Three year old competing dressage?

PandorasJar said:
It's a small world. The number of times someone has gossiped away on here and had it bite them on the arse.
Click to expand...

I have said it to her face. I have no problem with her reading it on here. If she does object to it then I am prepared to lose her friendship over it, so no problems from my point of view. If anyone on here can recognise her from what I have written then they already know her so well that none of this is news, so I don't see any issue with it.
 
WeedySeaDragon said:
If she's breaking the rules of the classes she's entering and you have concerns for the welfare of the horse being worked that young then I don't understand why you wouldn't ring the venue about it.

If I disagreed that much with something a friend of mine was doing I don't think I'd put the friendship first to be honest.
Click to expand...

I do wish life was that simple :o
 
Jenni_ said:
Why don't you stop tip toeing around, phone the venue annonomously, and say 'I know of someone who will be competing at the weekend- the horse isn't 4.'
Click to expand...

I would not do this anonymously. In my opinion, if I should say anything to the organisers, then I should be brave enough to admit it was me and tell my friend outright what I have done.

It wouldn't stay anonymous in any case. She isn't stupid. I told her that I thought the horse was too young to compete yesterday. If she gets an email tomorrow reminding her that only 4 year olds and above can compete, how many seconds do you think it would take her to make a connection?

Is this really any of my business? The horse is happy and not apparently being harmed. It's a far cry from those poor creatures on Dragon Driving.
 
Really you are never going to stop people from doing things with horses when the horse is too young and immature for what is being asked.

Everyone gets into a rush with young horses and instead of finding their personal super horse, end up with a string of disasters.
Dressage, one of the most physically demanding of sports, for the horse, leaves thousands of lovely WB's knackered by the time they are 5.
 
It's against the BD rules to compete a 3 year old, and most unaff dressage is run to BD rules. If I was in your position I would have told the event organiser, and not posted about it on here. The event organiser isn't going to disclose who informed them.
Although your 'friend' is more likely to get to hear about this thread... :rolleyes:
 
cptrayes said:
I have said it to her face. I have no problem with her reading it on here. If she does object to it then I am prepared to lose her friendship over it, so no problems from my point of view. If anyone on here can recognise her from what I have written then they already know her so well that none of this is news, so I don't see any issue with it.
Click to expand...

I sense a brick wall coming at a rate towards my head :rolleyes:

How old are you?!
Either take your nose firmly out, or report it
 
personally i wouldn't compete a 3 yr old in anything but in hand showing but there is no law against it.
As to whether you do anything about it, depends on how strongly you feel about it, it's bothering you enough to post about it here but is it what she's doing that bothers you or the fact she wont listen to you? if you honestly believe she is wrong in what she is doing than you should act.

I had a dilemma a few weeks ago, someone i know who doesn't have the best record of horse care was getting another horse on loan, i dithered over informing the new horses owner of what i knew. in the end i found the owner on FB and messaged them, now it could have gone totally tits up from that point, owner could have shown the woman i know the message and i could have found myself in the middle of a great big row, or, as did happen, the owner thanked me and said they will keep a close eye on things and as they know another livery there they will ask them to as well. because i had genuine concerns about the future welfare of the horse i was prepared to put my neck on the line and take the flack if that was how it turned out, if you really feel concern over what your friend is doing with her horse you will take action.
 
I wouldn't be running off to report your friend. You have made your feelings known to her and by remaining on good terms, you will have more influence on their attitude on all matters to do with horses.
 
So it was three this year?

I'd take my backed 3yo to shows if it was quiet and mentally capable of it. Especially once we got this far through the season. It's officially nearer to 4 than 3 now anyway. If the horse seems happy and unfazed by it then I'd leave well alone to be honest.
 
jesstickle said:
So it was three this year?

I'd take my backed 3yo to shows if it was quiet and mentally capable of it. Especially once we got this far through the season. It's officially nearer to 4 than 3 now anyway. If the horse seems happy and unfazed by it then I'd leave well alone to be honest.
Click to expand...

This.

Its not going to kill the pony is it? Or cause undue harm?

You've put in your opinion, she hasn't listened so leave well alone. Its her choice, which where many people wouldn't do it, far worse could happen to the pony really
 
I really feel for you. Not a nice place to be in. I wouldnt report her either Ive been in the same
position with a good friend doing far too much with a young horse
Ended up that she didn't listen and by te horse was 6 it's was
So naughty she Couldn't ride it.
I agree schooling and competing a 3 year old for prelim is IMHO too much
If she was just doing a W&T that wouldn't have been quite so bad. I still wouldn't do it!! The 4yr old rule is there for a reason, but as you say you've done all you feel you can
Hugs
 
PandorasJar said:
I sense a brick wall coming at a rate towards my head :rolleyes:

How old are you?!
Either take your nose firmly out, or report it
Click to expand...

So is no-one allowed to ask other people's opinions, in your book? It's a good job HHO doesn't agree with you or this forum would be dead.

How about you apply your own rules to my thread and take your nose out of it :p ?
 
Well everyone saying this is cruel and the horse will end up broken will hate me... (more so than they already do :p)

My horses do sometimes school prelim (and above!) as 3 year olds if they are mature enough and can carry them selves, and I would have no problem with them doing a w&t test - lets face it, they aren't that taxing!

FWIW, these horses go on to be serious athletes, and thus far none have been lame by 6 or unride-able as a consequence... :cool:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top