Terrible Behaviour at Showjumping Yesterday

Vinney

Vinney

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Its a bit long but I just had to put this on the forum. Went showjumping yesterday as a spectator. Everyone was having a good time until middle aged man took his horse on to jump. The horse was obviously terrified of this man and bucked and reared prior to starting the jumping. All the way round this man beat the horse with a stick even though it was beginning to jump prior to being hit. The horse was unable to control himself throughout his ordeal and the man was disqualified after the second round. He had two horses that he was using and both had the same appalling treatment. The people who organised this event told him to go and that the sort of behavour he was showing was unacceptable at their events. What I would like to know is will this man be able to do this at other events and as the people who were running this event obviously have this man's details surely they should report him to animal welfare. This quite spoilt an event that was very well run and all the other competitors were wonderful sports people who respected their horses and gave us something really worth watching. My grand daughters were with me and as they are in the stages of jumping and competing (not at this event) they were pretty upset at the way this man behaved.
 
I'd seriously suggest a strong letter of complaint to the show organizers stating pretty much what you (and you grand daughters) saw yesterday.. and asking what is going to be done about such a disgusting display of 'horsemanship' (and I use that term extremely loosely in the case of the said gentleman you watched yesterday).

I've been witness to acts like this over the years and I've made myself heard, both on paper and face to face at the event that day too.

People like this should be banned from public competing when they show such harsh and cruel behaviour towards the horse infront of joe public...

Just my opinion on the subject...and boy does it make my blood boil to see things like this...
 
Janovich said:
I'd seriously suggest a strong letter of complaint to the show organizers stating pretty much what you (and you grand daughters) saw yesterday.. and asking what is going to be done about such a disgusting display of 'horsemanship' (and I use that term extremely loosely in the case of the said gentleman you watched yesterday).

I've been witness to acts like this over the years and I've made myself heard, both on paper and face to face at the event that day too.

People like this should be banned from public competing when they show such harsh and cruel behaviour towards the horse infront of joe public...

Just my opinion on the subject...and boy does it make my blood boil to see things like this...
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Thanks Janovich, I have been thinking along those lines myself. The owners of the establishment made sure he was sent off the site and told him off over the loudspeaker system, but I think maybe some letters from myself and some of the other spectators wouldn't go amis. It is the first time my grand daughters have ever been to this type of event and I wouldn't like them to think this sort of thing is the norm. All the other competitors were young girls and boys and they were all very respectful and caring for their horses.
 
If the rider is behaving like this in public then what is he doing to the horses in the privacy of his yard?
He clearly needs to be brought to the attention of equine welfare organisations.
 
Janovich said:
I'd seriously suggest a strong letter of complaint to the show organizers stating pretty much what you (and you grand daughters) saw yesterday.. and asking what is going to be done about such a disgusting display of 'horsemanship' (and I use that term extremely loosely in the case of the said gentleman you watched yesterday).

I've been witness to acts like this over the years and I've made myself heard, both on paper and face to face at the event that day too.

People like this should be banned from public competing when they show such harsh and cruel behaviour towards the horse infront of joe public...

Just my opinion on the subject...and boy does it make my blood boil to see things like this...
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Tbh the OP has said the organisers took a dim view as well and with Drew him from the class, asked them to leave the show and that that type of behaviour wasn't acceptable. Ii think it's a bit unfair to be writing to organisers and asking what they are going to do about. Maybe they should have ran the bell on him before he even started jumping or a steward in the warm up should have said something but they did the right thing in the end. As it was Iu unaffiliated I'm sure who else you would report it too and yes he could go out to other shows a behave like that but hopefully he won't return to that venue and will get a reputation around the other venues in the area .
 
Vinney said:
Thanks Janovich, I have been thinking along those lines myself. The owners of the establishment made sure he was sent off the site and told him off over the loudspeaker system, but I think maybe some letters from myself and some of the other spectators wouldn't go amis. It is the first time my grand daughters have ever been to this type of event and I wouldn't like them to think this sort of thing is the norm. All the other competitors were young girls and boys and they were all very respectful and caring for their horses.
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Good for you OP... put pen to paper and re-iterate your feelings (not to be a troublemaker you understand),..but to put across the point quite strongly that the 'up and coming' generation of young riders should NOT have to see displays of such riding and cruelty as witnessed yesterday,. blah blah blah..

I think the more of you that can back your complaint up on paper, the better and many voices should and hopefully WILL be heard by the organizers...and when this particular 'gentleman' thinks about competing there again in the future, with any luck they'll ban him from any of their events...end of.
 
Please do not complain poor organisers did all the could by making him leave. There is nothing else they can do

No it's not acceptable and at least he wasn't allowed to get away with it. I've been to plenty where riders do get away with it
 
I can't see what else you could expect the show centre to do.
They publicly shamed him and sent him off site.
Not sure what's else is to be achieved by writing to them except putting them off running shows .
 
soulfull said:
Please do not complain poor organisers did all the could by making him leave. There is nothing else they can do

No it's not acceptable and at least he wasn't allowed to get away with it. I've been to plenty where riders do get away with it
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I was only going to write that I agree with their decision to eject him from the show and perhaps if they were able they could spread the word around the circuit. I know they did the right thing in ejecting him from the site. They didn't mince their words.
 
