Prize Givings

haha, Nelson getting revenge for all that rollkuer.
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she digs her spurs in when he's bucking, you can see in the pic. he's only bounding around really, not burying his head on the floor and trying to kick the ceiling... no spurs and i think he'd have stopped tbh.
 
Since this seems to keep happening at dressage prize givings, I'd suggest the riders should wear hats - at least during the prize givings. SJ and eventing have rigorous safety rules for obvious reasons, but recent events illustrate quite clearly that not even dressage is accident-free.
 
But I love mounted prize givings......

Also it makes it a bit easy to get a sponser if they can have a photo opportunity of handing out rosettes. Handing them to a person on foot does not quite have the same effect.
I thinks it would be a sad day if we didn't have them as they do make the occaision. There would be no point handing out rugs and sashes to people on foot and no fancy photos for H and H and British Dressage magazine!
 
Another one that loves them - my horse originally BSJA'd and did numerous county level BSJA shows with all sorts going on - comepeted at thay level from 5yo - yes he was extremely spooky/leapy to start with but he soon got used to it.

Swapped to dressage a few years back and have never had a problem with him - competed years ago at a show with a steam rally going on next door - my lad totally ignored it - all the 'dressage horses' freaked. I'm sure there is a lack of exposure for dressage horses but tbh I've always treated my horses esp as youngsters as almost allrounders and taken then to local gymkhana's etc where there's lots going on from the start?
 
Yes, sorry, I was referring to SJ/eventing in general, not just prize-givings. Obviously, particularly with eventing, rider safety is always under extreme scrutiny, and high-level dressage completely avoids these safety regulations - and in all fairness, there haven't exactly been many riders falling off in competition on that level - but perhaps prize-giving ceremonies should be considered differently in the light of recent events?

I personally think that not wearing a "proper" helmet when on a horse is a bad idea, and although I understand why it doesn't seem necessary at highest level dressage, as proven, accidents do still happen - but most importantly I think it is about setting younger riders/children a good example. Equestrianism in general is an accident-prone sport.

In Sweden there is a dressage rider (Ulla Hakanson) who used to be at the very top (she is now quite old) - and she always warms up, on all her horses, at all levels, in a hard-hat and changes into the dressage hat just before entering the test arena. Nice example, I think.
 
I haven't been in a mounted prize giving on my horse, I would like to though - he'd probably get a bit excited and have a bronk but I know him well enough to deal with it and i doubt it would effect other people as long as he was still going forwards rather than doing his naughty on the spot thing. The only thing I'm afraid we couldn't manage is the standing still in a line.. well we could as long as i had him on buckle end and kicked my feet out the stirrups.. but for the reason stated before I'm not so sure that would be a good idea!!
I think that people should have the option of attending them or not, it's a nice experience for those who wish to do it, but if you feel it might be too much for your horse then the sensible thing would be to sit out.
 
I do enjoy them. At the Dressage Nationals they always play the clapping music to encourage the crowd to clap too, it makes it all more of an event.

Vivaldi was the only horse to take off in that class and Carl who was 2nd calmly halted his horse to wait for her as she careered through the back of the ride.

I confess that Carls prizegivings on Donnersong used to be the highlight of my year! If anyone remembers them.
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On another note one horse, who shall not be named took off in the Grand Prix Freestyle - during her test!!!
 
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
 
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 *
 
QR
I think prize givings are fun for spectators to watch and also for most competitiors, if their horses are well behaved! Having said that I can see that some horses are likely to blow a fuse in these situations, even with practice/training. I am about to start competing dressage again after a very nasty riding accident and one of the things that is putting me off at present is a possible prize giving. That should take the pressure off me having to do well eh??!!!
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I love prize givings and I've never had a problem doing them, until I got Dolly - she knows how they work and the first note of music and bam she is straight into a canter to do her lap of honour.

Re getting kicked by another horse fly - bucking, don't ride too close. If you did get kicked I would have to say it was your own fault for not being more aware of the other horses around you.

And yes it is very funny that the only people to moan about them are the dressage riders. Do you think your horse would have coped with this prize giving? Those are games ponies which by no stretch of the imagination can usually be called well behaved. I'm in there somewhere.

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I think with a little more experience Grace will cope with it... it was her first mounted prize giving, and don't forget she has only been out competing since May so we are still very much in the early stages yet. I have tried doing some desensitising with her and a rosette, but have to admit, we are not getting very far at the moment
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I think it is easier for me to take it from them, as she just got so stressed out when they tried putting it on her head
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I could forgive her for being a pain in the lap of honour too... again this was a first for her as she has never done anything like that before
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I also think horses should be able to canter round calmly with others. I mean, how do they warm up around others? there's really no difference! I can't understand WHY a horse gets more hyped up in a prize giving than any other time...
 
I have never had a problem with mounted prize givings. I love them to be honest, to be honest I think it would be very boring if you did them on foot.
 
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.
 
Nor me. I've never been to a dressage prize giving but have watched dozens of SJ ones - never seen any 'crazy horse' behaviour. I think it's a shame to just slide away quietly if you've done well in an important competition (and sponsors wouldn't be happy, as someone has already mentioned)
 
I haven't read all the replies, but I find foot prize givings so boring with no atmosphere at all. In Belgium every prize giving, from lowly pony club to affiliated dressage to eventing, was mounted. There would always be music, always be applause, and I don't remember any accidents. At pony club and riding club all the clubs would parade with all their memebrs in the main ring at every competition - that would mean upwards of 200 ponies or horses every time!

Those who were watching the europeans at Blenheim in 2005, do you remember Sleep Late? He stood like a rock through the entire thing, and that's probably because he's been in them since a youngster!
 
I love mounted prize givings partly I suppose because I've never had a horse that didn't like them. I ride and compete on a wide range of horses at all levels and no matter how difficult they can be about some things they all adore a prize giving and are perfectly behaved even if all hell is breaking out around them!!
 
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Those who were watching the europeans at Blenheim in 2005, do you remember Sleep Late? He stood like a rock through the entire thing, and that's probably because he's been in them since a youngster!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. I remember that. At Burghley this year a few horses did get a bit 'excited' when the band started up but the riders took them over to the 'naughty corner' and let them walk around and there no incidents.
 
If i have been on a really young horse i come in for the presentation and then leave before the lap of honour, this way i give the horse the chance to experience the first part without going over board. As a result all my horses have always loved prise givings and so do i for that matter. It is vital for the 'team' of people behind success and it pays tribute to not only the horse and the rider but the sponsors of the class, the horses sponsors ,the owners, and the grooms.
As for dressage riders being 'divas', no not really decause when you spend your time developing your horses suppleness and his ability to express himself then when they use this 'elastic' development against you you sure know about it.!!!!!! You then really understand the phrase 'its a thin line between tension and expression'!!! Add to that you are sat there in a bloomin dressage saddle which is NOT funny at least jumping saddles with their shorter stirrups and nice knee rolls help you absorb the 'movement'!!! [I have been known to put one on for a prise giving!!!!]
 
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