elementy upwards

[melissajoy]

hi i am 15 years old and compete my 14.2 pony at elementy level but i want to move on to medium but i am worried that the judge wont take me seriously because i am riding a pony any advice?has any one felt they have the same problem?

[horsecrazychick]

I haven't done much dressage, but I've completely given up trying to compete in open or hunter/jumper shows. I also ride a pony(although she might be a horse- it's pretty close) and to make it worse she is covered in really flashy spots. None of the judges like any color at the shows I was going to. And even though you tell yourself it's just for fun, it's not very fun if you place last every time. :( (especially if you know you're a better rider than most of the other kids on their expensive push-button horses. lol) oh well. :p

[kedwards]

If you're paying the money for an honest critique from the judge, than he or she better take you seriously, for better or worse. But honestly, if you two can do the work, I would expect to be judged fairly.

For what it's worth, Lendon Grey showed internationally on at least one pony (perhaps more?)

[DavidH]

My OH competes at BD medium level on a 14.1 welsh D. She has gained 170 points in 3 years so i guess you could say the judges take her seriously. She did however find it a problem if judged by a non listed judge unaffiliated.

[melissajoy]

Horsecrazy chick -that’s not very nice is it I love coloured or spotted horses I think they stand out v well in a huge class of bays and chestnuts I have a grey so I stand out a bit but not as much as a coloured!go for it I wud if the judge doesn’t place your pony because of her colour they shouldn’t be a judge !!
Ked Edwards -I would have thought that 2 unfortunatly the judges don’t seem to remember this lol
Cool lendon grey not heard of her but wasn’t there a pony who showjumped/evented at the olypics one time?
David h -wow that’s v good does her welsh d have “round” paces? I love welsh ds but I was unsure how they would do in dressage because of thir paces but obviously they do well does she show the welhie as well?

[kedwards]

If you have an adobe acrobat reader, here is a link to an article about Ms. Gray and her interest in ponies in dressage: http://www.westonequinemassage.com/downloads/lendongray.pdf

[melissajoy]

wow im inspired lol my mum is a list 3 dressage judge and when i write for her sometimes we always have a giggle (sorry know its naughty) at the riders who come in down the centre line on huge horses about 17.hh with v short legs when they come down the centre line all you can see is there little legs sticking out either side !!!!!!!!!!!!!! why do people think that they need huge horses to do dressage for one thing i would have thought that it would have been much easier to ride and 8m vault on a 14.2 than some huge thing abot 17.2hh lol any one else agree when i finaly outgrow my ponies i dont think i will get a horse over 15.2hh !! then i wont have the sticky out leg problem(although i do have long legs)!!!

[star]

i have done affiliated elem and unaffiliated medium on my 15.1hh welsh D - there are plenty of people who have done hgher on native ponies - so give it a go!

[melissajoy]

i am going to !! mines a connemara ive decided to do a show at unaffiliated medium in september so i will have time to get good at my canter half pass !!! thanks every one!!!

[Nicole5310]

Theres only one way you'll find out give it a try! You surely want to continue your training anyway.

We have some terrible predjudice in this country about coloureds. It seems to be a judge thing. (If you see a palomino doing dressage it must be a QH therefore it should be in the western ring not doing dressage.)

Good luck with your dressage, I wish I had had the opportunity to do dressage when I was still on ponies. Make the most of it, the more you can do when your younger the better.

[melissajoy]

yeh i will continue my training and ive decided that i am going to enter anyway stuff waht the judge says lol i will decide how my pony went and ignore them lol (only jokeing my mum wouldnt be very happy if she read that because shes a dressage judge lol lol :D :D )thats funny because in this country coloureds are becoming worth more than other animals i dont shee why a judge should put you down just because of the coulour of your horse!