Turnout of horses at shows/away from home etc

N

NewHeights_SJ

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www.newheights-showjumping.co.uk
I took my horses to their first show of the year yesterday (hoooray!) But, whilst there i saw a number of horses that were turned out terribly! There was one grey horse that looked like he had been dragged straight in from the field, legs and tail still muddy.

I saw a friend of mine who knew the rider, and his excuse was 'I dont normally compete' I'm assuming he meant he has his horse for other things (hacking?) ...maybe i am a snob, but a brush through the tail wouldnt have hurt.

(For any one whos interested, my show report is here: www.newheights-showjumping.co.uk/blog.html )

Is it just me or does this bother anyone else? (Oh god, please tell me im not *really* that bad?!) I think it bothered me more because i had spent all morning scrubbing my grey clean!

N x
 
I wouldn't even go on a fun ride (organized or not!) without giving my horse a full groom, tack clean and me looking tidy
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I like to be well turned out out of respect for the judge. And I'm with you on muddy/green (as in colour) being annoying - except when its really cold!
 
I feel like I could be called a snob, every morning and night I brush and comb my Appys tail,body and mane. I just keep thinking if anyone comes and see's her in a state.... god forbid!! Plus she likes a good brush and I like the quite time, I'm only planning on hacking with her in the future, but still she must be clean
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Yes some effort should be made and as I was not there I could not comment.........but some of us compete horses that are out 24/7 to keep costs down and its mud/mud and more mud atm.......
I would have to say that a little 'grubby' in the winter is ok, as washing a horse down with no access to hot water, lamps and a stable during the colder months is neither practical or fair on the horse.
 
No, you're not alone! It really irritates me. To my mind it shows a lack of respect for themelves, their horses and the person who's given up their time to judge.
 
anya01 - 'a little grubby' i can understand, especially on a grey. I dont pretend to know the riders facilities or anything, but there were literally lumps of dry mud still in its tail
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Its difficult at show jumping i guess, because im not sure whats in the rules about turn out (if any?)... just had me a bit shocked!!
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Whilst I agree that having them in pristine condition is near impossible at this time of year for a field kept horse with no facilities you can still make an effort!

I have a WHITE (well, half white, half brown) pony who is unrugged and out 24/7 all year round with no facilities (literally a tree to tie to and that's it). He still gets a full neck rug on the night before (or even a couple of days before) so mud on his body and neck is dry to be brushed off. He has 2.5ft of pure white mane which gets brushed and spray conditioned.

He has his tail and legs washed ( buckets of warm water brought from home in a canister) and whilst they're not sprakling, they are presentable.

There is no excuse for taking a scruffy, dirty horse to somewhere like a show - it's just laziness.
 
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I wouldn't even go for a hack without my horse being groomed properly. I wouldn't dream of riding her with mud anywhere.

[/ QUOTE ]

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Well, daily hacking is different......

I ONLY hack at present and field is like mud soup. No facilities. Horse gets the important bits brushed and I ignore the rest
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By time I get back the legs are usually dry enough for me to brush off. If I brushed him properly clean every day it would take literally an hour+!
 
Lumps of mud is just being lazy.........I mean 'grubby' as not sparkling clean as in the summer months eg washed head to tail.
I SJ and certainly would not turn up without brushing mane / tails out with spray, washing white socks and uncleaned tack is no excuse as you can take it home!!
 
I think it's laziness and lack of respect, when I go to a dressage comp I don't bath but I do make sure my horse is clean and tidy, the one thing I don't do however is plait, I have a welsh D and hogged cob, and I am NOT ruining the D's mane by pulling it as he shows as well, BUT he is turned out to show standard. I hate seeing horses with huge stains and mud everywhere and dirty tack.......
 
TBH I'd love to get more mud of my share horsey to show off his good looks (I'm biased but he did use to be a 'rug model' so other people think he is great looking too!) but I work (very) full time and live 50min from the yard.

If I do all the chores, make sure that there is no mud anywhere that could rub him then, really, that is the most important thing. For low level competing (obviously not showing!) I think you probably have to take into account the amount of time people have available as well as the facilities they may/may not have.

So, yes, you're a snob! ;-)
 
When I was working on a yard as a teenager we'd have been bollocked if we rode any horse out that still had shavings/straw in its tail and dirty hocks...they were always the 2 the YO would look out for.

Currently all our horses are mud monsters, so getting mega clean to hack out, when you're against the clock and the light anyway just isn't practical.

However, going anywhere off the yard that requires the lorry and the horses will be pristine, and almost always plaited up.
 
For SJ at this time of year I give a reasonable groom - ie no clumps of mud in tail or on body, but I do not bath or wash the legs out - two reasons - 1 they are hairy beasts covered in oil and it takes a good hour to clean the legs up, plus I like to leave them oily and 2 - I hack to the local SJ centre and our bridleway is very muddy so doing a thorough leg clean up is pointless.

I do make sure tack is clean, ditto myself, though last SJ competition it was so cold, I kept my quilted yard coat on when jumping.

It is difficult at this time of year, but dried mud left on is really no excuse as grooming is possible at all times.

Hacking - quick flick over as they will be covered by the time they get back and this is when I put the effort in so they are clean and dry.
 
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