why is it so difficult to keep everyone happy at shows!?

ester

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It was summed up beautifully today by a helper after 4 hours work today at our RC showing/dressage show 'I have decided that it is impossible to please everyone all the time!'

Overall super busy 28 in a coloured in hand class (we split it!) and everything else pretty close too. Had boxes queueing on the road in the morning and had to use an additional field for parking. so overall not expecting to be quite that busy which although great for funds does bring its own problems.

Why do some people moan that :

A. The judge wasn't paying enough attention to their horse at the end of their individual show, as the next horse was being called out ready. (said judge also asked a ridden stallion to leave, didn't see what it did but judges discretion obviously is their decision if they want to judge it or not), Quite a young judge which I expect was not liked, but we are an unaff show!

B. They bring a stallion to an indoor show with the arena split in 2 for in hand classes (in the schedule) and then moan when it is not possible for them to have stacks of space to themselves in the collecting area or be allowed to walk past another arena with a dressage test going on until the dressage test ends.- we did try to do our best!


Felt a bit sorry for said judge as I think she made reasonable decisions and was short on time as we were supposed to be out by 5pm so couldn't do it as she maybe would have liked to
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C. moan that the judge didn't ask you anything about your pony, yes it is nice to smile/ask age etc but I know why she didn't it was manically busy and although wouldn't take long for each but would have added up, unfortunately I think they got the impression she was rude when I am sure this wasn't intended.

D. people insist on bringing dogs, 3 of which got loose before 12pm and I don't really like handling dogs I don't know for obvious reasons.

sorry small rant, feel better to have got it off my chest. Think everyone went home happy (and very tired in my case!) gave back some entries to keep the peace and goodwill to those who were very unhappy, easier life sometimes and I like everyone to be happy, just want to *head desk* sometimes!

Thanks for reading, any thoughts appreciated. Is my understanding that at higher level shows after intial go round judge doesn't actually have to watch all horses do an ind show at all if it is a big class, not sure if this is right? Have been annoyed myself if the past but that was after placings were decided after walk/trot canter on 1 rein only and no individual show so I do know how people feel when they have paid (quite cheap!) and spent time cleaning their horse.
 
god knows, it was manic down there! i was very pleased to only have gone for a dressage test and then leave sharpish! dont envy you at all being there all day! well done, there were others i know that did stay for the most of the day and everyone came home happy, you will always get a few who moan, especially with that number of people. Dont let it worry you, i think the day seemed to be running smoothly with such a large number of entries, from what I saw. Did also get p'd off with the loose dogs though!
 
Brent Knoll at Badgeworth?! I didn't go today, but have been to your previous shows and think they are great, well run, great judges
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Sorry you had hassle today
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lol slinky, just like everyone to enjoy themselves, it makes it worth all the organising.

yes brent knoll at badgworth, we always seem very popular which we love, can just make it a bit stressful sometimes when we try our best! thank god for walkie talkies. not soo much hassle all in all I suppose, you just tend to remember the hassle.

Which dressage did you do temsik?- I was on tanoy for quite a bit, trying not to be too bossy. Was unsure about running the prelim in that bottom arena, was hard work and we did have a couple of issues but did sort of make full use of the facilities, would have perhaps done it differently, would like your view if you were in there.

I had both sides of my pony today, a bit lazy in prelim 18 then decided to be stressy and start neighing in the novice though he still managed 7s (good medium trot)(and a couple of 4s! oops!) I insisted on 1 hour for me and have a fab mum who brought our horses up for us. Novice test wasn't helped but having to rapidly reschedule ring/judge for the last cob class so we didn't finish too late and helping sort out the complaints (none of which were substantiated by the obligatory £10 depoist!) Every year I think of new rules to put on the back of schedule, then forget at schedule time.

Dogs! I did try to reiterate to people what they think will happen to their dog if loose, the last one had gotten out through a car window (don't blame it was bloody hot!) and I later found out it had bitten someone I think whilst getting stroppy with their dog, response was well you won't let him down by the indoor arena (it was packed with horses)........
 
Invite them to join the organising committee. They will soon realise just how much hard work goes into organising events. (I spent my whole day working at RC dressage today so can sympathise - luckily we did not get many complaints) We find that Showing is by far the worst discipline for people complaining, don't know why!
 
I am with the OP with this
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I do wish that people would remember that RC shows are run entirely by volunteers, including the judges, (in fact all shows are, with judges claiming expenses at some). If people give up their time for you to compete, then at least try and be pleasant and polite, rather than whinging.
 
