This just doesn't seem FAIR. Show NOT cancelled

Minxie

Minxie

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Aside from the rights and wrongs to me this just doesn't seem fair. My friend was due to go to a horse show tomorrow and has paid a chunk in entry fee's. When she phoned them yesterday they advised her to leave her trailer at the foot of the drive as the car park is too icy and to hire stables instead - at an additional cost.

However today we have had a MASSIVE snow fall this morning. The forecast is for more this evening and a big freeze tonight. This venue is in the middle of no where and the roads aren't particularly well treated (not the venues fault) its going to be very treacherous driving there - especially towing a trailer rather than driving a box.

She's an extremely competent driver but is not willing to take the risk with the ponies (and her daughter) She's just phoned to say the show is still going ahead and she wont get a refund on her entry.

I think this is extremely unfair. I'm not saying its right or wrong but I think it is unfair.

I understand the club have hired the venue. But they are not a collective. Those paying the fee's don't get a share in the profits so why should they have to underwrite the outlaying charges. I feel that just like every other 'business' they have to take the hit when stuff like this happens.

I'm also very disappointed that the riding club haven't allowed good judgement and sense to prevail over the need to recoup the income. this isn't just about someone not being bothered to go to the show - this weather is serious. There are loads of accidents around the place.

I know im very naive but hey ho. Seems cold hard cash is the order of the day
frown.gif
doff's tin hat and heads for the shelter.
 
Unfortunatly this is often the case. I wouldnt risk taking the trailer and ponies out in the snow and ice, even if i had pre entered. Hopefully the RC might see sense when nobody turns up??????????
 
aintree did exactly that, still ran a championships with only 9 entries in a blizzard! i agree its not fair, lots of people lose their money for being sensible.
 
[ QUOTE ]
She's just phoned to say the show is still going ahead and she wont get a refund on her entry.

I think this is extremely unfair. I'm not saying its right or wrong but I think it is unfair.

I understand the club have hired the venue. But they are not a collective. Those paying the fee's don't get a share in the profits so why should they have to underwrite the outlaying charges. I feel that just like every other 'business' they have to take the hit when stuff like this happens.

I'm also very disappointed that the riding club haven't allowed good judgement and sense to prevail over the need to recoup the income. this isn't just about someone not being bothered to go to the show - this weather is serious. There are loads of accidents around the place.

I know im very naive but hey ho. Seems cold hard cash is the order of the day
frown.gif
doff's tin hat and heads for the shelter.

[/ QUOTE ]

Our RC would certainly have cancelled any event in today's weather conditions.
But I would just like to point out that if your friend is a member of the RC she *would* be getting a share of any profit in that the club would have more funds to pay for better equipment/venues etc, and that if the club cancelled and then had to pay the venue she would, as a member, have to stand the loss as well.
FWIW I think that your friend has made the best decision possible in the circumstances.
 
Thank you for the replies.

She has since phoned the organisers again. Seems that they can rent / hire the stable which she will need to skip out before hand putting her ponies into but must MUCK out properly when she leaves at the end of the day
shocked.gif


Pearlsacarolsinger - she's not actually a member of the RC as far as I know. This is a big comp which they hold and which non members can enter.

I'd be really interested to know how many do make it. Interesting to hear that Aintree didn't cancel
frown.gif


Thanks again.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Seems that they can rent / hire the stable which she will need to skip out before hand putting her ponies into but must MUCK out properly when she leaves at the end of the day

[/ QUOTE ]

If I was renting stables I'd be expecting to find them clean when I got there! Not necessarily bedded down, I'd be happy to do that myself, and then I would leave it as I found it, ie clean. NO WAY should she be expected to clear out stables she's hiring but also be expected to leave them fully mucked out.
 
Name and shame time!
I know they will have incurred costs but perhaps give half entry fees back?
Good on your friend for making a sensible judgement not to go - whatever the entry fees are it is not worth risking a horse who trusts you enough to get into a tin box which you then drag around on icy roads......
 
That's very unfair. My daughters first PC rally tomorrow has been cancelled, the venue is indoors, but they are concerned about people bringing their trailers out early on, so have postponed it, My daughter is a bit upset that she is missing it, but I think it is a very sensible decision!
 
To me it depends how bad the car park is tbh. If it is a big open show believe me it is a big decision to rearrange or cancel and not a decision to be taken likely.

There are also lots of people desperate to get out to do stuff atm who maybe better situated to transport there. (eg we are very close to a flat main road)

In the past we have made this decision completely depending on what the venue decides. If the venue says that dont want it run because of health and safety concerns re their facilities be it car park, or arenas then we would cancel. If however the centre says its facilities are fine and the club is paying upwards of £1500 for venue plus additional costs for first aid cover etc most RC cannot afford to just write that kind of money off I'm afraid. And many areas would have many less events if riding clubs didnt run stuff.

eta and it is a risk when pre entering anything
 
Thank you again for the replies. Have to say that the other big venue near my friends seems to cancel their events if there is any risk of people not getting in and out of their car park let alone the problems of getting to and from venue.

Ester - I totally take your point that if they didn't do this then there wouldn't be so many shows on etc. I guess though the down side of that is that people just won't enter if there is a remote chance of bad weather. My mate is fantastic at supporting riding events but has already admitted she won't be going to that RC's events again. I'd imagine there would be a few people feeling like her. Its not like they are losing a deposit only - its the whole cost of the entry. I also disagree that organisers cant be expected to front the cost of this themselves. TBH i think its unacceptable to run any event if that an organiser couldn't underwrite properly. If it means less shows then sadly thats just life. But to put something on and essentially keep peoples money in situation like this just leaves a bitter taste
frown.gif
 
why?It's not their fault you (so whoever) can't get there. However, that is assuming their facilities are usable-which from the sounds of it they are not? assuming however it said fee non refundable in which case tough I'm afraid
 
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