Vinney said:
I was only going to write that I agree with their decision to eject him from the show and perhaps if they were able they could spread the word around the circuit. I know they did the right thing in ejecting him from the site. They didn't mince their words.
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Echo this...I very much doubt Vinney is out to cause trouble, or indeed put a dampener on the show organizers as I'm sure we all realise they work damn hard to put the day together. Putting it in writing merely re-iterates yesterday performance (and outcome) and OP can in fact praise the organizers for doing this,...but at the same time making themselves heard that it really Is Not On seeing this kind of riding and hoping that the event organizers will be on the look out for him if he appears again. Like I've said,..not going out to cause any trouble, but if you've a voice,...use it!!

That's all I'm trying to put across...and yes, the fact that other folks have said that goodness only knows what he's like at home/out of the public eye....gives me the shivers thinking about it to be honest.
 
Vinney said:
I was only going to write that I agree with their decision to eject him from the show and perhaps if they were able they could spread the word around the circuit. I know they did the right thing in ejecting him from the site. They didn't mince their words.
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In that case that may well be appreciated. But I don't think they will be able to pass the word round as such. But if worded nicely enough they may tell 'friends' at other venues to watch out for him

Sorry I got the wrong idea but presumed from replies that want what you meant lol
 
I went to a county show last year and was watching the showjumpers warming up. One of them was acting similar so when she came round close I literally leaned over the rope and half shouted "Oi fatty, stop whipping that bloody horse" :)

Maybe I didn't need to insult her but she was fat and behaving badly so hey ho ... wanted to make my point and it seemed to work :)
 
I think the sort of letter you were thinking of - congratulating the organisers for their action - would be a good idea and maybe give them a little push towards contacting other centres to watch out for this person.
 
OWLIE185 said:
If the rider is behaving like this in public then what is he doing to the horses in the privacy of his yard?
He clearly needs to be brought to the attention of equine welfare organisations.
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This.

I hope someone filmed it and passed it on to the RSPCA. Anyone who knows who he is should be reporting him anyway. I can't stand that kind of behaviour! Poor, poor horses :( .

Please - somebody report him.
 
If this happened at a show centre that holds regular events it may be that are a members of the PSOA (permanent show organisers Assoc) and are in touch with show centres.

It would seem worth writing to the centre saying how upset you were, how well they dealt with it and can they notify other centres to warn them?
 
I remember when I was at a pony club show back in 06 and one of the boy members (must of been over 16) took his cob in, looked like a right baby, and continuously beat the poor thing because it was scared of the fillers. I don't mean just softly, he was full on beating it. But no one went in and stopped him.

That scarred me for life, it's so horrid to see and as OWLIE185 said, if they are doing that in public than what the heck are they doing in private. Poor horses.
 
Just a quick update. I have written a letter to the yard owners outlining my disgust and also that I have footage of the incident because my grand daughter had her camera with her. I am going into the yard on Saturday as they are staging another event that we want to watch and also to book the arena for a lesson. I will make sure the owners have received my letter and also ask if they are thinking of reporting this man. Thanks for all your replies, its good to know that there as so many good horse owners out there.
 
Personally I would have written praising their balls in chucking him out. I would ask him to be barred from events they run permanently, so there is no repeat. Also I'd have asked for his name to be spread amongst show organisers, as every show should state in the rules they have the right to refuse entry without giving a reason. Exclusion may get it through his skull that his behaviour will not be tolerated.
 
Word of mouth is a powerful thing too.
Reports of his behaviour WILL get around whether passed officially or not, hopefully other local Organisers will take note and refuse his entries (as is their right)

Personally I would have written a letter to the Organisers commending them on their actions, Organisers get enough complaints as it is, shows of support are always welcomed :) LOL Pip, posted at the same time :D


It is a sad thing to see, one can only feel pity for his poor horses :(
 
This behaviour is not acceptable. Affiliated shows have ruling which stipulated that a horse may only be whipped behind the riders leg and no more than three times during a round. After the bell has gone. Unfortunately this also is open to abuse if the collecting ring steward doesn't have eyes in the back of their heads. Write to organisers by all means then if you witness same behaviour again you can refer to your original objection. Surely the organisation/club have a list of rules re protection of horse and rider. I myself had to report a side saddle rider for whipping her horse on its face because it was whinnying to another horse!!! Basically I said 'If you don't do something about, it I will' Hope this will not be witnessed again but unfortunately bad riders always blame their horses.
 
OP, you seem to have done the best you can under the circumstances, as have the show organisers.
Next season if he is still around, keep an eye out for him at local agricultural shows, they usually have a vet on site. You could ask the horse secretary to refer his horse to the vet after a display like that.
 
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