Speak up or mind your own?

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katymay

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Would you approach someone at a horse show if you felt what they were doing was inappropriate? Or made you feel uncomfortable on welfare grounds? It's hard to explain on here because if it was a member I don't want to offend as it's a weight issue :(
 
Very hard one .
I used to be a welfare officer and had to broach this sort of issue all the time now I tend to shut up and enjoy my own horse .
I suppose I feel I earned my right to peace after my time at the coal face .
I really don't know what the right thing to do is.
 
If I was at a horse show I would probably button it if a weight issue, assuming the person you are talking about is a competitor and therefore would be open to the stewards/judges for viewing/disciplining as appropriate. Difficult though I must admit as not all that goes on is in view of the 'authorities'.
 
Hard one! weight issue on riders part or a fat horse?
I'd probably mind my own business at a show just incase they spoke to stewards/judges unless it was an obvious welfare issue then i'd speak up x
 
Fat horse or overweight rider?

I really wouldn't get involved. They're obviously delusional and have told themselves that the horse is fine carrying them - on fb people post stuff all the time, along the line of 'people think I'm too heavy for my horse but really I'm not'... Like they're proud of it. When what they really they need is a reality check.
 
I didn't say anything as felt it wasn't my place, they did enter a class which they were perfectly entitled to, but it was the hour warming up before hand on a struggling sore pony that made me sad :( wasn't the best show I had ever been to, the judge was yawning all the way through the fun classes , and the judge in the mountain and moorland had no idea what breed my pony was, when I told him he said I would be marked down because he wasn't pure black and I had to gently correct him that breed rules allow short white socks if they are on the back legs only! So it's doubtful that anyone would of had a polite encouraging word with the rider
 
It was a rider weight issue, on a barely 14hh pony, I know larger riders can be balanced but sadly this wasn't the case and it wasn't a case of a large bottom it was the overall picture, had they warmed up for ten mins then entered fair enough but kicking and flapping and trying to trot and canter for an hour was a bit much :( when pony napped slightly rider slipped weight to side and struggled to rebalance
 
I think these things are a question of what is likely to change if you speak up

In this case I doubt that anything would
 
If I was the judge, I'd say something as the rider has placed herself in a position to be judged. If I'm just a bystander, I wouldn't say anything as the rider hasn't asked me to judge her.
 
As a welfare officer I would say something to the rider quietly off to one side if I felt that what they were doing was detrimental to the welfare of the horse ( eg lame/ exhausted/ overweight/ feet long etc ) but if it was a case of unfit and or unbalanced rider then no I wouldnt say anything.
 
flaxen said:
As a welfare officer I would say something to the rider quietly off to one side if I felt that what they were doing was detrimental to the welfare of the horse ( eg lame/ exhausted/ overweight/ feet long etc ) but if it was a case of unfit and or unbalanced rider then no I wouldnt say anything.
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In fact the show secretary/stewards should be keeping an eye on things like this and having a word with any rider/handler who is not looking after their horse's pony's best interests. The judges are only judging in their own ring, not watching the rest of the show-ground. If it was a big enough show to have a vet on site, the stewards/secretary should ask the vet to check the horse.
 
On a forest ride, my horse had left and I had my young excited cob walking round, a young girl passed on her way to the ride, every stride the pony took, she jabbed him with spurs and gave him a crack with her whip, I watched her to the start of the ride and nothing changed, I considered saying something, but had my hands full with the cob on his first outing, people returning from the ride were commenting on this ponies rider, it seems it was spurs and whip all the way round, if I saw that senario again , I would say something
 
I would have thought it would have been up to the judge, however my last experience stewarding was a bit of a shock. It had been about 10 years since I had stewarded and we never would have judged a lame horse and the rider would have been made aware why.

When I pointed out to the judge that a horse in the ring was obviously lame, I was told "we are not vets and it is not for us to diagnose". Hmmm. It will probably be another 10 years.

OP, I empathise, but experience these days tells me that you risk an ear bashing and I tend to just walk away now unless I'm in a postion at the event to say something, then I absolutely do. But as a spectator or competitor, no.
 
I know an SPCA employee who bought a young two year old horse for herself, it was obviously a lightweight pony type, not strong enough for her, I mentioned it to her boss when I was discussing her lack of confidentiality to her boss, I don't know what happened about either matter.
 
This is an awkward one. I've never spoken up about weight-related concerns, only actions.

