Pony Team Jumping

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rwillett

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It seems to be about this time each year that ponies, juniors and young riders are selected for European Championships bringing with it the usual heart-breaking and heart-warming tales.

From just the Pony Jumping point of view we had the privilege of being non-travelling reserve in 2006. This year, we have been one of the most consistent combinations and we are resigned to staying at home once more, not even worthy this year of being a reserve. The pairings that will get to enjoy wearing the union jack, however, have results that have varied from patchy to non-completions at trials. It would be true to say that not one of the team ponies, now due to travel to the Pony Jumping Europeans, even qualified for the Masters at Hickstead this year.

Requirements for selection are such that ponies, children and long-suffering families are expected to travel the length and breadth of the country week in and week out. So essentially why does it appear that selection has been based on one day of jumping at The Royal Show in bad going and why are selectors unable to consider the bigger picture?

All the competitors know what their compatriots have done. Why don’t the selectors? Surely a more sensible way of selecting the teams would be on a consistency basis at a level that they would be expected to jump at the Championships throughout the year?
 
Teams are a most contentious subject.Be it pony club /riding club or dare I say it 'jumping for your country'
At the two former it is really important that the team selector is not related or involved with members ,which is difficult because no one wants the job and you only do it if you are involved.There should be trials and they should be fair.We once were put in a second team and gained a clear round at the qualifier our DC's daughter had been put in the 1st team and was eliminated but that team got to the champs and we were told they could not substitute [bit of a fib] us in. This was many years ago but We all know it goes on.
The british team should be easier to pick and it should be seen to be fair but it never will be. People will always be persuaded or influenced and it will be very difficult to change things and I do not know you but I am sure you feel hard done by and you are probably right but your fight may be in vain. I feel for you
 
But one of Rosie's best friends (who she is at school with - an ordinary comprehensive in Essex, nothing special, an ordinary family with a talented daughter) has been selected. Go Zoe and the best of luck to all of them!
 
Teams should never be decided on the performance at one show and I am shocked to find this is the case. Your daughter is well worthy of a place but I suppose the selectors and other parents also feel the same. I hope you guys get there in the end - good luck
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Well I will say that i'm not that 'up' on the pony scene but if what you say is correct then it must indeed be very frustrating for you all. It costs an enormous amount in both money and time to get anywhere near being on a national team and so I can understand your frustration at the way the system seems to have let you down.

However, i'm not so sure your very public criticism of the 'system' will have done your daughters future propsects of team selection any good at all
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You will know better than most that the BSJA can be a very insular organisation, and they certainly pick up on topics that relate to them on thbis board. Or perhaps that's what you're hoping.........

At least in SJ'ing you can still be very successful without the need to ever be on a team
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Don't tell me they have selected ponies that struggle to measure again - don't they ever learn ?

On top of that we have ponies that stop ??

Why do this when, for a change, we have enough to choose from ?

I watched the Royal on Sky and with no dissrespect some of the ones selected came out with big faults and others, who have been very consistent all year came out with clears or next to nothing.

I feel for you Danielle, you have been brilliant all year, one blip does not deserve non-selection - after all what did some of them get in Hickstead and The Royal, they had blips and were still selected !!
 
I hope the team does OK after all this criticism
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It must be very hard to have put in so much time and effort and be ignored but Rambo has a point - you can star and bar (and make a pretty decent living) in SJ without being selected for a team, so best of luck for the future Danielle - you've just got go out there and prove to the selectors that they missed a great opportunity.
 
Well said 'Rosiefan'

There are a couple of others that need to do the same - show them what you are made of !
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Err. I think people must have been watching another pony trial at The Royal. Zoe Adams won it from Pippa Allen and James Smith. Pippa Allen won the grand prix the day before from Emma Stoker. They were the four chosen for the team. Seems fair enough to me.

I know Gold Harvest has been and still is a wonderful pony, but maybe the selectors were worried about his age. Isn't he in his 20s now? No disrespect because he looked super the last time i saw him, but it's just a thought about why.

How did he go in the final trial?
 
With all due respect 'tara tee. yes they had a reasonable trail at the Royal.

Zoe didnt go so well at previous trial, 12 or 16 faults in one round at Kenyon.

Pippa won the day before on another pony, Spot the Lady stopped the first day at Royal coming out of the ring with 20 faults plus time faults !

Gold Harvest has never stopped during the trails and has never had more than 4 faults until the Royal

Maybe it is to do with his age.

James did very well at Royal, but was eliminated at the first in Kenyon trail.

Yes everyone has 'blips'. But theres 'blips' amd theres 'blips' !
 
Oh for goodness sake Joki, have you been following these poor kids writing down every score in every round? I saw them all at Towerlands and the ones chosen did extremely well there as well.

I'm not connected with any of them but people on here were saying they went badly in the trial at the Royal and they didn't. They all talked about the opening day there and conventiently forgot the trial itslef.

As Rosiefan so sensibly put it, why don't you just wish the team well. There's nithing to be gained by moaning iand it seems really mean for adults to be picking on the kids who have been chosen. They must be really excited and how hurt would they feel if they read this.

Or is that the point?
 
Yes as it happens, tara tee, I have watched every trail, and every pony/rider combination and some have had better trails than others.

For someone who is not connected you seem to have very high opinions of some and not others, but thats human nature I suppose.

I, for one, have spoken to everyone of the chosen team members and congratulated them and wished them every luck in the world.

I know that everyone of them would appreciate the fact that I have only spoken the truth and not used guesswork of fabrication.

I can not think that anyone would be hurt when it is only fact that has been quoted, and to insinuate that I would do something of than nature on purpose is just down right nasty. The only one insinuating that is you.

This forum has gone off the subject a bit, as it started with how the team was picked, not picking on people who are trying to work out how, perhaps we should get back on track.
 
yeah, but have they actually selected ponies that measure that or have they measured a few which may be doubted... with the event ponies they were measured by two vets and aslong as they measured 151 with one vet they were selected.. i know this is how it works in europeans but all it would take is one vet to measure a pony 0.5cms bigger than the lowest measurement in this country and the whole team will be sent home... so the logical thing to do is to select ponies that measure with both vets if you get my point... do you know if they have done this? i heard that when the measurement rules were going to come in on the final days at sj competitions alot of the "ponies" withdrew?
 
One vet at a time with SJ. Some do look on the big side but whos to know !

A few have failed measuring this yeaar but they still keep on going and taking qualifying places and prize money !
 
We were out eventing today, some FEI ponies were there. One in particular was way bigger than our full up and comp fit 148 if you squint sideways and stand her on a slope pony. Having said that at home once relaxed she drops 3 inches let alone 3 cm.
 
i dont think selectors would take ponies they think my or my not measure,they will be 100% sure they will,they won,t want to get disqaulified! and i wish all the team good luck, after all they are all my friends,my letter was not aimed at them ,but the way teams are selected the bigger picture should always be looked at,mybe they think harvey is to old,but they certainly have not said this to me,theres alot of people to frightened to speak there mind in this job, maybe thats where the problem lies, i hope i hav,nt offened anyone on that team,that was never my intention,so the best of luck to them all,go and do your best x x x
 
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