Qualifications to compete?? good idea?

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matthew

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Dont think this has been done before! but re: the artical in this weeks horse and hound about germany and france having to be able to ride a 1.20m s/j and medium dressage test before being allowed to compete!
I do agree that riders who compete should have a good knowledge of nutrition , tack etc but......
I have to say that i used to compete but i have never competed upto 1.20m - i i cannot imagine ever being able to ride a medium dressage test!
I know this was only showing examples of how other coutries work but i am glad it isnt in force here!
I think it would get rid of the fact that competing for a lot of people is just for fun- and if they come away having doen well then that is a bonus!
We are in danger of losing a lot of amatures any way because of high costs so i feel this would be a disaster!
Would be interested to hear from others about this!
 
Fine for professionals, but would be bad news for amatures. Surely the whole point with local shows is to give everyone (who wants to) the chance to compete.
 
and if i cant jump? i hate jumping so wont do it at all! Ive nothing against anyone who does jump, but i hate jumping and my pony wont jump anyway! Also how many kids do you know that can ride a mediu dressage test or jump 1.20? and little lead rein kids?
I think its a stupid idea and that would be the reason those countries dont have riding club shows and competeing for fun.
 
Isn't that the whole point of having amauteur and pro shows?

Think it's ridiculous to be honest. Doing your first show is scary enough without having that rubbish to deal with!

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I must admit i saw that statement in H&H yesterday and had a little chuckle to myself. I didn't read the article itself, but i suspect that it probably relates to international licenses rather than 'ordinary' shows
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If not, then a large majority of the BSJA membership that has just been built up, would be wiped out overnight....in fact you could make the height 1.10m and still dessimate the membership
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I think the BSJA are in the process of introducing a licence scheme for people who wish to compete on teams, but i can't see it going further than that for a while
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I don't see a problem with a basic proficiency test having to be passed though....in fact, i think that would be a very good idea
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Actually I think the French system is pretty good, you certainly don't have to jump 1.20m and ride at medium before being allowed to compete, but you do have to have a license, take various horsecare and riding exams and compete at set levels before progressing up.
 
Ha- yeah its a bit unbelievable really!
Remind me never to move to germany!
Also they said there is NO unaffiliated comps either! are people that cant jump 1.20 or ride a medium test only good as happy hackers!
 
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Actually I think the French system is pretty good, you certainly don't have to jump 1.20m and ride at medium before being allowed to compete, but you do have to have a license, take various horsecare and riding exams and compete at set levels before progressing up.

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i agree! surely better for the horses if everyone has to show a basic level of competence ok perhaps 1.20 and a medium dressage test is a bit OTT but what about everyone doing a BHS exam like stable management?
 
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Ha- yeah its a bit unbelievable really!
Remind me never to move to germany!
Also they said there is NO unaffiliated comps either! are people that cant jump 1.20 or ride a medium test only good as happy hackers!

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Right or wrong, it seems to be working for the Germans, if their present domination of equestrian disciplines is anything to go by
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I think that the logic behind this is good. You see so many idiots at competitions with underfed, or over fed, horses, riding badly who just havent got a clue. I do think that certain exams should be taken before someone can own a horse to keep on thier own yard or on a DIY yard. So many people buy thier kids ponies and just dump them on a DIY yard. (it happens at my yard all the time). The kids havent a clue and certain people (ie me ad YO) spend our time showing them how to do things, what to feed etc, just because their parents cant be bothered.

But of course its not just parents dumping children, so many adults these days dont seem to have a clue about how to look after a horse either, sometimes i really do wonder about some people i see out competing, and some cases are just down right cruel.

I think having to ride a medium test ad jump round 1.20 is slightly extreme, however i do think a basic stable management/feeding/care of horse (ie getting teeth done regularly/back/importance of getting saddles fitted and restuffed) is EXTREMELY important and this is the BASIC knowledge that a lot of horse owners in this country sadly lack.
 
I disagree, in France they seem to cater for all types of rider and their equestrian centres are more like clubs which can be both fun and/or competitive depending on rider preference.
You can compete at 60cm upwards!

To be honest I think it makes the british riding schools system look a complete shambles.
 
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Ha- yeah its a bit unbelievable really!
Remind me never to move to germany!
Also they said there is NO unaffiliated comps either! are people that cant jump 1.20 or ride a medium test only good as happy hackers!

[/ QUOTE ]

Right or wrong, it seems to be working for the Germans, if their present domination of equestrian disciplines is anything to go by
tongue.gif


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exactly, they are obviously doing something right!!
 
