tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post2257574127177534202..comments2023-10-31T06:31:15.796-04:00Comments on Shame in the Horse Show Ring: Pick a topicUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-29791542109348393342009-06-17T15:32:48.066-04:002009-06-17T15:32:48.066-04:00OK, some food for thought on showing. Specifically...OK, some food for thought on showing. Specifically Arabians, but his ideas for improving breed shows are very interesting:<br />http://www.boldheart.com/TTL/ThroughTheLens_03-10.pdf<br />(Johnny Johnston has been a photographer for freakin' EVER)cattypexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17589672286463092432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-70900019379853577012009-06-17T14:05:49.674-04:002009-06-17T14:05:49.674-04:00Kat- about the rescue.
One of their foster homes ...Kat- about the rescue.<br /><br />One of their foster homes is a place in Maricopa who frequently posts on CL. The place where 'training' includes their kids riding the horse. <br /><br />There was a yearling TB colt for $350. Sounded promising, cute enough, maybe a h/j prospect with gelding of course. Guess where he's at/from. Yeah. There. <br /><br />Still thinking about it. <br /><br />Please stop me.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-1820671317322738172009-06-17T14:00:48.370-04:002009-06-17T14:00:48.370-04:00Kat- he can come on down. The bigger they are the...Kat- he can come on down. The bigger they are the doofier they can be, right? JR might even have you ride him and teach you how dressage applies with him and keep you both on the same page... That would be bad how?<br /><br />I was lunging my pony and long eared TB mare last night. The neighbor was at it again. At least she hadn't tied the mare, instead she was in the round pen, but you could still hear the banshee.<br /><br />I'm getting him back into a shape other than round. I may even drag him to EVAHA in the fall. I'm going to get him going at least to pull our arena drag. At least then we will have a smooth surface for the cart. We got a slammin' deal on a Meadowbrook!Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-51805692203190510442009-06-17T01:21:29.049-04:002009-06-17T01:21:29.049-04:00cp said,
"We stick to traditional trail obst...cp said,<br /><br />"We stick to traditional trail obstacles here, but not enough people train their horses properly. Except for the handful of super-serious kids of course."<br /><br />Very true. In our area, we have the same thing, only with TWH and showing. There aren't enough TWH owners that want to show, and a lot of those who do show are flaky and wishy-washy. They don't show at every show, and they get upset when they're beat by the better horses. They don't want to put in the training and time it takes to develop a good show horse. We have about seven very serious TWH show people out here, and that's it. I'm possibly getting a little show team together, though, and that will make mine the second TWH show team in the state!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-56185557186119096422009-06-17T01:18:17.343-04:002009-06-17T01:18:17.343-04:00CNJ said,
"Kat- I had a look see at the webs...CNJ said,<br /><br />"Kat- I had a look see at the website. It looks like they are doing what they can for the few horses they have."<br /><br />Oh, they are, and they NEVER take in more than they can handle. It's just that they don't do any good handling and then complain about the horses they have. Their shows are TOTALLY backwoods and take FOREVER, so if you go, be prepared!<br /><br />Yep. A chicken in a mailbox. Hey, that's a good title for a book. A Chicken in the Mailbox: How to Tell When Your Horse Show Has Gone Seriously Wrong.<br /><br />You know, I don't train horses anymore as I don't have the facilities and we can't board where we're located. But when I did train, I told people that I will give you as much as I can in 30 days, and I will let you know where the horse is at after 30 days. If you want to take him home, no problem--I will be honest as to where his training level is at. But we can't expect him to be fully trained in such a limited amount of time. I also tell people the same thing if they want to send their horse to a trainer.<br /><br />When I send a horse to a trainer, I say here she/he is--have at it. Do what you can in 30 days and we'll assess the horse from there. If I can't afford more time, then I will accept what you have given me and build on it. It's what I did with Sophie and the trainer I used, and it worked great. I'm tempted to send Red Hawk to her now since he's got so much TUNING needed. I won't sick him on JR, CNJ--he's 17 hands of doofus and can be very frustrating! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-78510094617843141412009-06-16T16:51:11.543-04:002009-06-16T16:51:11.543-04:00Patti-
