castle right next to showing rings, folk turning up with incorrect turnout- only takes a second to check or ask prior. Bias judges- a dressage judge placed me below someone who cantered around on the wrong leg and completed the transition half an arena after they should've, purely because they had organised the event. Shows which don't split coloured classes by either type or height.
Dressage wise, I've been to a venue twice this year for finals. On each occasion the parking has been the worst. On the first occasion it was the middle of summer so I had just done my class , came back and sponged him down outside the trailer. I turned my back for a second to get a towel or something out the car and there was some crazy woman pulling into the space next to me which was no way wide enough for her, she missed my horse by centimetres who by at this point had decided to sandwhich himself against the trailer out of the way. I couldn't even get my front ramp down. On second occasion at said place, it was winter finals so not as near busy. I came back from my class to find some halfwit had parked their car (car only) very close to the back of my trailer so I couldn't get my back ramp down. I was absolutely livid. Car park was empty further back too!
Other things are- people giving their horse a gallop in the warm up rings,folk riding two side by side in warm up rings, summer shows which have the chainsaw display, shooting games and bouncy castle right next to showing rings, folk turning up with incorrect turnout- only takes a second to check or ask prior. Bias judges- a dressage judge placed me below someone who cantered around on the wrong leg and completed the transition half an arena after they should've, purely because they had organised the event. Shows which don't split coloured classes by either type or height.
blood_magik
Well-Known Member
My biggest pet hate has to be people who ignore red tail ribbons - it's there for a reason, not because I wanted to make my horse look pretty.
windand rain
Well-Known Member
Pet hates for dressage biased judging when a bucking, galloping, spooking, no rythm warmblood wins the intro class because the rest of the class is natives and coloured cobs most of which are beautifully rythmical if not touching their chins to their chest/ Overbent obviously pessoaed to death dressage horses dragging themselves along on their forehand with connections shouting how on the bit they are. Rubbish
Showing lack of knowledge of class by stewards and judges once had a pony in a registered M and M class that had 17 entries only 4 of which could even closely resemble natives the rest were coloured cobs, pony club ponies and arabs fortunately the judge in this case was good enough to have the 4 in the first 4 places but I have seen a plaited pba win a native class before now now that was an eye opener.
Busy warm up arenas with people sitting on horses especially at the WHP at the county shows where a small warm up is the entrance to the ring horses cutting up others have seen some pretty severe injuries caused by this
Show jumping fences whacked up too high in the warm up badly behaved horses bucking and rearing in a small area then blaming everyone else when the kids on ponies panic and race out of the arena usually taking the big silly beasts with them at a gallop
Showing lack of knowledge of class by stewards and judges once had a pony in a registered M and M class that had 17 entries only 4 of which could even closely resemble natives the rest were coloured cobs, pony club ponies and arabs fortunately the judge in this case was good enough to have the 4 in the first 4 places but I have seen a plaited pba win a native class before now now that was an eye opener.
Busy warm up arenas with people sitting on horses especially at the WHP at the county shows where a small warm up is the entrance to the ring horses cutting up others have seen some pretty severe injuries caused by this
Show jumping fences whacked up too high in the warm up badly behaved horses bucking and rearing in a small area then blaming everyone else when the kids on ponies panic and race out of the arena usually taking the big silly beasts with them at a gallop
Enfys
Well-Known Member
But surely, anyone would include finding out exactly where they are going in their show preparation beforehand? If directions were not clear then get hold of the Secretary and ask, and point out the fact so that next time they make it more clear.
On the other hand, I do admit that sometimes a field in the middle of nowhere isn't always easy to find, when I was involved with show organisation our directions were explicit from both ways, and volunteers spent hours driving around, both putting up, and later removing, ' XYZ show. 1st right ---> ' etc signs.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
As for litter, some people are just lazy sods, even with trash bags everywhere. No respect, I wonder what their home yards are like!
I used to do next day clean up and found any number of things. Money (OK, I have to admit that was an incentive for volunteering
) , plenty of muck, shoes, complete stud boxes, expensive boots (horse and human) rugs, once an entire picnic basket, often lawn chairs, and once even a very nice double bridle (which the owners did come and collect)
As secretary I very rarely got any calls asking about lost items after a show.
I used to do next day clean up and found any number of things. Money (OK, I have to admit that was an incentive for volunteering
) , plenty of muck, shoes, complete stud boxes, expensive boots (horse and human) rugs, once an entire picnic basket, often lawn chairs, and once even a very nice double bridle (which the owners did come and collect) As secretary I very rarely got any calls asking about lost items after a show.
TelH
Well-Known Member
Amen to that! Just adding to this re M&M`s and judges not knowing what breed they are. I have had all sorts forwards in M&M classes and no I dont always know what they are as they are so badley turned out, presented and really not to type
My own experience of dodgy M+M judging was one particular judge who was adamant that my Forester was a Welsh sec B because she is branded with the letter B in a circle on her saddle area! While I accept my Forester is not HOYS standard, she has been placed every time out at county level so I think she is a fairly acceptable example of the breed and as such distinguishable from a similar standard Welsh sec B
I've also seen a M+M judge who did not know that miniature horses and Shetlands were not the same thing. Lucky for me I had left my Shettie at home that day and someone else was on the receiving end of that one. And another one, after pulling the pony in first... 'That's a cracking example of a Welsh sec D'. Competitor... 'Thank you but he's a Dales...'
And there are the ones who want to split small and large M+M into under 13.2hh and over 13.2hh instead of by the actual breeds- by that logic my 13.2hh Forester is a small breed.
I might also add that I have also seen many very experienced and knowledgeable M+M judges, they aren't all bad