Tikka
Well-Known Member
Does anyone go to Swansea & District Pony Club Shows?
If so what classes do you do?
What classes would you like to see?
If so what classes do you do?
What classes would you like to see?
Swansea
- Thread starter Tikka
- Start date
Enfys
Well-Known Member
I used to for several years. (I also made their rosettes for several years too)
Mainly we did the LR classes, and the fun classes like Fancy Dress and Child Handler, then later the Pony Club Rider sort of classes. On the whole I thought that the Pony Club had a pretty evenly balanced variety of classes, it is so hard to please everyone all the time. I always liked that the Clear Round was on all day, giving even the smallest competitor a chance of a ribbon. I don't see how any more classes could actually be fitted in to the available space and hours in a day, if more of a variety of in-hand classes, novelty or games classes were to be held I think more shows would actually have to be organised.
From memory I don't recall there being any real Novelty Classes though, things that gave everyone a chance, whatever their pony, like Best mane and tail etc, etc, but maybe that is just my memory.
Swansea shows were always one of my favourites, on the whole well run and organised and to put on shows every month through the summer takes some major organising and staffing. If my situation had been different I would certainly have joined my daughter as a Member, thing is, boarding at another PC facility and being Secretary of that one made it a bit difficult!!!
Mainly we did the LR classes, and the fun classes like Fancy Dress and Child Handler, then later the Pony Club Rider sort of classes. On the whole I thought that the Pony Club had a pretty evenly balanced variety of classes, it is so hard to please everyone all the time. I always liked that the Clear Round was on all day, giving even the smallest competitor a chance of a ribbon. I don't see how any more classes could actually be fitted in to the available space and hours in a day, if more of a variety of in-hand classes, novelty or games classes were to be held I think more shows would actually have to be organised.
From memory I don't recall there being any real Novelty Classes though, things that gave everyone a chance, whatever their pony, like Best mane and tail etc, etc, but maybe that is just my memory.
Swansea shows were always one of my favourites, on the whole well run and organised and to put on shows every month through the summer takes some major organising and staffing. If my situation had been different I would certainly have joined my daughter as a Member, thing is, boarding at another PC facility and being Secretary of that one made it a bit difficult!!!
zigzag
Well-Known Member
I did, but not anymore, the disorganisation is unbelievable... they never ever start on time, they never have a decent judge
plus after attending the July show last year and seeing one Swansea pony club member jumping her pony n a class bitted up to the eyeballs to stop it, with the rider wearing spurs and digging them into the pony's side and whipping it at every fence plus swearing at the pony very loudly.. (foul language) all the DC said to her when she finished was watch your language .. n othing about the way she was using the spurs and whip, and this isn't the first time I have seen this happen at their shows or rallies... plus it seems that a lot of the classes are put on for the DC's grandaughter
Tikka
Well-Known Member
i know that it can be a bit disorganised (sp), but when we are holding a show, there are only 3-4 people that come to set up and put everything away. What gets me, are the parents that just sit there, and can see we need help. Why can't they help for a while, if the horse is in horsebox, even if it just to help put up jumps, or whatever they can do.
Enfys
Well-Known Member
Tikka, that's always the way, and don't defend yourself. It happens everywhere where any effort by Volunteers is needed. I haven't been to a Swansea PC show for about three years now, so am well out of touch.
Plenty of people to complain when things don't go right, don't start on time, Secretary is slow (if they had ever been a Secretary they would never moan about that again, I can tell you), no one to man this, that or the other, yadda, yadda, yadda. But, do they get off their fat butts to do something about it? Not a chance! Professional whingers have a field day at shows, can you tell it pees me off?
Zigzag; Sorry, I have to say this, have you, personally, ever tried to get Judges for a show? No matter how early you chase them up they will be booked for your date, someone won't like them, you can have Guy Landau judging and some contrary bugger would complain, Organisers just can't win whatever they do.
As for the classes run to suit the DC's daughter.....well, I'm sure there are other children of her age (and I know her) that could compete in the same classes if they wanted to. When I was part of a Show Committee of course we considered what classes our own children could compete in, just as anyone would.
Cannot comment on the behaviour of the SJ child other than to say that if it had been one of my old clubs shows the Commentator would have disqualified her there and then, no messing. we had a GREAT Commentator. Bad language and mis-use of whip and spurs happen everywhere, not just at PC shows. I have witnessed some shocking behaviour in the SJ ring at the City of Swansea show.
Plenty of people to complain when things don't go right, don't start on time, Secretary is slow (if they had ever been a Secretary they would never moan about that again, I can tell you), no one to man this, that or the other, yadda, yadda, yadda. But, do they get off their fat butts to do something about it? Not a chance! Professional whingers have a field day at shows, can you tell it pees me off?
Zigzag; Sorry, I have to say this, have you, personally, ever tried to get Judges for a show? No matter how early you chase them up they will be booked for your date, someone won't like them, you can have Guy Landau judging and some contrary bugger would complain, Organisers just can't win whatever they do.
As for the classes run to suit the DC's daughter.....well, I'm sure there are other children of her age (and I know her) that could compete in the same classes if they wanted to. When I was part of a Show Committee of course we considered what classes our own children could compete in, just as anyone would.
Cannot comment on the behaviour of the SJ child other than to say that if it had been one of my old clubs shows the Commentator would have disqualified her there and then, no messing. we had a GREAT Commentator. Bad language and mis-use of whip and spurs happen everywhere, not just at PC shows. I have witnessed some shocking behaviour in the SJ ring at the City of Swansea show.
zigzag
Well-Known Member
No I haven't tried to get judges for classes
and I know not everyone is happy with certain judges, don't get me wrong a few years ago the PC shows were great and there were a lot of outsiders who came to them especially when they bought their own feild, however it has gone downhill dramatically, and before hand when the shows would go on til about 6/7pm most classes are now finished by 3pm so you can see how the standard and amount of people attending have dropped
Enfys
Well-Known Member
I think the only thing that Show Committees can do is act on constructive criticism, Tikka was asking in her OP about classes that people would want to do, so that suggests that a re-think is going on.
Zigzag, as I said, I am out of touch and it is a bit sad to think that all is finished so early. As you said, when I used to go classes went on until late, and the parking areas were always jam packed and the place full to over flowing. Hopefully they can get that sorted again.
Zigzag, as I said, I am out of touch and it is a bit sad to think that all is finished so early. As you said, when I used to go classes went on until late, and the parking areas were always jam packed and the place full to over flowing. Hopefully they can get that sorted again.
zigzag
Well-Known Member
It's strange but I porabably know you by sight 
Enfys
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
It's strange but I porabably know you by sight
[/ QUOTE ]
I expect so
If you've ever been to Parc Howard you will, or out with the LFH, used to ride about on a little white arab.
Hey! If you went to Swansea PC shows, you may even have my rosettes!
They would never let me do really fancy ones
It's strange but I porabably know you by sight
[/ QUOTE ]
I expect so
Hey! If you went to Swansea PC shows, you may even have my rosettes!