Village Show

[MurphysMinder]

Sorry, have to have a bit of a rant. There was a village fete yesterday which had a horse and pony show. Fancy dress etc and some jumping classes. Daughter considered going but we decided it would not be fair as felt show was aimed at local kids and Murph is fairly successful at RC level. We went along to socialise pup. The first people we see are ones she competes against at RC some of whom have also jumped affiliated.

Pot hunters or what! How does everyone else feel about this, would you have gone along in the knowledge that there was a strong probability of winning. The biggest classs wias a 2'9 open. There was £5 prize money for 1st place.
The other thing that really got us both was the standard of riding, in particular one rather large lady riding an arab in a hackamore. To put it nicely she did not have the best of hands or seat and it really made you wince everytime she went over a jump, think modern pentathlon.

 

[BankEndRescue]

I'm in total agreement with you. The local "rope and field" type shows are a brilliant starting ground for kids or inexperienced adults. It's not at all right to take aong something at a much higher level, beginners need to know that they at least stand a chance of being placed. I remember when I was a kid and just starting out, a family used to roll up in their wagons with 2 or 3 ponies for each of the kids and the rest of us never stood a chance because they were professionally produced jumping ponies. Give the kids a chance is what i say!

 

[peanut]

Every year at my local show the same people win the class for those who have never been placed in a jumping competition. The first timers don't stand a chance.

It amazes me the organisers don't notice.

 

[chunkytfg]

so at what point does it become unfair to show your horse/pony in these events?

My daughter and her pony can place in unaffiliated dressage prelims and they can clear 2'6" rounds although she has never competed in SJ. Should she be allowed to compete or would it be unfair?

yes turning up with bred SJ ponys is a bit much but at what point is it not okay?

 

[fatpiggy]

Seen it myself - I went to compete in my local riding club dressage afternoon - prelim test - and warming up for it was a lady doing 3 time changes. Apparently she was well known as a local pot-hunter. How sad are some people?

 

[MurphysMinder]

If your daughter has never competed in SJ then I would say she is just the sort of person I would expect to see at this type of show. My neighbours children attended and they have competed in pc/rc 2'6" classes and have no problem with that. My moan was against the adults on horses that we had seen succesfully competing at a higher level, I just can't see what satisfaction they would have gained from winning .

 

[jacks_mum]

We hold 3 shows a year, the first or 'little show' is aimed at local kids/adults that are not experienced although we do get pot hunters. The second show is much larger and now includes qualifiers, this show is aimed at the serious showers - sorry that reads wrong but i'm sure you all know what i mean!) Our 3rd show is a mini ODE and fun classes again aimed at the local and inexperienced. Hopefully we have a show for all comers at some point but it can get frustrating as one of the organisers to look at a ring and discover that you have several county level horse and riders competing against little Polly and her unruly new forest who come out once a year for our show with the desperate hope of going home with a ribbon. Makes me feel very sad for the genuine local kids that are there for a fun day out but what can we do?

 

[jazzy19950]

This is very frustrating and annoys me greatly.We organise four shows a year which are all just small local riding club shows, no qualifiers, no prizemoney. Yet at nearly every show the same two HOYS standard families turn up, win every class they enter and take most of the Championships. It is interesting to note that they actually travel 30 miles for this honour. 95% of entries are from riding club members who put the work in to setting up the show and supporting the club with non competitive events and such like but families like these just turn up, pot hunt and go. They are even happy to stand around at end of day and watch everyone struggling to get rings and jumps down. arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh
They even came to our little show last year two days after returning from BSPS Champs having taken a few firsts and seconds up there. Absolutely no doubt they have a couple of stunning ponies but I do wish people like this would compete against their own standard (where surely there is more satisfaction in doing well) rather than take it away from young children who will only ever dream of a first rossette at any higher level. Sorry to rant on but this is a subject very close to my heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jacks_mum]

totally agree with you Jazzy. at our little shows we have now started providing a rosette for every entrant in the childrens classes so that all the kids go home with a ribbon. It's all very well to say don't the organisers notice, but in the run up the to the show you are too busy to take note of the entrants names and even then how can you filter out the pot hunters? You have to rely on peoples honesty and sadly not everyone is honest. We find it just as unfair as the other competitors, which is why we got our main show affiliated to the major qualifiers and societies - to try to encourage the pot hunters to come to the show that means the most to them and leave the little show to the local novice showers.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Best thing to do is to not allow any affiliated competitors - period. The pot hunters soon get reported