really annoying horse swapping

[amadeorider]

does it really annoy anyone else that is only just starting to jump in shows when you're only going in for, say, a minimus class which says horse and rider as a pair never to have been placed, so friends have are good jumpers and have horses that are good jumpers, swap just so that they can get an extra rosette?

[wildponies]

I didn't actually understand any of what you just said, but if you're asking whether it is annoying about horse swapping.. then no. I think it's beneficial (most of the time) for people to swap mounts every now and again, so that any bad habits or aspects of riding which are taken for granted on lets say, their own ponies, can be shown up and corrected. However if they're swapping pureley to win a few more rossettes then i suppose this could be annoying, but it does prove they can ride other horses, not just their own. And if they're doing it, why don't you? There obviously isn't a rule against it.. I'd take a boxful of ponies just to see how many rossettes i could out-do them :)

[Mazpup]

I get what you're saying and I think its unfair at all if people are entering classes way below standard just to get rosette. It must be even more annoying if the class is designed to out rule this (ie. only horse and rider who haven't won enter) and people still try and work their way around it!

[amadeorider]

mazpup, glad im not the only one that thinks that. thanks for agreeing.
wildponies, sorry if it didnt make much sense, i didnt know how to word it. i can see what you're saying about the good points of riding someone else's horse, but if thats the case then cant they do that back at their own yard where they constantly swap horses any way. if they know that they and the horse are capable then cant they go in for the bigger classes where they are against people with the same kind of skill and experiance as themselves?

[wildponies]

Ah i see, i didn't realise you meant that they were entering easier classes than they should have been. There is a similar situation in music competitions, but other entries have no proof that these musicians are better than they actually say they are and are playing at a much higher standard than other entries. It is difficult to prove, so we just have to accept that it happens. If you did shows through the PC or a riding school who are aware of the other entries' standards then you will find this doesn't happen as much.

[amadeorider]

i take it you play an instrument then?
thats the thing. most of the time it's the commitee members daughters.

[carrie160]

i bet thats annoying! It doesnt happen in my area, people just try to find loop holes in the rules! For example i went to a show jumping evening which had 3 classes (novice intermediate and open) but they hadnt stated if there was any restrictions, so some one who does affilated sj on his horse (and wins) went in the novice intermediate and open.....and won all three!!!! I was soooo annoyed!! I know my horse can jump 3'6 easily so i just went in the intermediate (3'3') and open (3'6) i didnt feel right going in the novice (2'6 - 2'9) as i was going in the open, but i guess this person didnt mind!!!

[amadeorider]

that happens at my local shows too. the main one is a girl who takes all her affiliated dealer horses into the minimus and novice classes. last time she entered 5 of her horses and came in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th! she had a bit of trouble when it came to the lap of honour! another annoying thing, isnt the practice jump and clear round course supposed to be approximately the same size as whatever class is on at that time?
last time i went into a show, i was trying to warm up for my 2'6 class, and the practise jump was set up at about 3'6 and the clear round course was set up at 4ft.

[wonderpony]

Has happened a bit round us too sadly ... especially with a girl on a former national novice champion who will happily take the rosettes on a 2ft 6in track year in year out.
Trouble is she hasn't progressed and now seems to actually do worse each time out, and the riders with transport have now all sought out other shows!
Think in the longer run this is an issue the organiser of a successful show has to tackle - for example, by stipulating noone jumping in the novice can do the open - if they want to ensure a crowd of good competitors.
Have you tried talking to the organisers - can be hard, but when you pluck up the courage we've found it better than bottling it up or moaning to a few friends.