At a BE event last year, me and bf were course-walking when a rider completely failed to set horse up for a skinny, horse tried its best but really couldn't go from where they'd put it. Rider smacked the horse several times behind the saddle and several times high up on neck (almost caught horse's face). Bang out of order. Thankfully, fence judges shared our opinion and radio'd their concerns!
 
Might be worth writing to the show organisers to say how much you enjoyed the show but you were surprised to note this obvious (assuming it was) welfare issue was not picked up on the day and suggesting it may be a good idea for stewards to make the organisers aware if they have any concerns
 
Would never directly address someone concerning something unless it was truly awful.

However I would be making my way to the judges or stewards, or reporting to welfare officers/ RSPCA type bodies. I really hope that the organisers would say something, and not allow a horse in suffering to take part, but sadly these days a lot slips through the gaps.
 
It's a tough one as it is also a bit subjective and sometimes relies on peoples own personal opinions, rather than real welfare.

I am not for one moment insinuating you are like this OP, but there are many many people who are.

Even from just reading these boards there are quite a number of people who vastly underestimate the weight carrying ability of a horse. That anyone over 13 stone is far too heavy for any horse and should not be riding, that breeches in a size 16 is disgusting, how dare those people get on a horse etc etc.

These are also often the people who look at someone weighing say 14stone and size 18, riding large hunter types, and declare them as 20 stone size 24 breaking the horses back. Some people really don't have an eye for size or weight. However the stewards/judges should.

There is of course the other side of the picture, which thankfully we see less of! Where very overweight people ride small fine horses , who haven't choose a mount of appropriate size.

Unless it was an extreme case, I wouldn't say anything. If it was extreme and everyone was turning a blind eye, I might mention it to one of the stewards, but never directly to the person.
 
totally understand alainax and it really wasn't a case of someone in size 16 jodphurs, there were lots of fat bottoms there, mine included, I would never criticise anyone or make judgement on any ones weight as who am I to judge what the weight carrying ability of their horse or pony is?, or how balanced their riding is, I certainly don't expect every rider to be stick thin but people who use their horses or ponies as armchairs rather than jump off and give them a break really grates me.
this scenario was worse, much much worse, the mount wasn't an appropriate size for the rider and although the pony was trying its hardest it really was struggling. I am hoping that the judge in the class gave encouraging words to the rider and some useful advice that he / she could take away as food for thought.
 
katymay said:
totally understand alainax and it really wasn't a case of someone in size 16 jodphurs, there were lots of fat bottoms there, mine included, I would never criticise anyone or make judgement on any ones weight as who am I to judge what the weight carrying ability of their horse or pony is?, or how balanced their riding is, I certainly don't expect every rider to be stick thin but people who use their horses or ponies as armchairs rather than jump off and give them a break really grates me.
this scenario was worse, much much worse, the mount wasn't an appropriate size for the rider and although the pony was trying its hardest it really was struggling. I am hoping that the judge in the class gave encouraging words to the rider and some useful advice that he / she could take away as food for thought.
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You don't sound for one minute like one of those types of people :) which is also worrying as I guess it was really a bad situation if it were to cause you some alarm! As you say, hopefully the judge had some constructive advice for them.
 
oldie48 said:
If I was the judge, I'd say something as the rider has placed herself in a position to be judged. If I'm just a bystander, I wouldn't say anything as the rider hasn't asked me to judge her.
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Good point and a good judge would pul them in and tactfully highlight it as an issue.
Ive only once felt the need to comment to stewards at a local show where a child smacked a pony before and after every jump t went over and several times as it left the ring, disgraceful way to treat a pony that had went in and done the job
 
Difficult. There is an obese lady who enters locally in Essex/suffolk. Think of a bulldog wearing jodhpurs riding a chihuahua. I would be too scared to say anything to her as well.
 
If it was a welfare issue at a show, sure you just speak to the ground stewards? Although as has been stated above the judge could also say something if they wished (I know of judges who have done just so).
 
I have encountered something very similar and fortunately the very sensible judge on that occasion informed the competitor that she was far to big for the pony she was riding.... and no the judge wasn't particularly tactful or diplomatic but in that situation the lady had presented herself to be "judged" and she did indeed receive some "feedback" but just not necessarily the sort of feedback she was anticipating or hoping for.
 
Depends if horse or rider. If it was the horse and I was judging, I would certainly point it out. If it was the rider I'd keep it zipped!
 
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