Whitakers taking over??

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zoeshiloh

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www.stowmarketanddistrictridingclub.com
Is it me, or do the Whitakers seem to be taking over the horse world? It was always the "norm" to wear a smart jacket for showjumping, but now the BSJA has brought in this weird anorak-type coat thing that is apparently ok to wear in shows... Who seems to be selling these jackets to budding young showjumpers - the Whitakers.

Then, as I was flicking through the new Robinsons catalogue, I saw the new whitaker saddlecloth. You can buy flag patches to stick on to it. Well, I was under the impression that you could not wear your national flag, unless you had represented your country.... So why is that rule different for a whitaker product?

Don't get me wrong, I do admire the whitakers, and the way that most (not all) of them ride. But it just seems to me that they are getting awfully commerical, and it seems that they are allowed to exploit what others are not...
 
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I DETEST ellen Whitaker. To the point of dreaming about where a good old punch would land best...


end of my rant =)

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haha is there a specific reason for your extreme hatred?
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Oh god - just the brat herself! Ergh! You know when you see a face, and it just *needs* a good knock...

"Oh if I wasn't a top showjumper I would have been a model" Not if *I* had anything to do with it. You stupid, ignorant, spoilt, terrible, disgraceful and HORRIBLE person.


/signs off v.drunk.
 
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Oh god - just the brat herself! Ergh! You know when you see a face, and it just *needs* a good knock...

"Oh if I wasn't a top showjumper I would have been a model" Not if *I* had anything to do with it. You stupid, ignorant, spoilt, terrible, disgraceful and HORRIBLE person.


/signs off v.drunk.

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hmm. I think the medical name for that kind of hatred is 'jealousy'
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hmm. I think the medical name for that kind of hatred is 'jealousy'
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Glad someone else said that, I didn't like to being quite new
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Well the BSJA have been planning on changing the clothing allowed at shows for a while or so I believe so they wouldn't have brought out these new styles of jackets if they were not allowed to be worn under BSJA rules.
I am unsure what they are expoliting that others cannot (other than the saddle cloth, I too thought you were unable to wear it as competition gear or does that only count for the union jack on their jackets?) I think they are the ones taking it upon them to sell all this stuff because they are the biggest name there is. Also because there are so many of them. Not saying everyone buys for the name but bare with me, older people may buy it because they admire the riders and little girls would want Whitaker things because of Ellen.
 
The flag thing is just about people wanting to emulate Ellen and co., you can stick a flag on your saddlecloth and dream (if you are about 12) while you are popping your pony over 2' jumps - there is no harm in it.
 
And it's better than pink velour, after all.

My little girl loves Ellen, she does like that she models Caldene , but mainly that she has nice horses and rides well. Personally, I'll settle for that over some of the role models on offer.
Might get her a saddle cloth!

Any adult who's going to put a stick on UJ on their saddle cloth is harmless, I should say.
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I thought the Whitakers had ALWAYS ruled the world??? Pmsl!!!

I think they are becoming more comercialised(is that a word??) as they have to make money! They have a job, they have to make money.

Although I wish they would stop breeding and give the average joe a chance as there seems to be a Whitaker in every BSJA class going
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I cant comment on them a speople as I dont know them and have never met any of them...would like a few hundred jumping lessons off one of the bros though!! (John or Micheal)
 
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I thought the Whitakers had ALWAYS ruled the world??? Pmsl!!!

I cant comment on them a speople as I dont know them and have never met any of them...would like a few hundred jumping lessons off one of the bros though!! (John or Micheal)

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LMAO, not far from wrong there!
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The majority of them are really lovely.
 
I think fair play to them....so many showjumpers work all hours and all weathers for very little reward, why shouldnt the Whitakers take advantage of the commercial benefits available to them. It's what anyone in the 'real' world would do! They've worked hard all their lives and are talented so who are we to begrudge them doing well.
We should be proud of them...there's is probably the only name known outside of horsey world these days so they are ambassadors for our sport.

And granted I don't know Ellen anymore but I did about 5 years ago and she was actually really sweet, unassuming and just got on with the job. She worked very very hard. Robert was a bit cocky though!! but not in a nasty way....
 
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I wouldn't have thought there was any law that said you couldn't go for a hack with a Union Jack on your saddlecloth.

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LOL! Ooh, awesome! I think Believe and I shall do just that this afternoon!!
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Might clash with her new pink boots though
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I think they are becoming more commercialised(is that a word??)

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Yes, yes it is ...

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Lol..just spelt wrong!!
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Don't get me wrong - I do like the whitakers, I have a friend who works for John, and I got to know him pretty well when I visit her. I also have no problem with Ellen.

What did annoy me was when I saw Robert jumping at Towerlands in combat trousers rather than breeches, and when someone said something to him, he turned and said "don't you know who my dad is". I am sure it is against BSJA dress code to jump in combats, lol, but he got away with it.

IMO Louise was one of the best Whitaker children, but you don't hear much about her in she SJ world anymore do you? She tried her hand at showing for a while - she was awesome at bringing on young horses!

As for the jacket things, I know that the BSJA brought the ruling in allowing them, which IMO was awful, but then perhaps I am stuck in the dark ages. How long will it be before we see dressage riders in pink-padded bridles, with diamonte studs on the jackets and hats!
 
I am pleased its all getting modern its about time the sport had a bit more bling and new young blood, same old faces year in year out, come on the whittakers!
 
I have to agree with you Zoe, I'm very traditional and the new jackets look exceedingly tatty to me, something like their tack too. It's not even as if it is quality stuff we're talking about!
What I object to mostly is that it makes SJ look as if it's not proud of the heritage behind it anymore and soon, apart from a hat, there won't be a 'uniform' as such which is an insult, we don't want all the world thinking we're hoodies for goodness sake.
I can't believe that they are selling flags. Don't they know that not only anyone other than a team member wearing them is an outrage to the achievement behind being able to ride for your country and wear the flag with pride, but anyone using one that's not entitled to it, just looks a stupid ignorant prat, child or adult. They're in very bad taste and I'm surprised that J & MW have sanctioned them, really knocks them down in my estimation.
 
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What did annoy me was when I saw Robert jumping at Towerlands in combat trousers rather than breeches, and when someone said something to him, he turned and said "don't you know who my dad is". I am sure it is against BSJA dress code to jump in combats, lol, but he got away with it. !

As for the jacket things, I know that the BSJA brought the ruling in allowing them, which IMO was awful, but then perhaps I am stuck in the dark ages. How long will it be before we see dressage riders in pink-padded bridles, with diamonte studs on the jackets and hats!

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im old fashioned i guess, i really like the old style taylored jackets and hats ect, but thats just MO,,

my pet hate tho is when ive spent 4 hours trying to secure my long hair under my hat and welded into place for fear of the bsja judges booming obsenities at me, to see people (mostly women pmsl) with pony tails down to their ankles flaping in the wind for all to see including the judges and nothin said
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i recently judged at an unaffiliated jumping show and all the girls (and boys) had their hair secured under their hats and beautifully under nets!!!
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