We got a few thankyous, I just didn't get asked to deal with them. Is true, I didn't realise how hard it was till I started 3 years ago but figure we run ours and then I attend other peoples and appreciate them running stuff for me, we have lost a lot of local summer shows as it is over the last few years.

New rule for next year: You are only allowed to come to this show if you are going to enjoy yourself and accept any decisions that you don't like with good grace!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am with the OP with this
smile.gif
I do wish that people would remember that RC shows are run entirely by volunteers, including the judges, (in fact all shows are, with judges claiming expenses at some). If people give up their time for you to compete, then at least try and be pleasant and polite, rather than whinging.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said!! I give up alot of precious spare time to run RC events. 99% of people are lovely and have a great day win or lose.....but the odd 1% - well, i couldn't give a damn if they fell off the face of the earth!!
 
Let me guess - was it the welsh lot causing trouble??!!!! (cob yobs!)
 
nope, just my welsh causing me trouble, though he did a fab medium towards his girlfriend, was interesting when I had to give and retake reins in canter. Think he doesn't want to be too good at dressage as might not take him jumping.

Mostly coloureds I think, and a couple of randoms! We split the welsh away from all other M+Ms so their classes were better sized and no welshy stallions I think, think we had a bout 4 coloured stallions, and would they be stallions if they were bay, doubt it!
 
didnt use the bottom arena my boy was in prelim 18 in top arena. I was pleased at not having to test in there as my boy doesnt even warm up too well in that arena with all the congregrating and coming and going but didnt hear anyone winge about it. The labradoodle or whatever it was? they were parked v close to my lorry and a friend saw it escape, couldnt get near the damned thing though, my OH tried a few times.
 
quote/gave back some entries to keep the peace and goodwill to those who were very unhappy, easier life sometimes and I like everyone to be happy, /quote

One of my colleagues on our RC cttee does this. I have to admit that I am not so generous and think to myself ' I don't care if you aren't happy. I hope you don't want to come back next year'

I do sometimes wonder if some of those who are unplaced make a fuss just to get their entry money back
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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am with the OP with this
smile.gif
I do wish that people would remember that RC shows are run entirely by volunteers, including the judges, (in fact all shows are, with judges claiming expenses at some). If people give up their time for you to compete, then at least try and be pleasant and polite, rather than whinging.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said!! I give up alot of precious spare time to run RC events. 99% of people are lovely and have a great day win or lose.....but the odd 1% - well, i couldn't give a damn if they fell off the face of the earth!!

[/ QUOTE ]

hope that wasn't aimed at me, i don't help the rc but if i have 5 mins and the horses isn't going mad i will go and help tidy up as they have done enough organising the show.

i don't care if i win or lose but i might have a personal grumple about the judge. i find people take local show to seriously and i have seen some appaling sportsmanships at shows over the yard.

i total feel for you (and all other people who organise comptitions) my advice is breath and let it go over your head.
 
temsik it wouldn't come back for the owners either, think it was a curly coat retriver, and she was rather off with me when I told her to make sure it didn't happen again. If I known it had bit someone it might have been dealt with differently.

Think the other prelim arena will be subject to discussion for next time, one of those things that you don't find out how it works till you try and we have run at the hand for the last couple of years (too expensive tho) mine warms up well in it normally but don't think I would have wanted to be in there as he is easily distracted! We ran dressage til 5pm though so we would otherwise had to have turned more entries away- catch 22!

Pearlsasinger, we have been stricter on it in the past might have dealt with it differently if they had come individually, would have assessed each situ a bit more but wanted to go warm my pony up and trouble is bad feeling tends to travel.
 
tbh i wouldnt have been p'd off if had to do a unaff prelim in there, just prefer the top arena and know test would be better in there, but as its all experience for the baby boy whether the test would be better or not it may have been better for his learning curve to do in the bottom arena regardless of what i would prefer! it got through the tests in the morning quicker at the end of the day and it made the most of the space available. the other arena is plenty big enough to do the warm ups. if a bit blooming dusty today! i dont know what some people expect from a unaff rc show really, i think for a show of its type it was exceptionally well run and everyone seemed to be having a great time. if they want county level showing standards and judges they should go to a county level show (they will prob b disappointed there too!) some people are just made to be miserable complainers unfortunately!
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thanks temsik, is good to get other peoples views, very dusty! and very hot indoors, we always get good weather if we hire an indoor, and thankyou for your kind comments on the running. Unfortunately I have very little learning curve left, he is 16!

Classes are sig more expensive at county too!
 
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