Yes definatly- horse care is important! but i think we need to be careful not to descriminate against the amature rider!
I do know what you mean about clueless kids (and adults) and everyone has to learn.
But- like the artical pointed out- its not always the novice horse owners that can be accused of cruelty- i have seen some very respected 'excperienced' riders use questionable methods!
 
they may be doing something right at the higher levels but what about those of us who dont want to aim that high. Im quite happy tootleing round my local shows and a few of the local county shows doing the showing classes.
Also how would you bring it in for showing? when you have kids of 6 years old riding in the leadrein classes its not fair and not possible to ask those kids to take exams!
 
I think the French idea is an excellent one. I see so much poor training and riding. There also seems to be a lack of understanding with fitness and nutrition. I think people should be tested before being allowed to compete. PC restricts what you can do until you have done a certain amount and I think thats a good thing.
 
I completely agree with this system, my trainer is german and was explaining things to me one day. To become a dressage trainer, he first had to be Grand Prix level at SJ and Dressage before deciding which route to take to train. It has made him a better rider!!

ALL and i say ALL german showjumping horses can do a Medium Dressage test and I think its a great idea to get people to be able to do both to qualify to compete at affiliated level which is what they are talking about.

I have one question for you: Why do the Germans/Dutch lead the world in horses? Simple - because more is expected of the riders, just being able to hang on around a course of jumps is not good enough!
 
And conniegirl - you cannot include showing into this discussion. Showing as you know it in UK doesn't exist on the continent. Trying to explain to a Finnish and German friends what it was, was not an easy task!! I ended up showing a video to them and then they still didn't get it!!!
 
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And conniegirl - you cannot include showing into this discussion. Showing as you know it in UK doesn't exist on the continent. Trying to explain to a Finnish and German friends what it was, was not an easy task!! I ended up showing a video to them and then they still didn't get it!!!

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I must be Finnish or German then
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yes you can they hold the world arab championships in paris, and the europeans in brussles. those are showing. They do have them, they have breed shows, ive lived in belgium for a while and have been to see them.
 
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Ha- yeah its a bit unbelievable really!
Remind me never to move to germany!
Also they said there is NO unaffiliated comps either! are people that cant jump 1.20 or ride a medium test only good as happy hackers!

[/ QUOTE ]

Right or wrong, it seems to be working for the Germans, if their present domination of equestrian disciplines is anything to go by
tongue.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I am not that interested in international competition, but I thought our ponies and younger riders are doing quite nicely at the moment?
 
People I knew moved to France complete with horses. My friend has BHS qualifications which the French don't recognise, so if she wanted to set up any kind of yard she had to take the french exams. Her daughter was about seven when they moved, & has had to take a series of 'competence tests' as she has progressed to allow her to move on to the next level of competition.
 
I don't think I've ever ridden a horse that COULD jump 1.20m (well, ok, I think maybe my current horse could but I certainly wouldn't want to at the moment). It is a bit prohibitive to people that want to jump 2' classes on their nice hacking cob for fun in Summer or little kids that are getting their first taste of SJ etc. Riding is expensive enough without having to invest in Medium dressage horses and Foxhunter ponies before you are allowed to enter a competition.
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I like the idea of people having to take their stage1 care before they are allowed to own a horse though.
 
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I completely agree with this system, my trainer is german and was explaining things to me one day. To become a dressage trainer, he first had to be Grand Prix level at SJ and Dressage before deciding which route to take to train. It has made him a better rider!!



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I think this is a great idea, I have seen a few trainers (using that term very lightly) around laetly that should not be allowed to coach other people!!! In some cases they are teaching novice riders who dont know any better and who seem to take whatever that say as gospel. I think it can be a very scary thought, when Novice riders can be thought by just about anyone!

As for the competition aspect, I agree 1.20 may be a bit excessive but I do think the idea of basic general horsemanship is a very good idea and really essential.
 
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I do think there should be a test/licence to compete but not quite so extreme as the examples given and I certainly think there should be a licence to own a horse/pony/donkey etc as there are far too many muppets owning them today and the welfare of these animals is appauling.

It is not out of anybodies reach to learn!!
 
I agree 1.20 in this country may be a bit excessive but in Germany things are very different. They only have horses, my German friend who has ridden and competed in Germany all her life did not know what a cob was until she came to this country.

All the horses bred in Germany are sport horses with the not so good ones being used in riding schools etc.

At the moment i am working in a Show Jumping yard and have to say i am appalled at the lack of understanding of basic flatwork and think this particular rider would benefit alot from being made to do dressage!
 
tate i have to disagree with that there are quite a few german sportsd PONIES and in the few german horse magazines i have (bought in germany as i was bored out of my mind in the car) the welsh breeds and the hafflinger pony are very popular along with the arab and the spanish horses
 
I think its a good idea, but not to that level. Like people have said, a lot dont even jump! I certainly couldnt ride a medium dressage test as I dont DO dressage!

I think its nice to have qualifications within the sports though which should be encouraged. Like the BSJA with their new achievement award things which take place in training sessions.
 
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