quizzie
Well-Known Member
Are you still going?….I may do first class early and then head home if too hot?
SSADL veteran qualifier
- Thread starter spottypony90
- Start date
santas_spotty_pony
Well-Known Member
Sorry only just seen this - yes I went, how did you get on?
quizzie
Well-Known Member
Well, it’s not an experience I am planning on repeating any time soon!
They were running so late in the morning, I just did one class and went home, I dread to think what time the restricted class ended up vs their predicted 2.30?
They were running so late in the morning, I just did one class and went home, I dread to think what time the restricted class ended up vs their predicted 2.30?
humblepie
Well-Known Member
That is a shame. It was the same last year.
santas_spotty_pony
Well-Known Member
I’m glad I’m not the only one who experienced this. I arrived at about 1.30pm to be told they were about two hours behind schedule so I was expecting to be on at 4.30. I had already warmed up before I found this out so went back to the lorry and untacked. Just by chance I decided to walk up and find out what class they were on an hour later to find out they had decided to start running the classes backwards without telling anyone cue big panic as I was on in 10 minutes! So it was all a mad rush and I only just got into the ring in time before they would have refused me entry! Hence I was flustered and although my boy went very well, I didn’t feel I enjoyed it as much as I would have had it been organised and communicated properly. I didn’t qualify and got no feedback.
I was meant to be doing Senior or the Year but after another 4 hour wait it still hadn’t started at 7.30 pm and nobody could give me an answer - and some of them were incredibly rude to me - about when it would start. I decided to go home and didn’t get home until 11pm! I’ve emailed the organiser my thoughts and asked for a refund on second class. Such a shame as it could be a fantastic event but it hasn’t been well thought out and I he organisation just wasn’t there.
Humblepie - did you not go in the end?
quizzie
Well-Known Member
That's nuts suddenly changing the class order....I very much got the impression that it was run to suit ( and dare I say qualify) the inner circle! There is a thread on here from some years ago which has very similar comments.
I forfeited my second entry fee as I thought the class would be at least 5-6pm...and went to tell the secretary...at no point did she say they were changing the class order!!!
I think I will join you with an email
I'm not on facebook, but a friend tells me that there is a lot of disquiet about the judging of the Sunday classes?
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humblepie
Well-Known Member
No we didn’t. Thought it would be hot though in the end don’t think Sunday was too bad but I’ve hurt my leg (fell over!) and can’t really run. Our classes were in hand so it wouldn’t have been able to show him off to his best. That sounds very chaotic.
santas_spotty_pony
Well-Known Member
Yes very chaotic! My local shows are run better! yes it was boiling on Saturday and I’m glad I hadn’t decided to go that day… it wasn’t too bad on Sunday in the end and it even rained a little when we arrived. Sorry to hear about your leg - I did similar a few months ago and sprained my ankle! Very painful!!
santas_spotty_pony
Well-Known Member
I will have to have a look. I too got the feeling it was very cliquey. Exactly there was no communication and I’ve never heard of a show running its classes backwards ever!! Mine was meant to be in the indoor and it turned out to be in the Dressage arena behind the warm up ring so had I not asked I never would have known it was on! Yes I think the more emails the better - as I stated it’s animal welfare that needs to be paramount and organisation needs to be taken even more seriously with a load of older horses and on a hot day!
How did you do in your first class?
quizzie
Well-Known Member
He behaved well, and did everything asked very nicely, despite it all being new to him, but I think the most diplomatic way of saying things, is that he about as far removed from the "type" of ponies at the top of the line as it is possible to get!!!
santas_spotty_pony
Well-Known Member
I felt the same! I thought restricted was meant for horses and riders that haven’t done much showing but most of the others seemed very experienced. I’ve just had a look on Facebook and everybody is saying that it was the same people who kept winning all of the classes - very cliquey!
quizzie
Well-Known Member
It would appear that nothing changes....this is a quote from an HHO thread from 2014 about veteran showing , by a very well known forum member:
Quote :
"Ah but what you haven't taken into consideration in the Olympia Qualifiers is that most of them have designated winners before the year even starts! I have found that Veteran showing is so, so much more facey and predictable than any other type of showing!
They used to have the rule that you could only qualify for Olympia every other year to give a new fresh set of faces a chance - until 1 person wanted to go every year to win 3 on the bounce - so they changed the rules and she won 3 Olympia's on the bounce ...
Don't take it to heart! The judges at the Area Olympia Qualifiers have been told who is to win before they even step in the ring!"
Quote :
"Ah but what you haven't taken into consideration in the Olympia Qualifiers is that most of them have designated winners before the year even starts! I have found that Veteran showing is so, so much more facey and predictable than any other type of showing!
They used to have the rule that you could only qualify for Olympia every other year to give a new fresh set of faces a chance - until 1 person wanted to go every year to win 3 on the bounce - so they changed the rules and she won 3 Olympia's on the bounce ...
Don't take it to heart! The judges at the Area Olympia Qualifiers have been told who is to win before they even step in the ring!"