One of the good things I can see about the...Patti-<br /><br />One of the good things I can see about these competitions is length of time. They are 3 months or 100 days. At least they seem to be promoting a little longer with the trainer, as opposed to cranking out a bunch of 30 day wonders. <br /><br />If the trainers can bring them that far along in 90-100 days, imagine how much more can be accomplished with more time- say 6 months to a year.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-57753319074247073872009-06-14T21:40:47.779-04:002009-06-14T21:40:47.779-04:00Chicken in a Mailbox... are you sure that Punk'...Chicken in a Mailbox... are you sure that Punk'd wasn't there or something? ; )<br /><br />We stick to traditional trail obstacles here, but not enough people train their horses properly. Except for the handful of super-serious kids of course.<br /><br />Leg aids? huh? You mean I can do something besides KICK with my legs? <br /><br />: Pcattypexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17589672286463092432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-84939214628076098312009-06-13T04:58:41.091-04:002009-06-13T04:58:41.091-04:00Patti- it's no different than people taking th...Patti- it's no different than people taking their horse to a trainer and saying I can only afford 30, 60 or 90 days worth of training. A lot of trainers do what they can for the sake of the horse. The rest will ram and jam that horse around as they rush through everything, trying to cram a years worth of training into what precious little time they have the horse.<br /><br />Either they hope to create a finished horse the owner will be proud of- telling all of their friends what a great job you did with their horse, or they are pissed off you can't pay much but expect a lot, so they take it out on the horse. Another explanation is that they lack the knowledge to do things right, so they fake their way through, creating more problems so the owner has to leave the horse with them longer to resolve the 'new' issues- generating more money for themselves.<br /><br />I have seen my share of these things over the years...<br /><br />I think the competitions were designed to show what can be accomplished through patient, consistent and steady work. My understanding is that the trainers submit a video of their horses and skills, to be selected to be in the competition. The final performances consisted of reining patterns, lower level dressage tests, jumping a course of small jumps, mounted shooting, roping and i think there were a couple of trick riders. There were plenty of different avenues the horses were started for, so anyone buying a horse at the end sale had a couple of horses for their sport to choose from.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-21356833041038417172009-06-12T15:00:04.024-04:002009-06-12T15:00:04.024-04:00Yes a good trainer can do a lot but when you make ...Yes a good trainer can do a lot but when you make a competition on how much you can train a horse to do in a certain amount of time, the horses lose.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09075878192292667097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-75700957474447266582009-06-12T14:39:49.885-04:002009-06-12T14:39:49.885-04:00Kat- I had a look see at the website. It looks li...Kat- I had a look see at the website. It looks like they are doing what they can for the few horses they have. <br /><br />Their show looks like fun, low key and a chance for learning. I'll have to check back for future dates. It would be nice to take our horses somewhere else once in a while- even if it is way across town- to show under other judges, in different arenas and with different riders.<br /><br />Also looks like they lack the usual crowd of folks showing on the smaller show level who think it is Nationals! Those types ruin it for a lot of people.<br /><br />I did laugh though at the expression on the boys face in the "English competitors" pic. Yeah, he looks happy to be there!<br />Gotta love it.<br /><br /><br />My daughter blurted out in a showmanship class once- "I know Pi. I don't like this much either!" Just as the judge walked behind her pony, and loud enough to be caught on tape. Golden! Especially as everyone in earshot was snickering and giggling. Even the judge!Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-72462190167068054802009-06-12T14:04:28.340-04:002009-06-12T14:04:28.340-04:00A CHICKEN????
In a mailbox?
