Would you call this pot hunting?

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Lolo

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Quick question!

RC areas for combined training, someone desperately needed to make up a team as otherwise the others can't compete. So someone steps in and is asked to do the prelim/ 75cm SJ class as they're eligible.

The eligibility is despite the fact they've been competing at 1m ODEs for 2 years now, and have entered their first 1.10m in 2 weeks time. Horse is a confirmed pole-basher, and doesn't tend to place at local level prelim dressage. But they are undeniably eventing at a higher level, even if it's without huge success (no placings affiliated, a few top 10s PC).

They go, expecting nothing, and win their class resoundingly...

Would you say they were pot hunting, or be cross they competed?
 
It would be none of my business. I remember rumours going around about me buying 5 figure horses and taking them to PC events when in fact i never paid more then £500 produced themyself and only competed locally to give them experience.
 
Lolo said:
They've been competing at 1m ODEs for 2 years and have entered their first 1.10m in 2 weeks time. They win their (75cm) class resoundingly...
Click to expand...

I've deleted all the bits that anyone who is likely to get annoyed wont care about to make it fairer :p

Reading it as I've put it, yes I think it would be considered by many to be pot hunting I'm afraid. However as you were put in the teams at the last minute, as a stand in, and were eligible its slightly different IMO... But people you were competing against wouldn't know the background so could understand if they were peeved.
 
If they are allowed to do that within the rules then I dont really see there can be a problem.

Not nececcarily cricket - but even so, if they dont break any rules then the opportunity is there for everyone to do it so it cant even be seen as an unfair advantage!!
 
If it were an individual class and Al was competing in them week in, week out and winning, yea maybe. For teams, and as an unusual trip out (especially as Reg is NOT a showjumper! - if he were competing 1m /1m10 sj it would be different!) it's not at all.
 
If the combination is eligible to compete at that level, then they're eligible whatever others may think.
 
Nope, if their eligble then they are allowed to compete and should do so! If people grumble let them, end of the day if they are within the rules so nothing they can complain against!
 
The individual wasn't pot hunting' but IMO the group were. I presume that the rider was invited as the team felt that she/he would increase their chances. It may well be within the rules, but I do wish that RC teams were just that. If it is a series of comps, then there should be a team, with reserves, with names put in at the beginning of the series and not deviated from. I know that this is not done, but I wish it were
 
JFTD, understatement of the year! I can count their clear rounds on one hand!!

YorksG- no, she was asked despite being an utter liability, they were that desperate! They were in the B team, simply to make up numbers. He's a proper polebasher (16+ faults isn't unusual, 8 is considered a good round, at any height) and dressage can go quite badly wrong very rapidly (last few outings have been 60% or less).

To add/ clarify: she wasn't in it for the glory, and is horrified to have done well... Amazingly, it was their dressage being good which did it.
 
Love, it's also known as trophy hunting. It's entering a class below the standard you are competing and schooling at. Ie. working at medium level dressage and entering the prelim in order to get the rosettes/prize money.
 
This thread takes me back to my Jill books.:D
Does anyone really still use the phrase?

Such bad form.

Though in this case it clearly isn't as the reason for entering was to help out the team.
 
If she made a habit of it then it would be pot hunting. On an occasional basis no, besides it could be argued that Reg needs to build up showjumping confudence at lower heights
 
No it isn't. It's down to the rules of the class and, if they are eligible then so be it. At my RC dressage comp yesterday, the winner of my class was probably in a different league to the rest of us and unsurprisingly she won the class. Now, I came second (go me :) ) and there was only just over 1% difference between me and her.

I did wonder why, if she was so good she would enter such a low key class (it was just a basic prelim test) but then i guess you could say the same about me. To compare the two of us, her horse is a 6 yo and obviously very very well schooled but still a young horse. Mine is 22, I've owned him 18 years so we know each other really well. He's no world beater but he knows what to do when in a dressage arena. I do practically zilch schooling but he knows his job so nowadays does quite well if and when i ever do a dressage test. Could either of us be called a 'pothunter'.

I went in to the class for a bit of fun and an 'outing', she probably went in to get some more experience for her horse. At the end of the day,these types of competitions should be fun and are about those there enjoying themselves and achieving things on their horses. If you win, then great but people shouldn't then start bickering about other peoples' success and whether it's valid.
 
In the circumstances, no, I wouldn't. If they were consistently doing well at more difficult levels it would be different, but just because they're entering more difficult classes it doesn't automatically make you a pot hunter for dropping down. It's rotten for the other riders when you can't get a team together, so I think it's great she helped out.

On behalf of all riding clubs everywhere, can I use this as an excuse to make a plea to riding club members to volunteer for your club teams? It's great fun, it's a great way to meet people and get more experience, and it means clubs aren't having to scrabble around to make up teams!
 
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