Pony Club ODE vs BE - any rules I should know about?

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ecrozier

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Doing a local PC ODE on Sunday as a warm up before getting back into BE, know I have to wear long sleeves XC, but are there any other rules I should know about that differ? Glove colours etc?
Thanks!
 
Seriously, be prepared for any daft rules at all at pony club.
They can and do make them up as they go along: son who has competed a lot BE up to Intermediate was doing a PC ode on his young horse to get it out, the tack steward at the dressage told him to take off his leather martingale stops from the reins. This took about 5 minutes of struggling and pulling and his warm up totally wasted. I was mad and told the sec. but she said " we've always had that rule". Never did get the stops back on.
Then at the XC start on the same day, no-one was checking armbands at all. In fact I saw a child go off without one on. Crazy.
 
AnShanDan said:
Seriously, be prepared for any daft rules at all at pony club.
They can and do make them up as they go along: son who has competed a lot BE up to Intermediate was doing a PC ode on his young horse to get it out, the tack steward at the dressage told him to take off his leather martingale stops from the reins. This took about 5 minutes of struggling and pulling and his warm up totally wasted. I was mad and told the sec. but she said " we've always had that rule". Never did get the stops back on.
Then at the XC start on the same day, no-one was checking armbands at all. In fact I saw a child go off without one on. Crazy.
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ASD that rule has always been in place just depends on how much it is enforced.

I would say the biggest difference to prepare yourself for is prize giving, some are really good but on the whole it is a very long wait. You should also be dressed for the Drs/SJ phase of the event not for XC be prepared for an over zealous DC to send you away if you are not.

Have fun :)
 
What's with the martingale stops rule?
I've never been stopped on that one.

Aswell as a whip for novice dressage I *think* you can use any bit - or is this introductory? I've seen people doing dressage tests in kimblewicks, gags etc.
 
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Once in a PC ODE schedule it said

"No earrings are permitted, incase you get struck by lightning"

I can see the sense in no earring being permitted, but the reason of being struck by lightning seemed a bit daft to me! I also (following this particular PC's logic) wondered weather the horse was allowed to wear a metal bit!!!!!!!!
 
You aren't allowed any binding on your saddlecloth - my sister got stopped from competing for that one. The PC though was happy with the very grotty, tatty looking replacement that she found buried in the lorry.
 
Oh lord how random some of these are! Are the prizegivings mounted? As our second ODE back after a year off we prob won't need to worry too much about that but best to be prepared!
Will check the link thanks TGM. He goes in a hanging cheek snaffle and drop noseband for dressage and I don't have any martingale stops on - so should be ok, and my saddlecloth is plain black for XC altho why on earth aren't you allowed a binding?!
Anyway thanks will keep checking back on post and look at link!
 
I don't think there is an actual pc rule against stops on reins; martingales obv. can't be worn for dressage, but the stops aren't part of the martingale are they? The rule says "Martingales....are not permitted." The stops are part of the reins. Anyway, common sense should surely prevail. I've tack checked a lot for PC myself and I always try to be reasonable. If the competitor has something illegal or dangerous: they change it. If it is just not in the rules but makes no diff. to the horse (i.e. piping on saddle cloth) I tell them to change it for next time and to be careful if they are going to pc area.
 
AnShanDan said:
I don't think there is an actual pc rule against stops on reins; martingales obv. can't be worn for dressage, but the stops aren't part of the martingale are they? The rule says "Martingales....are not permitted." The stops are part of the reins. Anyway, common sense should surely prevail. I've tack checked a lot for PC myself and I always try to be reasonable. If the competitor has something illegal or dangerous: they change it. If it is just not in the rules but makes no diff. to the horse (i.e. piping on saddle cloth) I tell them to change it for next time and to be careful if they are going to pc area.
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Absolutely An Shan Dan

that is how I do my tack checks too.
 
Martingale Stops - I guess it is down to interpretation, the stops are essential for a martingale not for reins when used without one. Years ago when we were doing the PC intro test they always spun you for the stops, so we ended up having two sets of reins as could not be bothered to fight getting the rubber stops on and off. Was once uproar as someone had leather stops which are sewn onto the reins, they were told to change their reins until we pointed out they could not be considered part of the martingale if they were actually stitched onto the reins by the manufacturer :D

Yes we are always very lenient with our tack check unless it is an outright attempt to keep flouting the rules, such as the girl who kept coming in purple jods and at each event was told she was not allowed them so remember for next time until eventually on the fourth event she was sent back to the lorry park to get her beige ones.:)

The binding rule has relaxed now, it is held to for Dressage - the key thing to note is sponsors logos, when they are/are not allowed and what size they are.
 
Only plain leather on bridles for dressage. We had to stand and take a bridle apart, turn the clencher browband back to front & put the bridle back together 10 mins before the test at an event last year.
Completely plain numnahs, no names or writing on them - a whole host of silly rules tbh.
 
Hmm, I have a diamante browband... (it looks sweet on him honestly, only a simple single row!) wonder if i will get pulled up on that!
I think sometimes the problem is if its a non-horsey PC parent doing the checks?
 
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