Prize Givings

Me too
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...inbetween hanging on for dear life that is!!
 
re: QR: Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit ironic that the dressage divas who think that people should prove themselves competent to compete at affiliated level are worried about doing a mounted prize-giving and lap of honour!

* ducks and hides *

haha, i do hope that wasn't aimed at ME! as i said, it's not my horse's behaviour i'm worried about, it's everyone else's...
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re Anky's fall, Oh Oh OH that's EXACTLY what Jacques does to get you off!!!
His tally up to now is ten times (four different riders) and as you can see, it's damn near impossible to get their heads up or stop them doing it.
Last week he did it on the car park at the un-aff dressage, and c picked herself up off the floor and walloped him hard with her whip.. he then allowed her to get back on and went in and got 65% for his test..
It makes us feel better seeing it happen to one of the best riders in the world, perhaps we should write to her and ask how she stops him doing it.. (on the lesson on Sat C was told to do leg yeilding on a circle immediately he started his bucks, and it did work...)
 
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becki, I think it is absolutely fair enough that some horses do not want a rosette flapping from their bridles, I certainly do not think it is wrong for a rider to take the rosette - I usually take mine and put it on the martingale.

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I suppose you are right... once I pinned it to my jacket button hole she then stood quietly watching the others receive theirs
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She was just really worried about the ribbons flapping near to her face.

I know we all canter about together warming up, but I never tend to canter directly behind someone with six others then behind me
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For her first attempt, she wasn't too bad really, just a bit stressed and 'hot'. It has not put me off, but in future I will certainly ask for the rosette to be handed to me, and perhaps take her out before the lap of honour if she is getting a bit 'on one'.

Like I said, I am sure, with experience, she will become more used to the whole thing
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haha, i do hope that wasn't aimed at ME!

[/ QUOTE ] Not unless you were involved in the 'walk and trot' test thread and made comments about people who shouldn't be competing in affiliated competition!
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I LOVE them! My girlie is also rather partial to some adulation - probably for the same reason as some others, because she's spent years showing!
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I'm of the opinion is should be akin to prize givings/championships in showing at places like HOYS where if the horse misbehaves in it they loose their placing

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Yes, when one ahead misbaves I always think "pass it down, give it here, we'll do it properly"!!!
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(Though I understand this policy is not suitable for other disciplines.)

At the Frys regionals they were excellent about the prizegivings, briefed everyone, checked for those who thought their horse would throw a wobbler and gave you the option to leave before the lap of honour, which was at trot.

I HATE prizegivings on foot - I feel a total prat, like I'm back at school prizegivings and would far prefer to hide "behind" the horse - I want to show off the combination, when I was showing it was the pony that won (I was merely the rider!) so it feels really strange that she doesn't get a look-in!

I agree with others that the problem is that there are so few opportunities to get any practice in at smaller events. Maybe the answer is to allow people to attend on foot/with another horse if they think their's will go crazy, however as a spectator I'd find it disappointing not to see all the horses together...
 
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At the Frys regionals they were excellent about the prizegivings, briefed everyone, checked for those who thought their horse would throw a wobbler and gave you the option to leave before the lap of honour, which was at trot.

[/ QUOTE ] That sounds a very sensible approach to me!
 
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QR: Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit ironic that the dressage divas who think that people should prove themselves competent to compete at affiliated level are worried about doing a mounted prize-giving and lap of honour!

* ducks and hides *

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Im not 'worried' as you put it. Archie behaved perfectly in his first prize giving and will stand in line like a saint. IN his 2nd one he had a bronk (nothing i cant handle) however i was simply stating that they can be dangerous - what happens if someone elses horse kicks your horse or vice versa? I am perfectly capable of controlling my horse thank you very much. Id like to see anyone else get on him and sit to what he can throw at me
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Well you did say you 'dread' them, sorry if I interpreted that wrongly! I'm not criticising your riding at all, I'm sure you're a much better rider than I'll ever be, but I do feel that a good dressage horse should learn to behave well in a mounted prize-giving. After all, 'relaxation' (of mind as well as body) is an important part of the scales of training
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I'm with the view that the horses (and riders) need to learn to deal and behave in a prize giving. However, I do think that the way it was dealt with at the International Show at Hickstead this year was a good compromise. I think it was something like 4th - 10th came in round the outside of the arena in reverse order and then one by one went from A and out between H&C. Then they had in 1st - 3rd for the prize giving.

Kept the atmosphere for the audience etc, but was less manic than having 10 horses all in a 20 x 60 arena.

