Riding clubs dressage rule change

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myheartinahoofbeat

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I read about British Riding Clubs allowing riders to use their voices in dressage tests from now on and also that nose bands were no longer compulsory in their competitions. I can’t find anything on their website but if this is official, it’s fantastic news. It sets them apart from other affiliated bodies and makes a step in the right direction for horse welfare. Well done BRC.
 
HelenBack said:
I saw an article on the Your Horse facebook page about it so I think it must be true. I think it’s a great move as I’m very chatty with my horse while training and it takes a lot of concentration to be quiet in a competition!

I really hope BD and BE follow suit.
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Yes, I have lost marks for using my voice before!
 
I think it's a great move, my horses are all trained off quiet voice aids, I just hope people take note of the 'subtle' point, because I'd hate to be in an arena next door to someone clicking the entire time or using the 'Well done/ good boy' holler that seems to have become a regular fixture on xc courses
 
HelenBack said:
I think it’s a great move as I’m very chatty with my horse while training and it takes a lot of concentration to be quiet in a competition!

I really hope BD and BE follow suit.
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Same, I have only been doing online dressage tho where you can get away with whispering anyway 😂
TheMule said:
I think it's a great move, my horses are all trained off quiet voice aids, I just hope people take note of the 'subtle' point, because I'd hate to be in an arena next door to someone clicking the entire time or using the 'Well done/ good boy' holler that seems to have become a regular fixture on xc courses
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I'm sure there is wiggle room in the marking for "excessive" use of voice, same as excessive use of any other aids. I know what you mean with the hollering, but I did always think the "distraction" reasoning was a little trite, at any comp there will be plenty of noise distractions and your horse knows your voice.
 
smolmaus said:
Same, I have only been doing online dressage tho where you can get away with whispering anyway 😂

I'm sure there is wiggle room in the marking for "excessive" use of voice, same as excessive use of any other aids. I know what you mean with the hollering, but I did always think the "distraction" reasoning was a little trite, at any comp there will be plenty of noise distractions and your horse knows your voice.
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The rule states discreet use of voice, with the option for the judge to impose penalties if the vocals are considered excessive or distracting to other competitors.
 
TheMule said:
I think it's a great move, my horses are all trained off quiet voice aids, I just hope people take note of the 'subtle' point, because I'd hate to be in an arena next door to someone clicking the entire time or using the 'Well done/ good boy' holler that seems to have become a regular fixture on xc courses
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I'm sure they think they're being nice but to their horses they're just shouting at them and whacking them on the neck. Does my head in!
 
TheMule said:
I think it's a great move, my horses are all trained off quiet voice aids, I just hope people take note of the 'subtle' point, because I'd hate to be in an arena next door to someone clicking the entire time or using the 'Well done/ good boy' holler that seems to have become a regular fixture on xc courses
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Can remember being at an ROR dressage qualifier when you had to win a class to qualify for the championships and there was a professional rider on a smart grey horse in the warm up who was just so noisy clicking and everything else and really quite annoying and actually slightly intimidating. Anyway the clicking didn’t help them and we won the class. Funnily enough, I did a BD judges training session with said rider a few years later which wasn’t particularly good either but was essentially a free use of a school and putting something back to the sport.

I like the visual look of a cavesson nose band, but that is obviously just tradition and I think it is good that I need to have one is being removed.
 
I too hope that clicking isn't allowed and it is just a discreet soft voice command. I am so happy with these changes to the rules as there is nothing worse than riding in silence, I just find it so weird and love it when a venue plays background music. I hope BD makes these changes too.
 
rabatsa said:
Having seen the result of one person clicking, to their horse, on a ring full of driving horses, I do hope that clicking is penalised. Seven horses taking off and the clicked at one still plodding was not a good look.
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We manage clicking at driving horses with a ring full of other driving horses? 🤷‍♀️
 
TheMule said:
I think it's a great move, my horses are all trained off quiet voice aids, I just hope people take note of the 'subtle' point, because I'd hate to be in an arena next door to someone clicking the entire time or using the 'Well done/ good boy' holler that seems to have become a regular fixture on xc courses
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The XC "hollering" can be to release rider tension. Doesn't harm anyone so I will continue to praise when I've been terrified about a jump that we've just cleared.
Seriously it is going to be a difficult one to police in BRC dressage. I do make sounds under my breath that horse can hear especially when outdoors. If judge in a box they can't hear it but if in an indoor it's not so easy.
A neck scratch or gentle pat works just as well
 
Nicnac said:
The XC "hollering" can be to release rider tension. Doesn't harm anyone so I will continue to praise when I've been terrified about a jump that we've just cleared.
Seriously it is going to be a difficult one to police in BRC dressage. I do make sounds under my breath that horse can hear especially when outdoors. If judge in a box they can't hear it but if in an indoor it's not so easy.
A neck scratch or gentle pat works just as well
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Shouting at a prey animal is not particularly useful as praise!
Mine gets plenty of 'Good boys', but they’re between me and him. As you say, a neck scratch is a really nice signal to the horse
 
I have been known to make a buzz trill sound for canter which alarms some humans 😅 horses seem less bothered. I have not used this in polite company.

I do like a joyful good girl as I do think they get tone and a neck scratch.

Chuntering away to myself does help me remember to breath 😅

I resent the fact I had to but a noseband to do online dressage
 
rabatsa said:
Having seen the result of one person clicking, to their horse, on a ring full of driving horses, I do hope that clicking is penalised. Seven horses taking off and the clicked at one still plodding was not a good look.
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I had this happen in the showring. As we walked round, the woman behind us kept clicking really loudly. Bo thought she was clicking him and kept going off in to trot. Poor love must have been so confused as I had to immediately ask him to walk. This happened constantly for 2 laps of the ring. 🙈
 
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