I think you win....A CHICKEN???? <br /><br />In a mailbox? <br /><br />I think you win. I am picturing this in my head, and it's hilarious. But not if you were the horse & rider.<br /><br /><br />When I rode the walker gelding for my friend we entered the trail class. (Kat- think P&M) One of the 'obstacles' were those big orange leaf/trash bags with Jack-O-Lantern faces on them in black, filled with newspaper. Three of four of them you had to weave in and out of like cones.<br /><br />Butch took one look at them and did the splaylegged "Oh Hell No!" stop and spook in place. He refused to go near them. <br /><br />Not likely to come across those on the trail, but you might see them in someone's yard.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-1925860184856852112009-06-11T19:19:22.747-04:002009-06-11T19:19:22.747-04:00cp, here is an At Liberty class for you at the Sco...cp, here is an At Liberty class for you at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse show last year. The horses freak me out because I keep thinking they jump the barrier to the stands.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4DVczd5EUE<br /><br />And here's a mini one. I LOVE how this little bugger kicks at his owner when she goes to catch him!<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPfXCIiQM1g<br /><br />Two minutes of BLECH.<br /><br />I don't think the horses are "taught" to go with the music--they just go. The music should be appropriate to how the horse moves naturally.<br /><br />CNJ, It was a late fall show for the Equine Eden horse rescue. www.equineeden.org. It's a big money-maker for them, so it's for a good cause. But they are really just a bunch of REALLY fat ladies (much fatter than me) with too much time on their hands. They rescue horses here and there and do find good homes for them, but are too fat to actually do quality work with them. Example: they have a pony right now that I just love--he was in the show I judged, and of course, he was one of the horses you couldn't catch in the At Liberty class. Honestly, he's very smart and has tons of potential to drive and be awesome at driving trials. They complain what a little stinker he is. Well, when you don't give him any attention or DO anything with him, of course he'll get himself in trouble! UGH.<br /><br />I hate those stupid weird obstacles for trail classes, too. I was told by one woman out here how they would do their trail classes "back east" with TWHs. It was all stupid crap like that. One time they had a mailbox and they put a chicken in it. The damn thing would fly out everytime the box was opened, and it would scare the shit out of the horse and rider everytime. LOVELY. And of course, everyone thought it was hilarious. She tried to get me to do the pick up the bag of cans thing in a small show I held, but I wouldn't do it.<br /><br />I have always hated doing trail obstacles that are nothing that you would really encounter on the trail. I did a Trail Trials once (the one in Wickenburg, CNJ), and at one point we had to sidepass up to a wooden cutout of a donkey with carpet and decorations on it and pin a tail on it. Yep, that's something I do EVERY TIME I'm out on the trail! Those endurance riders run into that all the time!<br /><br />Arena obstacles I'm cool with, like going over a small bridge, opening a gate, etc. (Of course, I just spelled "gate" "gait" :) ) But the "car wash," clotheslines, crap like that...UGH.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-9073550407556575632009-06-11T17:02:56.031-04:002009-06-11T17:02:56.031-04:00I bet there are a ton of Liberty videos on YouTube...I bet there are a ton of Liberty videos on YouTube.<br /><br />If you are so inclined to look.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-50490374074322186152009-06-11T17:01:28.897-04:002009-06-11T17:01:28.897-04:00CP- you will rarely find a 'big name' in t...CP- you will rarely find a 'big name' in the liberty classes. The one trainer I worked under used to show his stallion in the class and was routinely beaten by this gorgeous steel grey who trotted the entire time. He literally<br /><br /> * f * l * o * a * t * e * d *<br /><br />across the ground.<br /><br />I can't remember the horses name, but that year his music was "Coming to America" (Neil Diamond? or ???)<br /><br />Long thick mane and tail that he carried like a flag high and streaming out behind him.<br /><br />He was a sight to behold.<br /><br />It's no wonder Boo couldn't beat him. Boo was a western horse and lacked the presence and movement of the grey.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-17501537886367750602009-06-11T15:30:55.142-04:002009-06-11T15:30:55.142-04:00Oh yes - overpatterning!!
If you ever decide that...Oh yes - overpatterning!!<br /><br />If you ever decide that "today we're gonna work on Figure 8s," you'd better mix it up somewhere along the line, because... well. *blush* Do we all learn that the hard way?<br /><br />I'm sure it's a very common problem in the dressage world, too.<br /><br /> <br />The people who NEVER EVER practice anything but going around the ring on the rail always crack me up at shows where the judge mixes it up. They take it so personally!<br /><br />That being said, when I showed over fences my biggest anxiety-producer was trying to remember my course. TOTALLY psyched me out. <br /><br />But really... do big name Arab halter dudes actually TRAIN the Liberty horses to perform to the music? I'm asking this for real, having never seen a Liberty class in person.cattypexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17589672286463092432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-76427575755959037112009-06-11T14:30:46.006-04:002009-06-11T14:30:46.006-04:00cattypex said...
