Shocked and very disappointed

[silvershadow81]

I was invited to join a lady go watch her compete at a prix St. George class over the weekend and I was amazed how unfair the whole system was!

It appears that in order to get top marks, you need to be trained by an associate of the judge, have the biggest horsebox possible and really just ‘be somebody’!

I think this is hugely unfair to other riders who are more talented than these richer riders as it costs lots of money and they invest the same time in getting to this level in the first place!!!

It was so obvious that the foreign judge, who did not have any pre-conceptions about any of the riders, was able to mark based on performance, which is obviously how things SHOULD be done… YET the British judges marked with scores some of which were 100 marks HIGHER!!

I am far from a dressage rider, but i could see the 'somebody' riders doing their transitions way off the markers, as it was easier for their horses as it kept them balances, yet they were not marked down??

I had never been to a BD show before, but it was extremely disappointing to learn first hand that this sport is so incest dominated! How can riders be encouraged to enter a discipline which is so tightly closed to others who don’t have the money in place to get IN with this lot?

I used to groom for an international show jumper and found even the largest of BSJA shows to be really friendly, I know Dressage is based entirely on performance and looks IN the arena, but I defiantly think this stigma has sadly transferred to beyond the arena.

It has most defiantly put me off the idea of ever taking up this discipline!

I really hope this was a one-off situation which was my first experience, but I doubt this isnt normal practice? Would love to find out if this was just a one-off? Or does this sort of thing go on a lot???

And I thought the Eurovision Song Contest was a fix!!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

It doesn't surprise me at all really. It seems that in equestrian sports where the decision is solely in the hands of judges, i.e. Dressage, Showing Classes etc there is always an opportunity for this to happen.

We only rarely enter dressage competitions now due to this. We now do Show Jumping where you know where we stand. You have either had a fence, a refusal etc & everyone knows where they stand.

 

[girla]

Unfortunately this is how it is, i showed Welsh D for over 20 years and for the 1st 7-8 years was mostly down the line as i kept myself to myself.

It was sheer determination and the fact that our horses were worthy winners that we started winning. But to be honest we could of won alot more if we had gone out of our way to crawl a bit, but i am glad to say i am not and never will be a brown noser. It's true what they say it's usualy who you know and not what you know that gets you there and it is a great shame when genuine people really try hard to turn out there horses to a hgh standard and still get put down.

The only people to get true result's are the sj as it's all down to there jumping.

Don't be disheartened carry on and ignore the so & so's just make sure your are getting enjoyment out of it and never take it too seriously, as long as your are pleased with your horse that's all that matters.

 

[silvershadow81]

It just really wound me up! Ive been fuming about it all weekend! So unfair!!

I will definatly stick to showjumping... as you say, more black and white and you know where you stand! RRRAAARRHH!!

 

[Orangehorse]

I was going to post a story about when I was writing at a dressage competition, but although it was so long ago and I can't even remember the judge's name or the competition, I decided not to.

Suffice to say that I am surprised that dressage competitions put the name of the horse and rider at the top of the dressage sheet.
They should be known by number only.

 

[silvershadow81]

That would be a really good idea!

However im sure that most the judges would still recognise who was who when they entered the arena? I think it may stop some of it from happening though!

I dont know who the judges were over the weekend either but i would question their ability as judges based on performance of ther horse and rider!! much better at juding who has the best lorry.. or who spent the most money training with their best friend etc etc!!

 

[ladyt25]

We found this at a showing class (WHP) I think it was, my sister won it (her pony was fab but we're not showing people but he excelled at WHP). She ended up in the championship at the show and it was between her and this lady on a v large hunter/show type. Well, this horse would not stand still at all in the arena, it reared, plunged and everything. My sister's stood there good as cold, did a perfect 'show' so as it was between the two of them and manners and obedience accounted for much of the mark we were sure she would win. She did not, to our amazement this lady won!!! It was appalling everyone was shocked it was only later we found out this lady was basically the patron or whatever of the event! She was Lady so and so etc

Honestly it was a real con. This was at an unaffiliated event too. Needless to say we stuck to BSJA (or indeed any show jumping) from then on. It's about the fairest discipline - you're either clear or not, simple!

 

[Rocky01]

I'm very sure that is goes on at unaffiliated shows but not generally at affiliated.

Just to mention that you now don't have to be perfectly at the markers anymore as the test is supposed to be in balance and this is nigh impossible when changes are made suddenly. The british judges as far as I can see are trying to now not go on accuracy but on overall impression and quality of the movements but they lack the training to tell if a horse is going well or if it is faked (easy to do trust me) which would be detrimental to the horse, which many of the overseas judges do have.