Some still did get a bit excited "waiting" their turn at A, but it did seem less manic overall and if the riders let the line flow forward naturally, it all went well.

I think to just have on foot prize givings particularly at the higher end of the sport where sponsorship and audience participation are crucial is just stupid and would damage the sport.

Interesting that the showing people don't see what the fuss is all about - I think maybe a leaf should be taken out of their book personally.
 
I'm gonna join in on this one and say that i love prize givings!
I was brought up in pony club where it was mandatory to be mounted for prize givings - if you were not then you were disqualified. And there would frequently be 20 ponies galloping around (trying to stay in their lines of 4 for the team).
I can see how badminton would be dangerous - was surprised all the horses this year behaved. I also think that the lap of honour should only be the top 3 - this would calm things down and decrease the risk of your horse getting injured by another.
 
i think if we buy a horse that has been there and seen a bit of life ie shown in hand as a youngster and maybe shown under saddle then generally they seem to be better mannered and are likely to behave in the ring more. trouble is so many dressage horses stay in too much and dont see that much of life cos owners seem to worry about them injuring themselves, pg i know you put yours out. dont think they should stop mounted prize giving its great fun, loved it when i won and olympia and cantered around the arena huge fun.
 
QR see now I think it would be a shame to limit prize givings to top three in alot of circumstances. The BSJA limit prizes to 1 in 5 starters this norammly works well in my opinion. At Badminton say you were lucky enough to finish 10th, now from 70+ starters thats fantastic but the suggestion is they shouldn't be in the prize giving as they just weren't quite good enough! I know I wouldn't stand for that, if you are awarded a prize you should be allowed in the prize giving. I was in the prize givings at Bluechip for the SJ, now I think I was 14th and I wasn't the last of the places I think there was nearing 20 all of whom came into the arena around the jumps stood in line and did a lap of honour. Now that was in what a marginally larger than 20x60m indoor arena with clapping, music, lights and fences to dodge, was very civilised even at a canter!
 
True I definately see what you're saying and echo those sentiments. But what I think would be better is still have the prizegiving (like at badders) so you're involved with that, but then have the top 3 do lap of honour while the others leave the arena. It also puts better emphasis on the top 3 but mainly it means you don't have 15horses galloping around close to each other. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with it but i understand why some people do.
 
Also never had a problem with prize givings. My two have been used to them from the age of 4yo although we have never done the 'lap of honour' they receive their rosette and we walk out whilst the others canter round.
 
I really like mounted prizegiving. They are compulsory in Switzerland (for showjumping at least) - if you don't stay you don't get your prize. The mounted prizegiving is limited to a reasonable number (usually around 10) and the rest of the prizes are distributed on foot. I have never seen any dangerous situations although I am sure they occur. I think they are important for getting good sponsorship.

Dressage means 'training' - if you can train your horse to do these complicated dressage movements you can train him to obey you in exciting situations like prizegivings.
 
But the lap of honour is both mine and the real Little Mare's favourite bit!!!
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And no we don't go mad and always stay behind any one placed ahead of us (that's a bug bear of mine - very bad manners IMO!).
 
Did anyone else see the prizegiving for the Young Riders at Blair. That really made me laugh. Everyone kept galloping round and round. The offical got so annoyed but no horse misbehaved, no horse kicked, reared or bucked. All stood still for the whole presentation. It was so nice to see the young riders really enjoying their achievement and success.
 
I really like the mounted prize-givings, and having spend years as a kid showing laps of honour dont bother me or my horses (much less scary than a 30 strong 'first ridden' or small hack class!)

But I do think that if you are worried about your horse being a tw@t than you should be allowed to enter on foot instead - most wouldnt but for those whos horses dont cope well in the atmosphere (and some dont - i know a number of failed show horses who had found new careers for the very reason) can opt out.
 
Has to be said I do enjoy the prize giving presentations - both watching and being in them. We had a local team SJ and we had 7 teams of 4 in our SJ arena to receive their rosettes but they obviously didn't do a lap of honour!

I don't think you see then enough in dressage personally. My horse can be a bit of a s*d if the other horses go before him (mini rears and backs up) and if we are stuck behind anyone we end up trotting as he has a v.long canter stride but we cope.

I must say at the National Riding Club finals this year, a girl came in the presentation for the Riding Test with a v.nervous horse and no-one was allowed to clap! We did all think either she needed to suck it up and deal with it or be allowed to come in on foot
 
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