Oh yes... animals DO respond to ...cattypex said... <br />Oh yes... animals DO respond to music!!<br /><br />But, like, to perform a routine, without cues?<br /><br />Hmmmm.<br /><br />--------<br /><br />Seeing as how you are working with 4H now- ever seen a horse 'patterned to death'? The kids practice the pattern over and over and over, until they can both do it in their sleep...<br /><br />Put it to music and there you go. The horse will learn when the tempo changes you should be doing this _________.<br /><br />Just like the over patterned horse, they anticipate the next movement and can do the routine without any cues from the rider.<br /><br />Just like the horses who have been worked over and over on a walk/lope transition. Stop, walk, they anticipate the lope and become fussy.<br /><br />One of our youth riders, broke from the breed show 'pack' and was working with us. We worked on different elements of the reining pattern for the upcoming show. One day was simple changes, the next day big fast, small slow circle transitions using your seat and body. Another day it was pivot one direction- lope off, find a spot on the rail and stop. Repeat.<br /><br />Day of the show, we told her, you know how to do each element well, just put them in order out there. She won the class and exclaimed- "We never even practiced the pattern!"<br /><br />The other kids and parents were visibly and noticeably pissed!Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-20938453871581641862009-06-11T14:18:52.930-04:002009-06-11T14:18:52.930-04:00Can we also trash trail classes? Please????
I...Can we also trash trail classes? Please????<br /><br />I'm talking about the absurd course obstacles usually paired with overall poor course design. <br /><br />Who knew bridges had pigs on one or either side? I have also seen staked out goats in the arena. Great thing to get the horse tangled in their line... eyeroll.<br /><br />Gates with a pole under the gate- not just supporting on either side. How about backing through a gate? A gate with said pole? Picking up a plastic bag full of pop cans? <br /><br />The all time bestest accident waiting to happen- Walking under a clothesline with bedsheets hanging off it. Yep! The 'line' was set right at rider decapitation height too. WOOT!<br /><br /><br />Then there are the riders- low cross rails called a 'lopeover' are NOT considered JUMPS! Nothing even close to what they have in, well, jumping... It is not an oxer by any stretch of your imagination when describing it later to your friends. Your horse may take it as such because you failed to set them up properly or spurred them as they started over it.<br /><br />Turning the horse around - all 4 legs going everywhere is not a pivot. <br /><br />It might be shown primarily in western tack, but speed or lack of do not help or hurt your score. It's not a race, but it would be nice if you completed the course **sometime** today. <br /><br />Three tries and you are done. Please leave the arena. NOW. You do not have infinite time to work on getting your horse over or through an obstacle.<br /><br />If the class is held on another part of the showgrounds concurrent to other classes- please get your tukkus over there and take your turn. Do not wait until the end of the day and well after the 6th announcement that they are dismantling the course and then whine and pout because you didn't get your turn. Suck it up sunshine.<br /><br /><br />GL- our horses seem to prefer rock. Of course classical for 'down time' or soothing thoughts, works too. One barn I worked in, the owner routinely put on opera classics. Bad opera classics. Each piece seemed horrendous! An 'off' note was... just... there are no words.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-47771256838382688182009-06-11T13:59:42.349-04:002009-06-11T13:59:42.349-04:00Oh yes... animals DO respond to music!!
