Wrong show, similar name. Sorry!
Hmm griping on a message board about something that apparently didn’t even happen…
If it was really so bothersome then why not contact the show management and politely ask them to rename it a mini prix?
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Didn’t even happen? Pretty sure it did. And I’m not “griping”, I’m opening a topic for discussion. People are allowed to disagree - it’s the whole point of discussion.
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What show ground was this at?
Man, this whole thing of telling people they can’t have an opinion on something if they aren’t participants is tiresome. Like how my older sister tells me I can’t have an opinion on how she parents her kids, because I don’t have kids. I’m pretty sure that I don’t need kids to know that screaming at the top of your lungs at your four old for every tiny little thing all the time is not cool.
Why shouldn’t we get an opinion? It’s a level that we look up to, choose idols from, some strive to compete in.
NTM, this was simply an interesting topic of discussion the OP brought up, and people are jumping down her throat about it. So unnecessary. :no:
I’m not finding any definition of minimum height for a Grand Prix, but FEI has other parameters:
FEI defines Grand Prix as “Grand Prix: one of the most prestigious Competitions of an Event;”
Speed requirements; 375m/minute minimum, 400m/minute maximum outdoors. 350m/minute indoors.
and other such items.
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I saw the post about it on The Plaid Horse’s Facebook. I’d look it up but I’m already pushing my luck by posting here while at work. :lol:
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I took hubby to a local schooling show. It was embarrassing. They didn’t offer a 3 ft class, and the number of barely managing to hang on their horse’s neck over elevated trot poles said loads about the local barn scene. They probably consider .85m a big fence.
oh well, if it keeps a horse in the barn and $2k a month coming in to the trainers pocket, it’s all good, right?
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I think it was called a Grand Prix rather than a Mini Prix because of the prize money, $2,500 rather than the typical $500 that this show has for their Mini Prix’s at this height. Did I think it was strange to call a 0.85m class a Grand Prix? Yes, but they did run it like a big class and everyone had fun, which I think is the point for people riding at this level.
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I posted the link the the show prize list on the thread where the OP initially started complaining about this, but here it is again http://showgroundslive.com/rmsj/show…ate/2017-07-23.
Most of the Grand Prix classes, which ranged in height from I think .85 to like 1.25. And the top four or so “grand prixs” at this show each had 10k purses. Like, I am thinking my rider needs to come over from Europe and jump those classes hahaha cause it’s more than he’s making winning a grand prix in Portugal and placing at Lummen :lol::lol::lol::lol: I’d say that 10k is a pretty grand prize!!!
But we all know the people jumping at that level would kick his a$$ at that level :lol::lol::lol:
The other reason you won’t find a pat definition or grand prix specs is because different star levels also have different heights/widths/times. Because grand prix isn’t just one thing.
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What I want to know is how that show manages to give away that much prize money for each of those heights, when some A rated show’s (that I won’t call out by name) don’t give away that much!!
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I was wondering this as well. I wasn’t able to find confirmation, but I’m wondering if those top 4 classes, which are labeled “all in one” grand prixs had a 10k purse between them? There were 35 riders who competed in those top four finals, which I presume means a pretty healthy number competed throughout the week to qualify, so the show probably took in a pretty decent amount of money. And then they had a lot of purse classes, which is pretty nice for people showing there and probably a BIG draw in attracting an increasing number of riders over time.
If there was a sponsor putting up the $2500, that might have had something to do with calling it a Grand Prix. Sponsors like to have their names associated with something important-sounding.
Based how people tear around the lower level jumpers, I’d be willing to bet they’re all going Grand Prix speed. :lol:
goof thing that’s not the only requirement of a GP (speed)
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I looked back at the numbers for earlier in the week and saw that they had a decent turn out for the entire show. It’s nice to see a show give back money to the riders, I wish more big venues would do that and help to defer the cost of showing. It’s always nice to win back at least some of the misc admin fees.
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Petit Prix
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Exactly!! Those lower jumper classes are always crazy breakneck speed and flat out hurdling. You know, the guts that George thinks is missing from the sport :lol::lol::lol:
A friend of mine lent her groom her actual 5* grand prix horse to do the like maybe .85 grooms’ class. There were a lot of grooms and even more kids in the class, but hers was the most memorable. Memorably crazy :lol::lol::lol: And you know what?? Everyone watched and laughed and cheered and had a great time. And one rider led her daughter through on her pony, and they put all the fences down to cross rails and she walked over them.
You know what my rider’s comment was?
“In Europe, even the children are better riders than I am.” :lol::lol::lol::lol:
My god, people, there is so much to enjoy in this life. All of this doomsday and negativity this week, man, you know what’s way better than that? Being at shows with people who love the sport and love the horses and are nice and friendly and enjoy the experience that we are so blessed to be a part of.
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I’m with the OP on this one. If, at a show, you overheard me saying to a group of riders, “I’m showing in the Grand Prix tomorrow” or “I won the Grand Prix”, what should that infer? It sounds disingenuous at the .85cm level and starts to smack of " everyone gets a trophy for participation". While I heartily believe in the availability of all levels of showing, for all disciplines, starting with the most fundamental, and moving up to GP, I think reference to the “Grand Prix” should be reserved for those who are, indeed, showing at the highest level. Call it the “.85cm Classic” or “.85cm Stakes” and it still has a special ring to it.
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I compete at that height–.85-- and love doing so. I think using Grand Prix to describe a class at that height is silly. So OP, I agree with you. They run a .85 classic here and it’s fun and competitive, big ribbons, cash prizes, victory gallop and all. But it would be disingenuous to refer to it as a GP. Reserve that title for the biggest jumps. There are so many other ways to make certain classes special without stealing the thunder from GP. Would I get angry about it? No but my eyes would definitely roll!
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If I won that class I’d be excited about getting $750 knocked off my show bill, not about winning a “Grand Prix” :lol:
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