why we hate showing - soz!

We have only done local showing. Always get varying comments/results. At our local RC we have had a run of judges who seem to like coloureds (excellent), but then at other shows have been put bottom against the same ponies - its all swings and roundabouts. Good job we dont take it seriously.

Many years ago my daughter was judged by her RI. She was placed 2nd (hooray) Afterwards she whispered to my daughter, of course your pony is the best but we cant show favouritism, good way to keep clients!
 
ha ha about the plaits! very fair comment - i would never get a job on a showing yard! also what does "stuffy" mean exactly? ive heard people say it about sj's before. he was in brown tack on the day and it was IMMACULATE!! i must say where ever we go people love the pony but our old trainer really didnt like him, "bog standard cob!" she called him. we absolutely adore him and he does a wonderful job for us but obviously not everyones cup of tea. anyway i am determined to go out there and do better although it is heartbreaking! how people can put their children in pageants i cant imagine.
 
Thing is with showing is subjective isn't it?

You compete against the rest of the class and also it depends entirely upon the judges preference.

I have been placed first and last at different shows (same class)....amongst the same ponies...depends upon the judge.

Judge once told me to get my highland really trotting on, so he could compete against the high-kneed D's......just in case a judge didn't know what breed he was.....:eek: I know its only RC level, but surely to god the judge should at least be able to tell the breeds apart, even my 7 year old daughter can tell a highland from a welshie:confused:

Good job we don't do it seriously;)
 
Thing is, I've seen people enter showing classes and moan they didn't get placed when they weren't in correct dress for the class. pony wasn't plaited (not a native) etc etc etc.
 
teagreen - I completely agree with your post on some points, but you have to admit- and in all honesty can you blame people getting annoyed when certain top producers go around saying (in full hearing of a lot of competitors at the Suffolk show last year) "I could take a three legged donkey into the ring and I'd still win".

Well that would be Moggy saying that I think!!
 
Of course we all think our own horse is the most beautiful/ obedient/ best mover etc.

But it's a sad fact of life that a lot of judging is extremely biased. If your face doesn't fit, you don't stand a chance.

I had my first (and probably last!) attempt at affiliated M and M showing a couple of months back. In the novice class we were placed last, quite rightly, as Jack was in a snaffle and a complete pig! Unfortunately snaffles and company are not a good combination for us! Interestingly the section D stallion that won the class had the most horrifically upright hooves and pasterns I have ever seen - I wouldn't have bought that horse never mind use it for breeding!

In the open, I have to admit that I was a bit miffed with the placings. It was very obvious that the judge had made up his mind as the horses did their initial walk round. He clearly could not be bothered to judge those that he was not interested in - a lot of the time he was not even watching the individual shows! To be placed below a horse that was lame, and below one that had to be pony club kicked to get it into canter was a little galling, especially as Jack did a tidy and obedient show (in a double bridle this time!!). I was not expecting to get a rosette by any means but when you have paid your entry fee I think it is only fair to expect the judge to pay attention.
 
ha ha about the plaits! very fair comment - i would never get a job on a showing yard! also what does "stuffy" mean exactly? ive heard people say it about sj's before. he was in brown tack on the day and it was IMMACULATE!! i must say where ever we go people love the pony but our old trainer really didnt like him, "bog standard cob!" she called him. we absolutely adore him and he does a wonderful job for us but obviously not everyones cup of tea. anyway i am determined to go out there and do better although it is heartbreaking! how people can put their children in pageants i cant imagine.

Well I think there lies your answer. WHP's are not cobs, they are lighter, unless you are showing in the Heritage classes and then of course, they are natives. Having read your description (but not having seen your pics) I would say that probably the pony jumped too much like a showjumper, rather than in hunting style. Many judges are not keen either in ponies 'going in an outline' in the show unless they are truly working from behind.
 
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