But, like...Oh yes... animals DO respond to music!!<br /><br />But, like, to perform a routine, without cues?<br /><br />Hmmmm.<br /><br />I suppose you could condition a horse to trot when he heard a certain melody, but does your average trainer want to DO that?cattypexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17589672286463092432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-61920153709448978392009-06-11T13:22:00.040-04:002009-06-11T13:22:00.040-04:00CP, my puppy Blaze howllll-oooos to a certain them...CP, my puppy Blaze howllll-oooos to a certain theme song on HGTV.<br /><br />Funniest thing I ever saw.<br /><br />I knew another horse, he'd visibly brighten when he heard anything by the Rolling Stones. Smart horse.<br /><br />Animals can and do respond to music.<br /><br />Good music, anyway;)GoLightlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18283690734019490983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-63383434049619650032009-06-11T11:02:43.686-04:002009-06-11T11:02:43.686-04:00Liberty classes sound SO SILLY. Just another way t...Liberty classes sound SO SILLY. Just another way to cash in on clueless rich owners who don't know much about horses.<br /><br />I mean, animals generally Do. Not. Perform. To. Music. unless you cue them!<br /><br />If you can't control your halter horse, it's because you've either a) scared/angered the shit out of him or b) haven't trained him.<br /><br />Or c) All of the above.<br /><br />Most of the backyard redneck owners around here haven't cottoned to the NH stuff yet. They're still too busy playing Wild Cowboy.cattypexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17589672286463092432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-35894020234449718472009-06-11T07:08:38.802-04:002009-06-11T07:08:38.802-04:00Hey, Trojan, I left a comment on your sister's...Hey, Trojan, I left a comment on your sister's blog.<br />Someone else is using her stuff again.<br />let her know?<br />Thanks.<br /><br />I hate plagiarism.GoLightlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18283690734019490983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-20839811547244598172009-06-11T01:26:49.093-04:002009-06-11T01:26:49.093-04:00Kat- I gotta ask. Was that at Beat the Heat?
Tha...Kat- I gotta ask. Was that at Beat the Heat?<br /><br />That's the only one I can think to blame it on.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-74906297790381835572009-06-11T01:23:59.660-04:002009-06-11T01:23:59.660-04:00Liberty is a joke!
In the Arabs they want the h...Liberty is a joke! <br /><br />In the Arabs they want the horses to trot. The handlers are Not to cue or otherwise control the horse. They are to perform to music. If none is provided by the entrant, something is selected for you. The handler and one other person are allowed in the arena and both can carry halter type whips.<br /><br />What happens?<br /><br />They lead the horse in, present them to the judge, take the halter off, the horse bolts, the music blares obnoxiously loud and the horse just runs ape shit crazy. The provided or selected music usually has no connection to the breed, the gaits or anything relevant.<br /><br />I have seen horses try to go over the gate, through the judges gazebo and generally anywhere in the ring they don't belong. <br /><br />The horses are supposed to use the whole arena- instead they stay at one end.<br /><br />Handlers are to dress conservatively as if they were showing halter. Instead they dress like they are headed to a night club.<br /><br />Liberty class is like one of those, drunken frat party ideas. It might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but when you sober up and realize what you have done... The best you can hope for is someone else will do something worse and your 'mishap' will be surpassed by theirs.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-15326231792685488392009-06-11T00:47:53.140-04:002009-06-11T00:47:53.140-04:00I think another topic we haven't covered is Na...I think another topic we haven't covered is Natural Horsemanship classes at shows. WHAT A CROCK. Let's go play with your horse for 2 minutes and waste everyone's time.<br /><br />I also hate At Liberty classes. Okay, I know, so many of you are going to say they're so fun and neat and the horses are so pretty! No, they're an accident waiting to happen. What is the point of chasing a horse around and scaring him so he'll look pretty? I judged a small fundraiser show out here and they had an at liberty class. Freaking 17 horses in that fucking class, and at 2 minutes a piece, OMG, it was a nightmare. They stationed people around the arena before hand to chase the horse away when they got out of control, which they of course were assuming woudl happen. BRILLIANT. The horses would just run like madmen and then the owner would chase them to make them run more, then expect to be able to catch them. Several of the horses almost ran me over. THE JUDGE. Did the owners do anything to stop them? OF COURSE NOT! I would just stand my ground and the horses would think the better of running me over. I placed all the horses that the owners could easily control in the different gaits, that were respectful of my space, and that they could easily catch. What a stupid stupid stupid STUPID class!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5152826429049460534.post-45685800445462860462009-06-10T18:38:45.139-04:002009-06-10T18:38:45.139-04:00Patti- Ya might just be suprised at what a good tr...Patti- Ya might just be suprised at what a good trainer can accomplish in 30, 60 or 90 days.<br /><br />The operative words there- Good Trainer.<br /><br /><br />Pop on over to <a href="http://www.mrrottensneighborhood.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Mr Rottens Neighborhood</a> for a look see, when you get a chance. He's currently just taking the first ride on a young horse.Cut-N-Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03603347619547454296noreply@blogger.com